Hermione sat in the crowded infirmary, soaked to the bone, while Madam Pomfrey fluttered about the unconscious former Death Eater. Bella was alive, her breathing shallow and fast, her skin whiter than the sheet beneath her. Hermione had thought to cast a drying charm on Bella, but seemed to forget about herself. She had dived into the water after the witch without hesitation and dragged her to shore. She'd needed the feather-light charm to get her here. The room was packed with wounded but Hermione was deaf to the moans and cries of her fellow classmates. Every ounce of fear was focused on Bellatrix's silence.
"Check her shoulder, here," Hermione motioned to the shoulder Bella had clutched in pain. As commanded, Madam Pomfrey cut Bella's sleeve off from the neckline, gingerly dragging the severed piece of fabric down. Hermione gasped at what she saw.
An angry, swollen, bright red handprint marred Bella's flawless skin. She turned her eyes to the nurse for a reaction.
"What is that?"
Pomfrey was shaking her head, "Nothing I've ever seen before. It looks familiar though, like something I may have read about…"
"The Proditora Curse," Harry said, standing a few feet from them.
Hermione stood shakily and threw her arms around him.
"Harry," she sighed, "I'm so proud of you,"
Harry gently pulled away, giving her a soft smile, "You're soaked,"
In a moment, she wasn't any longer. Harry always made her feel warm, but there was still a cold feeling in her chest.
"I learned about it from Slughorn," Harry continued, brushing past his friend to kneel down next to Bellatrix, "It's not good, Hermione,"
Hermione knelt next to him and took Bella's left hand while Pomfrey continued to work on getting her to wake up.
"Tell me," she said.
Harry swallowed, watching Bellatrix with an unreadable expression, "It's old, very powerful, very dark magic. Not many people alive are strong enough to cast it and there's no known cure. It's meant to manifest only when the person who did the cursing is betrayed. Voldemort must've suspected she'd turn on him. If she hadn't betrayed him, she would've gone her whole life without ever knowing she had it,"
"I'll find a cure. I'll tear the world apart if I have to," Hermione said.
"It doesn't appear she has very long," Pomfrey said, her hand hovering over Bella's glistening forehead, "six months, maybe. A year if she's lucky,"
"No way," Hermione said, "She fought so hard to have a happy ending. I'm not letting her die after that,"
"I'm going to give her something that will help with the symptoms. I suggest you enjoy the time you have with her," Pomfrey left to retrieve a drought.
Harry put a hand on her shoulder, "If I can help it, I'll do everything I can to make sure she doesn't go to prison. I think this will help keep her free, Hermione,"
"What'll it matter if she's dead in a year, anyway?" Hermione said, her voice breaking.
"It's a year you can spend with her that you wouldn't have had if she hadn't gone against Voldemort for you,"
"For me," Hermione echoes bitterly, "If it weren't for me, she wouldn't be dying,"
"She did this so you'd live, Hermione. Who knows how many of us she would've killed today had she been on the other side?"
Hermione had nothing to say to that. Pomfrey came back holding a vial of blue liquid. She gently propped her head up.
"Open her mouth for me, will you dear?"
Hermione obliged, cupping Bellatrix's chin, puling down just a fraction. Pomfrey poured it down her throat slowly, and Bella's body responded, swallowing the liquid. The nurse slipped a pillow under her head before leaving them alone again.
"You don't have to stay, Harry. I know you have important business to take care of. Or at the very least a warm bed waiting for you,"
Harry squeezed her shoulder, "I'll check back on you later,"
Once Hermione was alone with Bellatrix, she laid down next to her, a hand creeping over her waist. She tucked and arm under her head and stared at Bellatrix's face. At some point, Pomfrey had healed her cut and wiped the blood and dirt away, making her look almost normal. Her breathing had evened out, and now she just looked like she was sleeping. She shifted closer until she could feel her warmth and steady breath, listening until their breathing fell in sync and she began drifting off herself.
When she woke, she found Bella on her side facing her, studying her. Tears immediately filled her eyes and she wrapped one arm around Bellatrix's waist, and the other fisted in the fabric of her dress, near her collarbone. Hermione tucked her head under Bellatrix's chin and breathed in her smell.
"I'm dying, aren't I?" Came Bella's quiet voice.
"I won't let you," Hermione said, her voice muffled.
