Thank you all for the amazing reviews. I'll admit I was a coward and didn't read them until tonight... I was nervous.. But wow, thank you, I'll stop hiding in the corner now. The support and encouragement from all of you is wonderful thank you so much.

As always.. Please excuse my mistakes, it's tough picking up on your own.

Harry Potter does not belong to me, no money is being made from this.

Enjoy...


"Don't think, just cast." Bellatrix called out across the makeshift battle field they had created in the back garden. On the night of the dinner, as they laid recovering on the floor of the dinning room Hermione had explained what had happened after they did the blood bond, how her power had changed and strengthened. The very next day, when they returned from work, Bella insisted that Hermione show her. Every day since then, the dark witch had been training and teaching her young lover how to control the new power she held.

"I'm trying. It's not easy suddenly changing the way I use my magic Bella. I've always thought every spell through, calculated every movement. It's not like flicking a switch." the girl explained seeing the frustration clear on her woman's face. She was trying her best, she thought she had got better. Pleasing Bella was hard, but the girl pushed herself, not wanting to let her down.

"Your hex's are only hitting two out of five targets. Your wand arm has become sloppy. You have more power now, brace to accommodate. You over think, and are out of practice. " the older woman said trying her best not to lose patience, letting a little irritation seep in to her voice.

"Why have you got me out here hitting targets and blowing up boulders? We could have practiced with none combat spells." the girl asked with a frustrated edge to her voice. As much as she appreciated the womans help, she couldn't shake the underlying insult. Even if it was true.
When they had first started, she thought it was because Bella believed using simple magic was beneath her. But as the hours passed and all they did was fire hex after hex at inanimate objects she began to wonder. There was a different feeling to casting a 'reducto' than to that of casting 'scorcify'. Over the three days she had become familiar with the tingle in her spine each time she cast a strong hex. She had her theories about the pounding in her head too, but she wanted to hear Bella's thoughts on it.

"You won't learn how to wield this power casting 'engorgio' or 'Lumos' Hermione. This magic is old, from my ancestors. My family was one of the first of magical blood, and the need to survive and protect what is ours is ingrained. Using hexes is the only way to strengthen your power. This is Black magic." she explained to her witch hoping she understood. "Now, again." Bellatrix nodded to the targets waiting for the girl to start over.

"Can't we stop for tonight? I'm tired and I just want a bath." the brunette whined. They had been at it since they got home from the ministry, that was three hours ago, they had done this every night for three days. Hermione's body ached from the constant casting. Her lover was brilliant and she had shown a great amount of patience with her, but she was relentless and tough.

"I'll run you one myself if you keep going just a little longer. I know you can do this." Bellatrix answered as she walked to the girl. She knew she was being hard on her, knew how tough it was for the brunette, but she wouldn't stop pushing her. She saw the potential. The girl had the chance to hone and strengthen her abilities to be one of the greatest in Britain, she wouldn't allow her to waste it. "Relax, let the magic flow through you. Let your body and magic guide you." she whispered as she ran her hands over the girls shoulders and down her arms. Leaning forward she joined their mouths in a heated kiss. As their tongues slipped slowly across each other, she felt Hermione press their bodies together. The girl groaned when Bella ran her hands down her body. Stepping back, the dark witch smirked at the dilated pupils that struggled to focus. "Cast."

Hermione felt the familiar tingle running up her back, goosebumps erupted across her skin, closing her eyes for a second she allowed it to guide her. Raising her arm she aimed for the targets positioned around the garden. With out thinking, allowing the magic to control her reactions, spells flew from her wand at a dizzying speed. Every one hit true, the targets shattered and fell to the ground and the air around them crackled. The girl turned to her teacher and stifled a groan. There was nothing more arousing than having true, undiluted magic and power running through your body. Before the bond, she had never felt anything like it. During her school days and even during the war, her magic excited her, but never affected her the way their combined magic was now. Hermione was definitely feeling the effects and even though she enjoyed the sensations, it frightened her a little too. She wanted to ask her lover why it felt that way, why her body reacted to it in such a fashion. But couldn't find the words.

