Chapter 10

The Forbidden Forest

It was late one Thursday night in November, way past curfew, when Hermione decided to take a walk around the school grounds. She had a lot on her mind and needed to clear her head.

She walked around aimlessly with her head down until she heard a twig snap behind her. Hermione spun around with her wand drawn, ready to duel, but when she saw that it was Ron she put her wand back up her right sleeve.

"Ron, what are you doing here?" she asked. Hermione did a quick look around and noticed that they were in the Forbidden Forest.

"Why don't you like me 'ermione?" Ron asked.

Hermione looked at him perplexed, having not expected that question. "Pardon?"

Ron started to move closer to her. "I like you 'ermione and I've been obvious about it. But you don't respond, why? You and I are meant to be together, aren't we?" he asked still slowly walking towards her. Hermione took a couple of steps back, Ron had this look in his eyes that Hermione found uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry Ron, I have to disagree with you. We aren't meant to be together. I'm sorry if I somehow strung you along on that belief but it's false," she stated, being firm with her answer. A flash of hurt crossed Ron's eyes, but was quickly replaced with anger.

"Who is it? Who is it that you're seeing? Who is the idiot who thinks that he can take you away from me?" he almost yelled. Hermione shook her head, about to say that there was no one but Ron cut her off. "Don't lie. I stole Harry's map and saw you disappear one day, and you've been different. Who is it?!" this time he did yell and he got dangerously close to Hermione. She backed up but a hit tree. She tried to get away but he grabbed her.

"You're mine," he growled. "And only mine," he forcefully kissed her, trying to shove his tongue down her throat. Hermione tried to be free of his grip but he was stronger. She then tried to grab her wand but it had fell out of her sleeve while trying to get away. He threw her to the cold, unforgiving forest floor, giving Hermione an instant headache. He pulled at her shirt, trying to undo the buttons but they weren't cooperating and Ron became frustrated.

Hermione started to cry and yell but Ron slapped her hard across her left cheek and told her to shut up. He began to undo his pants while Hermione looked around frantically for something to help her. She started to move her right arm because she thought that she saw her wand but Ron quickly grabbed her wrist, immediately leaving bruises.

"Don't," he hissed. "I know you want this," he said as he pushed his head down into her partially open shirt which had exposed her breasts.

With her right arm held down, she began to search for something with her left hand. She didn't have to search for long before she found a rock and she hit Ron in the head with it until he passed out.

Shaking, Hermione pushed Ron off of her and found her wand. She began to run away from the forest and towards the castle. She was an absolute mess. Her hair was in disarray, shirt partially open and torn, and she had tear streaks down her face. She fell a couple of times, adding to her dirtiness and tears still flowed freely from her eyes. She didn't know where to go, but then thought of Professor McGonagall who promised that she'd help Hermione in any way she could.

She was making her way to her Professor's quarters when she thought better of it. She didn't want to make a big fuss, and that's what would happen if anyone found out. So instead she headed to the Prefects bathroom. Once there she tried to heal the cuts that had happened to Hermione either from Ron or from falling along her way back.

Because she was still shaky, she did a poor job of healing anything and actually just made herself look worse. She could barely hide the bruises and knew that tomorrow she'd have a hard time covering everything up, and she'd have a hard time not killing Ron.

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Narcissa Malfoy sat in one of the chairs in the sun room that saw no sun, waiting for her sister to return from the kitchen. She hadn't really had a chance to speak with Bellatrix during Thanksgiving weekend so she surprised her with a visit.

Bellatrix came back with a tray of tea and snacks and placed them on the table in front of her sister. She then sat down on the floor cross legged, on the other side of the table, opposite to Narcissa. Bellatrix began to pick at the snacks, and obviously was not going to be the one to initiate conversation so Narcissa cleared her throat and started it herself.

"How did Draco's occlumency training go?" she inquired.

Bellatrix looked up. "Fine. If he practices he shouldn't have any problems," she said casually but her eyes betrayed excitement and longing, which Narcissa did not miss.

Narcissa narrowed her eyes at her older sister. "Is there something that you'd like to tell me?" Bellatrix looked back at the snacks, put a cracker in her mouth and shook her head. "Bella," Narcissa's tone darkened.

"It's none of your business Cissy," Bellatrix snapped, getting irritated at her sister's nosiness.

"Does it have to do with the Mudblood?" she asked accusingly. Bellatrix's head shot up and glared dangerously at her sister.

"Don't you dare call her that!" Bellatrix growled.

Narcissa sighed. "Bella what are you doing? This isn't good, and it's not healthy. If the Dark Lord finds out then you're screwed, and besides why would she ever feel the same way? You're a Death Eater and she's with Potter. What makes you think that anything will happen?" she asked.

"You're wrong. She does feel the same way," Bellatrix whispered into her tea cup. Narcissa blinked at her sister, hoping that she had heard wrong.

"What was that Bellatrix?" she said using her full name in a harsh tone. Bellatrix stared at her before examining her carpet underneath her.

"We kissed."

At this Narcissa stood up and began to pace the length of the room. She thought long and hard to come up with a reasonable thing to say but she found none.

"What the bloody hell are you thinking!?" she yelled, pointing at Bellatrix. "Have you lost you mind? Please tell me that you have some secret plan to capture the Potter boy using the Mudblood as bait," Narcissa pleaded.

Bellatrix stood up and walked to the door where she stayed.

"Go," she demanded, not daring to look at her sister for fear of hexing her into oblivion. "Go and keep your mouth shut."

Narcissa mumbled something incomprehensible before walking out of the room and then slamming the front door, causing a picture to fall off of the wall and shatter.

'She's right. I have to be bloody crazy to like Hermione, but to be fair Hermione must be crazy to like me as well,' Bellatrix sighed. 'I suppose if worst comes to worst I'll have to go into hiding,' she thought to herself in her empty, soundless house. She sighed again and then walked to the drawing room to get the appropriate materials to write a letter. She hadn't talked to Hermione since their last encounter an wanted to see her again.

'Dear Hermione,

I had a good time on Sunday and was wondering if you'd like to meet again this Saturday. We could explore the room some more, or do other things, doesn't matter to me. In case you don't get a chance to respond, I'll be in the cabinet at 9:15 again, and I'll bring food so we don't get hungry.

x.

Bellatrix

P.S. Bring the Dark Arts Beginner's Spell Book.'

A/N: Sorry this chapter is a little on the short side, but I promise the next chapter will be longer.