Bellatrix sat up slowly, taking in her surroundings. The infirmary was much quieter now, the wounded either dead or sleeping. Hermione sat up with her, noticing how much her neck and shoulder ached from sleeping on the unforgiving stone floor.
Bella stood and Hermione followed as she made her way out of the room. Bellatrix was walking with purpose down the hall, Hermione having to quicken her pace to keep up. She didn't bother asking where they were going. Soon enough, they rounded the corner and stepped into the Great Hall.
A hush fell over the crowd of people that had been chatting quietly. The Great Hall was filled with the majority of the dead and their grieving friends and families. Everyone regarded Bellatrix with a range of complicated emotions; there was distrust and anger among some of them, but some people looked genuinely impressed, and some simply didn't seem to care. After an awkward few moments, the chatter resumed.
"Bella?"
Andromeda Tonks was rushing towards them. Bellatrix stiffened. Her sister marched up to her and threw her arms around her neck in a crushing embrace. Bellatrix was frozen in shock. Eventually, Andromeda pulled away and stared at Bellatrix with wonder.
"Nymphadora told me you saved her life," Her eyes flicked to Hermione, then back to her sister, "Why?"
Bellatrix was clearly uncomfortable. Instead of answering, she reached an arm towards Hermione and the young witch took the invitation, wrapping an arm around her waist and melding herself to her side.
"I see," Andromeda said, eyes wide, "Dora's here, if you'd like to see her. Um, she's with Remus. He…"
"I know," Bella said, "I…am sorry I couldn't save him too,"
Hermione's chest tightened at that.
Her sister shook her head, tears shining in her eyes, "Bellatrix, no. What you did for me was…I'll never be able to repay you,"
"Let's just call it even," Bellatrix leaned heavily on Hermione, eyelids drooping with exhaustion.
"I think I should be getting her to bed," Hermione said apologetically. Andromeda only smiled kindly and nodded.
Hermione steered Bellatrix out of the room and paused, unsure where to go. With a heavy sigh, the witch straightened, supporting her own weight, and dragged Hermione towards the stairs. The pair sluggishly climbed up flight after flight until they reached a familiar door.
Hermione almost started crying again when Bellatrix led her into her old room, the room that went from being a prison cell to Bella to being their private sanctuary. It looked the same as they last saw it.
Bellatrix handed Hermione her knife and turned around, "Cut me out of this, will you?"
Hermione gently pushed Bellatrix's hair over her shoulder and began cutting the strings of her corset one by one, revealing more and more of her skin. Despite everything they'd been through that day, she still found her breath hitching when the dress fell off, the corset having been all that was keeping the ripped and tattered thing on.
Bellatrix turned to face her, completely bare except for a pair of sheer black panties. Hermione could hear her breathing through her nose as she stared at Hermione with heavy lidded eyes. The girl slowly reached for her, first tracing the prominent outline of her collarbone before ghosting downwards. Her fingers traveled down the middle of her chest and over her ribcage, down to her sharp hipbones.
Her eyes remained locked on Bellatrix's face, watching as her expression softened and then crumbled as Hermione traced her hips. She fell into her arms and sobbed, her entire body shaking violently. Hermione wrapped her arms around her, enveloping her completely. Bellatrix felt so incredibly fragile and vulnerable in her arms. Hermione felt her heart breaking already, but Bellatrix needed her to be the strong one now.
"Lets go to bed," Hermione murmured, guiding Bellatrix backwards until her knees hit the back of the bed.
The older witch sat down and Hermione knelt down, carefully unzipping Bella's tall leather boots and pulling them off one by one, socks and all. Bellatrix scooted back and clambered under the covers.
"Hermione," came the trembling voice a moment later.
Hermione hurriedly stripped out of her jacket and peeled off her dirty jeans. She kicked off her socks and shoes, too, leaving her only in her long sleeved shirt and pink underwear. She slid into bed and Bellatrix curled around her straight away. Hermione sighed at the feeling of their skin sliding against each other again. She felt a slickness against her thigh and she realized that Bellatrix must've taken her underwear off.
"Bella!" She gasped.
The witch climbed on top of her, trapping Hermione's wrists above her head and grinding down.
"Oh," she sighed, "Bella, I'm not sure we should be-"
"Please, love," Bella's cried, "I need you,"
Hermione felt an extraordinary heat spread throughout her at that. Bellatrix was frozen, her center burning hot on Hermione's thigh and her eyes wide on her face, looking at her like she was waiting for her permission. Any trace of weariness had vanished.