"Well done." Bella smiled at the girl. She stepped closer to the brunette and kissed her gently not wanting to over excite her. She recognised the look on her face. It was the same one she used to get every time she was around power the strength the girl had now. She couldn't blame the brunette for be her bodies reactions, power's intoxicating. There is no greater aphrodisiac. The trick would be learning to control it and channel it in to her casting, the dark witch offered her no physical relief. It was something she would have to learn herself. Giving in and fucking the girl until she screamed wouldn't help her. As much as that's what Bella wanted to do, she resisted. The pent-up frustration and arousal would help her focus all her energy in to every spell. It was tough, but Bella wouldn't touch her while they trained.

Hermione's eyes had gone dark again, it had shocked them at first and frightened Hermione. But with each session it was something both women had become a custom to. It only happened when she was practicing and her magic was at its strongest. They couldn't explain it, but by the next morning her normal brown would return. They knew that soon they would have to find out why the change occurred. For now there were no signs of anything dark, no permanent change or lasting damage was caused. The dark witch had an idea, one she didn't want to share with Hermione yet, first she needed to double-check a few things."Go inside, I'll clear up." Bellatrix offered.

Hermione walked away but stopped half way to the house and turned back. "Bella, do you think, maybe.. once.. You and I could ... Duel?" she asked hesitantly. She had thought of asking the woman for a while but knew her magic could never match up, until now. This new, stronger power gave her the perfect opportunity.

"We can do it tomorrow, I'll have your elf remove the mannequins from the training room so we have enough spac..."

"No not in the training room. Out here. If you want me to learn and control what ever this is that's happened, then I need all of you. No restrictions." the girl explained before Bella could deny her request.

"Hermione." Bella sighed as she came to stand in front of the girl. "That's a bad idea, there's a reason you had that room built. A good reason. When I duel, I'm... Not fully in control."

"You won't hurt me." she replied.

"You don't know that. I might." Bella cupped the brunettes face, hoping she wouldn't press her to do it. There was a reason even Dumbledore himself was reluctant to duel her. She had been taught not only by her father, one of the wizarding world's greatest and most feared duelists, but the dark lord too. When he took her in to service he taught her almost everything he knew. And he had studied and learnt the darkest of magic.

"You won't hurt me." Hermione whispered confidently as she stepped forward and kissed the older woman gently. "Just think about it." she said as she turned away and went to the house. These sessions usually left her famished as well as aroused. Bella was in no mood for one, so there was a slice of chocolate cake waiting in the kitchen with her name on it.


"What did you ask Harry for?" the girl asked Bellatrix later that night as they laid in bed. She had asked before, of course she had, but Bella had dodged the question each time.

"Chocolate cake, but someone ate it." the dark witch joked. She placed her book on the bedside cabinet and turned on to her side.

To say the vision in front of Hermione was distracting would be putting it mildly. The girl had experienced, peculiarities ever since they had performed the blood bond. Bella's naked body half covered by the sheets did nothing to quell the changes she had felt. Hermione desired Bellatrix, always had. Lately though, she couldn't keep her mind off the dark beauty, or the things she wanted to do to her. She had always managed to keep up a balance between home and work, but the last three days had proved difficult. She had imagined and even tried taking Bella on her desk, in the empty lab, the bathroom and anywhere they would find themselves alone together. It was as if there was an invisible force pulling her to the woman. As if the blood missed its original body.

"Something wrong?" Bellatrix smiled, noticing her lover's dilated pupils and shallow breathing. She ran a hand up the girls leg, drawing slow circles over her skin. Goosebumps erupted across her flesh and Bella smirked. The girl had her back against the headboard and her knees brought up. Bellatrix was about to make her move and claim what was hers, it had been long enough since they finished training when her lover's voice stopped her.

"I've been meaning to ask you, have you had any, um, physical reactions to the bond?" she asked shyly, shaking her head clear of those thoughts.

