Note: Well, hi there guys! Sorry for the delay but I somehow managed to write myself into a corner with this story and couldn't quite get out. But my muse has kicked in after another idea struck me so back to writing. Can't believe it's been since Christmas. Hope you all had a Happy New Year!
Chapter 21
Hermione stared at Bellatrix. "Andromeda?" she asked. "You mean the prophecy could be about her?"
Bellatrix nodded. "It could be about her as much as it could be about me. You see, my family had a habit of naming people after stars and constellations. Orion, Draco, Sirius…" Her eyes were fixed on the window. "Andromeda matches the description perfectly but no one would ever even think that it could possibly be about her."
Hermione let her eyes trail over Bellatrix's frame. She understood why Dumbledore had assumed the prophecy pointed at Bellatrix. "Because it describes being black of heart and everybody immediately thinks it's you."
Bellatrix chuckled. "Can't say I blame them, can you?"
Hermione closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around the raven haired woman's waist, burying her face in her hair. She inhaled the intoxicating scent and let it fill her. It seeped into her blood like an invisible poison and her lips began to leave a warm trail of kisses across Bellatrix's skin.
"I don't care," she said, her voice getting lost in endless black curls. "I'm not leaving you. They lied to me. They all lied to me." She let her hands trail up slightly across Bellatrix's stomach, coming to a rest just below her breasts. She didn't miss the way Bellatrix's breath hitched. "I'm here with you and I will always be here with you."
"I know you'll always be here. I'm never going to let you go."
Bellatrix turned around and hungry lips captured Hermione's. It was a fight for control. A fight where tongues swirled around each other, teeth sunk down into lips and blood could be tasted. Passion flared up between them as Bellatrix stumbled across the living room, her hands lost somewhere in Hermione's hair and her lips never pulling away. By the time she threw the brunette witch on the soda, she had already removed her shirt and unbuttoned her jeans.
Hermione's eyes had darkened several shades, reflecting lust, and her pupils dilated. Panting, she stared up at Bellatrix hovering over her. Clad only in a simple yet elegant white laced bra and her jeans she didn't feel vulnerable. Her heart hammered in her throat and her tongue wet her lips, silently signalling Bellatrix she was ready and waiting for more. The oxygen was almost knocked out of her lungs when Bellatrix's body collided with her own, pinning her down into the cushions.
Hermione reeled at the sensation of Bellatrix's lips grazing across her skin. Her back arched when she felt the older woman's teeth bite down on the soft flesh just above her collar bone and she willingly lifted her hips of the sofa to help Bellatrix remove her jeans. The denim was thrown carelessly to the floor and Bellatrix's nimble fingers trailed their way back up across Hermione's abdomen, eventually cupping her breasts through her bra.
Hermione's hands wandered across Bellatrix's back and she uttered a spell beneath her breath. Slowly the fabric fell away from porcelain skin and Bellatrix momentarily looked surprised but then shrugged her dress down her body, revealing the beauty that lay hidden beneath. She didn't wear a bra and Hermione watched as dark pink nipples hardened now that the cool air of the living room touched them. Her slender fingers slid over the swollen buds, leaning in to let her tongue twirl around them.
Bellatrix impatiently ripped Hermione's bra away from her, not even waiting to try and unhook it. They were now both naked apart from their underwear and Hermione could feel the warm dampness between her legs grow rapidly. The back of her throat became dry as Bellatrix's tongue circled one of her nipples before biting down softly. The whimper this elicited brought a twisted grin to the former Death Eater's face and behind her mask the dark eyes reflected hunger and desire.
Bellatrix used her full weight to pin Hermione back down onto the sofa and lay her body down onto of her, placing a knee between Hermione's legs. She felt the younger witch's nails dig into her back and the pain was only turning her on more. It was like a drug, slowly intoxicating her brain. She pressed her knee down a little harder and noticed how Hermione shifted her body to get the best feeling. She felt the shiver travel through the girl's lower parts.
