Upside Down

Sorry it took so long. My muse decided to pack its s**t and leave. I was like "Hey muse....where ya going?" and my Muse was like "F**k you, Dragonfyre!" Real life has made me its Bitch, and I'm not allowed to do anything. Well...here's a chappie. A little personal development...but no lemons...
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There was a flash in Hermione’s peripheral vision, and Ron hit the floor with Draco on top of him.

“Do you feel important?” Draco snarled, his fist striking Ron across the side of the head. “Does it make you feel good to fling about little girls? She’s not of age you know!” he added, interspersing his words with clouts to the head. It took Harry and Kingsley both to pull the irate pureblood off of Ron.

Ron wiped blood from his nose.

“I didn’t mean to throw her! She…she grabbed on to my arm…I was just trying to get her off…” he said. Hermione knelt on the other side of Ruby, and began to feel the back of her head to make sure she wasn’t seriously injured. There was a blooming bump on the back of her head, but no other damage was apparent.

Draco pulled his arms out of Kingsley and Harry’s grasp. Kingsley frowned at Draco.

“If you don’t lose that attitude, young Malfoy, I’ll have to rethink my decision…” Kingsley warned. Draco straightened the front of his shirt angrily, and stood back behind Hermione. Dumbledore stepped forward, and drew his wand. He pointed it at Ruby.

“Ennervate.”

Ruby’s face screwed up in pain, and she opened her eyes.

“Oh god….please tell me someone got the license plate of the truck that ran over my head…” she moaned. Bellatrix raised a dark eyebrow.

“No…but Draco punched Weasley in the face for you…” she said. Ruby raised her hand up in the air, and gave a thumbs-up.

“Whoot.” She said weakly.

~~

The Malfoys had been advised to stay at Grimmauld place, as returning to the Manor might alert the Death Eaters that they, along with Bella, were alive. Hermione and Ruby had the flat all to themselves again, but without Bella’s boisterous laughing, and Lucius’ constant complaining of the cramped quarters…it seemed empty.

Ruby sat on the sofa, eating some sort of southern fried snack, and watching Spongebob Squarepants.

“Bella would have been practically rolling by now. It’s just not as funny without her commenting on ‘underwater sorcery’ and ‘frivolous antics.’” Ruby said, and sighed softly. Hermione, perched on a nearby chair, nodded solemnly.

“I never thought I’d say it…but I miss them…” she said.

“Let’s go see how they’re doing at Grimmauld Place!” Ruby said suddenly, quite hopeful. Hermione smiled.

“Make some more of those cheese straws and we will.” Hermione said, and nicked one of Ruby’s crispy snacks.

After a bit of baking, Ruby had a large bag full of crispy fried cheese sticks to take to Grimmauld Place. Hermione Apparated them, and was unprepared for the scene that met her. Draco had been drafted into Mrs. Weasley’s weekly cleaning crew, and was in the family room dusting the many useless and sometimes grotesque decorations. He was wearing an apron to protect his clothes, and a bandana around his head to keep the dust from settling on his platinum locks. Hermione snorted loudly, and Draco looked up.

“Granger! Thank the gods you’re here! Mrs. Weasley should be in charge of recruiting for the Order. No one can turn her down. Save me!” he said. He whispered the last bit as Molly herself came into the room carrying a cleaning broom.

“Very good, dear. You’re doing fantastic. But you’ve missed a few things….Hermione! Oh it’s good to see you two!” Molly said, spotting Hermione and Ruby. She gave them both a hug, and accepted the baggie of Ruby’s cheese snacks with a grin. She then grabbed Draco by the back of the shirt as he tried to sneak past her.

“Tsk tsk! Just when I thought you had learned your lesson. Oh well. Might as well sweep while you’re in here…” Molly said. Draco turned pleading silver eyes on Hermione, who fought to keep down laughter. Ruby was smiling as well.

“Actually, Mrs. Weasley, I was wondering if I might borrow Draco for a few hours. I need his help with something at the flat.” Hermione said, her eyes shining with unshed tears of mirth. Molly looked at Hermione suspiciously, and then at Draco, who was trying to keep a very relieved look off of his face.

“Very well. Have him back by five. I was going to have him help me cook dinner.” She said. Hermione nodded, and then Apparated Draco and Ruby back to the flat. Upon arrival, both women burst into peals of laughter at Draco, who looked less-than-pleased. They took one look at the blonde hair, now sticking up at odd angles, and burst into fresh laughter. Draco pouted, and fixed his hair with his fingers.

“Shut up, you harpies…” he snapped. Ruby’s laughter faded off into a good-natured chuckle.

“You’re so cute…” she said. Hermione calmed herself with a few deep breaths.

“So…how is everyone else?” she asked.

