Tumbling into Darkness

As the days rolled by the two witches fell into a pattern. They would have breakfast, Bellatrix would train with Gabriel – Hermione hadn't been able to change that arrangement which left Bellatrix moody for the better part of the afternoon – and then they would retire to the library where Hermione would introduce Bellatrix to different aspects of the program she was putting together, and Bellatrix would scoff at her ideas or hide the fact that she was actually impressed with something that Hermione had done. Ever since Hermione had stopped her from ripping the "snakes" eyes out, Bellatrix had decided she couldn't be completely unworthy.

Don't let her mess with your mind Bellatrix.

She stood up to you when no one else dared – her respect is earned.

She is a mudblood! You are better than her and always will be.

Things change. She might still surprise you.

Hermione had found a new respect for the older witch. Through their conversations and debates about the most arbitrary topics, Hermione had gleaned a vague understanding of the woman. There were still times when Hermione saw the madness take over the woman's eyes, and she would fall into quiet mutterings for a minute, but when she was done she would continue their debate as if nothing had happened. The first few times it had happened, Hermione had asked the witch if she was okay. She had been rebuffed angrily and it had taken the witch an hour or two to calm down enough to carry on. The more Hermione learned about the woman, the more she wanted to learn. Despite the madness and her dark past, Hermione could see she had not always been that way, and she could see the witch was willing to change. All it took was one person to help her.

The days dragged by and Bellatrix could see how the young witch was beginning to trust her. Every time she dropped a fact about her life, the mudblood would spring on the information like a lifeline and start asking strange searching questions. Bellatrix had also caught Hermione watching her with an intense look on her face, but when she realised Bellatrix was looking back she quickly looked away and pretended to be busy.

Maybe getting her back would be easier than I thought…

About two months after the program began, Hermione started working again. She had finally figured out the rehabilitation program and had hired people to run it. With Harry's help, she had chosen young Aurors to help with the protection of both candidates and counsellors. Ten of them had been chosen and Harry had begun their training. Gabriel Clearwater was working with him ensuring the Aurors knew what they were doing. Her counsellors were also young and would be helping in the research department as well as physically counselling the candidates should they require it. Luna Lovegood was one of the counsellors helping Hermione with the putting together of the programme and had volunteered to take on the next convict, should Hermione and Bellatrix's trial prove successful. The research they were focussing on was how best to treat wounds from curses, as well as in the development of counter-curses. Bellatrix was proving most helpful in this research, having been the recipient of many curses and torture. Many days, a representative from Harry's department would come to the manor and spend whatever time they could with Bellatrix before she descended into her random mutterings or crazed madness. When she spoke for too long about a certain torture she had undergone, she would suddenly become incoherent and violent and it took everything Hermione had to confine her to bedroom before she killed the representative. Every time this happened, Hermione sat outside her bedroom, listening to the older woman rant and howl and scream all sorts of demented things. She would hold her head in her hands and try and figure out what she could possibly do. When the screaming was done, Hermione would retire to the library and await Bellatrix. She would enter the library silently, bloodied hands outstretched to Hermione, who would then clean and repair whatever wounds the witch had inflicted. The two would then spend the evening in dead silence, neither daring to break the others peace, no matter the curiosity that burned within each of them.

Hermione returned home one evening to find dinner laid out next to the roaring fireplace, a bottle of fire whiskey accompanying it. Bellatrix stood as Hermione entered and the young witch was astonished to see a smile on the older woman's face. It wasn't a leer or a grimace or a snarl, it was a real smile, one Hermione had not seen before. She felt her heart beat spike irregularly and her cheeks began to burn crimson. Bellatrix grinned at her obvious shock.

"Surprise?" she joked warmly, coming around to take Hermione's coat. As she slipped the coat from Hermione's shoulders, her hands ran the length of Hermione's arms, causing the young witch's breathing to hitch and a shiver of pleasure to run down her spine. Bellatrix smiled to herself and leaned in to whisper in Hermione's ear.

"I hope you know how grateful I am that you rescued me."

