Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Don't try to fix me, I'm not broken

Hello

I'm the lie, living for you so you can hide

Don't cry

(Hello – Evanescence)

The dust was in the process of becoming a visible layer on the desk. It was a sign of the time Hermione had spent away from the Burrow. She had been back for a couple of days now and it was getting harder to ignore the fact that she was once again living without any task at hand. So, today she had decided that cleaning would be a start. Harry had joined her and could be heard shoving things around in his room.

"Hermione, have you seen my Invisibility Cloak?" he called out from across the corridor.

Shit, Hermione, thought. She had completely forgotten about the cloak. "No, I haven't" she lied.

Harry was now standing in the doorway to her room.

"That's weird. I haven't used it in ages and I noticed only now that it's gone."

"That's weird indeed" she muttered and continued to dust the desk.

"Oh well, it'll show up eventually. Listen, I was wondering if you'd like to have lunch with me in Diagon Alley at the weekend. Just the two of us" he added as if he could read her thoughts.

"Yeah, I would like that. It's really been a while since we did anything together" she smiled.

"Awesome. I think I'll go into the attic. Maybe the cloak's there. George probably thought it would be fun to hide it."

As soon as Harry was out of sight, Hermione snuck into his room and put the cloak under his bed, feeling lucky that she hadn't been caught.

The taste of blood was still fresh in her mouth. Her heart was pounding wildly from a rush of adrenalin in this rare moment of freedom. The grass was soft and moist beneath her paws, but she didn't mind the mild rain. Her fur was thick enough to protect her. She tried to calm her heartbeat from her recent hunting spree as she walked out into a clearing. The air was piercing cold, but she enjoyed anything that made feel these days.

As she scanned the place she noticed another pair of yellow eyes in the dark. Her body tensed up and went into attack-mode. A small cat walked out of the bushes and onto the clearing. She recognized her immediately and sent a warning hiss her way.

The small cat started to shake violently and stretch in length and width. Her fur dissolved and soon, Minerva was standing there, wand at the ready. Although she had recognized Bellatrix in her animagus form as soon as she had walked onto the clearing, she could barely believe her own eyes.

The panther followed suit and within seconds the two witches were facing each other, ready to fight. They were walking in circles, fixating each other with cat like looks and movements. Funny how human and animal could become one.

Minerva pondered on her next move. The reasonable thing would be to take the dark witch prisoner, hand her in with the Aurors. People would celebrate her for it. Her reputation would rise even more than it already had. But a voice inside her head told her not to do it. As if they could read each other's minds the women lowered their wands simultaneously.

"And so we meet again" the dark witch sing-songed.

Minerva wasn't in the mood for small talk and got right to the point. "What's your agenda, Bellatrix?" she asked.

"I have none."

"You don't? You don't want to raise an army of dark witches and wizards for yourself?"

"I have no intention of doing that. I've had enough excitement for a lifetime."

Minerva was confused. She had never seen this sight of the dark witch. But then again, she hadn't been in contact with her for decades.

"Whether that be true or not, you have committed countless horrible crimes. Why should I let you be?"

"Because you are a good person, Minerva" she sighed. "Merlin knows I have a number of people on my conscience and I regret most of the crimes I've committed. But I cannot change what I've already done. I can only try do it differently now."

Minerva was speechless. Bellatrix' voice, her whole demeanor held not her usual arrogance or insanity. She seemed sincere.

"Don't you think I deserve a second chance at life; at happiness?" She looked the Scottish witch straight in the eyes. "Please don't take that away from me. And don't take that away from your little lioness."

Minerva was a sharp lady. "You?!" her eyes grew wide in realization and shock. "That's where she's been going?"

"Yes" the raven witch answered and smiled almost shyly.

The mother lioness in Minerva came to the forefront and was ready to protect her cub. "I swear to Gryffindor, if you have harmed so much as one hair on her head …" She had drawn her wand again.

"There's no need for all of that, Minerva" Bellatrix said calmly. She walked closer towards the witch. Invading her personal space, her face was now only inches away form Minerva's. "You know I can be a good girl, if I want to." She licked along her jawline and husked into her ear: "Or should I remind you?"

