A/N: Well, what can I say other than that I'm sorry that it's been so long. I'm not in the best place at the moment and creativity doesn't come easy and I don't want to upload rubbish. Frankly, I already wasn't too happy with the last chapter, at the same time I don't want to leave you hanging forever. But the announcement of the eight Harry Potter book (yeah!) gave me some motivation, so here we go.
Word don't ever seem to come out right
But I still mean them
You're the only image in my mind
So I still see you around
(I miss you – Beyoncé)
…
The tears on her cheeks had turned into salt crusts from the sharp wind mercilessly whipping past her face. She looked up at her sister whose neatly tied bun had dissolved into nothing more than a bird's nest.
"Are you really gonna play the posh pureblood, now?"
Narcissa looked between the grass and her light grey skirt. "Oh alright" she sighed and conjured a small blue blanket to sit down on.
Bellatrix snorted at the act. As gorgeous as Narcissa was, her obsession with appearance could be rather annoying.
"Where are we?" the dark witch asked.
The blonde took out her wand and with a few flicks glistening golden lines appeared to form a map.
"New Zealand" was Narcissa's assessment.
"Jesus fucking Christ, they've moved her to the other side of the world. Damn it!" Bellatrix started to pull patches of grass out of the ground.
Narcissa concealed her surprise at her sister's use of this Muggle terminology. It must have been decades since she had talked that way. Maybe she truly was changing. As horrible as the situation was, she enjoyed the subtle changes she had noticed in her sister.
"It's really only a stone's throw away when you use Apparition. And now that you know where she lies you can come back anytime" Narcissa tried to console her.
"You know that's not true, Cissy. If I want to make it work with Hermione I have to let it go."
"I know. I'm just glad you know that and I don't have to break it down for you and bear the consequences for telling you you're wrong."
That actually made Bellatrix laugh. She really had quite the reputation even with her own sister.
After a few moments of silence Bellatrix rose from the ground.
"I think it's time to go, sis."
She took the crystal wand necklace from her neck and dug a little hole in the earth where she buried it.
Narcissa stood, too, and pointed her wand at the place where Cara lay. She glanced at her sister who nodded her approval.
A small polished black grave stone appeared. In silver writing it read:
Here lies Cara Benett
In love,
B &N
…
Narcissa enjoyed the way the thick curls felt beneath her hand as she patted them rhythmically. She had flung one arm around her sister who rested her head on her shoulder. This moment, this entire day, made her reminisce about their youth. She wouldn't be able to count the times they been snuggled up like this in one of their beds at Hogwarts. Back then the world seemed to close in on them. When relationships became unstable, when sisters broke the sacred bond and home turned into hell they only had each other. Even though they had gotten caught up in a war and prison had ripped them apart for so many years, when it came down to it, they still only had each other. Neither of them had vocalized it, but over the past weeks that old bond had been filled with life again and no man, no woman could ever come between them. Although some were always naïve enough to try.
Someone was coughing.
Narcissa opened her eyes to see her husband standing in the doorway.
"What", he gestured helplessly between her and Bellatrix, "is this?"
"What does it look like?"
"I would like to go to bed" he sighed.
"As you can see your spot is already taken and I highly doubt Bella would fancy a threesome involving you."
She couldn't hold back a deep throaty laughter when she saw Lucius' horror-stricken face.
"Narcissa, that is not funny."
"Oh, loosen up, will you" she rolled her eyes. "The elf has made the bed in the guestroom."
"This is my house. I will not sleep in the guest room in my own house."
"You're going to have to. She's had a terrible time these past weeks; she needs me." Narcissa looked at the sleeping form of her sister and quietly she added "And I need her."
Lucius was speechless, as he was so often recently. He made to leave and just as he was about to walk through the door he turned around once more.
"When did I lose you?" he asked.
"When you lost yourself" Narcissa said and knew that in that moment something ended.
The door closed.
She held onto Bellatrix even tighter.
…
Narcissa smirked as her sister walked into the kitchen the next morning. She looked a mess. Her hair always turned into a warzone overnight and she never bothered to make herself presentable before breakfast.
Bellatrix sat down and poured herself a cup of coffee. Yesterday had worn her out emotionally. She felt drained, but also relieved. Her vision was a little clearer today.
The kitchen door opened again and Lucius was standing there. He took one look at his sister in law and opened his mouth to say something, but apparently he had no idea what to say, because after looking helplessly at Narcissa he left, blushing like a child.
"How on earth can you stand him?" Bellatrix asked.
"I can't" Narcissa swallowed. "Not anymore. I think I need to leave."
"Oh." Bellatrix reached over to take her sister's hand. "I had no idea it was this serious. I'm sorry, I guess."