The young witch couldn't answer for shock, for disbelief and for desire.

Desire? her mind shrieked at her, but she couldn't hear it over the roaring of her want for the older witch just to touch her again.

Bellatrix motioned for Hermione to take a seat as the older witch poured them each a generous glass of fire whiskey. Hermione downed hers in a single swallow. Bellatrix chuckled.

"Calm down Granger. I'm not going to kill you." She laughed but poured Hermione a second glass as she took a seat opposite her and smiled at the young witch's disbelief.

"You actually might," Hermione muttered darkly. If you don't touch me again…

Bellatrix laughed while Hermione continued to watch her warily. "How did the Aurors do today?" she asked Hermione. Hermione shook her head to clear it.

"Uh…they were fine. Better than yesterday. They're finally mastering that counter-curse you taught me." Bellatrix nodded and continued to ask questions about the program and the rest of Hermione's day. While the young witch was totally taken aback by this strange development, having the dark woman's attention focussed on her was thrilling, exhilarating and utterly confusing. Hermione couldn't figure out what her traitorous body was responding to. Yes the dark woman was incredibly intelligent and infinitely interesting and of course, Hermione could see why she appealed to men.

And you.

Hermione watched as the mischievous twinkle appeared in Bellatrix's dark eyes, how her grin seemed natural and unthreatening and when she casually touched Hermione's leg, the young witch thought her heart had stopped.

When they had finished their dinner, they retired to the couch, with yet another glass of fire whiskey each. Hermione was beginning to feel the drink going to her head and only hoped she wouldn't do anything stupid. Bellatrix was talking but Hermione couldn't understand what she was saying, she was so focussed on the witch's cherry red lips. Suddenly Hermione felt hands on her face as the dark witch cupped her face in an effort to get her attention. She felt her body respond to the casual touch and before she knew it, she was leaning forward to capture the cherry red lips with her own, the spark she had felt upon shaking Bellatrix's hand returning with a vengeance.

For a split second they were connected, before Hermione's brain had time to catch up to her body and she pulled away, her hand covering her mouth. Bellatrix looked entirely amused and strangely disappointed.

"I – oh Merlin…I'm so sorry – that was totally - "

"Unjustified as to why you stopped," the dark woman complained reaching forward, wrapping her fingers in Hermione's hair and capturing her lips once more. This time Hermione was somewhat prepared for it, but not for her reaction. Her cheeks were aflame and her entire body ached with desire as Bellatrix pulled her close, biting her bottom lip and demanding entrance to her mouth with her tongue. Hermione groaned as the older witch pulled her head back and trailed a blaze of kisses along her neck and down her collarbone. Hermione found her hands wrapped in the dark witch's raven locks as Bellatrix pulled the young woman onto her lap, her teeth grazing Hermione's neck and ears. Hermione whimpered in pleasure and heard Bellatrix chuckle.

"Who would have thought…" Bellatrix muttered as her lips found Hermione's once again. Without being bidden, Hermione's hands began to explore Bellatrix's body. Trailing her fingers down the woman's bared back, across her shoulders and down her chest, all the while never letting go of the woman's lips, those cherry red lips that were so demanding. Suddenly Bellatrix released the young witch's hair and slipped her hands below her shirt. Breaking free of their kiss for a second, the dark woman lifted her shirt clear off and Hermione had a moment to look into the dark eyes that threatened to drag her under. Bellatrix ran her hands all over Hermione before pulling her close once more. Hermione fumbled awkwardly with the knots of Bellatrix's corset before eventually working them free. Bellatrix slipped the corset off and threw it to the ground, allowing Hermione to see the battle worn body for the first time. There were scars everywhere; across her ribs, down her chest, across her strangely muscular stomach. Hermione traced them all, eliciting a shiver from the witch, before beginning to kiss each and every scar. Bellatrix moaned and wrapped her hands in Hermione's hair once more. Bellatrix moved and positioned Hermione below her, staring into her eyes with only one question burning in them. Hermione answered by pulling the dark witch's face towards her own and losing herself in the darkness.