Challenge: based off of Screaming Faeries 30 Disney song lyrics challenge!
Disclaimer - JK ROWLING IS LOVE. JK ROWLING IS LIFE. I'm just going to borrow the lovely universe she has chosen to create.
Ratings - I'd say this is for a more mature audience, use your discretion, if something makes you uncomfortable feel free to put down the story or message me if needed! Sex. Drugs. Rock n' Roll…. Also some minor violent scenes.
I also don't have a beta….. I'm bad with fish.
ALSO instead of saying the same thing for every chapter, can we assume Bellatrix is alive because bloody Molly Weasley would never be able to follow through with an unforgivable. Lame.
Chapter 1 - "How can there be so much that you don't know"
"Whatcha doing deary?"
The sing-song voice cause Hermione to flinch. Gripping the paintbrush with iron strength she continued to add blue brushstrokes to the canvas in front of her. "What do you want Bellatrix?"
A scoff was made, "Now my pet, is that any way to talk to your guest?"
Still refusing to look at the maniacal witch, Hermione murmured, "Not my fault Cissa kicked you out and the ministry sent you here."
"What was that?" The voice was closer, far too close. She could practically feel Bellatrix's chest heaving against her back. A long, slender finger pulled a curtain of hair to the other side over the brunette's shoulder, exposing the neck the older witch seemed to have a fascination with. Hot breath made its way down Hermione's neck, tracing the shell of her ear, following her jugular and barely passing over her chest. She felt her own breath hitch in her throat as fingers skittered across her soft skin, the touch just as unnerving as it was comforting.
"Bella-" A sharp breath was elicited from Hermione's lips as a single finger trailed it's way down the back of her neck. "I'm painting. Is there something you need?" The other witch didn't answer, instead she followed the path with another finger. Hermione squirmed. Suddenly, and very much unexpectedly, a pair of cool lips pressed against where the fingers had previously been. The heat that rose to Hermione's face was incredibly frustrating. Bellatrix had been doing little things like this for the past couple of weeks since she was placed under Hermione's care by the ministry. At first she would catch the older witch staring at her when she didn't think she could be seen, or the occasional glances at Hermione's lips, only to be repeatedly sassed by her unrelenting insults. The second week was when Bella had become physical, often sneaking up on Hermione to barely rest her fingertips on the younger witches hips. The touches were all innocent for the most part, almost timid, as if she'd get burned. Approaching the end of the month however, Bellatrix seemed to be growing more confident.
Hermione shook her head and turned to face the older witch, paintbrush still in hand. "Would you like to join me?"
Bellatrix stuck out her bottom lip as if contemplating the choice, then looked past Hermione's shoulder. "Why isn't it moving?"
"It's a muggle painting," Hermione replied. "They don't move."
The raven-haired witch scoffed, " I don't see the entertainment value in that."
Hermione just let out a sigh and turned back to her canvas. The waterfront view she had been working on was a futile attempt to take her mind off of her tormentor. When she had agreed to take temporary watch of Bellatrix, she hadn't expected it to go on for this long. The witch had her moments, she had proved to be incredibly thoughtful and intelligent, but she was undoubtedly a bloody pain in the ass.
"WAIT!" Bellatrix burst out. Hermione put her brush down and turned to face her. "Let me try."
"You could use you manners." Hermione muttered under her breath, yet she still reached behind her own easel and pulled out a second canvas. "Here." With a small wave of her wand a second easel was set up along with a couple of fine brushes and a jar of water. "All you have to do is dip the brush in the colour of your choice, or mix the colours together, then you can paint with them on the canvas, okay?"
With a firm nod Bellatrix picked up a paintbrush and mixing plate and walked over to her canvas. Hermione stood still, watching as she attempted to decipher the older woman's thoughts.
"I can't do anything if you're watching Granger."
Hermione simply let out an amused chuckle at the witch's nervousness. Adorable. Wait. What? Since when in Merlin's beard did Bellatrix Black seem adorable? Hermione's thoughts caused her eyes to widen and she quickly resumed her previous strokes on the canvas, allowing the paint to swirl as her mind numbed out her surroundings.
About an hour later Hermione felt her stomach groan. She glanced over at the witch next to her and pursed her lips for a moment. Bellatrix had been awfully quiet throughout her painting process, yet she had angled her canvas specifically so Hermione couldn't get a look at what she had been working on. Whatever was going on in the older witches brain, Hermione was determined to figure out.