"Physical reactions?" the dark witch congratulated herself for successfully distracting her lover. She didn't want to tell her what she and Harry had agreed yet. Hermione would over react. It was best to keep her in the dark for the moment. And the best way to distract her was to play on her over active hormones. She had noticed the increase, how could she not. It almost reminded her of herself when she was a teenager. The thought made the older witch smile, her and her sisters were a bit of a handful for their mother during their adolescence. Druella had to go as far as placing them under house arrest with a constant escort for the worse periods of their puberty. The sisters would constantly be trying to sneak out of the house or boys in. She could only imagine what would have happened if her father ever found out. Luckily for all three, their mother had eyes and ears everywhere. They never succeed.

"Uh huh, you know like uncontrolled, um..."

"Blushing?" Bella laughed, her witches cheeks were tinted a pretty shade of red.

"Sort of, oh Bella don't make me say it." Hermione buried her head in the woman's neck and cringed. She was embarrassed to admit to what happened. But she needed to know why.

"I'm sorry but I really don't know what you mean." the older woman laughed as she rolled the girl on to her back and settled on top of her. "Explain and I promise I won't laugh."

"Fine." the brunette sighed. "I was in the shower the other morning and... and for no reason I... I came." she rushed out and tried to focus on something over Bella's shoulder unable to look her in the eye.

"Mmm, what were you doing in the shower?" the dark witch asked, grinding her hips against the girls. Mind throwing the dirtiest images at her.

"Washing my hair." Hermione replied innocently.

"Really?" the dark witch stilled and screwed up her face.

"Honestly, I was washing my hair one minute then the next I was practically on my knees coming. I don't understand it, that's never happened before."

"When did this happen?" the woman above asked.

"Sunday morning." Hermione replied watching her face carefully.

"I see." her body betrayed her. A flush of heat traveled her face and chest at memories of what she had done that very same morning. There was no way it could have affected Hermione, she thought guilty.

"Bella, do you know what's going on?" Hermione asked curiously.

"No, we should definitely look in to it though. Even if I have to watch every shower you take, I'll do it." she said cheekily, winking at the girl. "Has it happened since?" she asked wondering if that morning had been the same.

Hermione blushed again and nodded. "While I was making breakfast."

"Oh." was all she had to offer. The bonded blood was more powerful than she had thought. If her body's reactions could have an effect on Hermione, then that would explain why her own body had acted the way it had. She had never been one for blushing or fits of anxiety or any display of emotion, but since the bond, she had been. Hermione's blood was affecting her too. A devilish grin spread across her face. This could be fun, she thought. She would just have to control her own body first. "Don't worry about it for now, let's get this week over. We can concentrate on it at the weekend."

"We have Ted remember." Hermione said. They had spent long enough redecorating the guest room next to theirs for the little boy. "That reminds me, I need to take the distraction charm down."

"Already done." Bella said as she kissed a trail down the girl's neck.

"Bella?" trying to get the woman's attention when she was focused on something was a hard task at times. "What about, well.. Thing is, I feel like I'm constantly turned on. Like, I don't know, I need to be inside you." she said bluntly. Even though she was finding it difficult to explain, she saw that Bella understood.

"You just need to relax and control that. I think, it's my blood settling. Your body is younger than what it was used to, it's making itself known. It's nothing to worry about." she only partially lied. She couldn't tell the girl her other theories. It had been a long time since her blood had a young body to control, it probably was as simple as that. She kissed and licked at the skin below her wanting to give her lover a little relief. The poor girl was panting with need and grinding against the thigh resting between her legs.

"So, you're saying what? I'm going through puberty again?"as Bella chuckled, it amazed her how her brain could still string together a coherent thought. After the build of frustration of the last three days, she thought she'd be ready to jump the older witch. She tried to relax and let Bella do what ever she planned but something was bugging her. Focusing, hard, she took a deep breath. "Bella?"

"mm"

"What did you ask Harry for?"