"Don't be" the blonde shook her head. "I stopped loving him a long time ago. I was just too paralyzed to draw the consequences."
Bellatrix looked the blonde up and down. "Well, you're not going to sit on the shelve for very long."
"I'm old, Bella" Narcissa snorted.
"So am I and look at the young hottie that is interested in me" Bellatrix winked.
"Talking of that young hottie", Narcissa laughed, "what are you going to do about her?"
"Well, I guess I should explain the situation and … show her my feelings."
Bellatrix looked as if that last word alone could make her vomit.
"It's going to be worth it, Belle" her sister encouraged her.
"It better be" Bellatrix pouted. "Oh fuck it, I better get this over with today before I change my mind." She left the kitchen and headed for the fireplace, her cup of coffee still in hand; she would need caffeine today.
Just before she stepped into the fireplace she exclaimed "I'll bring it back in one piece" as she was sure her sister was already worried for her precious china. Good luck was the last thing she heard before green flames swallowed her.
…
„Good afternoon, girlie".
A shiver spread through Hermione's spine. That low and husky voice should be like a stranger's voice to her; if anything it should make her fell scared. And yet, it sounded so familiar to her, already.
Slowly she looked up from the newspaper she had been reading. Bellatrix was standing in the doorway. She wore, not surprisingly, a black cloak and had her hands in its pockets. From underneath the cloak did not fall the usual wide flowing skirt, but a pair of black stockings. Who would have thought Madame Lestrange owned a minidress?
"It's quite a risk for you to come here" she addressed the older witch.
"It's always been a risk for me to go anywhere", Bellatrix shrugged. "Besides, according to that ridiculous clock downstairs we will be alone for a while."
Hermione nodded with a little smile. That clock was ridiculous indeed. "What do you want?" she asked staring back into the newpaper in an effort to look like she didn't care.
"You."
"Really?" Hermione's voice was full of mockery. "Are you sure you actually want me and not rather that freckle-face? I'm not one for role play, you know."
There was a rustling noise that made her take her eyes off the newspaper again. And what she saw made her mouth run dry. Bellatrix' cloak was lying around her feet on the floor. Hermione's eyes wandered from black ankle boots over legs in stockings up to black lacy panties and a matching braw. Bellatrix was just as curvaceous as she had imagined and it set fire to her core. She was a slut for a beautiful woman and she hated it.
The raven witch strutted towards her, stopping just a couple of meters in front of the bed.
"Make love to me" a low voice husked and dark eyes looked expectantly at her.
Hermione's heartbeat quickened. She had expected some sort of vulgarity but not this. From the way Bellatrix looked at her and twisted her own fingers, not knowing where to put them, she could tell the other witch was sincere – and quite nervous. So was Hermione. Her first night with Bellatrix made her experience feelings she had never felt before and it left her insecure in her own qualities as a lover. Forty-eight years of experience were hard to beat, she figured. But now was not the time for self-doubt. She walked over to Bellatrix and took her hands, but barely dared to look her in the eyes.
Bellatrix leaned into her. "You know, sometimes you need to turn off that brilliant brain of yours and just feel" she whispered.
Hermione took a deep breath and walked around the witch, letting her hand run over her stomach. She kissed along a pale shoulder while her hands traced down the woman's silhouette. Her hand slid between the witch's legs from behind, stroking her through her panties.
"Oh bloody hell, woman" Bellatrix breathed. Her head rested on Hermione's shoulder, giving her an excellent view of her heavily rising and falling chest.
As Hermione nibbled on soft skin, she remembered Narcissa's words. Bellatrix isn't very skilled in showing emotions, at least not positive ones. With the outmost annoyance she realized that they were about to make a mistake. This may be Bellatrix' way to show she cared, but it wouldn't solve anything. It took all of Hermione's self-restrain, but she picked up Bella's coat and put it back on her shoulders. As the witch turned around she could see hurt and anger written all over her face.
"No, don't even go there." Hermione wanted to stop the thoughts of self-doubt and suspicion before they could even implant themselves in the woman's head. "I would love to …. Trust me. But we've already moved too fast once. We're too smart to make the same mistake twice, don't you think?"
"Well, we're definitely smart" Bellatrix chuckled weirdly. Although she tried not to let her nervousness show, there her voice quavered. Cissa had once told her that sex wasn't always the best way to show feelings. Unfortunately, she hadn't told her how to do it instead. She walked over to the bed where Hermione had sat down. She let herself sink onto the soft mattress without looking at the girl. This was completely out of her comfort zone, but she knew it was on her to explain something.