Their bodies rocked in a fast and steady motion, their most intimate parts separated only by flimsy pieces of damp, sweet scented silk. It was Bellatrix who dipped her hand between their bodies first and encountered the pool of warm wetness waiting for her. Instead of pulling Hermione's panties down, she just pulled them aside and covered the brunette's lips with her own, smothering the groan of desire as she slid two fingers towards the slick opening.
Bellatrix's eyes snapped open when she felt Hermione's teeth sink into her lips. Warm drops of blood trickled down her chin and she looked down at the girl beneath her to find her staring up at her with dark, lust filled eyes. Without warning Bellatrix pushed two fingers deep inside the warm wetness that awaited her and watched with a devious smile how Hermione's eyes widened and her back arched. Bellatrix started a slow but deep thrusting pace, curling her fingers as she did so. She watched as delight began to spread across Hermione's face.
They remained like this for a few moments until Hermione sat up slightly, shifting Bellatrix's weight and forcing her into a slight seating position, her legs now on either side of Hermione's. She never broke their eye contact as she ghosted her fingers across Bellatrix's abdomen, bringing a shudder to the older woman's body, before sliding down to the triangle between her thighs. Her fingers journeyed further until they found what they had been looking for and she smiled as she slipped two digits deep inside of Bellatrix.
"Fuck!"
The unflattering explicit rolled of the raven haired witch's tongue when she felt Hermione enter her and she threw her head back, her thick curls raining down her back. She bit down on her lip when Hermione mirrored the pace, sliding slowly in and out of her, her thumb flicking over Bellatrix's hard bundle of nerves.
Their bodies rocked together in an ever faster motion. Sweat glistened on their skin and strands of hair stuck to their forehead. Searing kisses were followed by breathless pants and foreheads resting together. Louder groans and moans filled the living room and their hearts beat so fast they were about to explode.
Hermione felt the beginnings of her orgasm coil in the pit of her stomach and stared up at Bellatrix. Their gazes locked and she didn't break the eye contact as the ripples began to spread througj her. Eventually the release rocked her life an explosion, ripping her body apart with blinding lust and desire. She cried out, her teeth sinking into Bellatrix's shoulder.
At that same time Bellatrix collapsed against Hermione's slender frame, her body trembling as she rode out the waves of the orgasm jolting through her.
Hermione's eyes were blurred through a mixture of sweat and tears and strands of hair that obscured her view. She rested her head against Bellatrix's body and heard the rapid, heavy beating of her heart. This was where she belonged. She knew it. She felt it. And so as her eyes slowly closed when she felt the older woman's fingers in her hair, a soft whisper escaped her.
"I love you, Bellatrix."
~()~
She knew she would have to face Harry eventually but it wasn't something she was looking forward to. It didn't matter anymore what he thought. It wasn't about him anymore. This was about Bellatrix and freeing her from the mask and the Curse. She wasn't going to stop now just because of the prophecy and no one, not even those she had called friends, would be able to stop her.
Hermione looked out of the cottage window. The view over the Highlands covered in the snow in the early morning sunlight was breathtakingly beautiful. She clutched a mug of herbal tea and wore only her shirt and her underwear. The fire crackled in the fireplace and the living room was warm. Bellatrix was sleep asleep on the sofa where they had made love the night before. It was also where they had slept and where Hermione had woken up earlier that morning, protected by Bellatrix's arms.
Sitting in the window sill, her knees pulled up to her chest, Hermione thought about what she would have to do next. She didn't doubt Andromeda had gone to see Harry after their last encounter. The more she thought about the younger Black sister, the angrier she became. She believed that Andromeda had been trying to protect her but the more she thought about it, the more she became convinced that Andromeda was really only trying to protect herself.
She had willingly given Hermione her memories, knowing it wouldn't be enough to undo the Curse. Hermione would have to find another way to get the memories of Harry and Neville. She'd used force on Andromeda but the older woman had just given in. Harry and Neville wouldn't be so willing, nor did they have something to hide the way she did it.
