Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Author's Note: I have been in therapy alot over the course of my life, so I know that it is a work in progress, but for the purpose of this story, I am speeding it along a little. Please read and review.
Wide Awake chapter 3
As the two women entered the Ministry of Magic, some people stopped to gawk and stare at them. It made Narcissa a little uneasy to know that they were all staring at Bellatrix, but no one said anything, it appeared that most people were still too afraid of her even if they knew she was powerless. Once their wands were checked in at the security desk a familiar woman with violently, violet hair met them at the lifts.
"Nymphadora." Narcissa said smiling.
Tonks didn't smile, but she extended her hand, Narcissa took it. She didn't even bother to acknowledge Bellatrix, which suited the raven haired witch just fine. They got into the lifts in silence and took it to the 3rd floor.
"I will wait out here. When you are finished we have some paperwork to fill out. So we will go to my office." Tonks said as they reached the door to the Psychiatric offices.
Bellatrix nodded and shot an apprehensive look at her baby sister who shook her head.
"You need to do this alone Bella. Don't worry. I will meet you out here when you are done." Narcissa said.
Bellatrix nodded, but Narcissa knew that she wasn't too comfortable about being on her own, but it was something that she had to do by herself. Bellatrix handed Narcissa her wand, she took it with a look of understanding and placed it in her purse with hers. Then Bellatrix placed her hand on the door handle and walked inside. The room was comfortably decorated and luckily it was empty. The woman at the reception desk smiled and Bellatrix walked over to her.
"Um…Hello…Luna." Bellatrix said looking at the woman's name tag.
Luna Lovegood smiled at Bellatrix, and she relaxed a little. Though she couldn't explain it, she knew this girl, had fought her in the War, almost killed her, but she could see the understanding in the wide eyes and she flushed slightly.
"Mrs. Lestrange, the counselor will see you now." She said serenely, her eyes bright.
"Thank you." Bellatrix said as she walked through another door and down a short hall way.
Hermione sat at her desk, hands shaking. She wasn't sure why she had agreed to take Bellatrix's case. The woman was a complete psychopath. She wasn't so sure if the War had really changed her views or if she was only doing this because she was ordered to. The thought of having the most dangerous Death Eater sitting right in front of her was daunting.
The door opened and Bellatrix Lestrange walked in, wearing her customary black velvet dress, and tight lace corset. Hermione noticed that Bellatrix was unarmed, unless she was hiding her wand in her generous cleavage which was straining against the tight corset, but it wasn't likely. Hermione knew Tonks wouldn't let her keep her wand if she thought that she was dangerous at the moment.
"Mrs. Lestrange, please have a seat." Hermione said calmly and evenly.
Her hands were shaking as she picked up her notepad and sat in one of the two chairs on the other side of her desk. Bellatrix sat and crossed her legs, looking confident and apprehensive at the same time. Her dark eyes sizing up the young woman across from her.
"Okay. Let's start. How are you this afternoon?" Hermione asked breaking the silence.
Bellatrix said nothing; she just sat staring at the young woman curiously.
"In order for this to work Mrs. Lestrange, I need verbal answers from you." Hermione said softly.
"Legilimency." Bellatrix snapped.
Hermione shook her head. Bellatrix's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"I can't use that. I need you to tell me verbally, or else this whole thing is pointless." Hermione explained.
"In any case I don't believe I have the level of ability needed to use Legilimency on you." She added.
Bellatrix raised a perfectly sculpted, raven eyebrow. She smirked, dark eyes narrowed.
"I am rather…skilled at Occlumency. As well as Legilimency. And no, I will not hurt you, so you can stop worrying." Bellatrix said.
Hermione's eyes widened.
"You need to work on your Occlumency Counselor." Bellatrix said, the corners of her mouth twitching.
Hermione swallowed. She couldn't believe that she had let her defenses down like that and allowed Bellatrix Lestrange into her mind.
"Anything and everything that goes on in here is confidential right?" Bellatrix asked.
"Yes. I write my reports. I submit them to Tonks. She will decide the verdict. But I can…omit what you don't want me to report." Hermione replied.