“Mum has been using the knowledge Ruby taught her of the kitchen to help Mrs. Weasley cook…father is already working on the finances. He’s had to supplement a few areas that are almost too far gone, but he’s positive that within a few months he can begin rebuilding the funds. Aunt Bella is supposed to start dueling training this afternoon with a group of newbies. That should be fun…” he said. Hermione snorted.

“Yeah…I’d almost pay to see the looks on their faces when they find out who’s going to be teaching them wand-skills…” she said.

~~

Kingsley and Bellatrix walked towards Grimmauld Place’s Room of Requirement. It had taken months to prepare it as sensitive and as responsive as the one at Hogwarts. It was used for dueling and training, because it could produce the right targets and training tools. Kingsley stopped outside the door, pausing Bellatrix with an upheld hand.

“You have been supplied with a wand, Lestrange. Hermione trusts you, and by extent….so must I. You have been given a very generous second chance. And when this war is over, should the Order succeed, I will make every effort to keep your name clean. But you must help yourself as well. No shady business.

“Now….these recruits still think that you’re bad. Pull your hood up, and I’ll introduce you gradually. Don’t patronize them…they are here to learn…” he said, locking his eyes with hers.

Bellatrix raised a dark eyebrow. “I won’t patronize them…but they better not underestimate me. I’ll put the little blighters on their arses.” She said. Kingsley looked up, as if asking for divine strength.

“I know….that’s why you’re here. Okay…hood up. Let’s go.” He said. Bella drew her large hood over her head, successfully hiding her face and making her look a lot like Death himself. Kingsley opened the door, and walked in, Bella behind him.

There was a group of people that looked to be no older than Hogwarts graduates. Great…not only was she getting newbies in dueling….she was getting newbies in life….*sigh*

“All right…attention…” Kingsley said, his deep voice booming. The recruits straightened up, and were immediately silent.

“You know that you were to receive a new dueling coach. That coach is here today.” He said, motioning to his hooded companion.

“Good lord! We’re being taught by the Grim Reaper!” someone cried. A ripple of laughter spread through the small crowd. Bellatrix raised her head slightly, and her eyes flashed red beneath the hood. The crowd went silent immediately.

“You will respect your coach. If you don’t, I give her full permission to teach you your place. You have been drafted into a war, and she is here to prepare you for it. These battles are like nothing you have ever experienced. If you do not pay attention, you could very well lose life or limb.

“You coach has experienced these battles first hand. She has been at the front lines of this war since before Harry Potter became the Boy Who Lived. And now she’s here to help you survive this war.

“But there’s a catch.” Kingsley said, pausing for effect.

“Of course there’s a catch! It’s a woman. Women can’t duel…” one young man said.

There was a feminine scoff within the group. “Says the boy who got his arse kicked at the Yule Ball when he was caught with a different girl then he brought…” she said. There was another ripple of laughter. Bella looked at Kingsley, who looked two seconds away from blowing a gasket.

“Enough frivolities!” he snapped. The group was silent again. “Your coach was part of these battles…but on the other side. We have one of the Dark Lord’s most loyal on our side now.” He said.

“Good gods! Not another Snape…” one murmured. Kingsley frowned.

“Severus Snape has proved his worth time and time again. You’d do well to shut your trap.” He said, anger evident in his voice.

“Geez! Who’s our coach already?” said a particularly green-looking girl. She was tall and lanky, with straight brown hair.

Bellatrix stepped forward, and lowered her hood. There was a scream from the two girls, and four of the boys drew their wands, pointing them shakily at Bellatrix. She looked at them, and then threw her head back and laughed.

“Oh Merlin! You don’t expect four green little things like yourself to be any sort of match for me?” she asked, chuckling. Kingsley looked over at her.

“Meet your new coach….Bellatrix Lestrange.” He said, a grin on his face. She drew her new wand from her sleeve.

“Who thinks they can take me? I’d be happy to show you a few moves.” She said, a smug smile on her face.

“Can you still move like you used to? It’s been a while since the first war…” one taunted. She sneered, and with a lightning fast flourish of her wand, put the young man on his back. On the other side of the room. “Anybody else?” she said in a sing song voice, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet. Kingsley grinned.

“Welcome to the first day of the new part of your lives, boys and girls. Good luck…I have other stuff to do.” He said. He turned towards the door, and the group protested.

“You can’t leave us here with…with that!” another young man cried, pointing at Bellatrix. Kingsley chuckled.

“I can and I will. Remember…she’s the only thing keeping you alive…” he said, and left the room.

“We’re doomed…” one boy said.

Bellatrix turned to the wide-eyed group, and gave a toothy grin.

“We’re going to have so much fun together!”
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Oh Bella....you're so silly!

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