"Okay," Hermione breathed, and then Bellatrix's mouth was on her.
Her full mouth moved frantically against her own and her hips were grinding hard and fast against her. Hermione forced herself out of Bellatrix's grasp and gabbed her hips, forcing her to still her movements. Bellatrix pulled back to pout at her, a couple of her tears dripping down onto Hermione's face.
"Slowly," Hermione said. She began guiding Bella's hips at a steady, languid pace. Bella's mouth fell open and Hermione moved a hand to slip in between Bella and her thigh, finding that little bundle of nerves. Bellatrix gasped and screwed her eyes shut. Hermione took that moment to flip Bellatrix onto her back and latch her lips to her neck.
The younger witch was in complete control now, and Bellatrix allowed it without protest. Bellatrix arched against her, pressing her head into the pillow and giving Hermione full access to her slender neck. Hermione sucked on that spot she knew she liked, grinding Bellatrix into the mattress over and over in a steady rhythm. Bella's hands grabbed her ass and forced Hermione to grind into her faster, harder.
"You feel so fucking good," Hermione moaned against her skin.
Bellatrix was a mess. Her cheeks were flushed and wet with tears, her lips swollen and her hair was tangled and sticking to the sweat on her face and neck, "More," she sobbed.
Hermione licked a trail down her body, pausing to suck on the skin of Bellatrix's breast until she left a splotchy red mark. Bella moved her hands to her Hermione's hair and tugged her down faster. Hermione let out a strangled laugh, turned on and upset at the same time. She both loved and hated that Bellatrix was so needy. It was as if she'd completely cracked open, revealing herself more to Hermione than she ever had.
Still, Hermione remembered, This woman is sort of a stranger to me.
There was so much she didn't know about her. She'd hardy spent any time with this version of Bellatrix, and she knew she wouldn't be this sweet and vulnerable to her always. No matter the situation, Hermione couldn't forget that this was a murderer she was in bed with.
Well, maybe I can forget tonight.
Hermione spread the witches thighs, marveling at the sight of her completely on display. She traced her glistening, pink folds with the tip of her fingers, her breath hot on the sensitive skin.
"Please," Bellatrix begged.
Hermione raised her eyes to Bellatrix's face as she slid two fingers inside her as slow as she could bare. The witch's chest was heaving and she was biting her lip to keep from making noise. Oh, Hermione couldn't have that. She lowered her mouth and gave her clit an experimental lick. Bellatrix gasped loudly above her and her hand tightened painfully in her hair. Encouraged, Hermione pressed her open mouth against her, running her tongue in fast circles against her. She had this addicting, heady taste to her. She began pumping her fingers in and out in an unhurried rhythm. Bella arched her hips into every thrust.
"Fuck yes," she moaned lowly.
Hermione sped up her pace a fraction, working her mouth harder. Her jaw was beginning to ache from the effort, but Bellatrix's frantic noises were more than enough to keep her going. Bella was rutting hard against Hermione's face, and she could feel her wetness gushing and pooling into the palm of her hand. She need to taste more of her. Hermione removed her fingers completely, moving both her hands to pin Bella's hips to the mattress.
Bellatrix let out an animalistic growl at that, before Hermione slid her tongue inside her. A loud noise ripped its way out of the woman, almost a scream. Bella's hands moved to her shoulders, her nails biting into her as Hermione worked her tongue, dragging it in and out as far as it would go. She could only manage a shallow depth, but the woman beneath her didn't seem to mind. Bellatrix was so wet it was falling into her mouth, smearing down her chin and Hermione managed to swallow it greedily without pause, her head swimming like it was actually getting her drunk.
She noticed Bella's legs were shaking hard and her walls fluttered around Hermione's tongue. She slipped it out and dragged it up to Bella's clit again, sucking on it hard and shoving three fingers inside. The digits went in easily, Bellatrix was soaking and then she was clenching against her. Hermione curled her fingers.
"Hermione!" She shrieked, "Fuck, Hermione,"
Hermione slid her fingers back out again when Bellatrix came so she could lap up it all up.
Bella's entire frame was trembling when Hermione climbed back up and wrapped her in her arms. She buried her head in the crook of Hermione's shoulder and Hermione shushed her soothingly, an odd feeling washing over her.