Bellatrix didn't feel reassured by this and looked for the first time, very uncomfortable.
"Look, I just have to show the court that you are attending therapy and making progress. The details aren't important in court. But for the purposes of your treatment, I need to keep a record." Hermione explained.
Bellatrix nodded. Hermione looked at her watch.
"We have fifteen minutes left. Is there anything on your mind?" Hermione asked.
"More than you know." Bellatrix replied.
"It's better than having nothing I suppose." Hermione said.
"Why is Nymphadora my warden?" Bellatrix asked before she could stop herself.
"She is the best. We needed the best." Hermione replied.
"Because I was the best." Bellatrix said frowning.
"Well I think that it's better than having anyone else on the case. There is no way around that." Hermione said.
Bellatrix nodded in agreement.
"Does it bother you that your niece is involved in the case?" Hermione asked curiously.
She needed to be careful, this was a delicate situation. This was a small break through and Hermione was a little apprehensive about this, but took it as a sign.
"My niece." Bellatrix snorted.
"Well then what would you call her?" Hermione asked.
"The daughter of a blood traitor!" Bellatrix shouted getting to her feet.
Hermione jumped, and looked at Bellatrix terrified. Bellatrix was running her nails through her wild curls and was panting. Her eyes wide and wild. Hermione didn't much like the look in her eyes. She closed her eyes, and controlled her breathing, sitting back down across from Hermione who was shaking.
"I…Look…I don't talk about…her…" Bellatrix said after a few minutes.
"Maybe in the future that could be something we could talk about…completely off the record." Hermione said.
Bellatrix looked at the brunette, her expression unreadable.
"I will give it some thought." Bellatrix said finally.
Hermione looked at her watch and stood.
"We are out of time for today Mrs. Lestrange." Hermione said.
Bellatrix stood as well.
"If this time next week is good for you, then we can schedule it." Hermione said.
"It's good for me." Bellatrix shrugged.
"Good then I will see you next week." Hermione said extending her hand.
Bellatrix took it. Hermione could feel the powerful magic that was flowing through Bellatrix's body. Chills erupted up her body as she held the older witch's hand in hers. After a few seconds they let go of their hands and Bellatrix left the office. Hermione sat down at her desk, head in her hands, she cried.
"Let's go Cissy." Bellatrix snapped as she walked out into the waiting room.
Narcissa stood and exchanged a look with Tonks who rolled her eyes. They left the ward and went back to Tonk's office.
"There are just a few things I need you to sign." Tonks said as they sat down in front of her desk.
Bellatrix nodded and looked up at her niece. She looked just like Andromeda, but there was something there she couldn't place, and that was probably from her father, Bellatrix had never seen Ted.
"This is the form stating that you attended therapy." Tonks said putting the paper in front of Bellatrix and handing her a pen.
Bellatrix read over the paper quickly and signed it. Tonks handed her another piece of paper.
"This is for the bank. Stating that your husband is dead, and all his possessions are now yours. The Manor, the fortune, everything." Tonks said.
Bellatrix didn't read this one, but signed it quickly. Narcissa looked sideways at her sister; she never really saw Bellatrix and Rodolphus together, so she wasn't sure how her sister felt about all this.
"Well that is it." Tonks said.
"Why did it take so long for this? Why did it take so long for the bank to send me this?" Bellatrix asked.
"It's taken a while for the system to get back on its feet." Tonks replied.
Bellatrix nodded.
"See you next week Nymphadora." Narcissa said.
"Goodbye." Tonks said.
Narcissa took Bellatrix's arm, and the two women left the office.
"Okay what is with you?" Narcissa asked looking at her sister as they go into the car.
"What are you talking about?" Bellatrix replied.
"You, wanting to leave so fast, this isn't like you Bella. You were actually nice to Nymphadora." Narcissa replied.
"It's nothing Cissy, let's just go." Bellatrix said irritably.
Narcissa shrugged and started the engine.
"I'm not going to let this go Bella." Narcissa said pulling out onto the street.
"I know." Bellatrix said darkly.
They drove in silence back to Malfoy Manor.