Disclaimer: Still applies.
Author's Note: I know…It has been a long while…
Wide Awake: Chapter 28
Hermione's feet touched solid ground, it took her a few moments to take in her surroundings once her eyes opened and the spinning had stopped. They were standing in what appeared to be a garden, with lush green bushes, and large, very old looking trees. Bellatrix watched the younger witch apprehensively, she was sure it was too soon to bring her here, but she had to make up the time that she had lost with her lover…and this place…well it just seemed like the right place to take her.
"What do you think?" Bellatrix asked breaking the silence.
"It's…oh Bella…it's breathtaking…where are we exactly?" Hermione replied breathlessly.
Bellatrix suppressed a small smile as she watched her lover's expression more closely. Hermione was so enthralled by her surroundings, it was almost…too picture perfect.
"My personal gardens…" Bellatrix replied.
Hermione whipped around in shock, Bellatrix raised her eyebrows and smiled. Then Hermione was on her, kissing her deeply and passionately.
"God Bella…I thought…this isn't moving too fast…bringing me here?" Hermione asked breaking the kiss looking at her lover.
Bellatrix leaned in, kissing Hermione's lips again.
"It's time Hermione…I…need to make things right…I haven't…been treating you the way that you deserve." Bellatrix said quietly.
Hermione brushed a raven curl out of Bellatrix's face, and cupped her cheek gently.
"Bella…I haven't exactly been the perfect girlfriend either…maybe I am too young to understand, or maybe this…really moved too fast, but Bella…I need to realize that you don't move at my pace…and that I need to be more patient. " Hermione started, but Bellatrix placed a finger over her lips.
"Hush Mione." Bellatrix said quietly.
Hermione fell silent and kissed the finger that was against her lips.
"We will get through this, one day at a time." Bellatrix said kissing Hermione's forehead.
Bellatrix offered Hermione her arm.
"Shall we?" Bellatrix asked.
Hermione took her arm, laying her head against the older woman's shoulder as they walked. It felt surreal…being in here with Bellatrix. It was so quiet…so pristine.
"Cissy has a garden similar to this…she always liked being outside with the flowers…when we were children…when things got rough…I could always find her in the rose bed, laying there, looking up at the sky. She just looked so…far away…like she was wishing that she was somewhere else." Bellatrix said breaking the silence.
"I can…imagine…I mean…from what you have told me…I would want to be somewhere else too…you know…when you were…torturing me…I imagined I was somewhere else. That you weren't really…hurting me." Hermione said, her voice trailed off, distant and numb.
They had stopped walking.
"Mione…I…I can never apologize enough…or say anything to make it better." Bellatrix started but Hermione cut her off.
"Let's not…let's not go there Bella…please…I am passed all of that now. And it is time that you move past it too." Hermione said a little harsher than she intended.
Bellatrix's face fell; she closed her eyes, breathing deep. Hermione closed her eyes as well, in the distance she could hear water streaming and the faint sounds of…horses….
"You have horses?" Hermione asked breaking the silence.
"I do, I have two." Bellatrix replied running her fingers through her unruly curls "I had planned to take you down there…but we uh got sidetracked." She added looking up at the sky.
It was going to start snowing soon.
Bellatrix offered her arm to Hermione once again, but this time Hermione did not take it. She started walking, hoping that she was moving in the right direction. Bellatrix wiped her eyes before Hermione turned around to see if she was following.
"Bella…are you coming? I don't know the way." Hermione asked looking back at her lover.
"Right, keep walking, we'll be there soon enough." Bellatrix replied, her voice thick with emotion.
She brushed passed Hermione feeling slightly hurt by the rejection, but she wasn't going to allow this day to go to shit. So much of their relationship had been give and take, more give than take, at least on Hermione's part. Bellatrix sighed, it would be time soon…she would be ready soon.
"When we arrive at the stables…do not be alarmed at what you see." Bellatrix said.
Hermione nodded, and remained silent as she fell into step next to Bellatrix. Tentatively, she reached out her hand and laced their fingers together. Bellatrix gently squeezed her hand and picked up the pace. They reached a very large barn, and Hermione could hear very heavy foot falls coming from inside the structure.
"Tread softly." Bellatrix said softly, her hand on the door of the barn.
Hermione nodded and Bellatrix pulled open the heavy oak door.
"Ladies first." Bellatrix said.
Hermione walked inside and stopped dead in her tracks, she turned around to look at Bellatrix, her eyes wide and full of apprehension.
"They won't hurt you Mione. They may be large, but they are not aggressive." Bellatrix said, in a tone that she hoped was compassionate.
"But how…Bella…these are…Abraxan…horses…" Hermione said moving closer to the larger of the two.
Bellatrix smiled and followed Hermione as she moved closer.
"I take it; you're familiar with this breed?" Bellatrix asked stretching out her hand to stroke the snout of the horse before her.
Hermione nodded.
"I have never seen…one so large…the Abraxans at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic…are not this large…nor are they this color." Hermione said stepping back a little.