Bellatrix growled in frustration and rolled back on to her side of the bed. Sulking. "We'll talk about it soon, not tonight. I'm tired." she laid back, flicked her wand and extinguished the lights.

"You weren't tired a second a go." Hermione smiled in to the darkness, running a hand over a sharp hip.

"Goodnight Hermione." rolling her eyes at the answering chuckle.

"I don't think so." Hermione laughed as she pressed the woman on to her back and straddled her. Her body and mind needed this witch in every way, and tonight she would take her. The night was filled with groans, grunts and screams of pleasure, Hermione taking what she needed and Bella giving it freely.


"Bella, can I have a sec?" Harry asked stopping her outside the lab the next day.

The dark witch handed the folder she had been looking through to one of the assistants then followed him a few feet down the corridor. Out of ear shot, he asked nervously, "What happens if one of breaks our agreement?"

"Don't you dar.."

"I'm not saying I will. I'm just asking." he hated to hear that hiss of anger, especially if it was directed at him. He looked around to see if anyone was watching. Noticing two people looking at them he pulled her in to an empty room. "I need to know if the stakes are as high for you as they are for me." he kept his voice low. Since the dinner he had done nothing but think about fulfilling his end of the deal. He had offered her other things that night, almost begged, but there was only so much a person could do while an entire family was watching and you were on a time limit. He hadn't had much time since to talk to her. He at least hoped that his terms would prevent any repercussions or real damage being caused by her request. What the woman had asked for wasn't impossible to give. It was dangerous and if any one found out he would be facing charges and a possible term in prison.

"I could lose her. Lose everything if I'm caught. They are higher." she snapped as she stepped in to his personal space to intimidate him. If the boy thought he could back out he had another thing coming. This was something she had thought hard about. Something that had to be done.

"Then don't..."

"I have to." she said quietly shaking her head and taking a step back. She knew he would try to talk her out of the task she had set for herself, she wouldn't allow it though. This was too important to her.

He stared at her, unable to form the words he needed to convince her. If she was caught, it meant prison. Or the kiss. If Hermione found out, Merlin knows how she would react. He shook his head, he never should have agreed to this. He could end up losing two friends. "Bella, I ca..."

"You want to know what happens if you break an agreement with a Black?" she dropped her voice and started stalking around him. Like a hunter taunting her prey. "On a normal day, you'd be tortured, whipped, humiliated then thrown to the hounds. On an occasion such as this, where old magic is involved. You couldn't even begin to imagine the pain it would cause you. You think crucio is bad, the spell binding you is a hundred times worse. It will set your blood on fire. You'd feel your insides burning, and there's no way to stop it. Your body will melt from the inside and you will watch as your skin falls away and your flesh bubbles. There will be nothing left of you but a heap of ash on the floor." she watched as his eyes grew wider with every sentence. She didn't actually know what would happen if he broke the deal, no one in history had ever been brave enough to try. Knowing her ancestors though, it would probably be worse than what she had described. "You want to go back on our agreement?"

"No." he answered. He stood there trying to find a way around it. But what ever solution he came up with, it would still be going back on his word. And that had a very painful outcome, for everyone. Taking an unsteady breath, preying to who ever would listen, he put his hand on the door handle. "Tomorrow at one, my office. Hermione has a meeting. She won't come looking for you." he said without looking at the dark witch. "You'll have about ten minutes to do what you need to." Pulling the door open he walked out knowing he had just made a mistake and preying that Bellatrix wouldn't get found out.


"You look exhausted Bella. Is work so hard that it requires you to neglect your health?" Narcissa asked that evening during tea. The dark witch had been summoned that afternoon to discuss 'things' as her sister put it. She had a suspicion that the woman wanted to talk wedding plans.

"It's not work. The labs winding down. It must be Home. I know what it's like keeping a witch happy." Draco commented cheekily winking at his aunt. "You should buy her a dil..."