It all felt so surreal. A couple days ago she never would've imagined they'd be here. Then again, a couple days ago she wasn't sure if she'd still be alive right now. The day Bellatrix forced her to leave her behind at Malfoy Manor, Hermione thought that was the end. It absolutely devastated her. She could still see the worry on Harry and Ron's faces when she shut her eyes. All she wanted was to hole up in that beach house and be left alone to grieve. The war, however, didn't wait for anyone. Being forced into Bellatrix's body to rob her vault in Gringotts had torn her apart. Being able to smell her and touch her and see her in the mirror was almost too much to bear, but she'd never been one to put her needs above the needs of others. She did at least know how to pull off a damn good impression of the dark witch. She'd certainly spent enough time lovingly memorizing her every casual movement, every unconscious mannerism. She had prayed for Bellatrix to show up that day and ask her to run away with her. In her lowest moments of devastation, Hermione was certain she'd have said yes.
She wasn't able to move on, but she did push it down far enough to be able to do what needed to be done. And now here she was, drowning under the weight of all the emotions she'd never dealt with, living in a scenario she never dreamed was possible.
"Are you going to leave?" Bella's soft voice pulled her back to reality.
"What? No, of course not. Why would you think that?"
"I wouldn't blame you," she continued like she hadn't heard her, "Today doesn't erase the things I've been doing my entire life,"
She was right. Yet, still, "The past doesn't matter to me if you're willing to change,"
"I have changed already," Bellatrix claimed.
As much as Hermione would love to believe that, she wasn't naive enough. She was, however, too tired to argue the fact. Instead she stayed quiet and twirled the ends of Bella's curls between her fingers.
"How much time do I have?"
"Another 200 years, if I have anything to do with it," Hermione answered.
She felt Bella smirk against her shoulder, "And if I can't be cured?"
As much as Hermione wanted to ignore the possibility, she deserved to know.
"6 months, maybe a year,"
Bellatrix sat up and looked down at her, black hair, shrouding Hermione from the rest of the world.
"That's plenty of time!" Bellatrix said happily.
Hermione frowned, "Are you kidding? Thats nothing,"
"If theres anyone in this world I trust to figure this out, its you," Bella rose a hand to trace Hermione's face, "And if you don't, at least we have a year,"
We, Hermione mused.
"It's not enough,"
"It's enough time for plenty of this," Bella was smirking again as she lowered her mouth to Hermione's neck.
The second Bellatrix was back in control it was like a switch had flipped. Hermione jerked in surprise when the jacket she left on the floor snaked up and anchored her wrists to the headboard. Bellatrix hadn't said a word, she appeared completely engrossed in Hermione's neck. This was a familiar position for her, reminding her of the first time they were together. Only now, there was an element of fear she couldn't shake. Hermione's heart rate was skyrocketing at an alarming rate, and she let out a loud hiss when Bella's teeth sank in without warning, definitely hard enough to bruise.
She felt the witch's lips curl up, "Did you miss me?"
Her voice was low, taunting. When Hermione didn't respond she bit her again, right on her collarbone, breaking the skin this time. Hermione cried out and thought then what it was like to be bent over a table at Malfoy Manor, completely at her mercy; to kill, torture, fuck her however she pleased. It was becoming harder to ignore that this was that same woman.
"Yes," Hermione said, and Bella raked her nails down her stomach.
"I missed you," Bellatrix purred, licking the blood she drew off Hermione's fluttering chest, "I missed your taste, your little gasps, I missed-," she slid three fingers inside of her, eliciting one of those gasps, "this,"
Bellatrix began fucking her slow and hard, pulling all the way out and slamming into her roughly. A familiar flush took over Hermione's body. Bellatrix had a way of setting her on fire, burning her from the inside out.
Bellatrix's mouth was at her ear now, whispering sweet, terrifying declarations.
"I killed to feel you like this again," she growled, "And I would slaughter many more to feel this again and again,"
Hermione hated that she was absolutely dripping at the words. She could hear Bella's fingers ramming into her. She tugged at her restraints uselessly.
"Does that please you?" Bellatrix chuckled, moving her mouth back down her body, "that people have died so I could be inside you again?"
Hermione whimpered, unable to make sense of the emotions rushing through her.
"Don't worry, love," Bella continued, "They were very bad people. We've made the world a better place, you and I"
Bellatrix took a nipple into her mouth, sucking on it and pulling at it with her teeth. Hermione yanked on her restraints again, crying out when they only tightened. It killed her to have no control whatsoever.
