A/N:

it's a surprisingly long chapter considering it's full of nothing

also, thank you so much for the feedbacks. They give me life :)

Bellatrix woke up around 5pm and grumbled. She usually slept much longer, but Hermione usually went to sleep around 10pm and that didn't give them much time to spend together. The vampire had to sometimes run some errands during the day anyway, so she didn't mind all that much. She might even be more active during the day and sleep during the night. It's not like daylight would kill her.

She went to the library and found the girl curled up on the alcove with a book in her hand. Bellatrix smiled and kissed her cheek, noting that Hermione did not push her away, but even leaned into the kiss slightly. Whether the young witch was aware or not remains to be seen. "Slept well?" she asked her.

"Surprisingly yes," she nodded and lowered the book.

"Good. Is your throat okay?"

"Yes," she nodded again.

"Splendid!" Bellatrix smiled.

"I want to write to my friends," Hermione said determined, out of the blue.

"Pardon?" the vampire asked. Surely, she'd misheard.

"I want to be able to write to Ginny at least! Obviously, I can't write to Harry since I don't know where he is, but I want to have someone to talk to!" she stood up and lifted her chin, challenging her.

"No."

"Bellatrix!" she shouted.

"Where did Bella go?" the vampire teased.

"Bellatrix clearly ate her," Hermione scoffed. "I want to let Ginny know that I'm okay and that I miss her. I want to talk about things. You can't keep me here isolated forever."

"Watch me," she shrugged. Of course, she knew Hermione was right. She knew it, but that didn't mean she wasn't afraid the ginger mouse would help to take Hermione away from her.

"Why?!" Hermione fumed. "Why are you like this? Just when I think we've made progress; you turn into this psychopath! You can't keep me here forever, Bellatrix! You just can't!"

"Why can't you write to her? Because it's not safe!"

"For who?!"

Well, that was a good question. A question that Bellatrix didn't want to answer.

Hermione sighed after a moment of silence. She conjured a glass of firewhiskey and handed it to the older witch. "I just want someone to talk to, Bella."

"You can talk to me."

"Not about everything. And not when you're not here. I won't write anything about you to her. I would even tell her to just use the owl I sent to reply. I won't give her the address. I don't even know the address, after all."

"It's dangerous," she replied and gulped the liquid. She really appreciated this gesture, even though she knew what Hermione was trying to do.

"Writing?" the girl chuckled. "I don't think writing is dangerous, Bellatrix."

"Written information can be very dangerous if it gets into the wrong hands."

"Yes, that's correct," she admitted. "But I will not write anything about you, about us, nor about our location."

"What will you write about if not about us then?" she winked and Hermione growled.

"Fine. I will probably write I am with you and that despite that I am safe."

"I don't like this."

"I don't like many things lately."

"Really? Can't imagine what's not to your expectations. Endless amounts of knowledge, great company, one pretty great tutor…" Bellatrix listed.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe your sister choking me?"

"She apologized."

"If you call that an apology…" Hermione shrugged. "Doesn't matter. I don't want to cause any bad blood between you."

"I'm sorry she did that. Cissy is…" the vampire paused. "Well, she's very focused on tradition."

"How come she's a vampire? Does that run in your family? Is that the infamous Black madness?"

"So many questions, pet," Bellatrix shook her head. "I turned her," she said at last and shrugged.

"You did that to her?! Why?" Hermione wanted to know. She sat down on the couch and waited for Bellatrix to start talking.

The vampire summoned the bottle of firewhiskey and refilled her glass. Clearly it was story time.

She offered Hermione a glass too, but as always the young witch refused. "Well, suit yourself," she said and sat next to the girl on the couch. "I'll place it on the coffee table so you're free to pour yourself some anytime," she winked.

"No, thank you."

"Afraid you'll get drunk and jump at me?" she wiggled her eyebrows.

"Hardly," the brunette laughed. Her cheeks got a little pinker, though.

Bellatrix smiled at that and sipped from her drink.

"So, why?" the girl asked again. She couldn't imagine why someone would willingly turn into a monster. Or turn your own family. Okay, Hermione wasn't entirely sure Bellatrix was a monster after the weeks she'd spent with her, but still…

"It's all connected with the reason why I won't bite you until you let me," she started.

"How come?" Hermione asked.

