*3 Years Later* ~ I'm baaaack!
Very early the next morning, Bellatrix woke up, eyes still closed. She was still feeling in a dream-like state, like a loved one's arms wrapped around and protected her from any harm. She didn't want to fully wake up, not yet. Waking up meant facing the world and how hard her new life was, despite the love from Hermione.
As she fought with her thoughts to open her eyes, her consciousness told her that there really was arms wrapped around her. She quickly opened her eyes and breathed a loud sigh of relief to see her, one and only, Hermione sleeping next to her.
Hermione slowly opened her eyes, "I wanted to wake you so badly, but I knew it was too early!"
"I thought you weren't supposed to come until this evening," Bellatrix asked with confusion.
"I can leave and come back later," Hermione teased.
"No." Bellatrix pulled her closer.
"I'm here to break the news to you that we're shaking things up; you're probably not going to be happy."
"Great. Are there five million other things I have to do before I can be free and left alone?"
"Sort of. Good news is you won't have to do anymore apology meetings."
"And what's in place of that?" Bellatrix sat up on her bed and leaned against the wall.
"Well," Bellatrix could tell Hermione was nervous as she sat up next to her. "Some of the doctors here have recently finished creating a reverse spell for the Killing Curse."
"So they found a way to bring people back from the dead?"
"Essentially. But they haven't tested it on actual humans yet, and.."
"They want to use me as their guinea pig."
"Yes, but it can only be used for people you've killed. It also works with the cruciatus curse, or it's supposed to."
"So…what? Tell me all that's going to be happening now for me to be free and done with everything."
"Well, the doctors have a few patients lined up for you." Hermione grabbed one of Bellatrix's hands to calm her nerves, "Frank Longbottom, your niece, Sirius, and Dobby."
"That stupid elf?!"
"Bella, he's a living thing!"
"Was."
Hermione sighed with annoyance as Bellatrix turned away with a scowl, "This is supposed to be an extremely painful spell you'll be performing; worse than the cruciatus curse. And you're allowed three people you haven't killed and/or tortured to bring back."
"Do I at least get to pick those?"
"No, they've already been chosen: Alice Longbottom, Remus Lupin, and Fred Weasley."
"With this spell you can bring back anyone!"
"But it only works with people who've killed and tortured."
"And I suppose I am going to have to face these people if it works."
"Yes."
"So then can I get one with my life after I'm judged and ridiculed all over again?"
Hermione climbed on to Bellatrix's lap and held her head to her chest. She could feel her tension as she grabbed her arms and wrapped them around her back. "I will talk to them before they talk to you. I'll be there with you, on your side."
"Then we can leave and have no one to bother use anymore?"
"There's one more thing we have to do after that. It shouldn't take more than the weekend."
"What is it?"
"You'll find out later. It's better if your mind is on one thing at a time."
"When do we start?"
"Now." Hermione got off the bed and pulled Bellatrix up with her. "Don't even change. First, you need to eat breakfast, because you're going to need a lot of strength today."