A hand grabbed her by her throat and pushed her into a tree. She yelped as her head collided with the hard rind. A hint of fear reflected in her eyes as fingers closed in around her throat. Minerva was physically stronger than she looked. She put her hand on her wand, just in case. But the fingers loosened their grip and scratched down her throat, over her collarbone and came to stop between her breasts. She met Minerva's stern gaze with a smile. "Feel free to help yourself if you like what you see."

Minerva gave her a questioning look. "Are you offering to whore yourself out in exchange for my silence?"

"Nah, I don't think you can call it that. If I remember correctly you were quite an alright fuck."

"Quite alright, he?", Minerva's voice became dangerously low as she stepped closer to Bellatrix. "I'll show you quite alright."

The Scottish witch turned her around harshly and pushed her against the tree, pressing herself against her back to keep her in place. The sharp pain in her lungs was burning her up from inside. Her ribcage was constricted by the tree in the front and Minerva in the back and she could only take shallow breaths. She felt her dress being lifted to her waist and goosebumps spread across her skin when the cold night brushed her legs. She cried out as three fingers entered her without warning. Minerva didn't give her any chance to adjust and picked up a rapid pace. Soon enough she felt the other witch's wet sex against her ass and she couldn't help but smile. Good to know she could still get her off like that. Bellatrix grew wetter with every thrust and soon she joined Minerva in filling the night with carnal sounds.

Small cracks had appeared on her hands from washing them so furiously for several minutes. She turned off the water and her eyes met her own reflection in the mirror. Minerva struggled to recognize the woman she saw. She was disgusted; not by Bellatrix. Bellatrix was only a woman who had been broken too many times and never been taught how to deal with it properly. And she felt like she had taken advantage of that. She felt disgusted by herself. She steadied herself on the sink and breathed deeply. "I'm sorry" she whispered.

Bellatrix looked at her reflection in the floor-length mirror. Thanks to the use of strong glamour charms her hair was back to its old glory. She traced her fingertips along her neck, recreating the path Minerva had traveled not even an hour ago. She watched her chest fight the restraint of her corset with every breath she took. She traced the form of her hips. She had regained her womanly curves since the war. She couldn't help but flirt with her own image. Yes, she truly was a sight. No wonder the Scottish witch was unable to resist her; they all were. She smiled to herself as her hand found its way underneath her skirt and stroked herself. Movements were becoming frantic in an attempt to get herself off. Icing coldness covered her forehead as she steadied herself on the mirror, her hot breath fogging a little patch of glass. Copying Minerva's moves she plunged three fingers inside herself. She ignored the signs of her body, the tenseness of her muscles and pushed harder, until …

"Ahh!" a stinging pain in her abdomen made her bend in half. She withdrew her fingers to see that they were covered in blood. Irritated she turned away from her reflection. Why wasn't she on a high like she usually was after quick sexual encounters like these. She felt nervous, uneasy and she couldn't grasp why. She walked down the corridors of the manor in haste as if she could find the answer in one of the many rooms. She stopped at one particular room; the guest room. Something made her open the door and step inside. She moved cautiously as if something hidden could attack her any moment. Her eyes scanned the room and landed on a clothing item. A T-Shirt; her T-Shirt. She took it in her hands and felt the fabric. It was soft; she was soft. She held it close to her face. It smelled of vanilla and bit of lavender; she smelled of vanilla and a bit of lavender. She couldn't stop her hands from grasping the fabric so tight they almost ripped it apart, couldn't stop tears from falling, couldn't stop her legs from growing weak. Deep concealed pain tore a scream from her throat and she sunk to the floor, clutching the piece of clothing tight to her chest.

It was ten minutes to six. The Malfoy family was gathered around the grand dinner table.

"I think we should start to serve …."

"I said no, Lucius. We will not start without her." Narcissa's facial expression left no room for debate, but her husband was foolish enough to try anyway.