"Will you interrupt me after every sentence, or will you actually let me tell you the history?" Bellatrix hissed.

"Sorry," the girl apologized and blushed a little.

"I was married once, you see. It was still at a time when marriage had to be consummated. It was still at a time when I had to remain pure for the wedding night," she sighed, and pain flashed across her face at the distant memory. "So, when my father wanted to do the same to my sisters, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I couldn't let them go through what I did. I will never forget the pain."

"So, both your sisters are…" Hermione started and caught herself interrupting the vampire again. "Sorry," she eyed the sofa.

The older witch chuckled this time. The girl just couldn't help herself.

"Yes, both my sisters are vampires. It didn't seem like an option to save one and let suffer the other."

"Maybe they wouldn't suffer?" the young witch offered, with a naïve look. "Maybe they would marry someone they loved."

Bellatrix burst out into laughter at that. "See, this is why I call you mudblood. I don't mean any harm by it. It's merely stating a fact," she said after the laughter died out. "It's only stating that you are not educated in my society because you simply cannot be. Your parents are muggles. They couldn't teach you all that stuff. We don't marry for love. Pureblood families don't marry for love. They marry to secure their position, to gain even more power and wealth. We don't get to choose our partner, our parents do. And they never do it out of love."

"That's terrible!" Hermione exclaimed. "I still don't wish to be called that word, though."

"Fine. You're a muggle-born. Better?" she rolled her eyes.

"Yes, thank you. What about the Weasleys, though? Didn't they marry out of love?"

"And where did that get them?" Bellatrix snapped. "Although no, they didn't marry for love per se. They were lucky that both were from a pureblooded family. If let's say Arthur wasn't a pureblood, their parents would never have allowed the marriage. They were blood traitors, but not to this extent."

"Ron would have married me," she murmured quietly.

"Hmmm and what a splendid life you would have! Washing dishes, popping out babies and cooking dinners."

"What?!" now Hermione burst in laughter. "I would work at the Ministry and make a difference in the world."

Bellatrix chuckled only slightly and shook her head. "You really don't get it, do you?" she mused. "He is a pureblood, Hermione. They lost their position in society long ago, but it still doesn't erase the fact he is from a pureblooded family. There are beliefs that can be bent a little, but you working would not be one of them. No, sweet-thing, you would stay at home as every pureblood's wife is supposed to, and you would make sure your pureblooded husband has a lovely and welcoming home. You might think he is progressive, but he grew up in a huge family. Don't think for a second he wouldn't want at least 6 children."

"Ron is not like that," she argued.

"Right. Because you know him so well. Because you know everything about him from observing his sister."

"I was not observing Ginny!" she exclaimed and huffed. Yes, Ginny was always more attractive than Ron to her, but she wasn't observing her.

"Suit yourself, pet," Bellatrix gave her a toothy grin. "They find muggles fascinating, don't they," the vampire said after a moment. "But it's more of a hobby for them. Like getting and keeping a pet to study its behavior. It's not like they would be very keen on mating with them…"

"You're disgusting."

"Ha, so even you find it repulsive!"

"No! I find you repulsive right now! The Weasleys are good people. Unlike you."

"Right. Because they kill for the greater good."

"They don't kill!"

Bellatrix burst into laughter again. "So young and naïve," she tsked. "I could give you a list, you know."

"I wouldn't believe you anyway."

"Oh, you would believe me. You do believe me. But you chose not to," she winked.

"Whatever," Hermione scoffed and crossed her arms across her chest. She wouldn't let Bellatrix turn her against her friends. Almost a family.

"You may write to your ginger girl, if you're not only writing to get inappropriate pictures," she sighed, defeated. "But you should know I don't think it's a very good idea."

"Really?" Hermione beamed. "What inappropriate pictures? What are you talking about?"

"I don't know what you kids do these days," she shrugged and sipped her drink. "We've established you fancy her."

"Oh my god, you cannot be serious!" the girl laughed. "I don't fancy Ginny, I don't want any pictures! I simply want someone to talk to. Other than you."

"Still not a good idea."

"I'll tell her to use your owl, it will be okay."

"We will see," she shrugged again. Things would surely not be okay. Bellatrix would have a solid reason to kill them if they formed a rescue party, though. She would still rather avoid it. This letter exchange just wasn't a good idea.

