Chapter 14

The Sitting Room

The different scenarios ran through Bellatrix's head quickly. Hermione had a couple of options. First, Hermione could go back to Hogwarts now so that they know that she's safe. Second, she could stay at the manor for the rest of the holiday and then go back to Hogwarts. And thirdly, Hermione could just stay with Bellatrix and not go back to Hogwarts. However, Bellatrix knew that the third one, no matter how much she wished for it, would not happen.

Hermione took the newspaper back from Bellatrix and read the whole article, trying to understand how this happened. She had covered her steps thoroughly...or at least, she thought she had. The brunette closed her eyes and took deep breaths, trying to figure out what to do next.

"I'll make some tea for Miss," Petal said thoughtfully and starting to take out the things to make tea.

"Thank you Petal," Hermione murmured. She opened her eyes and looked at Bellatrix who seemed to be deep in thought as well. The brunette wondered what the beautiful Death Eater was thinking, but did not have to wait long to find out.

"I'm sorry, this is my fault," Bellatrix admitted sheepishly.

Hermione looked at her, stunned. She knew that Bellatrix had been very nice and slightly out of character around her but she never thought that she would hear an admission of guilt from her. Hermione walked over to Bellatrix and kissed her.

"This is not your fault. Alright?" she said and kept placing small kisses on the black haired woman's lips. Bellatrix's arms snaked around Hermione's waist and pulled her in close.

"What are you going to do?" Bellatrix whispered. Kissing Hermione along her jawline.

Hermione eased into the touch and sighed, not knowing what to answer.

The kettle started to whistle and Petal poured two cups of tea.

"Here you are!" Petal said and held out the cups.

Hermione said thanks and the two witches pulled apart, each took a cup, and sat down at the table.

The brunette stared absentmindedly into her cup and took occasional sips. This was not how her winter holidays were supposed to go. She wanted to have a fun two weeks with Bellatrix, and now she wondered if that was possible.

Bellatrix curled her left hand into a fist while the other held the cup of tea. She was mad. Livid really but she tried not to let it show. She didn't want to scare Hermione. Whoever had found Hermione out was going to pay, Bellatrix would make sure of it, which reminded her that she had yet to attack Ron. This made her grow even more angry and frustrated and she felt her eyes darken.

Hermione looked up and saw Bellatrix's anger. She reached her hand across the table and placed it over top of Bellatrix's fist. She smiled when Bellatrix uncurled her hand and moved it so that they were holding hands.

"I want to stay. I really do but..." Hermione trailed off.

"Then stay," Bellatrix said sternly, wanting nothing more than for Hermione to stay. "Whether you go back now or later it will be the same. The same questions and the same concern. If you want them to know that you're okay then send McGonagall a letter or something but..."she stopped. "Just stay."

Hermione looked into Bellatrix's eyes and felt her heart melt. She thought for a moment before nodding her head.

"Okay. I'll go send McGonagall a letter," she said and slowly stood up. Bellatrix smiled slightly and watched Hermione leave the kitchen to go write the letter. Bellatrix thought about following her but thought better of it, opting to stay in the kitchen until Hermione was done.

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'Dear McGonagall,

I'm sorry for worrying you and the rest of the wizarding community. I promise you that I am safe and doing fine. I hope you have a good winter holiday and I'll see you when the break ends.

Sincerely,

Hermione Granger'

McGonagall reread the letter several times, completely perplexed as to how Hermione thought that that was enough. Her letter told her absolutely nothing. Although, when McGonagall thought about it the letter was more than she had been expecting, but she really wanted an explanation.

She sighed and sipped on her tea. She was determined to find Hermione. McGonagall did not believe that Hermione was safe. If she was somewhere safe then she would not have lied about where she was staying for the winter holidays.

McGonagall bit her lip and tried to think of any anomalies that had happened to her star pupil over the past year that could be cause of Hermione's change or where she might be.

There was the thing with Ronald, and how the rest of her dorm mates seemed to hate her but McGonagall did not think that that was it. She thought harder before it hit her. Bellatrix Black. During the summer she had had a run in with the dark witch.

It was the only lead that McGonagall had so she decided she might as well look into it. Checking her watch she noted that it was still early afternoon so she quickly got ready and apparated to Malfoy Manor to speak with Narcissa. She had not really planned out what she was going to ask but she knew that if anyone knew where Bellatrix was up to and where she was it would be her youngest sister.

Bellatrix was always mysterious even when she attended Hogwarts and she never liked to stay in one place to long, which was why McGonagall was worried that if Hermione was with the Death Eater then it would be difficult to find her, with or without Narcissa's help.