She was starting to feel nervous about these horses…Bellatrix did not know that she was afraid of flying.
"These are a special set of Abraxans. My family has been breeding these for centuries, these two…are the only two left in this line, and there hasn't been a foal born in almost thirty years." Bellatrix explained.
"Oh god…why?" Hermione asked surprised.
"I suspect because there hasn't been anyone competent enough to come and look after them properly…but now what I have been able to tend to them…I can see that…their drive has gone up. There very well could be a foal or two born very soon. "Bellatrix replied stroking the mare's neck.
Hermione was in awe of Bellatrix in this moment; the way that she was around these two horses only intensified her admiration of her lover.
"Would you like to go for a ride?" Bellatrix asked.
Hermione tensed slightly, this did not go unnoticed by Bellatrix who smiled. She began to saddle up the large horse. As she moved down to adjust the stirrups he spread his wings impressively, making the younger witch jump.
"What's…w-what's his name Bella?" Hermione asked shakily.
Bellatrix tightened the last strap and adjusted the bridle and reigns, stroking his muzzle.
"This stallion is Sleipnir." She replied.
"From Norse mythology…" Hermione whispered.
Bellatrix smiled. Hermione really was a very in tuned, very intelligent woman.
"Not many people know that my love…you really are something, aren't you kitten?" Bellatrix asked moving away from the midnight black stallion.
"W-well I just…I-I read a lot and…" Hermione stammered but was quickly cut off by the feel of Bellatrix's lips upon hers.
She moaned softly, leaning into the kiss. Bellatrix put her hands on Hermione's hips and pulled her closer, but pulled away slowly, feeling that this was getting really intense too fast. She did not want to jump that quickly back into physical intimacy just yet or work up Hermione so much that it turned into a situation where she would not allow the younger witch to reciprocate.
"They require forceful handling to those they do not trust…I remember when I was a child…I would watch my father handle these horses with ease…and I thought if he could do it, so could I. So ever since that day…he would allow me to come with him to care for the horses. He…he never trusted anyone to tend to them besides himself. "Bellatrix said trying to brush over that semi awkward moment.
Hermione adjusted her coat, shivering slightly.
"Bella…I…there is something I need to tell you." Hermione said.
"I know, you're afraid of flying." Bellatrix said smiling.
Hermione blushed profusely, and nodded.
"That is okay kitten; we will keep ourselves firmly on the ground for now." Bellatrix said.
Hermione smiled and moved towards the large stallion, touching his muzzle. He closed his eyes and relaxed completely.
"Wow…" Bellatrix whispered.
"Wh-what?" Hermione asked worried, moving away from the horse.
"Nothing…I just…well I have never seen him so…calm and relaxed before…" Bellatrix said moving to stand next to Hermione.
Hermione said nothing, but continued to stroke his muzzle.
"I think…I am ready." Hermione whispered quietly.
Bellatrix helped Hermione mount the large stallion, and then climbed o behind her. Hermione looked confused as the older witch climbed on behind her. She handed Hermione the reigns; Hermione took them in her shaking hands and took a deep breath.
"Shh Mione, it's alright, I'm right here. He trusts you, you will be fine." Bellatrix whispered in her ear softly.
Hermione nodded, and took a deep breath. Bellatrix whispered something in French and the horse started to trot out of the stables.
It felt nice…this side of Bellatrix. Hermione had learned more about Bellatrix in these few hours than she had in the past couple of months. She felt closer to the older witch, and it was fascinating to learn about her lover's childhood. To know that she had, had that experience and that some of it at least was pleasant.
"You're doing beautifully kitten, keep him at a steady pace." Bellatrix coached softly.
Hermione eased her grip on the reigns, and the horse slowed slightly, and tucked his wings closer to his body, shielding their legs from the cold. Then it dawned on Hermione…Bellatrix wasn't riding side saddle.
"Bella…you don't ride side saddle?" Hermione asked.
She felt Bellatrix laugh against her neck.
"No love, I am not as uptight and proper as my baby sister." Bellatrix replied.
She wrapped her arms around Hermione's waist and rested her forehead against her shoulder blades, inhaling her scent deeply. Hermione closed her eyes, trusting Sleipnir to keep them on a steady path. The feel and sway of Bellatrix's body against hers was making her body hot, despite the cold, and the subtle burning between her legs was only getting worse as the stallion picked up his pace. She moaned quietly, panting heavily.
"Mione…" Bellatrix whispered in her ear.
"Bella…" Hermione rasped back.
"I can…take care of your…burn if you need me too…" Bellatrix suggested.
The reluctant tone of her voice suggested to Hermione that she would be the only one being touched. This feeling didn't sit well with the younger witch, who shook her head and turned the stallion around without a second thought. She could feel Bellatrix sigh heavily against her back as they made their way back to the stables.
"Patient…I need to be patient." Hermione thought to herself as she walked Sleipnir back into the stables.
TBC…