The thought of her former friends made anger come to life deep inside of her and Hermione put down her mug, slipped out of the window sill and quietly padded across the room to pick up her jeans. She got dressed, her eyes fixed on Bellatrix, and then used her wand to transform the clothing she was wearing. Her blue jeans became black instead of blue and her top became a black leather jacket with a burgundy long sleeved shirt underneath. She bound her hair in a ponytail, stored her wand in the back pocket of her jeans and leant in to kiss Bellatrix on her hair. The kiss was light and chaste and the raven haired witch didn't move. Hermione heaved a sigh before turning around and leaving the living room.
She stepped out into the snow. The wind was bitter cold and robbed her of her breath. She huddled a little deeper into her jacket and turned on the spot.
When she reappeared she was standing in the middle of London but nowhere near the Ministry. Instead she stared out over the river Thames with the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben as the backdrop. She couldn't go back to the Ministry. Not anymore. She would have to find another way to get to Harry.
"Hello again, Hermione."
She turned around when she heard a woman's voice say her name and her eyes widened a little when she discovered Andromeda walking towards her. Lit up by the weak morning sunlight she looked so much less like Bellatrix that Hermione felt confused for just a moment as to how she could ever have thought they were so similar.
She furrowed her brow when the older woman reached her and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "How did you know where I was?"
Andromeda smiled. "Are you familiar with the Trace, Hermione?"
"You mean the magic that is placed upon all underage wizards or witches that will see them tracked down if they perform magic without the Ministry's permission?"
"Yes." Andromeda brushed a strand of hair out of her face as the wind picked up. Her light brown eyes found Hermione's. The smile suddenly seemed less sincere. It hadn't reached her eyes. They were cold and distant, like those of an enemy. "Shall we say, I modified that spell a little?"
"What?" Hermione spat and her hand shot down to her wand but Andromeda reached for hers before Hermione even had a chance to draw it. "You put a spell on me?"
"I had no choice."
"I've been hearing that a lot lately."
"Hermione, this isn't right. This isn't what should be happening."
"Who are you to decide what should or shouldn't be happening?"
Andromeda let her eyes wander along the length of the river. The water was dark and a little unruly. "Because I know what is right and wrong, Hermione, and what you are trying to do is wrong."
Hermione's eyes darkened as anger took hold. "Trying to save the woman I love is wrong?"
"Trying to save Bellatrix is. You heard the prophecy." Andromeda took a step in Hermione's direction, her wand still drawn but not aimed at the brunette. She noticed Hermione's eyes flicker between her face and the wand and knew she had her attention.
"The prophecy doesn't just point to Bellatrix," Hermione challenged her. Anger laced her words.
"What do you mean?"
"It also points at you."
Andromeda chuckled at that comment. "Did Bellatrix tell you that? She did, didn't she?" Judging from Hermione's eyes she knew she was right. "Hermione, of course she is going to tell you that. Bellatrix wasn't supposed to know about the prophecy. You know what that knowledge did to Harry. Do you understand what this will do to her, to know that if she is freed she can dominate the world in ways Voldemort himself could only have dreamt of?
"Why did you even come here?" Hermione wanted to know, ignoring Andromeda's comment about Bellatrix's desire for world domination. "Are you following me?"
"That's what the Trace allows me to do, yes," Andromeda said softly. "Every time you Apparate, Iwill know where you are. I will always be able to find you." Her eyes connected with Hermione's. "I can't let you go through with this anymore. People are going to die if I don't stop you."
Hermione's featured hardened. "People will die anyway. It's a fact of life."
"There's no need to play smart with me, Hermione," Andromeda said. She sounded sharper now. The first hints of anger began to seep into her words. "I'm sure that by now you know I told Harry about you and Bellatrix. I told him everything."
"You've lied to me all along."
"No." Andromeda's voice was softer now and for a moment there was sadness in her eyes. "I did what I could to protect you."
"You were only protecting yourself." Hermione fixed Andromeda with a piercing stare. "I know what will happen to Bellatrix when you find her." She made a mental note to herself that she couldn't return to the Highlands. She would have to find an owl to send her message. "What happens to Narcissa if you find her?"
