Two days later Hermione sat at her usual spot in the library. It was around 3pm which meant she had about 2 hours before the vampire got up. She held a book, but wasn't really paying attention to it. Bellatrix had to apparate away in the middle of their conversation the previous day and Hermione didn't like it one bit. Bellatrix opened her mouth as if to answer her and then her eyes drifted to her forearm and she said: "Sorry pet, I need to go." Before Hermione could do more than blink.

Now Hermione tried to contemplate what that was about. It wasn't the first time. It had happened a few times in the past, but she didn't pay it that much attention. Now, though…

She knew those were summons from the Dark Lord. She just didn't know what kind of missions he sent Bellatrix on. It couldn't be anything big since the vampire came back during the night, but Hermione still wondered. She knew the older witch came back because she herself couldn't sleep very well, so she heard when Bellatrix dipped her head in her room to check on her. Thinking about it, the vampire always did that when she went away. Whether it was to see if Hermione was still there or to see if she was fine, the girl didn't know.

She would have to convince Bellatrix to stop serving him, though. How were they supposed to work out if both fought for a different side? It would surely be very inconvenient in the final battle and it would be impossible after the battle because no matter which side won, they wouldn't be able to be together. Bellatrix would stand trial and probably faced Azkaban and if Noseless won, then a muggle-born like her would be hunted down and killed.

Hermione made a mental note to talk about this with the older witch because she was not sure Bellatrix realized this.

An owl interrupted her train of thoughts. She saw her outside at first, but when she made no move to retrieve the letter, the owl disappeared and flew into the library.

"I'm sorry, I can't open windows, you know," she apologized to the bird and smiled when she recognized Ginny's handwriting. The envelope didn't have much written as neither knew the address. It simply said Hermione Granger.

She opened it and her smile fell. There was only one sentence in the whole letter. Just one.

Don't worry, Hermione, we are coming!

She read again and teared up a little. No no no. Please no! She didn't even want to be rescued anymore. She wasn't suffering. She was cared for. She enjoyed getting to know Bellatrix. And she knew this would only bring trouble and nothing else.

She made her way to one of the towers that overlooked the whole yard and entrance only to find Bellatrix standing there in front of the window.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just kill them," she said even before Hermione climbed the last step.

"Bella," the girl breathed out and finally made it to the window herself and pressed her body to the vampire's side to be able to look out of the window. She looked in the direction of Bella's stare and saw four members of the Order trying to break in. Kingsley, Lupin and the Weasleys. "Can they get through?" she asked, concerned. So far Bellatrix only observed, but the girl was certain that if they broke into her property, she would hex them right away.

"No," she replied. "I can still kill them from here, though," she said and raised her wand. "And I should for waking me up."

"Please don't. Bella, please," Hermione choked.

"Because?"

"Because I'm begging you," she answered and a single tear rolled down her cheek. "Let me talk to them. Please."

"Did you ask them here? Was the whole 'I want to write to my friends' about this?! So you can stab me in the back and escape?!" she asked and finally looked away from the Order and directly to Hermione's eyes, her chin trembling.

"No! Bella no. Please, believe me," she sobbed and clutched to the older witch. Everything was at stake now. Not only the Order's lives, but hers as well.

"And why should I do that?!" she snapped. "You told the ginger girl to rescue you, for all I know," she fumed. "Didn't count on blood magic sealing this place, did you? Well, too bad! I'll kill them all and I'll throw you in the dungeon, at least until I can't take the misery anymore. Then I'll probably just risk killing you."

"You don't believe that. I know you don't. I'm your meant-to-be, remember? I wouldn't do that to you," she tried to reason with the highly distraught woman.

"Ha!" she cackled. "What a lovely meant-to-be you are! Sending the Order after me. Tell me, were they supposed to kill me as well or just help you escape?" she hissed and her chest was rising and falling rapidly.

Hermione knew she was screwed. Bellatrix's mind was spiraling.

