Hermione didn't return to Hogwarts after recovering and after a week it seemed she wouldn't be returning at all. The world was under a new regime, the reign of the Dark Lord was upon them and the light was becoming desperate. The Ministry was theirs and Order aurors were resigning their positions and slinking off to the shadows. Hogwart's curriculum was altered and now mudbloods were no longer safe within the walls of their former magical haven.
Another week passed and Hermione was called before the Dark Lord, who smiled upon her. Some of his followers were quite jealous of the relationship the young blonde had with their lord, but they wouldn't speak against it from fear of risking their families. Her next task was a simple one, but it didn't lack in importance.
Hermione smiled dazzlingly at the witch across from her. They were at a small cafe in the heart of Paris. Fleur Delacour was pleasantly surprised when an owl began tapping at her window and out right shocked when her eyes fell over Hermione's handwriting. This is the moment she dreamt of many nights since she let Hogwarts.
"It's quite lovely to see you, ma chérie." Fleur took a slow sip from her tea, her eyes never leaving the blonde witch before her. As much as she wanted the letter to hold proclamations of love, this was all business, just as Hermione always was. The younger blonde didn't hint at what it was she wanted in the letter, but her short message including a place, date, and time was all that was needed to break Fleur's heart. "However, I know as you do, this is not a social call." Hermione smirked and shrugged slightly.
"You know me well Fleur." The younger witch laced her fingers with the frenchwoman's, her thumb slowly caressing the soft alabaster skin. "You are a curse breaker for the French ministry. I have an offer, I'm sure you can't decline."
Hermione's next stop was in Diagon Alley, a simple polyjuice potion later she was sitting in the Leaky Cauldron at a corner table across from twin mops of flaming hair and excitement.
"We missed you, 'Mione." She narrowed her eyes at them, a quick sweep of the room and a stinging hex to both of their knees quieted them.
"As you well know, I am here undercover." She whispered before casting a few privacy charms around them. "That means you can't go off screaming my name like senseless children." She continued at a regular volume.
"We're-" Fred began
"Sorry." George finished, both holding their heads low.
"Why'd you summon us?" Fred smiled with a twinkle in his eye, the scolding going in one ear and promptly out the other. Hermione shook her head at the two, but a small smile formed on her lips. After all these years dealing with these imbeciles, she couldn't help feeling a bit fond of them.
"I have a job for you." She didn't have to give them an offer as she did with Fleur, these two would follow her to the ends of the Earth.
Her final meeting was with her least favourite follower. She stepped gracefully into the Greengrass manor's drawing room. Her piercing gaze washed over the eldest Greengrass with distaste. Daphne scrambled to pull Hermione's seat out before returning to her own. She smiled with hope filling her heart. With a snap of her fingers a tea service appeared on the small table as well as sliced sandwiches.
"It's lovely to see you again." Daphne poured their tea with slightly trembling hands before adding milk and two sugars to Hermione's and taking her own without either.
"The sentiment is not returned." Hermione sipped her tea for a few moments as Daphne absorbed her words. The Greengrass heir frowned, but didn't speak. "Our lord has graciously offered a place for you in this new world. You were my most loyal, Daphne." The taller blonde placed her tea back on its decorative saucer before standing swiftly.
"And what makes you think, after all of the abuse I have received from you, that I of all people would cooperate with your lord?" Hermione almost sneered, but she held her finally tuned expression in place. Cool, calculating grey eyes stared deeply into ocean blue. The taller blonde quickly sat down, her resolve crumbling under Hermione's gaze.
"Listen well, Daphne. This new world is nothing like the old. There will be no mercy for bloodtraitors, I suggest that you rethink your opinion and do so quickly." Hermione only needed to take one more sip from her tea before the younger girl submitted.
"What would you like me to do?"
Hermione smiled softly as she made her way up the Malfoy Manor's stairs. Bellatrix was sprawled across her bed, a deep scowl set on her face as Hermione entered.
"I missed you, Bella." The dark witch rolled her eyes before beginning another staring match with the canopy. "Don't be so sour." Hermione laughed softly and the dark witch rolled from the bed, landing on her feet, and pressing the younger witch to the nearest wall.
"I'm hardly sour, dove." Freshly reformed teeth dug into the blonde's neck leaving another bloody bite in their wake. "My witch is off on missions, while I am being confined, not just to the manor, but to my chambers." Bella huffed irritably. "As if I am some unruly child!" The raven haired woman stepped away from the blonde and scowled once again. "I should have cursed you the moment you walked through the door. How dare you show your face here after leaving me to my own devices?"
"It's unlikely you would have cursed me with your wand locked away in my chambers." The blonde laughed once again, her dark haired witch huffing at the jibe.
"Was your mission a success?" Bella knew it was, but she asked to keep the room from falling into silence. That was what she hated most about being confined to her chambers, the silence. Her thoughts raged when she was left alone to simmer in them. Their lord refused to let her out of the manor until her mental state was properly sorted.
"It was, I'm hosting a dinner for my inner circle and I to go over our next mission." Bella grinned at the younger witch and Hermione smirked in return. "No, you may not attend." The dark witch frowned and grumbled under her breath as she returned to her bed. "I'll be back after dinner." Hermione spoke over her shoulder as she disappeared out the door.
