Quid me nutrit me destruit.
What nourishes me also destroys me.
A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us.
(Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
Winter arrived almost unnoticed and before anyone knew it the Christmas decorations had appeared around the castle. The wind had become colder, the nights longer and the days were mostly a dull colour of grey. One morning when Hermione woke up she glanced out of the window to find a tender soft white blanket of snow covering the Hogwarts grounds. As she made her way down the staircase into the common room she found Harry, Ron and Ginny all sitting together. It was Saturday and there were no classes. They were all still in their pyjama's. Ron and Harry were playing a game of wizard chess and it looked like Harry was winning for once and Ginny was watching them with a bemused smile.
In the corner of the room stood a massive Christmas tree, decorated with the colours of Gryffindor and real candles that were bewitched so they wouldn't set the tree and the common room on fire. Random pieces of mistletoe had magically appeared on the ceiling and in the air lingered the distinctive smell of Christmas.
"Have you packed yet, Hermione?" Ginny asked when she spotted Hermione coming down the stairs.
"Packed?" Hermione questioned but then she suddenly realized what Ginny was talking about. Her heart leapt up in her chest and her face was suddenly glowing as the realization sunk n. "No! But I will do it soon!"
Today was the day the Hogwarts Express would take them back to London. Today was the day she would be going home for the Christmas holidays. But for now, she joined her friends and tried to help Harry make sure he would for once beat Ron at chess. Once the game was over and Harry was mocking Ron over finally losing for once, Ron pulled a letter from under a cushion and gave it to Hermione.
"This came this morning. The poor owl crashed against the window." He nodded to the window and Hermione saw the distinct shape of an owl against the frozen glass. She took the letter from Ron and recognised the messy handwriting that belonged to Mrs Weasley.
"Hermione, I would be delighted if you and Bellatrix would be able to join us for Christmas dinner this year. I have invited everybody and the pair of you cannot be missed. Also, of course Draco and Narcissa are welcome if they so wish. Safe journey home and I hope to see you soon."
"That is going to be one wicked Christmas party!" Ginny said, with a shimmer of enthusiasm in her eyes and then glanced at her brother. "Are you going to bring Sarah? I bet mom will be delighted to finally meet her." Ginny did an amazing expression of her mother's face when she met someone new.
Hermione laughed, maybe even louder than Harry and Ginny when Ron's cheeks turned as red as his hair. For the past four weeks Ron had been dating Sarah, one of the other girls Hermione shared her dormitory with. And it wasn't the disaster like his relationship with Lavender Brown had been. This time it looked like it was actually working out. Both were rather shy, which made it even cuter to see them holding hands at the Gryffindor table.
"Don't worry Ron; everybody will be all over Bellatrix. No one will harass you about Sarah," Hermione grinned and punched him against his shoulder. Sitting here in the common room, laughing and joking, felt like the old times and she treasured her friends now maybe even more than before. She stood up and headed towards the stairs that lead to the Girls Dormitory. "I am going to pack my stuff. Are you guys all finished?"
They nodded and Hermione climbed the stairs to the seventh floor on her own. She dug her trunk from under her bed and opened it. She gathered most of her clothes and put them in, together with some of her school books, parchment and quills. There was still some homework she needed to do over the holidays. After she had finished packing she retreated to the bathroom and enjoyed a long soak in the bath. The bubbles, the different smells and scents of the soap and the hot water eased her mind and made her feel relaxed. She swam around for a bit, from one end to the other of the massive pool. When she eventually climbed out of the pool and wrapped a towel around herself, Hermione felt clean and much more like herself. She returned to her room, simply dressed in her bathrobe and was surprised to find someone waiting for her.
"Professor?" She asked, clutching her robe more tightly and Minerva McGonagall turned around. Seconds ago she had been staring out of the window. Now she was faced with Hermione in her bathrobe and she immediately sensed the younger witch's discomfort with her presence.
"I am sorry for my intrusion, Miss Granger," McGonagall answered and she saw how Hermione's face flinched for a second "Hermione." she rephrased herself and Hermione slowly became more at ease though yet still very much aware of the fact she was naked underneath her robe. "I was merely intending to inquire whether you have accepted to the invitation to the Weasley Christmas Party."
