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A small fluff with Hermione and Bellatrix – A little sweetness goes a long way where these two are concerned.
Summary: What would life have been like if Hermione Granger was born a Black? Follow our little heroine as she grows up in the House of Black and becomes Bellatrix Lestrange's right hand girl.
Chapter 31 - Darling
Hermione woke later the next morning to a soft breeze ruffling through her hair, she stretched and felt a pop in her back. Sighing as she sat up; she looked around her room, it was a high ceiling slightly circular room. The walls were maroon, and all the furniture was a dark wood. She had a chest of drawers on either side of the large bay window with a double size window seat.
Her newfound love was the king sized four poster bed; it was sat upon a slightly raised platform with drapes hanging from either side of the walls. If she wanted further privacy within her bedroom, she would be able to release the drapes and they were hide her bed from the rest of the bedroom. She made her way to her bathroom and began her day with a shower.
Hermione had decided to dress down from her usual robes, after dressing in a pair of pants and a long-sleeved shirt she sat down at her dressing table to brush out her. Leaving her hair lose she headed for the door to search out Bellatrix. The Villa was a ground level home with a lavish back garden and observatory. The floors were made of wood and the walls painted in a steel grey; she had noted the night before that the walls were without portraits. It was different but she loved it.
She walked down the passage and found the dining room; it was simple in design; it too had a high ceiling and the one wall was made entirely of glass. She took a seat at the six-seater dinner table and waited for Bellatrix. A soft 'pop' signaled the arrival of a house elf, Hermione saw that it was Twinkle who had arrived. "Hello Miss Hermione. Twinkle is wondering if she must bring food?" Hermione nodded and within a flash her food was in front of her.
Bellatrix waltzed into the room with a broad smile, "What's got you so happy?" Hermione inquired after swallowing her mouthful of egg. "I'm spending over a month with you, what's not to be happy about?" Hermione smiled and took another bite out of her toast.
"What are we going to do today and all the time we're here?" Bellatrix smiled and shrugged. "Whatever you want to my love, it's just the two of us and we don't have to hide or pretend while we are here. We can let our hair down and just relax if you want or we can go to the beach or we stroll around the city." Hermione considered the options and grinned.
"Anything we want?" A nod of confirmation, "So we can just be ourselves?" Another nod. "I can actually just do what any teenager would probably do, explore the country we're visiting. Oh Bella, this is going to be amazing!" She was excited. Bellatrix could see the happiness that it brought to Hermione and it made her happy in turn.
"Is there a wizarding community around here?" Hermione looked at Bellatrix quizzically. "Yes love, there is. We will be able to visit it while we're here." Bellatrix finished her breakfast just after Hermione. Both witches exited the dining room, Bellatrix led Hermione to the observatory.
"'Mione, I'd like to speak with you. I feel that you are old enough to understand what must be discussed, you're going to be fifteen in September, so I think it's fine." Hermione gave Bellatrix a nervous look but took a seat near the glass wall. Hermione waited, knowing that Bellatrix was going to dive right into whatever it was she wanted to speak about.
"When you're of age we will be able to consummate our bond, but before we do this, I will undergo a small ritual which I'm not going to share with you right now. However, before we become intimate, I would like to know if you will marry me first?" Hermione looked startled. Bellatrix wanted to marry her first before they did anything. Her cheeks reddened slightly when she saw the seriousness on Bellatrix's face.
"I will marry you Bella, I would never deny you. I just want to know why we have to wait before we become intimate?" Bellatrix looked at her and then gazed out the window. "When we marry it must be pure, I don't want you sullied beforehand. I do not wish to further elaborate on this avenue of discussion. We will consummate our bond and our marriage on the same night and that is all there is to it." Hermione saw the warning in Bellatrix's eyes and decided to drop it.
"The next thing is on where you'd like to live when we are married? I know that Aunt Cassi wants for me to take over Black Estate, but I've always held a love for this property. I wanted you to see the Villa now and then next year we will travel to Italy and you will see the Casa Padronale di fine Ottocento; it belonged to Lycoris Black." Hermione looked thoughtful, she did love living in the Manor on the Estate, but she found a warm feeling enter her body the second her feet entered the Villa that belonged to Alexia Black.
"I felt a warmth settle over me when we arrived here last night and would be delighted to live here when we're married. If you still want me to visit the Manor in Italy I would love to do so, but I think I know that this would be my home with you in the future Bella." Nodding with a smile Bellatrix took Hermione's hand in hers. "That makes me happy, I've always felt the warmth when I'm here."
"There is also talk in the air at the moment regarding the Dark Lord, the talk is that he has been found but no one knows for certain if this is true. While we are here, I would like to further your lessons on the Dark Arts. I will train you on as many darker spells as possible before we head back to England for the World Cup." Hermione nodded and squeezed Bellatrix's hand in hers. "Of course, Bella."
"I'm not sure when he will return but when he does, I want to take you too him. You need to know that he is powerful and does not give second chances to just anyone, he is merciful but if your actions irredeemable he will not hesitate to kill you. He punishes and rewards all his followers, no one is exempt." Hermione listened intently; she did not want to disappoint Bellatrix.
"When he sends his followers on missions, no matter what they are or what they entail. They must be done. Failure is not an option." Hermione nodded. "If you can prove yourself to him, you will climb the ranks faster." Hermione nodded again. "Kitten, I want you to do everything without question. You are not to second guess anything, you do not question him or his orders. Listen. Obey. Perform. Do you understand?" Bellatrix looked into Hermione's eyes watching for anything that could cause a problem.