"Bella, I'm going to set the kettle. Would you like anything?"
The eldest Black sister however simply stood where she was, fully concentrated on the paint on her canvas. Hermione took a moment to observe the witch. Bella was standing with a slight cock to her hips, a thin paintbrush behind her ear getting lost in her curls while the other was attacking the canvas. Her bottom lip was firmly caught between her teeth, only furthering the effect of her angled eyebrows to create a more effective pout. Hermione simply smiled to herself and walked in from the patio into her kitchen. She had never seen the older witch so calm, so peaceful. It was sort of amazing.
Filling up the kettle with water and charming a small flame underneath it, Hermione allowed herself to enjoy the moment. It had been several months since the war had ended. She decided to take a break from the magical community for a bit and purchased a little cottage by the sea. It was wonderful. Every morning she could wake up to enjoy the waters, the sea air had awoken her senses, and she had plenty of time to do whatever her heart desired, only having to run back to the ministry or Hogwarts on rare occasion. It was peaceful, but it was also repetitive. Which is why Minerva had requested to see Hermione with the promise of an "important mission," the younger with had jumped to meet her request. The request however was far more daunting than Hermione had expected. After the war had ended, the ministry had literally destroyed Azkaban, or as Andromeda had insisted they say, it was 'Azka-banished'. Due to that fact, Bellatrix Black was deemed unsuitable to remain in a basic Ministry prison. She was craftier than Hermione had thought, the woman claimed insanity to all her acts and got away with house arrest. However Narcissa would be the one to watch over her sister. She begrudingly accepted at first, but between Draco's education and career, her own legal affairs, and the death of her moronic husband, the youngest Black sister had needed a break. Andromeda wasn't an option considering she still believed that Bellatrix had killed Nymphadora during the battle. Hermione had seen it herself though, it was Dolohov who killed Tonks, after doing so Bellatrix completely mauled the man in order to avenge her niece's death. When Minerva had learned of Hermione's quiet residence, she had instantly requested Bellatrix stay there for a short amount of time until they could sort out a more permanent living space.
Hermione was hesitant at first. Actually she outright refused it. The woman had tortured her all those months ago, she still had the scars on her body to prove it. Minerva had insisted that she would be completely safe, and that Bellatrix had calmed down during her stay with her sister. Hermione had her own theory about that though. The eldest Black had proven to be remarkably intelligent, and incredibly manipulative. An actress of sorts. It almost led her to believe that due to the situation, Bellatrix had been perfectly sane all along, simply acting and giving in to her emotions due to the traumatic nature of the situation.
Shaking her thoughts form her head, Hermione poured the Chai into two mugs, adding cream to hers and a double heaping of sugar into the other one. She learned quickly that everything about the older witch was intense, including her choice of heavily spiced tea. She fed off of energy and returned it in twice fold. It was invigorating when not fueled with rage.
Hermione headed to the porch with the mugs, only to be stopped in her tracks. The most breathtaking piece was in front of her. While she couldn't see every detail behind Bellatrix's body, the dark swirls of black and blue drew her attention immediately. The little flashes of white and gray adding to the ocean-like quality of the scene. As Hermione set down the mugs and drew closer, she stifled a gasp. The center of the canvas had what looked like the dark mark, but it had been altered, changed into something completely. The snake was now a phoenix, the skull seemingly made of crytal. Little licks of black flame surrounded the symbol. It was hauntingly beautiful… just like the artist, Hermione thought to herself. Or at least she believed she had until Bellatrix flung around to face her, eyes dark and wide and burning with an intensity Hermione had never seen in the witch.
The younger witch took a hesitant step forward and repeated her thoughts aloud, "It's beautiful… like you."
A series of emotions flashed on Bellatrix's face. Hermione was unable to pinpoint what any of them were, until her face seemed to settle on a scowl, the dark eyes still searing holes into her flesh.
Hermione took a couple of steps forward, until she was within arms reach of the older witch. "What's wrong?"
Bellatrix looked the younger girl up and down thoroughly, eyes searching every inch of her body. Hermione felt heat rise to her cheeks. She was dressed in a simple but flowing white cotton dress, with a deep cut down the back. It wasn't as though Bellatrix hadn't seen her in it before. It took a second until Hermione realized Bellatrix wasn't looking at her dress, but at her skin. The older witch stepped into her space and seized Hermione's arm. The once bloody marks had faded into thin, red scars on her soft skin. A thin finger traced the harsh lettering, causing a sharp breath of air to be sucked in, but it wasn't Hermione who had made the noise. She made eye contact with Bellatrix and her heart jumped to her throat. There was a glistening around the other woman's red- rimmed eyes… Bellatrix had been crying.