Bella moved to her hips and bit her again, quickly this time, before lapping her tongue over it soothingly. Hermione suspected she was mapping a constellation of blood and bruises across her body.
Hermione looked down at the witch when she felt her pull her head away. Bellatrix was watching herself fuck Hermione, a look of starving fascination on her face. Hermione watched, too, as she rose her hips to meet every thrust with desperation.
Bellatrix met her eyes then, pupils blown. Hermione felt a stab of terror at the look on her face. She looked…feral. Bella surged forward, pressing the entirety of her body against her so she could feel how hot she was. The two of them pressed together created an overwhelming sensation of heat. Her eyes slammed shut. Their bodies slid together, both of them slick with sweat.
"Look at me," Bellatrix panted, fisting her hand in Hermione's hair until her eyes opened again to meet that terrifying gaze.
A tremor wracked Hermione's body as she neared the edge. Bellatrix was eyeing her, unblinking, like she wanted to memorize every minuscule detail of this moment. Hermione, lost in her eyes, thought of the time Bellatrix promised to destroy anything that tried to keep them apart. Then, she hadn't dreamed it could mean actual lives would be lost in the process. Though, lives were saved too, were they not? Leave it to Bellatrix to be a murderer and a savior, malicious and devoted all at once.
Bella's free hand crept around her neck, bracing her weight against her and Hermione's eyes focused on her again.
"Where are you?" The woman growled.
"Here," Hermione wheezed.
Bellatrix seemed appeased, loosening her grip but keeping her hand there like an unspoken threat. It said don't you wander from this moment again.
The instant the grip loosened and oxygen rushed back to her mind, Hermione felt herself tightening around Bella's fingers. There was a look of wonder creeping onto Bellatrix's face as Hermione began to lose herself. Bellatrix finally picked up the pace, her heaving breaths mirroring Hermione's own.
"Now," Bellatrix demanded, and Hermione obeyed. She came so hard she saw flashes of light behind her eyelids. Green light, she thought.
Hermione spent most of the night tossing and turning, finding it difficult to sleep with the woman she loved and feared wrapped possessively around her. She never used to have a problem sleeping next to the witch before, but now, knowing she was back to herself, with her full strength and murderous tendencies restored, Hermione couldn't quite shake the uneasy feeling. She detached herself from her arms slowly and made her way to the vanity opposite the bed. She drew a sharp breath at her reflection.
Bellatrix had made her mark on her indeed. Hermione was lightheaded from the smell of sweat and sex that lingered on her skin as she tracked all of her wounds from the night. She had many red and black bites from her pulse point, collarbone, breast, hips, down to the inside of her right thigh. There were long, red scratch marks on her shoulders from when Bellatrix had been underneath her. She healed the visible ones but knew Bella would like it if she kept the others. Hermione had no intention of ever admitting it, but a part of her thought it felt incredibly good to feel owned by Bellatrix-as long as she knew she owned Bella just as much in return.
She glanced back at the sleeping predator. Many strange emotions swelling in her at once. The woman was an enigma. She had fallen apart at Hermione's gentle touch and then remembered herself. Bellatrix fucked her like she wanted to prove a point; that Hermione was still defenseless against her desires. Now, she looked so peaceful. Her arms were extended in front of her, reaching for the spot Hermione just abandoned. Her hair was a tangled mess, covering half her face and spilling out onto the pillow. She couldn't get enough of the way she looked when she was asleep.
She dressed slowly and quietly, her body aching. She cast some basic cleaning spells on herself to get rid of that smell as she went. As she did it, she realized she still had Bellatrix's wand. The wand had done an incredible job protecting her, and she liked to think it was a part of Bella, protecting her as fiercely as the witch always had. She hadn't noticed what wand Bellatrix was using during the battle, but it must've served her well enough. Hermione held on to it for now, tucking it into her waistband. It felt good to carry a part of Bellatrix with her.
Not wanting to waste a day of the time they had left, she placed a note on her pillow and left Bella sleeping to make her way down to the library.
It must've been incredibly early because she didn't run into a single person on her way down. Once in the library, she felt a wave of sadness at the sight of the destruction that had befallen it. There were gaping holes in the center of towering shelves, torn up pages littering the floor. There didn't seem to be a single room that had escaped the horrors of battle untouched.
