Broken Mirror

Disclaimer: I don't own anything and I don't make proffit either.

Chapter 7

She openned her eyes to the sound of steps. Her body was confortably resting in something warm and safe. It was a wonderfull feeling to wake up like that.

On another note, why was she even waking up? Her rest had been just so peaceful and soothing... Why now all of a sudden? And why to a door closing? And steps. Had she already mentioned the steps? It seemed they were getting closer...

Oh... but she was just so confortable... Why change that? It felt good, really good. Maybe if she could stay just a ltle more like tha-

"Hermione?! Hermione, where are you!?"

Or maybe not... The voice was getting louder and closer. It seemed worried, but she couldn't bring herself to care. The thing under her started to move, forcing her to hold on to it even tighter. Something fluffy touched her nose, and she couldn't help but to bury her face in it. Oh, it smell good. Strawberries and ink... Hermione's shampoo and the consequence of spending so much time analysing papers and reports.

"Uh... Bella, you're crushing me..." the voice had a cheerfull tone to it, meaning that it didn't really mind to be crushed by her.

"Sowwyyyyy..." she wasn't sorry. In fact, her arms didn't move an inch from her.

"Hermione!? Hermione, what's going o- HERMIONE! ARHG! LET GO OF HER!"

Suddendly Bellatrix felt her body being thrown across the room. Alright, maybe not across the room, but she was defeneatly thrown out of bed. And it hurt.

"Harry? What the hell!? Why did you do that?!"

It took a minut to register that if she openned her eyes she would understand what was going on. Bellatrx had an heavy sleep and almost everytime she woke up she had no idea of where, why and how things were the way they were.

Hermione was still in bed, but now she sat facing the other side. With one hand the dark haired witch pushed herself up. Looking from where she'd fallen was none other than the Boy-Who-Lived himself. His eyebrow's were almost toutching of so deep it was his frown. His mouth was a tight line, and for a moment she wondered if he was trying to imitate McGonnagal. His wand was in his hand, the other clenched in a fist.

"Harry? Are you listenning?" Hermione grabed his trousers, trying to gain his attention. He kept on staring at Bella, while she stood and sat next to brunete in bed.

"Ugh...? Oh, sorry." He finally and slowly adverted his eyes from the older witch. "I couldn't find you and just thought something might've happen..."

Bellatrix was not an idiot. She knew he thought she had killed Granger. Of course that was only normal, he wouldn't trust her that easily. But still, if she killed her, what would happen next? This was a free ticket out of Azkaban, she wouldn't trow it away just for a petty reveange. Honestly, it was just simple.

"Everything's fine, thanks. We must've fell assleep while talking." he gave his friend a face that clearly showed his doubts. "What time is it?"

"Almost nine I think. I just arrived, so I'm going to go put my things in the spare room."

"Sure. Have you had dinner yet?"

"Yeah, Ginny and I went out to this new place in Diagon Alley. You?"

"Nop, just woke up. There's some soup in the fridge, so we might just eat that. Join us when you're donne, 'kay?"

"'kay."

Harry left the bedroom with one last glance at Bellatrix, who had been inocently playing with one of Hermione curls.

Standing up, Bella streteched and prepared herself to follow the wizard out of the door when Hermione grabed her waist and pulled her back down onto the sheets.

"He's nervous. Just give him sometime so he can get to know you." Hermione softly rubbed circles in Bellatrix's back, hopping to sooth whatever wrath she might have after having been so rudely woken.

"I know. I understand where this is all coming from, and honestly, I've been preparing myself for this since the day I woke up in this house." she leaned closer to Hermione, resting their foreheads together. "You're doing all of this for me, and don't say it's nothing because I know it is. And I'm so gratefull, because thanks to you I'm having the second chance I never thought I'd have. So the least I can do is try to make it so that you don't loose friends because of me."

Tears shone in the corners of the Gryfindor's face. How was it possible for this witch to have such a good heart? Instead of being mad or holding it against Harry, Bella had tried to keep it cool, just for her. She knew Bella didn't like Potter. Or any of her friends. And still, she was making an effort.

"Thank you Bella. You have no idea what that means to me."

"Meh, whatever." she found it funny how Hermione was so emotional. "Let's go have some food. I'm starving!"

Hermione smiled at the older witch's antics. No matter what hunger was a feeling that never left Bellatrix. She could eat and eat and eat and would still have space for more. And worst, she was one of those who never got any weigh! It reminded her of Ron on some ways.

