Good grief. Got it just under the wire of 2016. Thank you special readers for the reviews that spurred me to get writing again!
Chapter 13 – Distracted in just the right way
In the week after the lesson on energy transfer, Hermione practiced her new techniques with every "safe" spell she could think of. She tried controlling the speed that the spell took, leading to excellent results with her transfiguration spells, especially. She also took note of her change in energy and temperature with each spell cast, amazed that she had neither been taught this nor noticed it herself. But once Hermione was aware of it, she was easily able to gauge how taxing a spell was based on the energy she felt herself expending. She was eager for her next lesson, and she didn't have to wait long.
Two weeks since our last. Same time and place. Even if I do hate predictability.
Hermione had to grin at the words in the book, and not only because there was another lesson scheduled. She imagined that a witch as wild as Bellatrix must be almost embarrassed to have such a regular schedule. But maybe she pretended to have a standing appointment that took her away from Voldemort, and for which she would not be missed. Hermione didn't want to wonder too much about that. She was doing a fantastic job of compartmentalizing and didn't want to mess with her comfort zone now.
The day of the next lesson, March 29th, the boys had spent a large chunk of time trying to convince Hermione to come and ride a broom with them. Since there was no Quidditch with Umbridge's decree (Number 38? 39?), Ron and Harry wanted and needed to blow of some steam. Hermione refused to make a fool of herself with her inanimate nemesis The Broomstick, but agreed to stand by the lake to watch them taunt the giant squid as they flew over. She figured she could practice more spellwork, though once she started, she noticed a few people watching her.
Must be some of Umbridge's flunkies… I'd better not do any of my DA spells out here. She'd catch on in an instant if we knew anything other than what she's "teaching" us.
Hermione muttered her spells almost without thinking, caught up in other thoughts instead.
Though I wonder if those death-eater lessons are still going on in Hogsmeade? Merlin, how could I have forgotten about those? Is Dumbledore aware of that going on? Why hasn't Bellatrix tried to get me to go to any more of those meetings?
She faked some cheer and waved at Ron as he flew too close to her. Inside, however, she was starting to get nervous.
Just what DOES Bellatrix have planned for me? I can't imagine she'd want to spend all this time training without a return on her investment.
Hermione couldn't believe that she had become so careless and forgotten about the start of her "relationship" with Bellatrix. But just as she resolved to go back to her room and work out some of her concerns, Ron flew by again, this time splashing her with water.
"RON! YOU PRAT! YOU MESSED ME UP!" Muttering, Hermione performed a drying spell on her clothes, then attempted to shoot Ron as he passed by again with her perfect aguamenti spell. Then she remembered the energy conversations, muttered, "I wonder…" and tried something new.
She aimed carefully at the broom Ron was riding as it went by, nervous that she'd miss and get Ron instead. But she also knew that it was the broom itself expending magic by flying, not Ron. She didn't know what she was trying to do, exactly, but she knew how she wanted to feel – warm. Hermione whispered the warming charm, and imagined drawing energy from the broom. She felt warmer immediately, but didn't know if her scheme had worked until Ron's broom abruptly seemed to stall in the air and then took a nose-dive, dumping him into the lake.
Hermione could not hide her mirth at the spectacle, nor her glee at doing something right on the first try. She wasn't really sure what she had done, but after she managed to stop her laughter help Ron and his broom out of the lake, she resolved to ask Bellatrix about it that night.
Midnight found Hermione on the banks of the lake, practicing her warming charm and at the same time trying to draw energy from the lake water. She figured if the water froze, she would know she'd taken the energy from it. She also knew that if she was so engrossed in looking for ice crystals, she'd be an easy target for the dark witch, and didn't want to be caught unawares again. Thus, she'd taken the precaution of setting an alarm of sorts.
The chorus of frogs behind Hermione made her jump after all, but she hoped the dark covered her startle reflex. However, it turned out to be unnecessary to worry, as the intruder who set off the alarm was too busy stepping carefully and muttering profanities aimed at Merlin's mother to notice her.
Hermione began to giggle as Professor Black lurched around, holding her black skirt well clear of the ground and the hopping, croaking animals.
"Sorry! I was trying something, and I didn't want to be snuck up on." Hermione pointed her wand at the frogs, and one by one they turned back into stones.
A grouchy witch joined her at the water's edge. "And you think that a bunch of amphibians will protect you?" she scoffed.
"Well, that and my army of mice." Hermione was still grinning, and finally Lyra Black rolled her eyes, nodded and sighed. Hermione was grateful to see Lyra there. As much as she thrilled to the presence of Bellatrix, she learned more from Lyra. And, she was very eager to show off what she'd figured out on her own. She did not have to wait long for her chance.
"So what were you trying that had you so distracted?" Did Hermione imagine that she was a bit miffed? Was Hermione supposed to stand there like an eager fan-girl, waiting for her celebrity to show up? She blushed a little at this thought, aware that that's exactly how it had gone down many times before.