"And by the way, haven't you said, repeatedly I might add, that there is no one better for me than you? No one more attractive, no one more fitting, blablabla? So why the hinted jealousy towards Ginny?" she smirked.

The girl had the audacity to smirk.

"Oh, I'm not jealous. If I truly were, she would already be six feet under."

"You're joking, right?" she gasped. Somehow, she knew the vampire spoke the truth, though.

"Oh no. You see, you're mine. And as I stated before, I would kill anyone who tried to take you away from me. Whether it's your friends, family or a lover."

Hermione swallowed hard. "You can't do that."

"We've been through this," she rolled her eyes. "It's not really a choice, sweet-thing. I would lose my mind if I didn't know where you are and if you're safe. The vampire in me has only one goal and that's you. Everything revolves around you. Your safety is its highest priority because it suffers if you suffer. The possessive nature is just me," she winked and licked her lips. "I just don't like when strangers are touching what belongs to me!" she snapped suddenly. Images of people touching Hermione invading her mind.

"No one will touch me, Bella," the girl tried to reassure her after the outburst, taking pale hand into her own.

"I know. Because I wouldn't let them."

"And because I don't want them to," she smiled lightly.

"Promise?" she asked quietly.

"Promise. I think we can apply the 'I'm the most attractive person you'll ever see'," Hermione mimicked the vampire while saying that.

"Ohhh, so you finally admit it," Bellatrix grinned.

"No!" the girl denied, but her thoughts screamed yes yes yes and Bellatrix looked at her knowingly. "Get out of my head!" she shouted, but it had no malice. Surprisingly.

"Can't. Another perk of the bond."

"What? Mind reading?" she rolled her eyes.

"Yes. First, I am a very skilled legilimens. Second, you kind of suck at occlumency and third, it wouldn't help you anyway because the bond really makes the connection much stronger. Even your basic thoughts scream at me."

"I beg your pardon?! I do not suck at occlumency!" she scoffed.

"You surely don't excel in it either now, do you," the vampire chuckled.

"Well then you should teach me!"

"I can teach you, but as I said, it won't help you with me."

"Great. That's just great."

"It's okay. I can sort through your mess of thoughts. I usually just focus on those where you fancy me," she winked.

"I do not!"

"Mmmmh, not at all," she chuckled again.

"Will it be easier for me once the bond works both ways? Will I also be able to read all your thoughts?"

"I am not entirely sure, pet. Have to ask Cissy. But then again, her meant-to-be is a Veela so it might differ," she replied thoughtfully. "I am however a big fan of what you just said."

"What did I just say?"

"You very much hinted that you will let me bite you," she clapped her hands. Some would find it childish, but Hermione found it cute. And irritating. "And I know I shouldn't make a big fuss about it since I have known since day one, but you know… progress!" she gave her another toothy smile.

"Haha," Hermione rolled her eyes. "It was a theoretical question," she clarified.

"Honestly pet, I don't care what you say to yourself to help you sleep," she grinned. "I know I'm right. I'm basically irresistible."

"And incredibly annoying."

"Touché."

"So, Cissy has a Veela as her meant-to-be. What about your other sister?" Hermione asked to change the subject.

"Mudblood," Bellatrix replied and rolled her eyes. "Now one could say it runs in the family, huh?" she chuckled.

"Muggle-born," the girl corrected.

"No, you are a muggle-born, he's a mudblood."

"Bellatrix!"

"What?" she asked, genuinely confused.

"You can't keep calling muggle-borns that! It's insulting."

"It's stating a fact," she rolled her eyes. "Since I already taught you some traditions and rituals, I could consider you a muggle-born. The uneducated filth is however a mudblood and always will be," she crossed her arms over her chest.

Hermione gaped at her. There was so much to teach the older woman. So, so much. Now was not the time, though. She closed herself off completely. Hermione would have to be sneaky about it.

"What about the rest of your family? Since you clearly were the first vampire, did you turn your parents or cousins or anyone else really?" she counted to ten and asked. Changing the subject again.

"No. They didn't deserve it."

"Why do you make it sound like it's great?"

"Because it is, Hermione."

"Care to explain a little?" she encouraged her. They actually hadn't spoken about what Bellatrix gained from this.