Ron... It'd been months since she'd last seen him. From what she knew, he was still working as an Auror. Of course Hermione had told Harry and Draco (and herself) that she was better without him. Nonetheless, he had been one of her best friends for more than seven years. Of course that all the worst moments were more painfull now, like when he assumed she didn't have anyone with whom to go to the Yulle Ball, or how he would walk around with Lavander in front of her. And the happy moments? Those were tainted with his words. Now Hermione couldn't stop herself from looking back and wondering if there wasn't another reason behind them.

She thought of these while heating up the soup. Bella had set the table (basicly grabed two spoons and two bowls saying they would eat on the couch) and was now daydreaming, her head resting against her hand, her eyes looking fruther than the microwave.

Minuts later they were both confortably sitting on the couch, trying to figure out what to watch. Bella had a thing for cartoons, and honestly, Hermione did too. It remembered of other times. And sometimes she felt like it was as if she was giving Bellatrix part of the childhood she never had.

Harry was upstairs, just finishing unpacking. He hadn't been able to buy a knew Owl after what hapenned to Hedwig. It felt to much like replacing a friend. So now everytime he needed to send a letter, he would simply ask Hermione or use Ginny's.

He grabed a piece of parchment and started writing. The first letter was for his fiancé.

Dear Gins,

I've finally finished unpacking. Things are calm in here, Hermione and Bellatrix are dinning downstairs.

Hermione sais everything's fine, but I can't stop thinking that Bellatrix is manipulating her. When I arrived the house was silent. I was actually expecting to find them reading in the living room or something like that (they're more alike than you can imagine). So when I started calling for Hermione and she didn't answer the first thing I did was to run upstairs.

Can you imagine my shock when I found them sleeping?! And cudling! Why on Earth would Hermione spoon Bellatrix?! Something's wrong here, I can just feel it.

I'm thinking about invite everyone for dinner. Then we can try and talk to Hermione about this.

Asides from this, everything's fine.

What about you? Are you still going to your parents this week? I could go with you if you wanted to.

Love,

Harry

Harry folded the paper into a litle square and prepared himself to write another letter. Dipping his quill in the ink, he started.

Hey Draco,

What's up? Sorry I had to cancel Quiditch today, but there have been some developments in here.

I think your aunt is manipulating Hermione. Today I found them sleeping together. I know you're familly, but Bellatrix tortured her. And even if it's been weeks now and Hermione felt empathy for her because she was ill when she arrived, she should know better than to trust her.

So now I'm staying in her place. I'm also going to start her lessons. I know you're not supposed to see her, but if it's just us and if it's for training I don't think it'll be a problem.

By the way, are you free this Friday? We could go play some Quiditch, try for the annual game of the Ministry. I also got some invitations for that new restaurant that openned a few days in Diagon Alley. That one you wanted to go so badly. So maybe after practice we could go there.

I need to talk to you about Ron too. Things have been a litle tense since the break up, but now that he discovered Hermione is hosting Bellatrix, I think it has gotten worse.

Anyway, how have you been holding up? Have you spoken to your father about leaving your job? I'm sure Narcissa will support you. If you need help looking out for a place, say something.

Say something soon, I miss you bro,

See ya,

Scarhead

After having finally sent them, Harry decided to go check what the girls were up to. The lights were off downstairs, only the TV was on. He found them, each one on oposite sides of the couch. Hermione had stolen the blanket but Bellatrix kept tugging at it.

"Hermione?" he petted her hair slowly. Harry saw movement behind her eyelids, but the only other movement was her hand pulling the blanket up to her nose. "Hermione, you're sleeping on the couch. If you stay here you'll be in pain tomorrow."

"Uh? Alright, I'm moving." the brunete extended a hand towards Bella a shook her awake. "C'mon Bella, time to go to bed."

"Whatever."

The next morning Hermione woke up early (again). She had to go to the Ministry of Magic to see what were the other groups working on, and what would be the best for them to pick.

When she entered the kitchen, Harry was already eating his buttered toast. He was wearing some old jeans and a grey blueish shirt.

"Morning. What are you doing up so early?" she grabed the toast left on his plate and openned the fridged to get some milk. "You are not a morning person."

"Nop, but I figured that the earlier I start trainning with Bellatrix the best."

Hermione sat in front of Harry and looked seriously at him. After Bella fell assleep last night she had given her relationship with Harry a lot of thought. He was her bestfriend, but she didn't want to loose the relationship that was borning between them. No matter if Bellatrix said she understood Harry's side, there would be a point where she would simply be fed up. And Harry wouldn't stop until that moment came. He was always too reckless.

"Harry, I know you don't like Bellatrix. And I understand that." she grabbed her hand to stop him from speaking. "But she is still healing. You don't know her past, don't know the things that led her here. So don't go too hard on her. She needs to be understood, not judged. She already had enough of that."