The girl took Bella's face into her hands to ground her a little and looked deeply into her eyes. The fact that the vampire didn't hex her nor pushed her away was a proof that somewhere deep inside she didn't believe what she was saying.

"Bella, I wouldn't hurt you like that. I don't want to leave anymore. There are things we need to work through, but I don't want to leave, okay?" she stroked a pale cheek with her thumb and tried not to cry. She couldn't break down. Not yet.

The vampire had a distant look, clearly going through her own mind, trying to decide where the truth lied.

Hermione wanted to cry just from the torment visible on her face.

"Bella, look in my mind. Search through whatever depths you want and see for yourself. I didn't ask Ginny to rescue me. I didn't tell her to send anyone over here to help me escape. I swear to Merlin, Bella," she kept stroking her pale cheek and encouraged the vampire with her look. "Have a look. I didn't betray you."

That seemed to bring the raven-haired woman back to present. She should have requested to read the letter before Hermione sent it, but she didn't want to invade her privacy like that. It was enough she heard most of her thoughts and could even control them to some extent.

She nodded and opened her mind to absorb Hermione's thoughts. She saw her writing the letter through her eyes. There was nothing about any escape. Unless they used some sort of a code. She started to spiral right back to her own mind, but Hermione sensed that and pressed their foreheads together. "Feel my emotions, Bella," she instructed.

And so the vampire did. There was no malice, there was no fear, there was curiosity and warm feelings while writing about her current life events.

The girl was being truthful. She didn't ask the ginger mouse to send anyone. She only wanted to talk.

Bellatrix withdrew from Hermione's mind and pulled the girl into a hug. It was somewhat awkward as no one ever really hugged the older witch. She was acting on instinct, most likely provided by the bond. She was just so relieved.

"You're okay, Bella. We're okay," Hermione assured her and tightened her grip around the other woman.

The vampire nodded. "I'm sorry. I just…" she sighed.

"It's okay. I get it. I didn't really give you a reason to trust me."

"That's not true."

"It is. Can I go talk to them, Bella? Please, let me talk to them."

"So, you can apparate away once you're outside? I don't think so," she replied and tightened her grip some more, afraid to lose the girl once again.

"Well, they can't apparate inside the property. I doubt I could apparate outside," she chuckled.

"Smart girl," she sighed and released her. This close proximity was doing things to the vampire's insides that she would rather not name. She needed space now.

"Take my wand if you're afraid. I won't leave, Bella. I promise. I just don't want my friends to get hurt," she said and offered her wand to the older witch. She felt bare without it, but she was willing to make that sacrifice if it secured everyone's safety.

"And send you out there defenseless?" she scoffed. "Hardly."

Hermione looked from the window and saw they all were still trying to break in. "They wouldn't hurt me."

"They might if you tell them you're here on your free will now."

"They won't hurt me. I'll be fine," Hermione replied and pushed back the comeback of how free will looks a little different.

Bellatrix sighed. The ginger mouse was lucky not to be here. She would pay for the doubt she planted in her mind. She would pay for making her question Hermione.

She would pay the ultimate price.

"Bella?" the girl asked when spotting her face had turned to a frown and then anger.

"Fine fine, go. Take your wand, though. I will not risk that."

"I'll be back before you know it," she smiled and Bellatrix attempted a smile on her own but didn't quite manage it. She lifted the house protection so Hermione could go meet them at the gate and remained at her spot, watching.

Everyone halted when the main door opened and Hermione stepped out of it. She made it to the gate and smiled. It was good to see her friends, to see Molly and Arthur who she considered family. The more this hurt her, though.

"Hi," she greeted them.

"Hermione, we will get you out. Don't worry. It's just some very strong magic that seals this gate and the whole property, but we will get you out," Molly said with concern in her eyes.

"You don't need to. I am fine," she replied. "She hasn't hurt me and she won't hurt me."

"It's Bellatrix, Hermione! Of course she will hurt you!" Kingsley replied.

"She won't. She let me come here and ask you to stop. I think we all know that she could have just killed you all."

"Even she is not that powerful," Lupin scoffed. "What are you trying to tell us, though?"