"Fine. Let's start with the fact that thanks to this ancient magic you get to find someone you truly love and that person loves you back. The bond is born out of love. Not out of power or wealth. I am pretty sure that if more pureblooded families, well the daughters at least, knew about it we would have more vampires around here.

It also gives you immortality if that's your goal.

You have stronger senses, especially at night. You are stronger in general, as you witnessed firsthand from my sister. She's not used to holding back anymore. Fleur can take it.

Your magic gets stronger as well. I suppose it has something to do with the stronger senses.

Overall, it's pretty great."

"So Volde…" she started to say, but Bellatrix shut her up with a hand over her mouth.

"Are you crazy?!" she hissed.

"Well I didn't know his name is such a problem for you," she rolled her eyes.

"It's not that, you silly girl. He placed a taboo spell on it! He knows every time someone says it and it brings him there. Or us. Or the snatchers. Ever wondered how you got caught? Well, that's how."

"Oh," she just answered and looked down. Hermione wished she could inform Harry and Ron because especially Harry got reckless.

"I thought you knew that."

"No, we… we didn't," she swallowed.

"Well. That explains it. I do however doubt that itty bitty baby Potter would keep his mouth shut even if he knew."

"He would," Hermione defended.

"If you say so," the vampire shrugged. "And to your unsaid question, no, Tom is not a vampire."

Hermione nodded. She figured that much. There would be no need for certain objects if he was. Thank Merlin that wasn't the case. He would be indestructible.

"Does he know about you?" she asked instead. Surely the temptation would be too great even for someone who despised magical creatures.

"No."

Well that was a rather short answer. "That must have taken a lot of restraint to hide such information. Or occlumency."

"I am one of the best at occlumency. Not that I need to be with him anymore. He trusts me."

"Hmmm," she nodded.

"So, as I was saying before. Being a vampire is really not that bad. It's kind of great really."

"Except that you drink blood," Hermione deadpanned.

"And you drink water. Same thing. Both essential."

"Except that I don't have to kill anyone in order to drink water!"

"And what makes you think I have to kill someone in order to drink their blood? That would be futile. No, you hunt them down, attack them and obliviate them once you're done. I don't know what muggle vampires do and I frankly don't care."

"Still…" she huffed.

"Ran out of arguments, haven't we," Bellatrix smirked.

"No. It's just vile."

"You didn't find it vile when you knew it was good for you."

"What are you talking about now?"

"I did give you my blood, didn't I?"

"Well I didn't drink it, did I?!

"You could have," she shrugged.

"Gross."

"It wouldn't be if you knew it keeps you alive. You would just roll with it."

"I don't think so."

"Oh? So, if the only way to get water would be to drink it from someone, you would die of thirst, is that so?"

"But it's not like that!"

"It is for me. Plus, it really is more like an open French kiss on the neck, pet," Bellatrix smirked.

"A kiss on the neck? Sounds fun," Hermione huffed.

"Oh my, you poor thing. Ginger boy was not one for foreplay I see. And yet you wanted to marry him. What were you thinking?"

"We didn't!... I don't… never mind, it's late. I am going to bed!" she replied way too fast, got up and ran to her room with Bellatrix in tow.

"Now that is interesting! You didn't even kiss and yet you pictured a life with him? Are you serious?" the vampire laughed.

"Get out of my head, Bellatrix!" Hermione shouted and closed the door of her bedroom in Bellatrix's face. She was so happy the older witch allowed her to write to Ginny because she really needed that right now. She sat at the table and started to write. The letter would leave the mansion tonight with instruction for Ginny of what to do if she wished to reply. Which Hermione hoped she would.

Bellatrix laughed for several minutes and then decided to check the protection around the mansion and garden. There was no way of breaking in unless the Order brought Cissy or Andy, her own blood. Considering neither was interested in their war and they were on Bella's side, she really doubted it.

After she was done, she decided to go for a hunt. All that food talk made her hungry after all.

L.W.:

Now I'm trying to balance Bellatrix's character and the bond, but I feel like I'm not doing a very good job... she's a softie, isnt she? Well, first of, she didnt spend 14 years in Azkaban so I'd say that helps. And second, the bond is really a bitch!

We are dealing with a tuned down version of her from the start so keep that in mind. Altho I surely didnt plan she would be this soft *eye roll*