"I can only assume Bella will have received the same letter. I am intending to go to the party," Hermione answered. Somehow she knew this was not the reason for Minerva being here. "I do not wish to appear rude but you could have come to see me at any given time. Why now?"
McGonagall sat down at the edge of Hermione's bed and looked up to meet Hermione's chocolate brown eyes. "You are right. Forgive me. There is something I wish to discuss with you. Well, several things actually. After the Christmas holidays a new student will join us. He is from Durmstrang but lost his parents in the war and will be coming to Hogwarts." She paused. "I have heard rumours it is Lucius Malfoy who has taken the boy into his home."
"You wish for me to speak to Narcissa and see if she knows something? I doubt she knows anything, Minerva. Cissy has not spoken to her husband since the Battle," Hermione answered softly and she remembered the sad look in Narcissa's blue eyes "I assume this young man will be placed in Slytherin?"
Minerva nodded, feeling somehow more at ease. "Yes. I would be pleased he could have as little contact with the Malfoy boy as possible. Speaking of such, I have noticed you and Mr Potter and Weasley have spent quite a lot of time with him as of late."
"He has changed a lot, Minerva. He feels lost in his own House. His fellow students have shunned him for having deserted the Dark Arts, whereas the rest of the school still avoids him for being a former Death Eater," Hermione whispered "Maybe you can speak to him yourself, at the Burrow. You are coming aren't you?"
Minerva stood up. "Yes, I shall be attending. Now, I suggest you get dressed in more appropriate garments than your bathrobe, Hermione. The train will be leaving Hogsmeade in two hours and I don't believe you'd be willing to miss it." She walked to the door and turned around, catching Hermione's eyes from across the room. She smiled. "Merry Christmas, Hermione."
Hermione returned the smile. "Merry Christmas, Minerva."
Once Minerva had left Hermione slipped out of her bathrobe and got dressed in black jeans and a pink blouse. She picked up the necklace Bellatrix had given her and hung it safely around her neck. Then she magically sent her trunk down the stairs, grabbed Tonks' cage and made sure she hadn't left anything before exiting the Dormitory. When she walked into the common room she found the others had gotten dressed too and were all waiting for her. Their trunks stood beside them and Ginny held her robe.
"Come on, we'd better go," Harry said and Hermione took her robe from Ginny. As they were leaving Gryffindor Tower the three of them wanted to know why Minerva McGonagall had come to see her. Hermione told them about what Minerva had said. About the new student arriving after Christmas and the rumours about Lucius Malfoy haven taken the boy in.
"A boy from Durmstrang taken in by Lucius Malfoy?" Ron asked suspiciously as they walked down the Grand Staircase into the Entrance Hall. Hermione looked at him and pulled up her shoulders.
"That's what McGonagall told me," Hermione said and she glanced at her friends. "I suppose we will just have to wait and see." She paused and then smiled. "But now I just want to go home!"
~()~
The journey back to London on the train was filled with excitement. Hermione's heart was pounding heavily in her chest the closer they got to London. Her face was almost pressed against the window. The scenery changed drastically as the train closed in on London. Next to her, Harry and Ron were laughing at her, where Ginny merely smirked. She understood the way her friend felt and thought it was rather enduring to see her so desperate to return to Bellatrix.
As the train rolled into Kings Cross station Hermione leapt to het feet and grabbed Tonks' cage and was the first one by the door to collect her trunk. "I'll see you all Christmas Day!" she called from the door as she jumped to the platform. She summoned her trunk from one of the open luggage compartment and it came rolling towards her straight away. Then she looked around, her eyes scanning the crowds of people that were waiting to pick up their children.
And there she was, dressed in a beautiful velvet burgundy dress. Her curly hair fell down her shoulders and when her dark brown eyes found Hermione on the platform she broke free from the crowd and ran over to her. Hermione felt how Bellatrix's strong arms grabbed her around her waist and pulled her close before lifting her up into the air and swinging her around.
"HERMIONE!"
Hermione's lips automatically sought and found Bellatrix's lips and she kissed her. She closed her eyes as she tasted her soft tender sweetness. Her hands buried in Bellatrix's black curls as she carefully found her way into Bellatrix's mouth to meet her tongue. Bellatrix answered her kiss, both unaware of their surroundings. Neither of them cared about the people that were standing around them, though many of them merely glanced at them before collecting their own loved ones from the train.
