Hermione left the manor shortly after Bella's confession; the dark witch had refused to say any more beyond that point, choosing instead the moral high-ground of refusing to speak before literally running away from Hermione no doubt into some dark crevice she could completely fall apart in. Hermione was tempted to do the same, run away and wallow in self-pity; the world seemed to be against her after all, but she chose instead to give the dark witch some space.

She needed some herself.

"You'll come find me when you're ready"

She muttered to the emptiness of the foyer.

Her voice carried to the first floor though.

A familiar dark figure that had all but been forgotten in their little romantic drama, smirked. She debated going after Bella, she would be able to find her no doubt… But the look in the brunette's eye stopped her.

It was despair and defeat.

She smiled and held back, Bella was stronger, she was right to choose the mudblood as her… focus. With any luck they would hate each other pretty soon, and everything would be just fine. She smiled and closed her eyes to revel in the moment.

That night when Hermione came home and found Harry sitting watching Quidditch with Crookshanks on his lap and butterbeer in his hand, he took one look at Hermione and pulled her into a hug

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Hermione shook her head, she was done.

He led her over to the sofa and they sat down, with his arm around her shoulder offering all the brotherly comfort he could.

They sat together like that for a while, with the Quidditch muted and both staring blankly at the screen lost in their own thoughts.

Harry looked down at her suddenly.

"How long has it been since we had a group sleepover?"

Hermione outright laughed. Harry had the weirdest ways of cheering her up. Oddly, it seemed like a good idea. Being surrounded by people she cared about, and who cared about her in return.

Harry made to get up.

"Now?!"

Harry simply grinned

"Come on smarty-pants, it's barely dark… you can't tell me you're tired already!"

Hermione pretended to yawn, but laughed at the face Harry pulled.

He texted Draco, Ginny and Luna, it was time for a little reunion.

At Black Manor

"Mum… I think Crookshanks has been sleeping on your coat again… it's covered in ginger!"

Draco awaited his mother's reaction, but it always difficult to tell with her. She had almost total control over her body language.

She could not however, control her heart.

It thumped faster as she started towards Draco.

With a quick flick of her wand the hairs were gone.

"Yes, or we'll have to train that abominable creature"

She glanced at Draco briefly, there was no suspicion in his eyes that she could see, but she wouldn't allow herself to forget again.

She turned back to the library.

"Have fun with your friends"

"Thanks mum"

Something was up.

A short while later, camped somewhere in the Forest of Dean

Hermione looked around their little group, eternally grateful that she had such amazing, daft friends.

She realised was even grateful for Draco. He had become a good friend over the past months, even though he seemed like an arrogant prick at first, they had become closer with time and alcohol always seemed to ease the conversation.

Draco took another swig of butterbeer and settled further into his sleeping bag.

"Remind me why we're doing this?"

"It's fun… and I know you love it really" Harry grinned

"Oh yeah… it's the highlight of my year" Draco looked around the tent in feigned disapproval before sending Harry a sideways grin.

"I'd just like to take a moment to point out, that we have more than enough rooms at the manor to accommodate everyone…" He glanced at Crookshanks sitting and purring contentedly on Hermione's lap.

"Although we'll have to hide the cat from mother… she's not too happy with him since he started leaving ginger fluff all over her clothes! She's been acting really weird about it actually…"

Draco caught Hermione and Ginny frowning at each other and trailed off before Ginny spoke up, saving Hermione from saying she hadn't been to Black Manor to cuddle up by the fireplace with her girlfriend and her cat since before the wedding.

"Crookshanks has been living at the Burrow for two weeks…. Dad's had a thing against mice ever since the whole Pettigrew thing and Hermione can't look after him all the time, so he moved in with us."

Draco's brow creased momentarily. He had definitely seen ginger hair on his mother's autumn jacket, even this morning.

Harry broke him out of his train of thoughts

"He's half kneazle, right? I'm sure he could learn to apparate!"

"Or use the floo network!" Draco joined in

Ginny shook her head, they were as daft as each other. "Why don't we play a game?"