"Uh… well…" Hermione was suddenly not sure whether to tell or show. She decided on the latter, as something in her felt like the dark witch would prefer to be the one explaining.
"Um, can you come stand here, and I'll try to show you?"
"Roxanna, this had better not be another one of your tricks." The arched eyebrow looked stern, but the dancing eyes belied otherwise. The older woman came and stood by her pupil.
"Ok. Um, so see the water's edge?" Hermione was nervous, but excited.
"Yes. It's very special. What trick are you going to show me next?"
Hermione playfully nudged her teacher's side with her elbow, letting her know that she wasn't done yet. She rather enjoyed being the one in charge, for once. But she wasn't stupid enough to stall to prolong the situation.
"Ok. Well, close your eyes. Or you can leave them open!" Hermione added the last bit hastily, upon seeing the skeptical expression on Bellatrix's face. She began to cast the warming spell around them, moving her wand more than was strictly necessary to try to distract the older woman's attention. However, her own attention was focused firmly on the water, trying to sense it, feel it.
"I'm warm now. That's enough."
Hermione ceased her wand motions and the spell. Then she glanced at the water and did a little hop of joy.
"You are this excited about a warming charm that you learned years ago? I know you'd forgotten you could do it, freezing all those times down here, but I wouldn't have thought you were so proud to remember it now." Bellatrix was truly scoffing dismissively now.
Hermione pointed at the water's edge, now lined with ice crystals along the shore. But she didn't think Bellatrix would get what she was trying to show her, and her heart fell, humiliation and embarrassment following fast on the heels of her excitement and pride. She was wrong.
Bellatrix glanced at the water, then took a longer look, then went and crouched down to examine the ice.
"You did this?"
Hermione held her breath and nodded.
"With the warming charm? Nothing else?" Bellatrix sounded impressed, and Hermione began to feel pride swell within her once again as she nodded. Bellatrix stood up, strode back to her side, and said, "Again."
Hermione began moving her wand the same way, and Bellatrix deftly caught her arm. Not letting go, she stated quietly, "Not so much of that nonsense. Put your attention into the spell."
Hermione nodded, though she was having a hard time paying attention to anything but the feel that lingered of long fingers around her forearm. She nodded again, swallowed, and began smaller wand movements. The air around the two began to heat up once more. It was comfortable in the cold air, at first. Then as she began to put more effort into the spell, the heat started to feel oppressive, stifling. Bellatrix reached out her hand again and stilled Hermione's arm once more.
"Enough. It's starting to feel like a Norwegian sauna out here, and I'm not dressed for that."
Hermione was startled at the images that rushed to her mind, and glanced at her teacher. This new sight did not help, as the raven haired witch's brow was sweaty and her face flushed. Hermione thrilled at the knowledge that she had made her look that way, and her mind darted to other ways she could get the dark witch looking so flushed. Heat, even more heat, rose to her face and down in the opposite direction, and she immediately looked away and began fanning her face. She did not realize that Bellatrix had caught the look, and had raised a questioning eyebrow in response.
"Sorry about that. I know I should be able to draw energy without only doing a warming charm, but that's the only way I know I'm doing it right."
Bellatrix watched her nervous pupil for a silent moment longer, then let her off the hook by murmuring, "Hmmm… we need to work on that. But this ice is very impressive." She knelt once more by the water's edge, giving them both a moment to cool down.
When she stood up, she looked seriously at Hermione for a few heartbeats longer than seemed necessary. The older woman seemed to be contemplating something, before she nodded to herself.
"Roxanna, I think you are ready. And I need you to be ready, so even though I am concerned that we are moving a few lessons faster than I'd like, I think you can handle it."
Hermione's heart began beating wildly, whether from sudden fear or excitement, she wasn't sure.
The dark witch continued, "I am surprised that you figured out how to draw energy from the environment around you so quickly, and without my tutelage. What I want to work with you now is how to take energy from another's spell. This will strengthen your spells and weaken your opponent's."
Hermione raised her eyebrows in surprise. This seemed like a large jump indeed, and she wondered at who these opponents were. She supposed she knew who they were supposed to be: her kind, the mudbloods and blood traitors, and her best friends Ron and Harry. Hermione's nerves settled and she felt her resolve harden – it was time she ensure that she learn the most for her survival and for that of her loved ones. It was time to get serious and learn. And Hermione loved to learn.
Bellatrix did not seem to see any of these thoughts bouncing around Hermione's head, and seemed to accept her reactions as normal for her pupil.
"I am going to cast the aguamenti spell, and I want you to do it at the same time. While we are casting, you try to draw energy from my spell. If you can make your water flow increase and mine decrease at the same time, we will know you have succeeded."
Hermione nodded, again impressed at all the ways this simple spell had made itself useful. The two witches stood side by side at the lake's edge and began their spell. Hermione struggled – she could make her water flow increase, but nothing happened to Bellatrix's, and she could tell that it was just her putting in more effort and energy to her own spell.