"I understand Bella. Everything he asks will be done." Bellatrix smiled proudly. "Good. Then we are done. I think we can go for a walk now and see some of the sights." Jumping up from her chair, Bellatrix grabbed Hermione by her arms and yanked her to her feet. "Come on, let's get out of here and maybe we can get some lunch in town." Placing a tentative kiss to Hermione's lips, Bellatrix turned to lead the younger witch out of the observatory.
Both witches were in their element, they had walked through the older city taking in the sights. Hermione was walking along the rubble from a destroyed building and Bellatrix was casually walking along the cobblestone path, kicking small stones as she went.
"Bella?" Hermione jumped to the next broken pillar, swinging her arms slightly to steady herself. Bellatrix hummed in reply, waiting for her to continue, "Do you think it will be okay if Theo Nott came to visit while we're here?" Stopping in her tracks Bellatrix gave Hermione a curious look.
"I don't think it will be a problem. How long will he stay?" Hermione jumped across another fallen column, "Just a few days, I thought we could go explore that old castle you mentioned or just hang around the wizarding community and see if there were any carnivals or what have you while he's with us." Bellatrix remained silent while Hermione rambled, a feeling of annoyance entering her thoughts. She wanted this time for herself and Hermione. Although the boy could be a good thing for Hermione to help her have a sense of normalcy before the Dark Lord returned.
"He can stay for three days." Hermione smiled her thanks toward Bellatrix and trotted off in search of something else to do. Bellatrix meandered her way down the path watching as the younger of the two explored the small market further ahead. Muggles were a strange breed in Bellatrix's eyes, but Hermione was inquisitive by nature and had expressed that she wanted to see a muggle market.
By the time they had reached the end of the market, Hermione had managed to acquire a bag full of knick-knacks and Bellatrix rolled her eyes, "Kitten what are you going to do with these things?" Hermione looked over her shoulder at Bellatrix and grinned. "You'll see Bella." Scoffing she moved to look at one of the market stalls, her lips lifting in a sneer when she saw strange looking items on the table. The man, who was clearly the one selling the objects, started speaking to her, she merely raised a brow at him and turned to walk away from him.
Hermione was waiting for Bellatrix at the end of the cobbled path, "Is this the place we're going to have lunch?" Hermione motioned to the small café that was housed near the edge of the small precipice, it overlooked an expansive mountain range and Hermione's eyes were sparkling with delight at the visage before her. "Yes, my love, this is the place. Shall we?" Bellatrix lifted her arm allowing Hermione to walk ahead of her, a radiant smile lifting her cheeks.
Taking a seat at a table that was on the balcony, Hermione couldn't help grinning. "What has you smiling so wide?" Bellatrix found her lips curving in a smile. "Just being with you away from everyone we know, I feel like we are in our own world and I love it." Bellatrix relaxed into her chair and smiled at Hermione.
"I know we are in a muggle village, but the café is owned by a wizard. You can order like we normally would." Hermione nodded, peering at the menu before deciding on a lamb stew with a butterbeer. Bellatrix went with the same as Hermione and soon the witches were relaxing with their lunch. Bellatrix was gazing at the flowing river that ended in a waterfall. Hermione couldn't stop marveling at the pure elegance that the older witch exuded. Before Bellatrix could comprehend what had happened, Hermione had already taken a picture of her as the wind had swirled through her hair giving her ethereal appearance.
After the two had finished their lunch they had taken a walk along the precipice, just enjoy the setting sun, Hermione was a little way ahead of Bellatrix, but she was in no hurry to catch up. She had decided that it was time to ask her bond mate to officially become hers, even if she was young. In ancient times purebloods would ask girls younger than Hermione to be theirs, so Bellatrix felt it would be perfectly fine to do so.
Hermione came to a stop just on a small mound a few feet ahead of Bellatrix. She turned her eyes on and saw that the older witch was still standing in sunlight, a look of pride shining in her inky eyes. "Kitten won't you join me please." Hermione smiled and strolled back to her as requested.
Shifting her body to face the setting sun, she took Hermione's hands own and squared her shoulders. Looking into equally dark eyes Bellatrix smiled, "I'd like to share something with you if you'd listen." Hermione nodded and Bellatrix pulled her toward the edge of the cliff and sat down, her feet dangling over the edge. Hermione sat down next to her but chose to sit cross legged instead.
Bellatrix looked over the mountains and then turned to look into Hermione's eyes. "It's nothing fancy, but I'd like to share a small poem with you." Hermione's eyes lit up in her eagerness. "Yes, please Bella, I'd love to hear it." She smiled at the younger witch's enthusiasm and began;
"My darling, lover of the dark
Would you walk along the edge; would you fall to the abyss
With an unbridled lust for warfare and pain; and a lust for life and death
Could the ashes of the past allow for something new?
My darling, a lover of the dark
If you walk on the edge and fall to the abyss
An unbridled lust for devastation; and lust to live only to die
Would you grow from the ashes of those long past?
My darling, would you be mine until the end?"
Hermione's filled with tears when Bellatrix pulled a black satin box from her dress pocket, opening the lid and allowing her young love to see the contents inside. Nestled within the confines of the box sat a black Tungsten metal ring, it was ornately carved with interwoven branches that ended by wrapping around the cushion cut black diamond.
"Hermione Elladora, you were blessed by Polaris to be my soul mate. I intend to have you in marriage and in death, to have you even as we return to the stars. It would be the greatest of honor if you would be mine for all eternity my love." Bellatrix took Hermione's hands in hers and Hermione started nodding. "Yes, I will, and I would be honored to have you for all eternity too Bella." With the confirmation required, Bellatrix slipped the ring onto Hermione's finger and smiled brightly when a brief light emitted from the ring in acceptance of their union.