She cleared her throat. "I am … sorry." The words felt strange in her mouth. Her heart was racing. She had gone on countless raids, her life had been in danger every other week, but this was making her nervous. Pathetic. "Fuck, I have no idea how to do this" she muttered annoyed with herself.
"If it's any consolation, I'm not really an expert when it comes to emotions either" the girl said and it actually made her feel a bit better.
"I'm sorry for what happened the other night" she continued. "Doesn't mean I don't care about you."
The girl took her hand in both hands and squeezed it tightly. Such a small gesture, but it teared down a barrier and words poured out of her.
"When I first saw you, it stirred something up. I started to remember every damn thing and I never thought I would have to deal with all of this bullshit. And I never thought you would actually come to me and when you did I didn't know how to handle it. It was so overwhelming and I …" Bellatrix interrupted herself when a sob broke from her throat. Her cheeks felt wet. Was she crying? Her vision became blurry. God, she was actually crying. A slender hand caressed her head and Bellatrix let herself be pulled against a warm shoulder. Hermione leaned back onto the bed and pulled her down with her. She rested her head on the girl's chest and could hear the strong heartbeat. It felt strange this intimacy, but oh so good.
Hermione couldn't help but smirk as she looked down at Bellatrix. Her eyes were closed; the chest that had shook with sobs only minutes ago was now rising and falling peacefully. What a strange sight they had to be; the golden girl with the last, the best lieutenant in her arms in a bed at the Burrow. The irony of life.
Downstairs the clock hand moved to announce the arrival of one famous boy. Harry Potter was in the final stages of his studies and liked to come home earlier whenever he could. He enjoyed the silence and peace when it was only Hermione and him at the Burrow. He loved the Weasly family dearly, but having grown up in a cupboard, it could be overwhelming at times. He shed his coat and his shoes and headed upstairs for his best friend who was surely curled up in her bed with a book again.
The door to her room was open, no need to knock, so he walked in and stopped dead in his track right away. He had clearly been working too much lately. His mind was playing tricks on him. He stepped back into the corridor. Shutting his eyes tight he shook his head, but to no avail. He wasn't hallucinating.
Bellatrix Lestrange was alive and she was here; in the arms of his best friend who was gently caressing the woman's hair. He was so shocked by this highly surreal image that he didn't even think to grab his wand. Instead he cleared his throat.
Hermione's eyes shot open and she looked just as shocked as Harry.
"Harry, I … can explain" Hermione forced the words out of her mouth. "If you could give me a minute" she gestured towards the half-naked woman.
Harry blushed profoundly and simply nodded before he slowly walked away. Thank God Harry was as stuck-up as he was. It gave her time.
"Bella!" she shook the woman more violently than she would have liked to. The woman looked up at her with sleepy eyes.
"Harry's here. He's seen you. He's downstairs now, but …" before she could finish Bellatrix was wide awake and up on her feet. Some death-eater qualities had never left her.
"Contact Narcissa immediately" Bellatrix instructed mechanically as she buttoned up her coat. "The Aurors won't suspect me at Black Manor. They will go to Malfoy Manor or Lestrange Manor first. Tell her I'm in my hiding place and to keep me updated."
"You're hiding place? Where is that?"
"How well trained are you in Occlumency?" Bellatrix asked.
"Barely" Hermione confessed.
"Then it's better you don't know. I'm sure these bloody Aurors will try to get every little fucking thing out of you."
"Bella, will I ever see you again?"
"Well, if you manage to keep the pity boy in check and the Aurors off my ass, feel free to apparate."
Bellatrix took her hand and pressed it against her cheek. "You know you can apparate to me if you have enough love for me, don't you pet?"
"Bella, I …"
"Shhh" Bellatrix cupped her cheek "we'll see, pet."
"Hermione?" Harry's voice sounded through the house.
Alarmed she looked towards the corridor. Mere seconds and Harry would come upstairs again, she was sure, but when she looked back to Bellatrix, the witch was already gone.
A/N: I need your help! Does anybody have an idea what Hermione should do job wise? I'm not sure I want her to do the usual Ministry thing, but I also don't really know what other jobs she could do.
Whew, I didn't expect Minerva to gain so much dislike. It's funny because she's actually one of my favourite characters, but she just turned out to be darker in this story.
TiAdoro914: Yes! Cannot wait for you to start a Cissamione story! There are not enough out there and a lot are quite short or left unfinished.
LtheWolf: Yeah, I don't think jealousy is the right word, but I couldn't find a better one :D I don't think she's jealous in the sense that she's really interested in Bella and therefore doesn't want her to be involved with anyone else. It's more a case of control and possession. You know how kids toss their toy away and then want it back all of a sudden when another kid plays with it? Yeah …