"She should have been here a while ago, honey. She's not going to come today."

"Did I not make myself clear? We will wait till six sharp."

Lucius put the fork he had been playing with back down. He was tipping his fingers impatiently on the table. It was so quiet that Draco's stomach could be heard growling occasionally.

The clock showed six sharp.

"That's it. I'm going over" Narcissa said and got up.

"Narcissa, we wanted to celebrate my freedom today. You will not leave now."

"Do you really think you're still in the position to tell me what to do, Lucius?"

Lucius slammed his fist on the table. "You have to stop treating her like a bloody child!"

"I will stop treating her like one as soon as she stops behaving like one" the blonde witch said and went for the fire place in the living room.

"I really hope you have a good excuse for this, sister dear" she called immediately as she arrived at Black Manor. Although she could understand her sister's dislike for her husband to a certain extent, this evening meant a lot to her. It was the end to many years of turmoil and she had expected her to be there.

"Bellatrix?" she called out for the witch, but there was no response. Narcissa was getting nervous and hurried up into the first floor as fast as her high heels allowed. She went into her sister's bedroom first, but it was empty. She quickly walked down the corridor in the other direction. The door of the guest room was ajar, so she entered and she was faced with a sight she had hoped to never see again.

Her strong, fierce sister was curled up on the floor like a scared animal with her sleeves and skirt pulled up. The blood on her arms and thighs looked bad enough and yet, when Narcissa saw the blade still laying in her palm her heart broke a little more. Someone else might have fallen into panic at the sight, thinking Bellatrix was unconscious or worse, but she knew better. She had seen her sister hurting herself before and the fact that she had fallen asleep on the spot, without heeling her wounds, let her know it must have been a particularly bad episode. She kneeled down next to her sleeping sister, took the razor blade out of her hand and put it on the vanity.

"Belle", she gently patted her head, "wake up, Belle."

Bellatrix slowly opened her eyes. She was confused at the sight of her sister next to her. When she realized that it was already evening again and her eyes drifted to the massacre on her arms and legs the situation started to dawn on her. "Oh shit, I didn't want you to …. Shit." She wanted to pull her sleeves and skirt down quickly, but Narcissa stopped her.

"Wait, Belle, you have to heal them first or else they're going to get infected." She took out her wand and pointed it at her sister.

"You don't have to do that, Cissy."

"I want to. Please." And so Narcissa chanted Episky over and over again. It was a weak attempt at making herself feel less guilty for all the things she felt she should have done for her sister. It was funny in a way. Bellatrix had been the one to take care of her, defended her when they were young, now it seemed like the roles were reversed. Once there were no traces left of what had happened she turned away to give her sister a moment to fix her clothes.

But Bellatrix took it the wrong way. "Are you mad at me? I know you hate it when I do that, but I …." She looked at her with big, pleading eyes and her helplessness reflected in them. Narcissa was the only person in the world whom she allowed to see her like this.

"You don't have to apologize, Belle! I'm not mad at you, I just … Why don't you talk to me when you feel that way?"

"I don't know" Bellatrix said. "I've just always dealt with everything on my own."

It was the one response that would hurt Narcissa the most. "Well you don't have to anymore." She kneeled down beside her sister. "So what is it, then? What happened?"

"It doesn't matter", Bellatrix shook her head, "it's nothing, really."

"Is it the girl?" Narcissa asked.

"She knows about Cara. She thinks she's just a substitute" explained the dark witch.

"But that's not true, is it?"

Bellatrix shook her head in a barely noticeable motion.

"I see" Narcissa said. "Tell her, then."

"I've tried! She wouldn't even really listen to me!"

Something stirred in Narcissa as she saw tears building in her sister's eyes. When she took her in her arms, she decided to take matters into her own hands; Malfoy style.

Justine: Don't make me blush ;) But thank you for the compliment! That's a pretty good analysis. I also think Hermione is a bit oblivious to all the things that can happen in the life of a pureblood/Black and has a hard time understanding Bella's hesitation. We'll see if both ladies will be able to open up a bit more.