"I do. But the motherfuckers say we can't. Because you're a girl, and I'm a girl."- Andrea Gibson
Bellatrix wishes Alice could be with her, holding her hand and telling her it will be okay. It would make everything infinitely easier.
"I love her," she says.
Her mother pales. Never mind that Alice's blood is pure enough. Never mind that Alice is the only one who can keep Bellatrix grounded, who can remind Bellatrix that she's still human.
"She's a girl. You're a girl. Have you no shame, Bella?"
The girl starts to protest, but her mother cuts across her. "I will let you have your little dalliance with your pet. But, when the time comes, you will be married. You will marry a man, and you will keep our bloodline alive," she says with cold finality.
OoOoO
Alice doesn't cry when Bellatrix tells her. Her stubbornness and strength had been exactly why Bellatrix fell in love with the Gryffindor in the first place.
Alice only holds her, kissing her desperately, as though it could be their last kiss to share. Her hand strokes dark curls as she hums a calming melody, weaving her beautiful magic into Bellatrix's heart.
"What do we do now?" Bellatrix whispers.
Alice kisses her again, softer and sadder now. "We love," she says, as though it can be that easy.
"Everything will change, you know."
But Alice is calm and steady. Really, she's the only stability Bellatrix has ever known. "We'll figure it out."
Bellatrix doesn't know how they can. Alice is free, but Bellatrix is bound by duty to her family. Still, the way Alice says it, Bellatrix can almost pretend that miracles can happen.