Hermione made to withdraw her arm, but Bellatrix simply tightened her grip, "I did this to you…"
"You did…" The younger witch was beginning to get anxious, her arm starting to go numb.
"Stop!" Bellatrix snapped in panic as the girl tried to pull away.
Instantly, Hermione was taken back to her time in the Manor, her body pinned under the weight of the other woman. There was no use fighting the older witch. She couldn't do it. She prepared for the pain she became so accustomed to.
"Hermione," The grip on her arm softened. "Hermione, do you trust me?"
Taking a breath, she opened her eyes. The expression on Bellatrix's face nearly shattered Hermione's heart. Never before had she seen such vulnerability. The dark eyes were pained, pupils dilated in what seemed to be pleading, no- begging…. For something.
"Please."
The one word sent the younger witch's mind spinning, however her mouth had other ideas. "Okay."
Bellatrix stared at the younger girl's face once more, searching for any visible signs of doubt. Not finding any, she pulled her wand from the sleeve of her dress and pressed it into Hermione's soft forearm. "Look at me 'Mione."
Her flesh burned as Bella's wand emitted a blinding red light, it took all her will not to cry out and rip her arm away. At the gentle prompting of the older witch's voice she got caught in the binding depths of nearly black eyes. A rush of cold air hit her exposed skin and the wand was stored back into Bella's belt. The older witch took a step back.
Hermione blinked for a second, then willed herself to take a look at what the woman had done to her flesh. What once had been the cruel engraving, was now completely clean. The only exception was a tiny white infinity sign between her two visible veins. "Thank you…"
The older woman simply nodded, then turned her body back towards the previously forgotten canvas. Hermione couldn't help but stare at the breathtaking woman standing in front of her. The witch had forgone her usual black dress for the first time since the brunette had seen her, leaving her in a pale blue straight cut dress, with a sash tied at her waist. It made her look no older than Hermione, with her long, ringlets of raven coloured hair trailing down her back. Her skin shone pale against the fabric, with elegant wrists pulling the brush across the canvas. Hermione briefly wondered why on earth Bellatrix Black would own a piece of clothing like that, unless she transfigured it… hmm. Maybe she really is changing…
Thinking back to the first night Bellatrix had shared the cottage, the woman had definitely changed. She had gone from spewing threats or uttering insults beneath her breath to approaching Hermione with curiosity, light humor, and the gentle touches she was becoming used to. The sarcasm that had lined the witch's voice when flirting had disappeared, the undertones were genuine, kinder. The soft songs that escaped the older witches mouth when she thought nobody could hear her had pulled at Hermione's heart strings. There was so much more to Bella than met the eye. She was human again.
Taking a step forward, Hermione gently wrapped her arms the thin woman's waist. She felt a slight flinch but kept her arms relaxed around Bellatrix. It was the first time she had initiated a touch with the older woman. Leaning her head against Bellatrix's shoulder, she breathed in the sweet scent of dark curls. A sigh of contentment escaped the eldest Black sister's lips. Hermione pulled the curtain of hair to the shoulder opposite herself and brushed the porcelain neck with the faintest touch of her lips.
The older woman shivered for a moment, then placed her brushes in a jar of water next to her canvas. Bellatrix spun around to face Hermione, but she hadn't moved any further back. Her body was pressed into Hermione's almost perfectly, their curves melding into one another. Hermione's arms were still around the woman's waist, feeling hot breath against her face as Bellatrix moved a hand to brush away a strand of light brown hair that had fallen in front of Hermione's eyes. Instead of moving her hand away, Bellatrix let it fall to the younger woman's cheek. Hermione's doe-like eyes met the dark, swirling eyes of her guest. No longer were they black. Life had returned to them, the emotions bursting at the seams.
"Did you mean it?" Bellatrix asked.
Hermione didn't waste a second in her reply, "Yes, I re- Mmph!"