After the third time, Bellatrix sighed, "Again. And this time I'll show you want I mean."
Hermione's water flow trickled and Bellatrix's became a raging torrent. Hermione also felt the loss of energy in her wand hand, both in a tickle of electricity and a feeling of coolness. Likewise she felt it when Bellatrix ceased her pull of energy, and both water flows returned to normal.
The young woman nodded with determination, and the two witches began again. Nothing happened beyond two medium flows of water. Hermione huffed in frustration.
Bellatrix chortled, but kindly, and said, "It's not easy. Remember we are skipping some steps. Let's go back one and see if you can pull the energy more directly from me."
With that, she stood directly behind Hermione and interlaced the fingers of their left hands together, resting their joined hands on the young woman's belly. It took all Hermione's strength to stay standing, as she could feel her knees begin to buckle.
The dark witch, never one to show the slightest sign of being self-conscious, breezily informed her pupil that the latter should focus on pulling energy with her left hand and put it into her right hand, through the wand, and into the spell. The two women, standing flush against each other in the moonlight by a lake, began to cast their spells. Bellatrix's wand arm was almost directly beside Hermione's and the younger woman practically groaned at the thought of how they must look, casting magic together like this. She could barely focus, and her aguamenti suffered as a result. She failed miserably.
After a moment of nothing much happening, Bellatrix ceased her water flow and Hermione followed suit. They stood together in silence, Bellatrix not moving away and Hermione not breathing.
"Roxanna. You have to remember to breath. It increases the…"
"…chance that I will remain conscious to see my results." Hermione smirked, remembering the words her professor had used once before. Bellatrix barked out a short laugh and stepped back a tiny bit.
"Yes, silly girl. It does." She tilted her head to look around Hermione's shoulder and into her eyes. Her hair tickled Hermione's cheek, and that tiny step back felt like nothing.
"Do I make you uncomfortable?" The dark witch's question was said with an innocent voice, but Hermione could not help but feel that the woman knew exactly what she was doing.
"Umm… uhhh…" The older woman smirked at her pupil's stuttering, and Hermione said defensively, "Well, I'm not used to being so close to someone else, especially not while doing magic!"
"Hmm. Well, while I am sorely tempted to make a suggestive comment about the magic two can do when close together, I shall spare you the torture." Bellatrix plowed on through Hermione's blush. "Taking energy from another wizard, especially when you are both casting a spell, requires you to be extremely aware of their body and soul as well as your own. It may not be an intimate act, but it requires a great deal of intimacy. You will have to get over it, my dear."
With that, Bellatrix planted herself firmly against Hermione's backside again, squeezed their fingers on their left hands together, and draped her right arm over Hermione's shoulder. She leaned over to press their cheeks together again and whispered in a purposefully naughty voice, "And, really, it's not SO bad, is it?"
Her over-the-top flirtation was exactly what Hermione needed to get serious again. She rolled her eyes, bumped back into her teacher with her butt, and immediately began casting her spell ahead of the dark witch.
Delighted, the older woman began a forceful aguamenti, and in less than a breath the flow was reduced to half.
"Hey!" She half-shouted, squeezing Hermione's fingers and redoubling her efforts. Again the flow reduced, while Hermione's water was not only still forceful but appeared to be doing tricks as it left the wand. When Hermione's water was leaving in rings and Bellatrix's was down to a mere trickle, the young woman finally ceased showing off. She felt incredibly energized by her success and was about to crow when she felt the older woman pant and rest her head against her back.
Hermione released their entwined hands, but gently draped the older woman's arms over her shoulders as she turned in the half-embrace. Bellatrix looked winded, but happy.
"Are you ok? Did I do something wrong?" Hermione held on to her teacher, afraid she'd collapse if the younger woman let go.
Bellatrix smiled tiredly. "No, darling. You were perfect. Really. It's just been a long time since I let someone drain that much energy from my spells, and hence from me. Usually it's quite the other way around. You did marvelously."
Hermione's heart swelled with pride, not only at her success but also at the trust her teacher put in her to be this vulnerable. She almost missed the dark witch's next question.
"How did you finally do it?"
"I guess I… got distracted in just the right way?" Hermione realized too late how that sounded, and fought off another blush as her teacher laughed delightedly.
"Is that right? Ha! You minx!" Bellatrix disentangled their limbs, but continued looking fondly at her pupil. "I'm kidding. This type of magic really does work best if your brain shuts off and your instincts take over, but you still have to have that instinctive guidance. I'm very impressed with yours."
"Umm, thanks. Likewise!" Hermione attempted to break the tension by waggling her eyebrows at her professor. She earned another "Minx!" and an elbow to the ribs for her efforts. She grinned, and tried not to rub the sore spot on her side until after they had parted. Hermione supposed she'd have a bruise there the next morning, but she didn't mind at all.