Luna suddenly spoke up "Nothing to do with Nargles though… they're too mischievous"

Ginny kissed Luna's cheek, everything about her girlfriend she found adorable.

Luna smiled back.

Now it was Harry's turn to roll his eyes.

"Truth or dare?"

And with that simple question and the help of some truly brilliant friends, that's how Hermione's night went from heartbreaking to wonderful in a matter hours.

The same, unfortunately, could not be said for her two evenings later.

That night found Hermione curled up with Crookshanks in a duvet fort Fred had built for her when he came over. His form of comforting might not be very warm or talkative, but now lying in a castle of softness, she was grateful for it. Her mind still dwelt on Bellatrix though, how one person could be so downright annoying! And selfish. It was beyond her.

Hermione sat up suddenly, disturbing Crooks from his warm resting place.

It suddenly seemed like an excellent idea to floo to Black Manor and tell Bellatrix excatly what she thought of her.

Right this second.

Favouring going straight away rather than do anything else, she got out of the fort in her penguin pyjamas, and marched towards the living room fireplace still holding Crookshanks. He was her pillar of strength, providing moral support and warmth. Also cuddles when he was feeling sleepy.

A short-lived pillar of strength as he hopped down and wandered off down the corridor the minute they burst into the fireplace at the Manor.

They arrived straight into Bellatrix's room. Hermione didn't stop to think that this meant Bella had left her on the list of people permitted access to the Manor, let alone her private chambers. And that was a very short list. There was a grand total of two people on it.

"You're so… selfish Bellatrix. Just downright selfish!" she hollered the moment she was there. She got a mouthful of soot for her troubles.

She wiped it away with a disgusted look and stepped out of the fireplace properly.

Hermione saw her sleeping frame, and noticed that the room was close to pitch black.

Although it was 2am, unfortunately for Bella she didn't remain asleep for long.

Hermione pulled her wand from her bedsocks, it was a good job she kept it there habitually. She's completely forgotten about it on the way.

"AGUAMENTI"

Bella jumped three feet into the air before rolling off the bed and crouching low, trying to open her eyes and ready for a counter attack.

Then she noticed it was Hermione, and stood up.

"What the hell!"

"This is your fault! You and your goddamn selfishness." She started to pace as her features contorted into a sneer "A proper pureblooded Slytherin, always looking out for yourself!"

Bellatrix was wide awake by this point.

"What? I always put you first… always!" It took most of her self-control not to yell right back "O have you forgotten that night at the hospital already? I stayed. I was the only one who stayed! And I was happy to do it because I was so, so scared, so freaking terrified that you'd gone and you weren't coming back."

Bella paused for breath

"So scared that you pushed me away the very moment I came back? You couldn't get out fast enough."

Bella's shocked reaction shut Hermione up. There was a tense silence in which Hermione started to regret what she'd said, before she stamped it out. She refused to be vulnerable right now, so her Gryffindor (and in this case, idiotic) pride won out.

"You nearly died and there was nothing I could do. Don't you get that? I was completely helpless, and I can't put you in that situation again"

Hermione wasn't listening, all the vulnerabilities and insecurities she had felt were all pouring out, funnelled into a white hot rage that could rival a dragon

"Oh I'm sure you were terrified. Your sister might as well have finished the job for all you care."

Hermione was angry, yelling and looking utterly dangerous, and it caught Bellatrix off guard. She'd never seen Hermione like this before, her love was always calm, happy, always the optimist… and now she was screaming blue murder and it was all her fault. She was trapped in this cycle of thoughts, so it took her a moment to actually understand what Hermione had said.

"Wait, what? My sister?"

It dawned on her. They had never actually spoken about who had injured Hermione, they had been so caught up in the whirlwind of her injuries and then finding out she was a muggleborn…

Bella noted she was even saying muggleborn in her head now. Hermione really had changed her. The thought left her instantly as she focused on another.

Her voice was suddenly quiet and controlled, holding a devastating cold fury.

"Which sister?"