Her sentence was cut off midway by a set of soft, cool lips. Hermione melted into the kiss, tightening her arms around Bella's waist. The older women threw her arms around Hermione neck, running her hands through the soft brown curls. Hermione let out a soft moan as the kisses became more passionate and the heat between the two bodies increased heavily, causing her to return each one of the open mouthed kisses with vigour. Bellatrix ran her tongue along Hermione's plump bottom lip, gathering it between her teeth and nipping down. A gasp escaped Hermione and she ran her hands down Bellatrix's back, firmly grabbing her ass. The older woman groaned and pulled back slightly from the kiss, pupils completely dilated. Her chest heaved against Hermione's body. Their breaths synced for a moment, not willing to break eye contact, until Hermione surged forward and claimed Bellatrix's lips again. She moved the older woman towards the wooden table where their paint brushes lay and hoisted her up onto the surface. Bellatrix moved her lips to Hermione's pale neck and bit the skin just hard enough to mark her. The bruises began to form in a line down towards the top of Hermione's breasts, just covered by her dress.
Bellatrix gazed up at Hermione, her expression begging for unspoken permission. Hermione instead placed her own hands on Bellatrix's dress and unceremoniously pulled it off. Bellatrix let out a guttural moan and tore the back of Hermione's dress until it fell into a pile around her feet. The younger woman ran her hands over the pale woman's body. Her hands travelled Bellatrix's shoulders, hips, stomach, and breasts, grinning internally when she felt hardened nipples through the dark lace bra. Bellatrix yanked Hermione closer to continue marking her chest. She unhooked Hermione's simple white bra and grasped a rosy nipple between her teeth. With a soft tug between her lips, Hermione's knees buckled slightly, her head falling back as the older woman continued her ministration on her chest.
Without missing a beat however, Bellatrix jumped off the table and instead replaced her previous spot with Hermione. The younger woman wasn't going to complain at all, if dominance was what Bella wanted, so be it. Hermione's back arched and Bellatrix lowered her flat onto the wooden surface. She continued her trail of hot-tongued kisses down to until she reached the younger woman's protruding hip bone. Taking the innocent flesh into her mouth, Bellatrix skillfully marked Hermione once more. The older witch could smell the arousal dripping from underneath the silk covering Hermione. She leaned over the girl's lips and they clashed in a kiss made of teeth and tongue. Hermione's hips bucked up into the air and Bellatrix's lustful expression twisted into a pleased grin.
"What's the matter Granger?" The teasing was accompanied by long fingers trailing the fabric around Hermione's hips. "Is there something I can help you with?"
Hermione let out a whimper and flushed under the heady gaze of the older woman. "F-fuck…. Fuck me Bella- Ahhh!"
Bellatrix ripped the fabric and tossed it behind her back. She dropped out of Hermione's eyesight for a moment, but a hot tongue running itself through the girl's wet folds let her know exactly where she was. Bellatrix lapped up the sweetness around the Hermione's clit, gently sucking and probing with her tongue. Hermione propped herself up on her elbows to take in the sight before her. Gorgeous raven-coloured curls bounced between her legs, wild eyes staring back and her, elfish face between her toned thighs. The pure expression of desire on Bellatrix's face was nearly enough to send her over the edge, so when a pair of thin fingers thrust into Hermione, it wasn't before her thighs clenched and she was thrown into a blinding flash of white-hot ecstasy. Bellatrix's name escaped her throat in a desperate sob, the woman keeping her finger in the girl until her orgasm subsided. When Bellatrix removed her digits, she held her gaze with Hermione and sucked the glazed tips clean.
Hermione pulled the older woman into a searing kiss and wrapped her arms around the thin body, treasuring the intimacy of the moment. Bellatrix climbed onto the table next to Hermione, who in a moment of brilliance, transfigured the table into a simple bed. They both faced the sea, allowing the water to occasionally spray in their faces. Breathing in the scent of salty air.
Bellatrix found herself being pulled face first into Hermione's arms, propped against a couple of pillows, their entwined bodies covered by a thin sheet. "Mione…"
"We can talk about it another time Bella, I'm not going anywhere." She pressed a soft kiss to Bella's temple, allowing herself to bask in the moment.
Bellatrix pursed her lips together for a moment, and took a chance at vulnerability, reaching for a soft but chaste kiss against Hermione's lips. The words she whispered were barely audible over the waves crashing infront of them, "Ne me quitte pas."
A grin broke out along Hermione's features as she gazed at the beautiful woman in her arms, "I promise."
A/N - WOW. There you have it. That happened. I haven't written for at least a year, so hopefully you managed to sit through this without cringing! One of the authors who has inspired me to write this hopefully soon-to-be-evolving collection of oneshots is Zarenne Moss, who's fic 'A Glass Silence' is one of the best written things I've read on this site. So many feelings, all very relevant ahaha. Let me know what you think!