"You would think someone has permanently glued them together!" Harry grinned as she poked Ron before pointing at Bellatrix and Hermione, who were still engaged in a passionate kiss. Ron merely laughed because Sarah had excited the next compartment and he hurried over to say goodbye to her for now and, Harry assumed, to invite her for Christmas. He felt Ginny's hand take his and he looked at his girlfriend. She smiled.
"Come on, mum will probably be waiting for us," she said as she dragged Harry along and they disappeared into the slowly thinning crowd.
Bellatrix let go of Hermione and looked at her, tenderly stroking her cheek. "I missed you... And I am sorry I never came to visit but things have been mad at work" She was trying to cramp too many words into what she was trying to say and found her tongue stuck for just a second. She shook her head in an attempt to clear her head. "Oh my, am I glad to have you back for a while."
"Glad to be back," Hermione whispered as she brushed her lips against Bellatrix's once again before her eyes wandered around the platform. "Where is Cissy?"
"I assume she has found Draco. She is probably waiting outside the station." Bellatrix answered and she brushed a curl out of Hermione's face before taking her hand and picking up Tonks' cage. "Come on."
Narcissa was indeed waiting for them outside the station. Her eyes lit up when she saw Hermione and she smiled. "Hermione, it is so good to see you again!" she said friendly and this time it was her who wrapped her arms around Hermione, pulling her into a soft embrace. When she stepped away their eyes met briefly before either looked away and then started their journey home.
~()~
Once they arrived home Narcissa threw one more glance at her sister and Hermione after Hermione said she was going to take her trunk upstairs and Bellatrix offered to help. Draco left his trunk in the hall and accepted his mother's offer to help her in the kitchen to prepare dinner. Narcissa didn't turn around when Bellatrix and Hermione ran up the stairs, giggling like a couple of teenagers. When the bedroom fell shut behind them Hermione made sure it was soundproof before turning around and finding Bellatrix staring at her with lust flickering in her eyes.
"Did you miss me?" Bellatrix whispered as she carefully approached Hermione, slowly unbuttoning her blouse and sliding it off her tender skin. She kissed the soft flesh of her shoulder, slowly trailing upwards to the side of her neck and Hermione groaned. "I sure missed you, my love. Every night."
Hermione's slim fingers skilfully undid the corset that was part of Bellatrix's dress before the velvet fabric slid down her pale skin completely and exposed her beauty once more. She gasped at the sight of Bellatrix's full breasts, her flesh soft and sweet and her nipples already hard and dark pink. She pressed her thigh between Bellatrix's legs, and smiled as she purred under the pressure. The feeling of Bellatrix's hands cupping her own breasts made her throw her head back in pleasure.
Bellatrix lost her self-control and pushed Hermione onto the bed, crawling on top of her and straddling her waist. Her lips kissed and her tongue circled around Hermione's nipples before tracing down her stomach. The taste of her flesh roared some kind of internal sensation inside her. She had missed her so much. And she needed her so desperately. One of her hands unzipped Hermione's pants and her dark eyes became even darker with lust as she laid eyes upon the black underwear that hid beneath it. She didn't even bother pulling Hermione's jeans down. Her hand just slipped behind it and then disappeared behind her knickers. She was greeted by the warm sweet moist that came from Hermione's core.
Two fingers entered Hermione's tender soft centre and the younger witch cried out as she dug her nails into Bellatrix's tender flesh. She pressed her pelvis against Bellatrix's hand, grinding her lower body against that over the older woman. Bellatrix's hands impatiently and almost roughly thrusted and rubbed against Hermione's core.
Hermione moaned and screamed as the months of separation that caused her frustration, anger and loneliness rose to the surface and seemed to concentrate on her inner body. Her muscles tightened as she pressed herself firmer against Bellatrix, wrapping her legs around her lover's back and pulling even closer. Bellatrix's teeth grazed her now burning flesh. Her head collapsed against the pillow as her fingers dug deeper into Bellatrix's skin.