"Well first of, I didn't abandon Harry and Ron," she breathed out, looking at Molly and Arthur. "I… she," she started, but didn't want to finish. She was kidnapped at first, after all.

"We know. Bellatrix kidnapped you before anyone could more than a blink. Luna told us."

Oh. True. Luna…

"Yes, well, she did," Hermione admitted. "But we've come a long way since then. And she only did it because there's a bond between us," she said carefully. "She didn't take me to torture me. She just…" wants me to love her. Hermione stopped the sentence and finished it in her head instead. "There's ancient magic at play here. This was inevitable. I am trying to reason with her about her service to You-Know-Who, but it's a long way to go. Point is, I am fine, though."

"Are you under Imperius?" Lupin asked and raised his wand to check for himself.

A lot has happened in that moment. Bellatrix revealed herself in the tower by vanishing its walls and screaming Crucio pointed at Lupin. The curse hit him without a question even at such distance and Hermione screamed out from the shock. Lupin went down in extreme agony

"Bella, stop!" she shouted to the older witch after she pulled herself together. To the surprise of all, Bellatrix did stop the torture.

"He wanted to hurt you!" she shouted back.

"No, no he didn't!" Hermione defended.

"He raised his wand at you! I told you they can't be trusted!"

"He didn't want to hurt me, Bella! Just… don't Crucio anyone else, okay?" she begged, eyeing Lupin who was still pale and lying on the ground.

"Fine," Bellatrix crossed her arms over her chest and disappeared behind the stone exterior of the house again. "They better not try to hurt you, though!" she shouted from the window.

Everyone then looked at Hermione and she just shrugged. What was there to say?

"Sorry," she apologized after few moments of awkward silence.

"What bond, Hermione?" Molly asked.

Kingsley looked perplexed and asked the same question, then he added: "The distance is too great to cast a curse, let alone to aim it at someone without missing."

Hermione knew that herself, that's why she was so shocked in the first place. Yes, Bella told her she was stronger in every way, but she probably didn't realize how much until now.

"She also made the walls disappear while casting the curse," Arthur added.

"Well, she's a powerful witch," Hermione shrugged. She didn't want to reveal Bellatrix's biggest secret. "She's a Black, you know."

"Yes, she's a Black," Molly nodded. "But this is a bit too much even for the noble house of Blacks."

"That's why I am trying to convert her to our side," Hermione admitted. "I can't help Harry and Ron anymore, but I can try to take away You-Know-Who's most loyal servant."

"You won't succeed!" Lupin barked.

"Well, Bellatrix stopped when Hermione asked her to, Remus. So far she's done everything Hermione asked of her," Molly replied.

She did, didn't she. Hermione realized that Bellatrix had basically always done what Hermione asked of her. Sometimes there was a bigger fight, but at the end, she let her have whatever it was that she wanted. She smiled.

"I just remembered!" she exclaimed. "You-Know-Who has a taboo spell on his name. You need to tell that to Harry!"

"Yes, we know. That is why no one says his name."

"And why had no one told that to Harry?!"

"We thought he knew," Kingsley shrugged.

"Well, he didn't," she huffed. "Anyway, thank you for trying to rescue me," she smiled a little. "But I will stay with Bella for now. She wouldn't have it any other way anyway."

"Are you sure you're okay, Hermione?" Molly asked with her motherly expression.

"Surprisingly I really am. It's complicated, but I am fine."

"What bond, though?" Arthur asked.

"Ancient," she replied curtly.

"Is it blood magic?" Lupin asked.

"You could say that," Hermione chuckled. "It's unbreakable and neither of us chose it. We will just have to learn to live with it," she sighed. "As I said, it's okay, though. Bella's been really nice all things considered."

"I hope you know what you're doing," Kingsley said.

"I can't say I do, but I am trying."

"So, you really want to stay?" Molly said, but it ended as a question.

