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Hermione and Bellatrix spent the rest of that afternoon in Bella's study.
"Did you miss me," Hermione couldn't help but ask.
"Ehh," Bellatrix claimed as she playfully hit Hermione on the shoulder.
Hermione feigned sadness.
"Aww it's not like that. You know I missed my girls," Bellatrix retracted.
Hermione smiled at that, "Well I missed you too. That place can make a person go insane."
Bellatrix couldn't help but giggle at her comment, "Yeah it has that effect on people."
The two fell into witty banter, then they discussed their course of action for the weeks to come. Hermione was truly glad to be home. It had felt like she had been gone for months. The Malfoy Manor was like stepping into a different time in a different world.
It was starting to get late. Hermione gave Bellatrix a hug and kiss goodnight. It was becoming sort of a routine of theirs. Hermione held out hope that one day, soon, something more would happen between them, but for now this would have to suffice.
Hermione wandered down the hall to find Narcissa. She found her in her bedroom unpacking her things from the trip. "That was intense," Hermione said as she plopped down on the bed.
"It's a terrible place to live, it turns you into a monster," Narcissa offered.
"So i see," Hermione had many questions she wanted to ask the older witch. She just wasn't sure how appropriate or rude it would be. She wanted to understand how things worked around their.
"What's on your mind darling?" Narcissa could sense Hermione's hesitation.
"Well… I don't really know, that place is so weird, there's so much I want to know."
"What is it?"
"Well like how the place turns you into an ice queen, but the way you talked to Lucius, and the way everyone is afraid to put a toe out of line, even the lord of the manor," Hermione didn't know where to begin and all the questions came out in a hurry.
"I don't really know the answers. It's just the place it self. It makes you feel the need to act different. And that voice… well that's a trick I picked up along time ago. Turns out you can always get your way with anyone, if you just use the right tone of voice," Narcissa tried to offer up explanations.
Hermione wasn't entirely convinced, but this would be enough for now. Hermione walked over to where Narcissa had taken a seat in front of her mirror. Hermione ran her hands threw Narcissa's long blonde locks. "Good night. I love you," Hermione said as she kissed the older witch on top of her head.
"Good night, honey, I love you too," Narcissa replied. And with that Hermione left Narcissa alone in her room. All week the two witches had shared a bed in Malfoy Manor. It was going to be weird trying to fall asleep without the sounds of Narcissa's steady breathing to soothe her.
Hermione went to enter her own bedroom, but she just couldn't do it. She didn't want to be alone right now. She was still trying to break the ice that had started to form around her soul while she was away at the frigid manor. Hermione walked past her own door and down the hall a few doors.
She knocked but didn't wait for someone to let her in. She walked in to find Bellatrix half way done putting on her night gown. "Can I stay here tonight," Hermione all but begged.
"Mud baby afraid of the dark, are we?"
"No," Hermione answered a little to quickly, "Anyway, can I sleep here or not?"
"Of course, you're always welcome. You're part of us now."
This was astonishing coming from Bellatrix's mouth, but Hermione wasted no time less she change her mind. Hermione quickly discarded the 18th century style dress she had been wearing. It revealed an undershirt and some black panties. Hermione shivered for a moment than dove under the covers. Bellatrix cradled Hermione in her arms. The younger witch was asleep two minutes after her head hit the pillow.
Bellatrix hovered over the younger witch for the better part of the night. She watched Hermione's chest rise and fall as she breathed. She watched her as she twitched. She held her tighter when she tensed up from a bad dream she was having. Bellatrix could watch Hermione forever. She loved this girl, but she didn't know what to do about. How could she love someone besides her sister. That had never been that much room in her heart. These feelings were all strange and new to her. Bellatrix finally pushed everything from her mind and laid her head on her own pillow.
The next morning Herminoe woke up to both witches in bed with her. This was becoming a fairly common thing. It was kind of nice to just relax in bed and hang out with her favorite people. Hermione was a lot happier lately. When she was with these two she could forget the rest of the world even existed. There was no war. There was no threat looming over their heads. They could disappear forever. Although that wasn't what Bellatrix wanted, Hermione would of been more than alright with it.
They finished their breakfast's in bed. Hermione had started to introduce them to muggle things. One thing being movies. Hermione had never been much for television shows, but she did enjoy a good movie every now in then. This particular morning Hermione decided to hook up the TV. They watched classic movies long through the afternoon and into the evening.
Hermione was about to doze off on Narcissa's shoulder when she felt Bellatrix suddenly move. Hermione looked up threw her sleepy haze to see the older witch getting dressed to go out for the night.
"And where do you think you're going," Hermione pouted.
"For you information some of us have a life, and I have to stuff to do."
Hermione made a displeased face.
"You'll be fine. Narcissa will keep you company," with that Bellatrix gave her sister a kiss on the cheek and Hermione a kiss on the lips, then left the room.
The next week passed fast. The next battle was quickly approaching. Hermione got into a sort of routine. She would wake up early and eat a big breakfast. Then she would meet up with Bellatrix. Bellatrix would teach her new spells, or potions, or something that could potentially be useful in battle. Sometimes Bellatrix would duel Hermione to help her keep her battle skills up. Hermione loved the mornings. She loved learning new things.
In the afternoon Hermione would meet Narcissa in the kitchen for lunch. Bellatrix would always go out during this time. Hermione never knew where she was going. Every time she inquired Bellatrix would change the subject or not respond to her at all. It was starting to make the younger witch jealous. After lunch Hermione and Narcissa would go to the library to read and study. Narcissa would give her some new material to look over everyday. Narcissa put a lot of time and thought into what she would have Hermione work on each day. She was trying to help Hermione stay sharp.
After study time and right before dinner Bellatrix would walk back in the door. There were no signs of where she had been. She always looked exactly the same as she had when she left. She never took anything with her and she never brought anything back. It continually baffled Hermione. The three of them would eat dinner together. After dinner the three would go there separate ways. They would get cleaned up from the days events, and do whatever it was that interested them that evening.
Every night when it was time to go to sleep Hermione would manage to slip into bed with one of the older witches. She was growing accustomed to it, and she hated sleeping alone. Sometimes all three of them would share the same bed. These were Hermione's favorite nights. She knew nothing in the world would harm her as long as she was in between the two of them.