"Draco, if you finish that sentence I'll make sure that is the only thing you are ever able to use to please a woman again." Bellatrix cut him off, twirling her wand in her fingers menacingly.

"Enough both of you. Draco, fetch Andi. The three of us have much to discuss." his mother ordered. She watched him leave then turned to her sister. "Bella, perhaps it would be prudent to save some energy for the honeymoon. If the girl's...appetites are proving too much, maybe you should..."

"Merlin Cissy!" the dark with groaned. "Are you really trying to give me advise about my sex life? For your information it's not that wearing me out." she snapped at her sister.

"I apologise. I simply thought you would like to talk. You look as if you have the weight of the world on your shoulders." the blond explained. She was trying to make up for her behaviour over the last weeks, she realised she had given her sister and her fiancée a hard time.

"Thank you Cissy but it's fine." she sighed.

"Bella, if you let me, I can help." her youngest sister offered as she sat next to her and took a cold pale hand in hers.

Bellatrix debated telling her anything. Narcissa had always been good at solving puzzles. And what ever was happening with her fiancée was definitely a puzzle. "Hermione is showing some... Similarities to a problem I've had since I was a girl." she started hesitantly. She could forget about it, tell her sister it's nothing, but if she wanted this solved so she could marry the woman she would need help.

"Similarities?"

"Her temper is quicker, her magic is stronger and as you and Draco have pointed out.. Her...appetites have grown. Most of the changes are similar to the ones I went through after I turned fifteen. When things started going bad." she finished quietly. Although she had told the girl it was nothing to be concerned over, she was a little worried. What if gifting her blood had passed on some of the darkness? What if Hermione kept changing and became what Bella used to be?

"When he found you?" the blond asked gently.

Bella nodded unable to voice her fears. She would need to spend time in the Black and Malfoy library's to see if it was even possible. And if it were, how to stop it.

"What makes you think any of those things are connected to you. There is no way that.."

"There is." Bellatrix interrupted, turning her head towards the door where the middle Black sister had just walked through.

"What's going on? You two look like you should be at a funeral." Andromeda tried to joke but stopped laughing almost immediately. The mood of her sisters was low. Narcissa turned and explained what Bella had told her.

"I wouldn't worry Bella, she's probably just exhausted. The last twelve months have been manic for her." Andi offered, trying to comfort and ease her sister.

"Bella, how would this be connected to you?" Narcissa asked, ignoring the second eldest.

The dark witch took a deep breath and told them everything about the bond. Her sisters Sat silently listening to the explanations and worries of the women. They should have been angry, shouting and screaming at hers and Hermione's deception. But they stayed quiet and understanding.

"Why aren't you more angry?" Bella asked once she had finished.

"What's there to be angry about? She now has Black blood making her a proper part of us, more than my husband can claim. And we still get what we asked for at the dinner, the ancient spells will see to it." Narcissa smiled warmly. "There are a few books on blood rituals in the library, I'll go to Black manor and fetch the rest. Don't worry Bella, if what you saying is possible, we will find a solution. Your witch will be fine." she stood and walked to the fireplace quickly disappearing, leaving Bella and Andi to start the research.

"There are ways to control it you know. The darkness." Andromeda said as they walked through the shelves a while later. Bella dropped book after book in to her waiting arms.

"Oh, how would you know?" Bellatrix asked only mildly interested. Her mind focused on her task.

"Belive it or not Bella we are more alike than you think." the woman replied.

"How so?" the dark witch asked feigning interest.

"When I le... Was asked to leave, I struggled against the power of the Black blood. Everyday I fought for control, had to fight to stay me." she said quietly.

Bellatrix turned and saw her sister had stopped a few feet back, eyes glazed with memories. "Andi, what are you talking about?" she asked as she walked back.

"The darkness you think you gained from the dark lord, it's always been there. It's us. I'm sure Narcissa would tell you the same if she would ever admit to it. Remember how father used to get, grandfather, even Sirius at times. We all have it, all who belong to the Black line. The differences are how we deal with it. I fought for years to stop it changing who I was. Cissy has probably denied it and had her own struggles and you.. well, yours was encouraged." she said placing the books on a nearby table.