She groaned and twisted, her body shivering underneath Bellatrix's thrust. She looked up, her eyes capturing Bellatrix's. Her eyes were dark and filled with lust and passion. Her lips caught Hermione's so roughly they nearly bruised her. Something of the wickedness in Bellatrix had awoken and she used it to please Hermione in a complete different way than ever before. She was in control, towered over the younger witch. She made her own once again when all of a sudden Hermione cried out. The juices flowing from her hot core announced her orgasm before it had even hit her.
"BELLA!" Hermione cried as she collapsed into the mattress, her body shivering heavily and she pressed her body against Bellatrix's. The sensations rolled over and through her as she closed her eyes and tears began to flow. She cried as the waves of her orgasm slowly subsided and she found herself cradled in Bellatrix's soft, loving arms. The dark haired witch left butterfly kisses on her skin.
"Don't cry," Bellatrix whispered, worries now lying in her eyes "Did I, did I hurt you? Hermione, please, say something. I never meant to hurt you."
"You didn't hurt me," Hermione sobbed through her tears and turned her head. Her eyes found Bellatrix and she saw how the worries slowly subsided. "I liked it. You could never hurt me, Bella. Never. I-I am just..."
"Lost," Bellatrix whispered as she kissed Hermione's forehead and caught the younger woman's wrist when Hermione trailed down her stomach with intention to please her "I can wait, my love. It can wait. Lay with me and share your thoughts. Tell me what is troubling you."
Hermione lay there, partially naked. So many things were running through her head she had no idea where to start. "I have been thinking about my parents. I have been thinking about maybe trying to find them but I do not know where to start. And at the same time I just try to tell myself they are dead. So that if they really are it won't hurt as much."
"Isn't it better to hold on to the belief they are not?" Bellatrix questioned softly and she looked into Hermione's hazel eyes "Why lose the hope of something beautiful if the hope still has a chance to return? Never give up on something that has not given up on you... If you wish to find your parents, I will help you. The Ministry might be able to be of service to you and I bet Minerva would be happy to help you out as well. Hermione if you so wish, we will all help you."
Hermione brushed her tears away and looked at her lover. "I love you, Bellatrix."
"And I love you," Bellatrix whispered and brushed her lips against Hermione's ear. Inside her chest her heart was glowing and she took one of Hermione's hands into her own. Her next worlds rolled over her lips like an even softer whisper and nearly were lost in Hermione's hair "Marry me, Hermione."
Hermione's head spun around to look at her lover, her eyes widening in shock as she tried to work out whether she had heard it right. "Bella, what did you just say?"
Bellatrix's eyes captured Hermione's and she followed the shape of Hermione's lips with her fingers. She felt so lost in this feeling and yet she felt stronger and more powerful than ever before. She wanted it to last forever. All of it. "Marry me,"
Hermione thought it was out of this world. It was completely mental. And she had to be out of her mind. Her world was spinning and her head was rushing. She looked at her beautiful lover. Bellatrix was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. And she lay here next to her, practically naked. And now... now this lovely creature asked her to become her wife. To spend her life forever together. She looked at Bellatrix, who was staring back at her with questioning eyes.
Bellatrix sensed Hermione's hesitation and realized how idiotic her words must have sounded to the younger witch. "Hermione, sorry, I don't know what..."
"Yes!" Hermione said blindly and suddenly started laughing uncontrollable "YES Bella! Yes, I will marry you!"
She wrapped her arms tighter around Bellatrix and they rolled over each other until Hermione lost her balance and found that gravity wasn't everything. Very unkindly she collided with the bedroom floor and she rubbed her elbow where it had crashed against the wooden floor. When she looked back up she found Bellatrix still sitting on her knees on the bed, looking anxiously down at the floor, her black curls partially covering her face. Hermione was still laughing and then Bellatrix laughed too. She reached out a hand to Hermione but instead of Hermione pulling herself up, she pulled Bellatrix down. The older woman landed partially on top of Hermione and they found their faces close together. Hermione kissed her, quickly but passionately and once again repeated her answer.
"YES! I will marry you!"
And they lay like this for several minutes, laughing until they were out of breath and both fighting for air to find its way into their lungs. Bellatrix was panting as she slowly stood up and reached out a hand to Hermione. She pulled her up and her lips captured hers once again, feeling the swells of Hermione's breasts press against her own. It was a beautiful feeling.