Hermione sighed and got to work. It felt odd to be able to go into the restricted section and not have to worry about being caught. She gathered every book on old magic, elixirs of life, healing and fatal illnesses she could find, making several trips to and from one of the tables that was still intact. Once the table was full of tall stacks, she sat down and delved in.
In the back of her mind, she thought of all of the hours she'd spent here studying with her friends and stressing over exams. Now, many of those friends were probably dead. Some of the professors who's exams she studied for were likely dead as well. She still didn't even know the extent of who'd died. Right now, she had to focus on who she could still save.
She read as light crept into the room, taking notes on anything that sounded remotely like it could help. Different healing potions, rare magical artifacts. She thought of the Resurrection Stone, even, before remembering what it had done to the woman in the story. She felt a rush of anger towards Dumbledore for destroying the Philosopher's Stone. It had made sense to her at the time, but now she hated that his solution to something that powerful and one of a kind was to destroy it instead of using it to help people.
This led her down a path of trying to see if anyone had figured out how to make a Philosophers Stone. If anyone in the world could make one, she figured the power that existed between her, Bellatrix and even Harry had to be enough.
The light in the room grew brighter, and she figured she must've been there for hours now. As soon as she noticed, she heard the door creek open and in a moment saw Bellatrix approaching her table with an amused look on her face.
Hermione felt a tug in her heart at the sight of her. Bella was wearing a white button down, a green and grey skirt and dark grey tights, looking exactly the way she did when she'd been staying at the castle.
"Busy morning?" The woman remarked, a hint of affection glinting in her eyes.
Hermione cleared her throat and lowered her eyes back to her notes, "I've found a few things, yes,"
The smell of mint and firewood washed over her and she knew Bella was reading over her shoulder without having to look at her.
"I thought the Stone was destroyed," She remarked drably.
"It was. Doesn't mean it can't be made again,"
She heard Bellatrix take a deep breath through her nose right next to her ear. The tickling feeling of her breath on her skin made her stiffen.
"Are you sniffing me?"
Bellatrix hummed, and spoke lowly directly into her ear, "I missed the way you smelled. I kept trying to imagine it when I was locked up,"
Hermione turned her head to look at her, nearly smacking their noses together. Bellatrix gazed at her with a possessive sort of affection.
"I have something for you," Bella whispered and Hermione thought she was about to kiss her. But then the witch moved away, taking a seat next to her. Hermione ignored the twinge of disappointment.
The witch produced a wand from her sleeve. Hermione's wand. Hermione's eyes widened.
"How?"
"Narcissa gave it to me before the battle. She didn't tell me how she got it. I get the feeling she knew exactly what I was going to choose when the time came," Bellatrix said, fondness seeping into her voice.
"Bella," Hermione breathed, and produced the witch's wand from its spot at her hip.
Bellatrix's face lit up.
"How did it serve you?" Bellatrix asked, taking it from her hands and replacing it with her own. It felt like a piece of her clicked back into place.
"It was incredible. I almost felt…stronger with it. In a dangerous way, like I could barely control it. Like it wanted to hurt my enemies even more than I did.
Bella's smile morphed into a proud smirk. Hermione felt warm at the idea that they each carried a piece of each other when they were apart, still protecting each other.
"Hermione!"
At the sound of Ron's voice, Bellatrix stood up to her full height and glared.
Hermione gave him a tight, suddenly extremely uncomfortable smile.
Rons eyes were shifting back and forth between the two witches, his mouth curled in obvious disgust.
"Kingsley wants to speak to the both of you. In Dumbledore's office," he said. It looked like he had much more to say, but instead he just shook his head and left them alone.
"He's as unpleasant as ever," Bella said.
Hermione's stomach was in knots. She grabbed her notebook and stood. The older witch followed her closely as she left the library and the began ascending the stairs. Hermione wanted to tell Bellatrix that it would be okay, that whatever happened they would figure it out and no harm would come to her, but the words just wouldn't come. When the reached the entrance, Bella's hand stopped her.
Hermione tuned to look at her, trying to keep her breathing steady. Bellatrix didn't look worried.
"It's going to be okay," she said simply.
The young witch searched her eyes for any sense of fear and found none. She felt herself grow steady in Bella's confidence. She nodded, and they entered the room together.
Inside, her former Headmaster's office was uncomfortably cramped. Harry and Ron were standing against the wall, mirroring each other's posture with crossed arms. Andromeda was there, as well as McGonagall, and of course Kingsley, reclining in Dumbledore's chair.