"Nonsense. You expect me to belive that it was inherited? I spent years training with the dark lord, with father. Never once did he mention any such rubbish. You have no darkness in you Andromeda." Bellatrix snapped, voice rising so that it echoed through the large room.

"Didn't he? How many times did he say that this was the way of the Blacks while teaching you to cast a nasty hex? How many times did he tell you that it was a gift that you should thankful for? He wasn't talking about the spells Bella, it was always about the monster that lives inside all of us." she said gently reaching for her sister's arm.

Bellatrix jerked away before the out stretched fingers made contact. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Those were her father's exact words, but the dark Lord had told her, time and time again that it was he who made her, he who gave her the monster. Why would he lie? Why would her father not tell her? "You don't know what you're talking about sister." Bella hissed refusing to accept it.

"How would I know, how it feels? The tingle in your spine. The clawing in your skull. The hum of your blood and the fire in your bones when you give in to it, just a little. I've had my battle Bella. You are just starting yours."

The dark witch stood in stunned silence. Digesting the information, trying to come to terms with the knowledge that she had been lied to nearly all her life. Everything Andromeda had said was true. Her father's words echoing in her head, the dark lords face as he praised and encouraged her every time she learnt something faster than the others. She remembered the fits of rage as a child, how her mother would tell she had her blood in her veins too, practically begged her to fight against the other. Slowly it began to make sense. She could see it clearly. The darkness was with her the day she was born, will be until she died. She thought of her lover, sat in the office unaware that she had been infected with evil. "Her eyes change." she whispered looking at Andi. "She's changing. Its subtle, but I see it." glistening tears welling, threatening to fall.

"I can help." the other woman said quietly taking a step closer. "I've gone through it and came out the other side. You're both strong, you'll do it too." she was closer, reaching out she gathered the eldest in her arms and hugged her. "Let me help."

Bella wrapped her arms around her sister and held her tight. "She doesn't know." she said through her silent tears.

"Let's see what we find out tonight. If it's possible to share these things through a blood ritual we'll tell her together. It's not your fault Bella." Andi said as she released her and took a step back.

Bellatrix nodded, thankfully. Words couldn't describe what she felt at that moment. It was the worst mix of denial, acceptance and guilt. She gazed at her younger sister and sorrow pierced her heart. She had been left for years to deal with this alone. Pride overwhelmed her, her sister had overcome it. For that she was a stronger witch, and an even stronger woman. "Andi, I'm sorr.."

"These were all I could find but it should be enough. There are..." Narcissa stopped mid sentence. The sight shocking her in to silence. Bella in tears and Andi comforting her. "What's going on?"

The two women who looked so alike spent some time explaining everything. After a while Narcissa had reluctantly admitted to going through the same. She too offered to help. They spent the evening reading and learning all they could about blood rituals and transferral of magic and abilities, so that they were armed with enough knowledge before going to Hermione.


CaraCersei: the level of involvement that Cissy has asked for will be explained eventually I promise. Thank you for your lovely review.

HermioneLeStrange221: Thank you. Sorry to hear that you were ill, glad I managed to make you feel a little better. Hope you're well now. I'll try to stress less in future.

Terrorize: Glad you enjoyed it. I know, poor Hermione, but it shows how dedicated she is to Bellatrix. Mm yes the side effects... Lol.. What do you think she asked him for?

xAngeloftheNorthx: How could I not? Lol. Yes it would be lovely for Bella to ask something like that.. We'll have to wait and see. You haven't missed it, it's coming in a future chapter. Its nothing major though. Adamant about those babie(S) aren't you lol.

Geyella: I'm undecided on her too... There isn't too much love for dear Cissy at the moment... I'm interested... What do you think he asked for?

Thank you again to all who reviewed... Let me know your thoughts on what Bella asked Harry... I'm really interested to see what you all think it could be..

Until next time...