"Come, we better join Cissy. I dread to even wonder what she is thinking about us," Bellatrix grinned as she remembered Narcissa's meaningful face when she and Hermione ran up the stairs. "Come on, get dressed."
They both got dressed and once they made sure they were both appropriately and decently covered in the right pieces of garment they left the room and walked downstairs. Hermione stopped Bellatrix in her tracks just before they stepped into the hallway and turned her face towards her. She caught her deep brown eyes. "Wait! Are we going to tell her?"
"Do you want to tell her?" Bellatrix retorted the question and Hermione thought about it for a few seconds before she smiled.
"Yes. Yes I do want to tell her but not tonight. Maybe we should wait. Until Christmas Day. At the Weasley's," Hermione suggested hopeful and Bellatrix nodded. "We are going of course, aren't we?"
Bellatrix pecked Hermione quickly on the cheek and took her hand into hers once again before dragging her down the last few steps of the stairs. "Yes. I wouldn't want to miss it for the world."
And with that said they walked into the kitchen. Narcissa turned around and her lips curled up into a tender smile. Yet her voice was a lot more cynical than her smile would have made them believe. "How lovely of you to join us."
She nodded towards the table and the two witches sat down as Narcissa served their dinner. She never noticed the intense looks the two witches shared; the eye contact that spoke more than words would ever be able to say.
~()~
Christmas Day arrived unexpectedly fast and when Hermione woke up that morning she found Bellatrix sitting on the edge of the bed, wrapped in a blanket. She had been looking at her lover. When she saw Hermione had woken up Bellatrix carefully crawled back into the bed and snuggled herself in Hermione's arms. "Merry Christmas my darling."
"Merry Christmas darling," Hermione whispered and her lips brushed against Bellatrix's before kissing her softly. "What were you doing there, looking at me?"
"Just like you said, looking at you," Bellatrix smirked and draped her arm securely around Hermione's waist as her head rested upon her chest. "You have no idea how beautiful you are."
"I suppose not," Hermione grinned "It would only make me arrogant."
They spend fifteen more minutes cuddling together, kissing and giggling, before Hermione slipped out of bed and was the first to take a shower. After she had left the bathroom Bellatrix pinned her up the wall as she stole a deep passionate kiss and left her with legs that felt like jelly. She then got dressed in one of Christmas presents Bellatrix's had bought for her. It was a heavy, velvet dress, much like the ones Bellatrix liked to wear herself. It was cobalt blue and accented her brown curly hair and chocolate eyes. When Bellatrix came out of the bathroom and found her lover standing in front of the mirror her mouth dropped open and she forgot to breath.
"You look amazing," she whispered as she approached Hermione and tenderly wrapped her arms around her waist. "You have no idea what a beautiful woman you have become, Hermione. Look at you... You have grown up so much." She gently brushed her hands against the round curves of Hermione's breasts. "Everyone will be looking at you tonight."
Hermione captured Bellatrix's eyes. She smirked. "They will because I am with you."
Bellatrix knew better than to answer. She dropped her towel and Hermione watched her get dressed, slowly covering up the beautiful sight that was Bellatrix's body. When Bellatrix turned she found Hermione look at her with a dreamy look in her eyes and reached for her hand. Together, they walked down the stairs and found Narcissa and Draco in the living room. Both were dressed neatly for the Christmas party they would be attending at the Burrow later today.
Draco wore one of his best suits but it was his mother who captured Hermione's eye. Narcissa's hair was falling down her shoulders, wavy like the waves of the ocean and cherished the sides of her face and tickled the skin of her neck. She was dressed in a beautiful purple dress that fitted around her body perfectly in all the right places. It was only now that Hermione realized that Narcissa and Bellatrix were physically not that different after all but she had never been able to tell since Narcissa would usually wear more loose fitting robes and dresses.
"Hermione, you look amazing," Narcissa said, using the same words Bellatrix had used upstairs in their bedroom, as her eyes found Hermione and she then quickly turned her head away. Her blonde hair covered the slight blush on her cheeks.