"Don't worry Hermione. I'm an Auror, remember? I know what I'm doing. Besides, today we won't be actually duelling. Consider it more like a diagnostic test."

"I'm serious Harry. I really want to help her. I know you don't trust her and that you think I'm being careless and foolish, but I've seen more of her than anyone else. The only thing she needs is a chance."

Harry didn't say heard Hermione close the door, but didn't move. What Hermione said had gotten stuck in his head. No matter the circunstances it was never acceptable to kill someone. Much less familly.

It took fifteen minuts to drag the dark witch out of bed. Obviously, she was not happy about it. And her mood didn't improved when she heard that Hermione had left her alonne. Honestly, why did she have to leave me with this thing? How can I be sure he won't kill me anyway?.

Bellatrix was dreading the lesson so much that could not even stomach anything. So after getting dressed in some of Hermione's old clothes (that were too big for her), they were finally able to start.

They went outside. The garden was an open space, and the Gryfindor know-it-all had said that they could use if they promessed to at least try not to destroy everything. And since Bellatrix wasn't going to take any risks and use spells that were too... advanced? Potter had an advantage.

"So, we will start with the basic duelling." Harry said as soon as they were facing each other under the sun. Right, not dangerous at all. At least he could try to hide some of his killing intent. "I don't want you to use any spell that causes fisic or psicological damage. And since I'm an auror, I'll try and let you have an advance."

"There's no need for that. I think I can manage pretty well against you." Bellatrix refrained from saying that just because he was an auror it didn't mean she wasn't way better than him.

"Very well, than let's beggin. Levis Corpus!"

Bellatrix jumped to the side right in time to prevent being hit. Sneaky are we? I'm pretty sure you should've been a Slytherin. But that's probably Dumbledoor's doing or something.

Bellatrix had to give him some credit. Had it been someone else they would have been floating right now, their capacity of dodgin spells severely shorter. Sadly for him, her tinny stature and many years of hidding and running from her parents, husband and basicly everyone else had made her reflexes rather good.

"Expulso!"

A statue behind her exploded (Hermione was going to be pissed) and a chunk of the otters head hit her in back. Bellatrix fought the urge to wince in pain, knowing that would boost the man's confidence. So much for not being aggressive...

What can I do...? If I do anything like this he'll call it a day and probably send me back to Azkaban. I need more time to think...

"Expecto Patronus!"

A wight some erupted from her wand, obstructing Potter's vision of her enough that she could escape. Who needed to have a perfect patronus when that wihty thing worked as fine?

Bellatrix knew there were some trees further in the garden. If she got there further than Potter she could prepare a trap. She felt almost as if she was actually batling again. The blood rushing through her body, she could hear her heart beat. It wasn't enough to bring 'it' to the surface, but it sure stired his sleep. Bella knew that in case of extreme danger, she might be able to use it to feel the enemies presence to an very accurat level. But since this was just playing, it was probably better not to.

She could hear his steps behind her. Alright, maybe she wasn't going to make it into the tinny forest.The darked haired wicth pointed to a root of a near flower and whispered.

"Engorgio."

A few seconds later she heard Harry yelping and the sound of something heavy hitting the ground. That would certainly buy her some time.

"Serpensortia!"

Before she could do anything, her ankles were tangled in a the midle of a huge piton. Pain shot up her body when the stupid reptil bit the back of her shin. It was painfull but not poisonnous. Who would guess then kiddo had this kind of thing on his sleeve? A Piton is not exacly something easy...

"Encarcerous." she pointed at the snake who imeadiatly stoped moving.

Behind her Potter was already catching up. Bella could see him pointing his wand in her direction, but past her.

"Accio rock!"

A rock came flying straight to her head. Bellatrix waved her wand in front of her only on instinc, making the rock splinter. Unfortunatly some of the splinters got stucked in her shoulder. Now not only was her ankle bleeding but her left shoulder too.

There was really no point in doing this. She was just way too scared to use any actuall spell directly at him.

McGonnagal allways advised that sometimes we overthinked and ignored the easy solutions.

Suddendly Bellatrix came to a halt, tuned around, her 'mad look' in place, and screamed at the tops of her loungues, begging that the boy would be too focused on 'not' trying to kill her.

"AGUAMENTI!"

A spurt of water emerged from her wand, hitting Harry Potter right in the face. His useless Protego was turned into smoke as his glasses flew from his face. Quickly and seeing the Boy-Who-Lived completely confused, she put an end to all that ridiculous farce.

"Accio Wand"

Potter's wand come flying right at her, and as soon as it touched her skin she stopped the water. (Yes, she was using two spell's at the same time. Suck it Potter!)