She arrived at the Malfoy Manor's gate and ran the bell on the side. She did not have to wait long before she saw Draco Malfoy walking towards the gate.

"Professor, can we help you?" he asked, trying to sound mean but failing miserably. McGonagall would have laughed if it had been appropriate.

"Yes, I would like to speak with your mother," McGonagall stated and smiled at the boy when he opened the gate.

Their walk to the manor was quiet, McGonagall could tell the boy had questions but she was impressed that he kept his mouth shut. When they arrived inside the large house McGonagall was happy to see that Narcissa was there.

"Good day, Minerva," Narcissa said politely. "How may we help you?"

"I would like to speak to you in private Mrs. Malfoy," McGonagall said with a serious tone. Narcissa nodded her head and told McGonagall to follow her.

As they were walking McGonagall saw lovely photographs and some guests that were staying at the manor. Upon thinking about it more clearly she realized that they were most likely Death Eaters, which made McGonagall's blood run cold. How had she not thought of this? How had she not remembered that this place was a Death Eater hang out? What the hell was she doing here? She chastised herself but stopped once they were in a spacious sitting room alone.

"What is it you wished to speak to me about?" Narcissa asked, taking a slightly colder tone.

"I am looking for Hermione Granger," McGonagall said and hoped to see a look appear on the woman's face but nothing. "I have reason to suspect that she may be with your sister," McGonagall stated as she sat down in a comfy chair.

"Then I do not see why you are here, go speak with Andromeda if you think she's with her," Narcissa said, even though she knew that Andromeda was not the sister that McGonagall was speaking of.

"No. I believe that she's with Bellatrix. Please Narcissa," she said, opting to use her first name this time. "I have to find Hermione," she pleaded.

Narcissa thought for a moment and regarded McGonagall closely. She wondered why McGonagall was so interested in the girl, although if she thought that Hermione was with Bellatrix then she supposed she had a right to be worried.

"I'm sorry that I can not help you Minerva, if I find out anything I'll let you know," she lied. "Now I suggest you leave. It's not very safe here for you," Narcissa said, sounding a little kinder.

McGonagall was going to ask more questions but figured that it would do her no good, so she nodded her head before standing to leave.

"Minerva, I would not suggest going to find Bellatrix. You know how she is, she would not take your presence kindly," Narcissa warned her former professor before escorting her out of the manor.

"Is that your way of telling me that my suspicion is correct?" McGonagall asked.

"No, it's my way of warning you that my sister is very dangerous and does not take kindly to unexpected visitors. Especially those affiliated with the Order," Narcissa snapped before leaving McGonagall alone outside.

McGonagall walked quickly beyond the gates of the Malfoy's house and apparated into Diagon Alley. She leaned against a wall and sighed. She hadn't learn anything new, although she was suspicious that Narcissa knew more than she was letting on and then perhaps her suspicion was correct, but she knew that she was just grasping at straws. McGonagall was pleased however to see that Narcissa still had good qualities such as warning her about her sister.

McGonagall knew that she was right, that looking for Bellatrix would most certainly mean trouble. So McGonagall decided to just wait for the end of the break and figure out what the hell was going on with Hermione once she came back.

All she could really do was hope that Hermione was safe and that she had not gotten herself into any trouble.

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As soon as McGonagall left her house Narcissa apparated to her sister's house. She sent her patronus inside to find Bellatrix, asking her to meet her outside alone.

A few moments later Narcissa saw her sister leaving the house and walking quickly towards her.

"What is it Cissy?" Bellatrix hissed out.

"What is it? Oh nothing, I just thought that you'd like to know that I had Minerva McGonagall come to my home today," she said angrily and noticed how Bellatrix's face changed at the mention of her name. "She thinks that you may have something to do with Miss Granger being missing."

Bellatrix took a step closer to sister.

"What did you say?" she asked.

"I told her that I didn't know anything and I warned her that trying to find you would most likely not end well for her," Narcissa said truthfully. "Bella, she has to leave. Do you know how much trouble the both of you will be in if this gets out?" she said and grabbed her sister left forearm.

Bellatrix pulled her arm away and scowled at her sister.

"I know very well what would happen. I do not need a lecture from you about it," she snapped. "Thank you for covering for me," Bellatrix forced out. "Now I'd like to get back to my guest," she whipped around and started walking back towards the house.

"You're walking on fire Bellatrix!" she called out before sighing heavily. Narcissa often worried about her sister, but her whole obsession with the girl made Narcissa worry a lot more than usual.

She watched her sister walk into the house that they had both grown up in and quietly disapparated back to her home, hoping that her sister would be alright.