Soft footsteps behind her made Hermione look over her shoulder and her jaw dropped when she saw the blonde witch slowly walking towards her. Narcissa was dressed in a simple yet elegant black coat that reached to her knees, black leather boots and black trousers. A light blue turtle neck formed a pale contrast against the rest of her clothes but it complimented her eyes. The wind pulled at her golden locks as she reached Hermione.
Hermione's eyes snapped back to Andromeda and stared at her in disbelief. Andromeda merely smiled. "Narcissa gets another chance."
"So that's it then?" Hermione concluded as she turned around to Narcissa. Disdain was etched across her face. "After everything I did for you, you're just going to hand me over to her? I saved you from the Aurors. They were ready to lynch you, to torture you like they did before and you just…." Her voice broke as the betrayal hit her. "You just walk away?"
"I didn't have a choice," Narcissa said softly and she closed the distance between her and Hermione, taking the brunette's hands into her own. She wasn't surprised Hermione let her. She had sensed her rejection towards Andromeda but had also seen the pure hurt in her eyes when their gazes locked. Walking away from her would be one of the hardest things she ever had to face. "Hermione, this isn't about you anymore. There are bigger things at stake. The lives of innocent people, the lives of your friends and family…"
Hermione jerked away, pulling her hands back. Bitterness echoed in her words as she spoke. "I don't have a family. Not anymore." She glanced at Andromeda. "And I don't have friends either."
"Hermione…," Andromeda tried but the younger witch briskly shook her head.
"Shut up!" she hissed as fiery hatred flickered behind her eyes. "I'm done talking to you!"
She tuned to walk away but was pulled back when Andromeda's arm closed around her wrist, forcing her body into the low wall that separated the pavement from the river. Hermione's face was mere inches away from Andromeda's and she stared up into the brunette's eyes, their gazes locking in a way that they had never done before. Andromeda's grip on her wrist was strong and even though Hermione struggled, she couldn't free herself.
"Listen to me," Andromeda breathed. Her lips were so close to Hermione's ear that she could feel the warm breath tickle her skin. "You will lose everything if you go through with this."
Hermione's eyes were hollow when she looked up at Andromeda. "I have nothing left to lose."
Andromeda stepped away from Hermione as if stung by a bee and turned to glance at Narcissa. There was fear in her eyes. When she looked back at Hermione, the younger woman had drawn her wand and it was aimed at Andromeda's chest. Flakes of snow fell from the sky above them, landing in their hair. Andromeda saw nothing in Hermione's eyes. She was empty.
"We're too late," she said softly as she stepped back further, towards Narcissa. The blonde protectively put a hand on Andromeda's arm. A simple touch that said more than words ever could and Andromeda's eyes fluttered shut as tears welled up. "She's already gone."
"There may still be time." Narcissa sounded hopeful but Andromeda shook her head.
"She's gone."
Before Hermione had a chance to blink, the two witches disappeared into the falling snow. She was alone. A little bewildered and confused she pushed herself away from the wall Andromeda had pinned her against and through the snow made her way to the other side of the street where she found an underground station and joined a small group of people waiting for the train.
Andromeda's words were spinning round in her head over and over again like a haunting echo. We're too late. She's already gone.
Hermione boarded the train and found a seat by the window. She cradled her head in her hands as the headache overwhelmed her. The train shot off into the darkness. Only the odd white light flashed by outside the darkened glass when Hermione looked up. The world around her seemed to be spinning, faster and faster.
She got off at the station she'd wanted to get to and made her way up the escalators. Panic kicked in. An overwhelming sensation to get back out into the world, to feel fresh air in her lungs and the wind in her face. She almost tripped over her feet when she left the tube station and staggered out onto the street. Snowflakes landed on her cheeks and melted. Her eyes darted around. She knew London like the back of her hand but now she felt lost. It was as if everything had changed. The world didn't look the same anymore.
She took one step, and then another. A tentative third. People bumped into her. Some apologised, a couple swore at her. She didn't see their faces, didn't hear their voices. She just saw blurs. Another step and then her body began to fall. By the time she hit the snow covered the ground the world around her had already gone black.