Any trace of confidence Hermione felt vanished, a flush creeping up her neck.
"Uh oh," Bellatrix said, "Please don't call my parents,"
Nobody laughed, but Andromeda cracked a smile while Hermione started at Bellatrix in disbelief.
"Uh, Miss Lestrange…?" Kingsley began.
"Black. I'm afraid I'm a widow now," she said with a wicked grin.
"Right. Um Mr. Potter here says you have an unfortunate…um, infliction,"
"I'm dying, yes,"
"The Proditora Curse?" McGonagall asked, eyeing Bellatrix like she didn't know what to make of her.
Harry nodded, "I think so, anyway. The handprint on her shoulder would suggest as much."
"Miss Black, would you mind-"
Bella began unbuttoning her shirt, and Hermione was relieved to see she was wearing a bra underneath. She unbuttoned it about halfway and pushed the collar down over her arm, revealing the bright red handprint. Hermione noticed, horrified, a bruise peeking out from Bella's bra. She felt like she was going to burst into flames.
Please let them think it's from the battle. Please, please, please-
"Oh, Bella," Andromeda said sadly.
"Thank you," Kingsley shifted in his seat, gesturing vaguely, "You may…"
Bella shrugged her shirt back into place and took her time buttoning it back up. Ron was staring at the ceiling like he'd never noticed it before.
"This is certainly a unique situation. What do you suggest we do moving forward here, Kingsley?" McGonagall asked.
"While it is unique, the fact remains that up until recent events, Miss Black has committed unspeakable acts in service of Voldemort-"
"She saved many lives during the battle! Who knows if we would've won without her, sir," Hermione said.
"That may be true, however, it does not negate the fact that she has taken many lives. We cannot let that go unanswered,"
Panic was rising up in Hermione's chest as she wracked her mind for something to say. Harry spoke before she could come up with something.
"With all do respect, sir she's already received a death sentence. What's the use in locking her away when she obviously has no intentions of doing any harm as long as she walks free?"
"We have no way to guarantee that," Kingsley reasoned.
"There are ways," Andromeda said, "We can put a tracker on her. We can put restrictions on her wand,"
"And what's to stop her from disarming someone and using that instead?" McGonagall questioned.
Everyone except Bellatrix and Hermione began talking then, the room erupting with noise. They each had their own strong conviction on what should become of Bellatrix. The witch was watching the whole ordeal with a bored expression on her face, as if the next few minutes weren't going to affect how she would spend what could very well be the last year of her life.
"-place her under house arrest," Harry was saying.
"House arrest? You must be joking, Harry, she deserves no less than Azkaban!" Ron said.
"Azkaban?" Andromeda bellowed, sounding remarkably like to her sister, and then everyone was yelling over each other again.
"-saved many lives," that voice belonged to McGonagall.
"-would be a waste of resources to jail her-," Kingsley was reasoning, mostly to himself.
Hermione felt fury rise inside her when she caught Ron saying, "Then we just kill her now, save everyone the trouble,"
"Stop it," Hermione said, but no one paid her any mind, "I said stop it!"
The room fell quiet at that and everyone looked at her with surprise. Bellatrix raised an eyebrow at her, looking impressed.
"The Unbreakable Vow," Hermione said, "I don't see any other way,"
"Are you volunteering, Miss Granger?" Kingsley asked.
"I am," she said.
"Hermione, come on! You barely know her!" Ron protested.
She took a steading breath, refusing to meet Bellatrix's questioning gaze. She needed to stay level headed here.
"I know enough. She gave up everything to do whats right. Dumbledore himself saw something in her when she came here with no sense of self. He saw potential in her. Think of how much potential she has now that she has all of her memories and past experiences back! She wants to help now. The mark is proof enough of the side she chose. No one here can deny how strong she is. Think of all the lives she saved during the battle. If I can find a way for her to survive this, she can continue doing that. She could be the most powerful witch the Ministry has ever seen,"
She finally met Bellatrix's eyes. Her eyebrows were furrowed, her mouth pressed together in a straight line.
"The Ministry? Are you suggesting she'd work for them if she survives?" McGonagall said, appalled.
"Miss Black, is it true you're on our side now? Would you spend your life in servitude of the Ministry if we allow you and Miss Granger to seek a cure?" Kingsley asked.
Bellatrix finally tore her gaze from Hermione and raised her chin, looking down her nose at the room's occupants.