Dinner was a quiet affair. Fleur sat next to Hermione, the twins sat on Hermione's other side, and Daphne sat next to them. The rest of the Death Eaters also appeared for dinner and their Lord sat at the head of the table. Morale was high, so their lord didn't feel the need for speeches to keep his followers motivated. After the meal was finished, Hermione and her inner circle retired to Lucius' study.
"Why do you trust us for this mission? There are skilled Death Eaters at your disposal." Daphne hadn't received any favor from Hermione in a long time, she was skeptical about the shorter blonde's sudden need for her.
"The four of you have shown your loyalty to me time and time again. I trust each of you more than any veteran Death Eater." Hermione looked across her inner circle. She sat in a high backed arm chair, with Fleur perched on one of the arms, the twins and Daphne sat across from them on the sofa. A fire roared in the hearth beside them and blocked out the chill that constantly ran through Malfoy Manor.
"What are we to do?" Fleur looked to the younger blonde with a smile. The veela appreciated being given an offer, it was true she couldn't refuse it, but she would happily follow Hermione to the ends of the earth even without it.
"We have a greater threat to the cause than just the order of the limp pigeons. Brys Zabini has sent a letter to my sister demanding our immediate wedding." Fleur flinched away from Hermione, hurt in her eyes. She knew Hermione had a lot on her shoulders, but she hoped if something like this was afoot the younger witch would have at least mentioned it.
"What does that have to do with the cause?" Daphne raised a pale eyebrow and frowned. She would reconsider her involvement if this was just Hermione trying to break free from a marriage contract.
"Brys has plans to overthrow our Lord and he wishes for me to be his queen. Our Lord has tasked us with crumbling Zabini's foolish ambition or destroy him and his family while trying." The twins grinned with excitement in their shining blue eyes.
"We are" Fred stood.
"Honoured to be" George stood too.
"Of assistance!" They bowed and chuckled as Hermione rolled her eyes.
"But wait, how do you know what Brys has planned?" Fleur shifted on the arm of Hermione's chair, her eyes falling on the younger blonde.
"His younger brother, Blaise, is a filthy little coward, but he's quite handy sometimes. He owled me the day Brys owled my sister." Each of her inner circle were quiet for a moment, their thoughts racing. Daphne nodded slowly, her eyes finding Hermione's again.
"When do we start?"
Hermione was on her way back to her chambers as the moon rose to its peak. Her inner circle was sound asleep in the guest chambers down the hall. As she passed by Bella's door a shadow moved and grabbed her by her waist. Hermione knew who was grabbing her the moment Bella's rich scent hit her nose. Being so close to the dark witch was heaven, but she couldn't help teasing her a bit.
"Bella, you shouldn't be out of your chambers." The elder witch growled, her teeth nipping the girl's earlobe.
"I've waited patiently for hours to have you. It's finally midnight, so I'd like to give you your birthday present." The dark witch purred into her ear and pulled her through the door behind them. Bella turned Hermione and pressed their lips together. The kiss was violent, a clashing of teeth and the mixing of blood. The elder witch slid her fingers beneath the younger witch's shirt and dug her nails into the skin there.
Their clothes fell to the floor in a heap and Bella pulled the younger witch onto the bed. Their eyes met and neither dared to look away. Bella's fingers plunged into the younger witch and her eyes narrowed. She felt for Hermione's barrier and growled when she found it absent.
"Which of those inexperienced little girl's defiled you?" Hermione moaned softly as Bella's fingers curled inside of her. She wrapped her arms around the dark witch's neck and pulled their foreheads together.
"It doesn't matter, Bella, I'm yours." Nails dug into her hip and teeth bit into her bottom lip. Hermione's back arched and she smiled as blood dripped from her lip.
Hermione didn't return to her chambers.
The young blonde woke her witch with a kiss the next morning. She was freshly showered and dressed in a clean outfit.
"Why are you awake so early, dove?" Bella groaned and tried to pull Hermione into the bed.
"I have to leave for a mission." Dark eyes popped open and the dark witch sat up. She moved to get out of bed, but Hermione stopped her. "You can stay in bed, Bella." The blonde pulled the duvet back up and gently pushed Bella back down. She pressed their lips together and pulled away a short moment after.
"How long will you be away?" The elder witch's eyelids began to droop and a yawn fell from her mouth.
"At least three months." That caught Bella's attention, her hand wrapped around Hermione's wrist and pulled her into the bed. Dark eyes swirled with rage. The blonde was immediately pinned to the bed, her wrist held above her head. Her eyes zoned into Bella's state of undress.
"When were you planning to tell me?" Bella's sharp nails dug into the younger witch's wrists and drew blood. She wasn't willing to be separated from her dove, especially while confined to her chambers. She couldn't get to her love's side if something went wrong. Her heart ached, but she wouldn't let Hermione see her that way, so she chose to be angry. She didn't care too much that Hermione took so long to mention the mission, she was likely do that exact thing if she were in the blonde's position.
"It's easier this way, Bellatrix. I'll be back before you know it." But that wasn't true, Bella would notice her absence the moment she passed the door.
"Easier for you. Fine dove, leave, but if something happens to you, I'll kill you." Bella captured the young witch's lips with her own. She released Hermione's wrists and her arms immediately wrapped around the elder witch's waist.
"Behave while I'm away." Hermione whispered as she pulled away. Bella snorted and rolled her eyes, she moved to allow the blonde to stand. "I love you." Hermione smiled softly before leaving the room and closing the double doors behind her.