"Thank you," Hermione answered shy and glanced at Bellatrix, who had just paid a compliment to Draco about his suit. She glanced at the fire place. Narcissa had obviously prepared it for their travel. The flames were small but green. "I think most people will arrive at the Weasley's for noon but we are welcome to arrive earlier if we wish so...I suggest we go early if we wish to be able to have a decent conversation before it becomes too crowded and noisy to speak"
All agreed and one by one they stepped into the fireplace. Hermione was to go first. She would inform the Weasley's the others would be arriving soon. She stepped into the green flames, dropped the Floo Powder and spoke loud and clearly. "The Burrow."
The flames roared and the room spun drastically before her eyes. In the distance the living room of the Burrow came into view and Hermione braced herself for the sudden stop that came with her arrival. She arrived with a soft crack and the flames eased down almost immediately. She stepped out of the fireplace since she didn't particularly wanted to crash with whoever came after her and dusted the ashes from her dress.
"Hermione!" said Mrs Weasley as she jumped up from her seat. The book she had been reading dropped to the floor. The flames roared bright green once again and Hermione knew the second arrival would be here in seconds. "How great to see you!" She glanced at the fireplace. A figure became visible in the distance. "Is everybody coming with you?" She had only just finished her question when behind Hermione Narcissa appeared in the flames. She stepped out of the flames and nervously looked around. When she found Hermione standing not far away her face slowly eased up. Even more so when Molly Weasley approached her and just hugged her, no questions asked.
"Narcissa! How lovely of you to come!" Molly said and Hermione knew she meant it from the bottom of her heart. Narcissa seemed to relax when she felt Molly hug her yet her eyes found Hermione's briefly before she looked away. Behind them the flames were roaring once again. Draco appeared and stepped into the living room too. He wanted to approach his mother but Molly stepped in between. He was greeted as enthusiastically as his mother had been and blushed slightly when confronted with Mrs Weasley's voluptuous chest.
The flames turned green one last time and finally Bellatrix appeared. She stepped out of the fireplace gracefully, brushing off the ashes as she did so. As she looked back up she was almost knocked over by Molly Weasley, who hugged her perhaps even stronger than she had done Narcissa and Draco. "Bellatrix!" Molly said and Bellatrix generously returned the hug. The warmth and kindness that fell over her made her feel alive. Standing in the small living room she just felt the love that lingered in this house and she was grateful to be a part of it.
"Did I hear someone say Hermione?" It was Ron who walked into the living room and he smiled when he discovered the large gathering that arrived through the fireplace. Hermione ran over to him and flung her arms around his neck. From the other room Harry, Ginny, Fred and Mr Weasley appeared and suddenly the living room was crowded with people. There was barely enough space to walk, let alone breath. As Harry said hello to Bellatrix and Ron focused on Draco, Hermione couldn't help but glance over her shoulder and meet the blue eyes that belonged to Narcissa Malfoy.
"Come on in to the kitchen, while there is still room to sit!" said Mrs Weasley and everybody stumbled into the kitchen, taking whatever free seat around the table they could get. The table looked like it was about to crack under the massive amount of food in the bowls and those very same bowls magically refilled themselves as soon as somebody filled up their plate. Hermione found herself squeezed in between Narcissa on one side and Ginny on the other, whilst Bellatrix sat on the opposite side of the table, flanked by Harry and Ron and with George trying to butt into their conversation.
She turned around and looked at Mrs Weasley, who was walking behind her. "When are the others arriving?"
Mrs Weasley held still behind Hermione and looked at the young witch. "Fleur and Bill will be here late this afternoon. They only returned from France yesterday and wanted a few hours to come to their senses, I think. Charlie should be here tonight and Minerva just sent her Patronus ahead saying she will be here within the hour," she answered and she glanced at Ron for a minute "Oh and Ron's girlfriend should be here soon as well. Percy and Patricia will arrive whenever they fancy, I suppose and Andromeda should be here shortly."
"Andromeda?" Narcissa questioned in surprise and she too looked at Molly. Her blue eyes widened in surprise. "She is coming too?"
"Yes and if I am not mistaken she will bring little Teddy with her. Kingsley might pop in but I am not sure. Depends on how busy it is at the Ministry, I suppose," Molly answered and then walked on to sit with her husband. Hermione looked at Narcissa for a second and found she was looking back at her. Neither looked away, not until Harry called her from the other side of the table and Hermione focused on her best friend.