"No. I'm not on your side," she drawled, and there was a collective breath as everyone prepared to start yelling at each other again. Hermione's stomach sank.
"However," Bellatrix continued before they had the chance, "I am on Hermione's side. I am loyal to her alone. It's clear to me that her loyalties lie with you lot. So yes, I suppose, if Hermione desires it, I will do what it takes to have a life if I survive this curse. Even if it means…joining you,"
Bellatrix looked vaguely disgusted at the notion, but appeared genuine nonetheless.
"And what if one day Hermione decides she doesn't want to be with you anymore?" Kingsley asked bluntly.
Hermione was offended, but Bellatrix merely shrugged.
"Then you can throw me in Azkaban. Or kill me, for all I care,"
The room was spinning. Surely, this had to be one giant hallucination. Hermione should've been charmed at the words, but instead she felt an intense pressure. For Bellatrix it was a life with her or death? She didn't know if she could handle being the only thing someone lived for.
Relax, Bellatrix's voice drifted into her mind. Hermione's eyes shot to her to find Bellatrix glaring at her, I'm a lot of things, but I've never been suicidal.
Hermione just stared at her questioningly.
I'm trying to get us out of this. They'll never let me go if they don't believe I am entirely devoted to you. And they'd never buy the notion that I changed my values and behavior practically overnight.
And you think they'd buy the fact that you'd rather die than live without me? Hermione thought, trying to ignore how bothered she was that Bellatrix felt she could just waltz into her mind like this.
Well, Bellatrix's amused chuckle filled her mind and sent a chill down her spine, The witch dragged her eyes slowly down Hermione's body. Have you no self awareness whatsoever? I'd buy it if Andy stood up right now and declared her undying love for you.
Kingsley cleared his throat the two witches returned their attention to him, "I suppose-if you're willing to make the vow, to stake your life on it, then…"
Ron, knowing where this was going, gave a loud scoff and pushed his way out of the room.
"Bloody unbelievable," He muttered, the door slamming behind him.
Hermione was sweating. She didn't know whether to believe Bellatrix's words now or the memory of last night. The woman had seemed like she would've completely lost it had Hermione left her right then. And Hermione did have incredibly strong feelings for the witch. But Ron was right. She didn't have any idea what this Bellatrix was like. She needed time, she needed to find her footing before committing to a lifetime, here and now, with this version of her.
She felt Bellatrix's annoyance wash over her even though she wasn't looking at her anymore.
Don't flatter yourself, Granger. I always get a little…emotional after a good fight. I gave up everything because you made me realize what love should be like. Maybe you don't love me anymore, but you did, and thats what made me realize that my devotion to the Dark Lord was one sided.
I want you, Bellatrix's thought darkly, and Hermione could feel the force of of much she meant that. You can't deny our connection. I'm not asking you to spend your life with me. I'm asking you to give me a chance to have a life outside of Azkaban. If it doesn't work out, then no hard feelings. But if it does…
"Hermione? We need a decision," McGonagall interjected, "If you need time to decide-"
"No, I'll do it. I trust her completely," she lied.
"Okay then," Kingsley said, "We have a deal. Harry, would you do the honors?"
Harry approached grimly, wand drawn. Hermione could still feel Bellatrix in her mind, she could feel her excitement. It felt almost feral, like how she'd imagine a starving animal would feel before it devoured a meal.
Hermione didn't see any other option. She cared too much about Bellatrix to let her die, that much was clear. Yet still, she found herself…afraid.
Bellatrix was facing her now, holding a hand out and waiting. Hermione reached for her and Bellatrix seized her arm, her hand squeezing hard enough for it to hurt.
The chains snaked from Harry's wand and wrapped around their arms, tightening ever so slightly.
"Bellatrix, do you vow to never harm an innocent again unless it's in self-defense?"
"I do,"
"Do you vow to protect the innocent when you are able?"
"I do,"
"Do you vow to do as Hermione asks?"
Bellatrix shot him a look. Harry relented.
"Very well. Do you vow to join the Ministry in a position you find agreeable if you succeed in finding a way to break the curse that was placed upon you?"
Bellatrix rolled her eyes, "I do,"
"Do you vow to go willingly to prison if Hermione finds it necessary?"
Bellatrix looked at her, calculating the risk she was about to take. Hermione only met her gaze and held her breath. Then, the witch placed her life in Hermione's hands.
"I do."
Note: Yeah I know, the Unbreakable Vow is back at it again.