As he stood back straight as decently as he could, his shirt wet and missing his glasses, Bellatrix couldn't help the smirk that garced her lips. It hadn't been anything speacial, but she hadn't atacked him directly (or caused any injuries). And that was a victory.

"In the next lesson we will try direct confrontation." with that, he simply turned around and walked back to the house. Still missing his glasses.

As Bellatrix walked back, she could see that he was sulking. Man, their pride gets so easilly wounded...

When she was going up to her room, Harry was walking back down and out the door. She didn't ask him where he was going or what was that paper he had in his hand. He wouldn't have told her anyway.

After a qucik shower and making sure she wasn't bleeding anymore, Bella was ready for lunch. Hermione would probably be arriving any minut now. Maybe she had thought about it and brought lunch.

And it all hapenned just like said. Hermione arrived with two sandwiches no longer than ten minuts after Bellatrix had wondered when she would be arriving.

"So, how did it go?"

"It was fine. I did win." Bellatrix smiled broadly. "And without hitting him with any spell."

"You mean to say that the reason why Harry was complaining to Draco was because you desarmed him?" Hermione lifted an eyebrow, not surprised at all. Harry should've known with whom he was dealling with.

"Sure. But I promess I didn't hurt him." Hermione almost couldn't stop herself when she saw the megga watt on the ther witches face.

"Why do you say that? Did YOU got hurt?"

Hermione placed down her chicken sandwiches and grabed Bellatrix face, examining every tinny bit of it. The dark haired witch squinted her eyes, glad that at least the most exposed part of her didn't show any injuries.

"No, I'm fine. Maybe YOU are the one who got hurt!" she said almost giggling as she left entered the living room.

"Sure. Because a meeting with Kingsley is sooooo deadly." Hermione flopped down on the couch next to her witch. "Are you ever gonna let me eat at the table?"

"Of course not! The soffa is way more confortable!" Bella took a bit at the sandwich, happy to see Hermione knew her tastes. "But c'mon, you haven't told me yet about what project we should do."

"Honestly, I have no idea where we should start... There's just so many things we can study! I don't want to make a bad choice..."

"I know, right! I mean, what if we pick something that turns out leading to nothing?! It'd be a complete waste of time, and we wouldn't have learned anything..."

"Hey, do you know what I just realized?"

"Are you changing the subject?"

"Well, yes, but it's important." Hermione looked both seriously and thoughtfull at Bella. "Skeeter never published anything..."

"It hasn't been that long. Maybe she is busy with something else. Besides, it's not like we can do anything about it."

"But doesn't it bother you? People talking about things they don't know, making opinions just because she said something that it's not even tru- " Hermione's eyes shot straight to Bella's. "Oh my god, I'm sorry Bella. I didn't mean to bring anything up like that. I wa-"

"Relax, will you." there was a twinkle in the ex-Death Eater that told Hermione she was finding it all very amusing. "I don't mind people saying anything about me. And maybe, she got scared."

"Of you? I wouldn't be surprised. You were really pissed."

"What can I do? I don't like her. Never did. You know, when she was at Hogwarts, she would spread rumors just to get people punished..."

"I get it. She's a bitch."

"No. I'm a bitch." Bella smiled evelly, and once again Hermione felt the hurge to flung herself in those arms. "She's just lame and stupid."

"Not like us. We're amazing."

"Totally. I mean, have you looked at us? We're the hotest couple ever."

"..." Hermione just stared at Bellarix, as the older woman realized what she had just said, her eyes bugging out and her cheeks redning.

"Not that I'm saying that we're a couple. It's just that we're like... you know... really awsome, and becaue we're two and a couple means two. I'm not saying that we're like, a couple 'couple'. We're just a couple of hot people. Yeah, that's what I meant. Not that I don't like you! I do! I just didn't intended that sentence to sound like tha-"

Hermione was loving every second of Bellatrix embaressement. She looked so cute, her cheeks and nose pink, her hands moving frenectly. This time, she did lean closer to her, shutting the dark witch by pecking her cheek. That only turned the blush darker.

"C'mon, I'll show you the filles of what the others are working on."

Bellatrix could only nod and stare at Hermione as she left the room.

To be continued...

A.N.: Hey guys! Sorry it's been so loooong... Hope you liked the chapter. Tell me what you thought or any other sugestions you might have.

On another note, I have set up an Instagram account to post some fannart of all the fandoms I'm in, and some random drawings too. I have some Bellamione posted already, so go check out it you feel like. My username is 'Nikas_13'. It's a public account and my bio tells you to check out for me on my account.

Also, I'm starting a Mean Girls fanfiction but in fannart, ReginaxCady. Don't forget to check it out.

Adeus!