Hours passed quickly and outside the sun set behind the hills. Magical candles were lit, presents passed around and constant laughter filled the kitchen and living room of the Burrow. Minerva McGonnagal had joined them, having shared a smile with Hermione when she walked through the door. Both Bill and Fleur had arrived as well, shortly followed by Andromeda with little Teddy. The baby was passed around from lap to lap and he seemed to find this highly amusing. Charlie, Percy and Patricia all arrived together and now Kingsley Shacklebolt walked through the door and greeted the large gathering with his low, deep voice. Everybody turned and wished him a Merry Christmas.
But with so many in the house it was very warm and there was hardly any room to walk or breath. Hermione found herself standing alone in a corner, overlooking the whole gathering. Bellatrix was having an animated conversation with George and Arthur Weasley and Hermione wondered whether it had anything to do with the joke shop. Draco was beating Ron big style in wizard chess as Harry and Ginny watched. Kingsley was talking to Molly Weasley, with Minerva McGonnagal standing beside them but only partially listening as her eyes too were overlooking the room. Charlie, Percy and Patricia were debating something over a piece of parchment and Hermione assumed it had something to do with the laws concerning dragons. Fleur and Bill sat with Andromeda, little teddy soundly asleep on Fleur's lap. She appeared to be glowing, Hermione thought and she couldn't help but noticing she looked really good with a baby. Hagrid had unexpectedly turned up as well and his presence took up more than half the room.
Just as she turned around she caught a glimpse of a purple dress and platinum blonde hair leaving through the front door and Hermione quickly followed. She found Narcissa standing outside, in the cool evening air, hidden in the shadows at the side of the house. She looked up when she heard the front door open and did not appear to be surprised when she saw Hermione come after her. She didn't smile but merely looked away.
"Cissy, are you all right?" Hermione asked as she walked up to the woman who was to become her sister in law eventually. She and Bellatrix had not gotten a chance to tell anyone about their engagement yet but for now, that did not worry her. What worried her was Narcissa standing here alone, away from everybody and clearly upset about something. "Cissy, talk to me."
"It is nothing, Hermione," Narcissa answered stern, not making eye contact with the younger witch. She simply brushed some hair out of her face. "I merely needed fresh air. It is after all very busy inside."
"Do you wish you had not come here tonight?" Hermione asked carefully and she too stepped into the shadows, now standing only two or three steps away from Narcissa "I do not think anyone will blame you if you go home, though I feel as if you wish to stay."
Narcissa pointed at the house. Through a window Hermione saw Minerva McGonagall. Was she mistaken or did the witch's blue eyes just briefly connect with hers? She shook her head and looked back at Narcissa. "I received my divorce papers yesterday. Lucius finally agreed to sign them." She hesitated. "It is all over."
Hermione remembered what McGonagall had said to her right before the Christmas holidays but shook the thought out of her head. It was not something she could trouble Narcissa with now. And she doubted Narcissa wanted to know her ex-husband had taken in an orphan from Durmstrang. She reached out and touched Narcissa's arm. The other woman did not pull away. Hermione came closer. "I am sorry, Cissy."
Narcissa looked up and her eyes met Hermione's. Tears were falling from her eyes and suddenly Hermione realized the grief Narcissa must be feeling. She swallowed as she tried to think of something to say, something comforting and warm. She could not think of anything and therefore simply wrapped her arms around her and pulled Narcissa into her embrace. She was surprised to feel how willingly Narcissa let herself fall into Hermione's arm. As she held her lover's sister Hermione picked up the sweet scent of her perfume. Narcissa smelled of dark roses and summer rain. It was a smell like no other Hermione had ever smelled before. When Narcissa then slowly moved away she never broke the eye contact that lingered between them.
Without warning the skies opened over their heads and thick, heavy raindrops fell to the ground. Hermione had grabbed her wand first and cast a silent protection spell which prevented her and Narcissa from getting wet. Around the rain crashed onto the ground and the roof of the Burrow but they still stood in the shadows together.
"We must go back inside," Narcissa whispered, never breaking the eye contact. Almost subconsciously her hand had reached up and touched Hermione's hair. She was shaking, she realized. Not Hermione, herself. She quickly lowered her hand but Hermione grabbed it unexpectedly and just held it for a few seconds. It was as if time around them had come to a stop. As if the world had simply stopped moving.
