Bella had successfully avoided her new 'wife' since explaining about their brands. She was playful and involved in the ever day affairs of Sterling's life but polite and short with Hermione. As soon as the injured witch had been discharged she'd been shipped off to the Weasley's'.

Not that they minded, bless them, but Hermione wanted to have a honest and deep conversation with the damn woman about what her future held, she couldn't stay with the Weasley's forever even if they'd have her.

Bella would 'pop' in, as Sterling called it, every morning after breakfast. She spent time with Sterling and left, usually without a single word to Hermione. It was infuriating her to no end. Hermione had tried to get her alone but seven other people in the burrow it was a near impossible feat.

Christmas day was the first day the turncoat had stayed more than half an hour and the teenager was smart enough to know that was only because the Potters and Weasleys were all at the Burrow for the holidays and Bellatrix was using them as buffers.

Her patience was wearing dangerously thin by the end of present and she'd decided to ignore everyone and study the huge book Ginny had bought her on ancient magic. At least she could get something out of all the frustration she felt. Hermione always studied better when she was stressed.

No one except Ginny noticed the girls depressed attitude, they were all busy cooing over the toddler who had been awed over all the toys she'd received. Harry and Ron had slipped off in a corner though, that was a little worrying. They looked an awful lot like Fred and George did when they were secretly cooking up Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. However nothing Harry and Ron had, and likely never would, turn out as good as the twin's joke shop.

"What's got you in a snit?" Ginny shoved her friend's feet off the couch so she could take the now empty spot.

Hermione glowered at her and put her feet in the red head's lap. "Nothing."

"So you're glaring holes in our professor because absolutely nothing is wrong, cause that's making a lot of sense." Ginny rolled her eyes. "I have noticed she's been avoiding you…it's not because she killed-"

"No." Hermine didn't want to hear his name mentioned. She had been having enough nightmares about him since getting out of the hospital.

"So what is it?"

"She told me the ministry considered us married," She held up a hand to stop Ginny's happy dance. "She also told me it was for Sterling's benefit and she's made it abundantly clear she wants nothing to do with me outside of school."

"She said that?"

The brunette waved her hand to wear the woman was playing with her little sister and Harry's little brother on the floor. Hermione had to admit she was wonderful with children. "Isn't it obvious? She leaves the room if we're alone you know. I have no idea what's going to happen to me when I go back to school."

Hermione looked away; it was getting harder to keep herself together. She loved the Weasleys, all of them, but they weren't what he needed right now. She honestly didn't need a mother, she needed an equal, someone who could help her shoulder the weight of her emotions without feeling the need to smoother her and put band aids on all her boo-boos. Band aids wouldn't work anymore, the time for hiding all the problems away from her because she's 'too young to understand' was over. She already knew everything wouldn't always be okay; she needed real solutions to deal with her depression and the post-traumatic stress. No one seemed to understand that and the one person she wanted to help her deal with it couldn't be bothered to even ask her how she was feeling on Christmas day.

"Hermione?" the brunette got herself together and smiled through the tears at her worried friend. If Bella didn't want to be burdened with her new ball and chain she wasn't going to force the issue. But she wasn't going to burden anyone else with her problems either.

"I'm alright just still a little sore and tired. I think I'll go upstairs and rest." Ginny started to get up and follow her but Hermione shook her head. "Enjoy the day, Gin and take pictures of Sterling for me. I'll be down in a couple of hours for Christmas lunch I promise."

Ginny reluctantly let her go and turned to glare at the professor, only to find Bellatrix Black staring apprehensively at Hermione's retreating back.