"You look at me," Hermione whispered softly, still not looking away but carefully coming even closer. Her body nearly touched Narcissa's. She could feel her breath against her face, the heat from her body radiating against her own. "You look at me when you think I cannot see. Those stolen glances."
"Hermione, don't," Narcissa stopped her and stepped away from Hermione and the protection of her spell. She ran through the rain back to the front door and disappeared back inside. Hermione felt confused. She couldn't understand what had just happened, if anything at all. She closed her eyes and stepped away from the safety of her spell. She looked up to the sky, the rain falling roughly on her skin. Within seconds she was soaked. Her dress was drenched, her hair stuck to her face. And with the rain falling from her face her tears became unnoticed.
"Hermione, what in Merlin's name are you doing out there?" Minerva called from the open door. She watched the young witch standing in the pouring rain, soaking wet with her face lifted up to the sky. She now looked at Minerva McGonagall in the open door, brown meeting blue. Hermione sighed before quickly running to the door and squeezing past Minerva. She felt the warm glow of Minerva's spell as it hit her. Her dress immediately became dry and her hair dried too. She wanted to walk away but Minerva took her arm. "Are you going to tell me what you were doing out there in the pouring rain?"
Hermione didn't look at Minerva. Instead her eyes wandered across the room, finding those other blue eyes she wanted to see. Narcissa was looking at her. Hermione looked away and then glanced up to McGonagall's face. Her answer was simple.
"No," She paused. "Are you going to tell me why you have been watching me all night?"
She knew she wouldn't get an answer. She had refused to tell Minerva what had happened outside and therefore the Headmistress would not tell her why she had been watching her. "No."
"Hermione, love?" Bellatrix called and Hermione smiled when she found her lover approaching her. She looked so beautiful in the golden candle light and she happily took her hand. Bellatrix leant in, her lips brushing against Hermione's ear. Her hand slipped around Hermione's waist, pulling her closer into her. "We'd better tell them now, before people go home, darling. Do you still want to tell them?"
"Of course my love," Hermione answered softly and threw one more look at McGonagall before she walked with Bellatrix into the middle of the room. She kept feeling Minerva's eyes in her back. Bellatrix picked up her glass and tapped it briefly with her spoon. People turned around, dozens of eyes now resting upon them. Hermione looked up, capturing Bellatrix's dark brown eyes with her own. All she wanted was to press her lips against her and whisper how much she loved her.
"Hermione and I have an announcement to make," Bellatrix said and from the crowd there were a few excited whispers but they subsided when Hermione raised her hand. She glanced up to Bellatrix before her eyes sought Ron and Harry. They were standing side by side, with Ginny next to Harry. Mr and Mrs Weasley stood behind them. Hermione didn't know why but she was unable to look away from them. They were her family. The closest thing to a family she had. And she knew that Harry would understand. She knew he felt the same way.
"Bella and I," Hermione started, grasping Bellatrix's hand a little bit tighter but still not looking away from her friends. She didn't quite know why she was so afraid of their reaction. They had accepted her and Bellatrix so far. "We are engaged. We are going to get married."
There was a cheer from the crowd and much to Hermione's pleasure she found it was Harry. He was joined by Ron and Ginny whilst the others clapped and applauded. Someone whistled somewhere and she realized it had been Draco. Hagrid marched over to her, patting her on the shoulder so hard it felt as if she was being drilled into the ground. Mr and Mrs Weasley were next. They hugged Hermione and then Bellatrix. Then, there was that unexpected hand on her shoulder and Hermione spun around. Minerva looked at her. There was something flickering in her mentor's eyes and Hermione wanted to walk away. Minerva had no intention to let her.
"Hermione, we need to talk. If not now than maybe when you get back to Hogwarts," Minerva said, making it very clear there was no avoiding her. She averted her eyes from Hermione and they focused on somebody else in the crowd. Hermione followed Minerva's eyes and found Narcissa standing frozen to the ground. Her pale blue eyes were dull. When she saw Hermione look at her, she turned around and approached Bellatrix to congratulate her. But she never came close to Hermione again.