"Yes. Even if I escaped… what would I do? We don't know where Harry and Ron are. I wouldn't be able to help them. I would go back to Hogwarts as that's the only thing I could do. I am way more valuable here, believe me. For the boys and for the Order, too."

"If what you say is true, and you could convert Bellatrix to our side then I have to agree," Kingsley said.

"Just be careful," Molly added.

"I will," Hermione smiled.

They all eyed her for a moment and then apparated away.

Bellatrix watched with wide eyes. It was now or never. Either Hermione would turn from the gate and walk back home or she would try to apparate away. Escape.

The relieved sigh she released when Hermione turned to the house echoed through the tower.

"Missed me?" Hermione smiled when she made it to the foyer where Bellatrix was already waiting.

"You came back," she breathed out, still not quite believing it.

"I did. I told you I would."

"You're smart. You must have realized you don't have many options," she shrugged, trying to sound like it didn't hurt her.

"I don't. But I wanted to come back."

"You did?" she asked quietly.

"Yes. It's pretty clear the bond is a thing and I can't escape it. I can't escape you," she sighed.

"Right," Bellatrix nodded, but she seemed a little sad.

"That's not the only reason I came back," she smiled.

"No?"

"No," Hermione shook her head and went to the living room, hoping Bellatrix would follow. She did. They sat on the sofa and Hermione took the vampire's hand into her own. "You're my soulmate, are you not? I know you wouldn't hurt me and I can't honestly say that just about anyone. With you, I do know though. I understand it couldn't have been easy for you considering who I am, but you still didn't try to hurt me. Maybe at first, but not since you took me here. We are arch enemies, Bella. And yet you didn't hurt me."

"I don't want to hurt you. You're my everything."

"See? This is exactly why it's really hard for me to maintain the picture of you as this vile, vicious and dangerous woman," the girl chuckled.

"I'm sorry?" she laughed.

"No, you're not!" she laughed too.

"Of course I'm not," the vampire rolled her eyes, smiling.

"But Bella," she sighed, getting serious. "If we ever want to work out, you can't fight for him," she nearly whispered. "It's not just about my friends getting hurt, it's also about what would happen with us when the war is over. I don't want you to go to Azkaban. I don't want to be away from you like that."

"You're counting on your victory, pet. He has many secrets up his sleeves."

"I don't doubt it. Okay, let's say you win. They will hunt me down and kill me."

"I won't allow it!" the vampire shrieked and shook a little.

"I don't think you could protect me, Bella. I mean, that's the cause you're fighting for, after all."

"I don't really fight for that," she sighed. "I am in his debt."

"Why? What happened? We can protect you. The Order can protect you!"

"Like they protected you?" she snorted.

"I would fight for you, too."

"You're a sweet little thing, you. I can protect myself when it comes to it. I am way more powerful than he is. Never tell him that," she winked. "But I owe him and I don't take debts lightly. Plus, I am free with him. I can do whatever I wish to."

"You are not free! Try to introduce me to him. Try to tell him you love me. Do you still feel free?"

"He will never find out."

"He will if you win. I am still undesired number 2. Harry is first and I am right after him since I'm a mudblood."

"I will figure this out."

"Or you could switch sides," Hermione suggested.

"I could ask the same of you!" Bellatrix deadpanned.

"Right. Because there's so many muggle-borns among Death Eaters."

"As many as Death Eaters among the Order."

"Bella, we can't do this. How do you imagine the battle will go? I will be killing Death Eaters and you will be killing my friends? Maybe even me, if you miss?"

"What battle? You are not going to any battle!"

"I need to fight!"

"No, you need to be safe! I could never protect you there!"

"Well then you're not going either!" she demanded.

"I can't stop, Hermione. I need to be at the battle. I am his most loyal, he would notice I am not there. He would come find me," she sighed. "He trusts me. He even gave me something very precious to him, as he put it, and I have it in my vault."

"Is it full of dark magic?" Hermione asked. She needed to protect her mind to the fullest of her abilities right now. She couldn't keep screaming Horcrux, Horcrux, Horcrux.

Bellatrix suddenly got up, realizing what she said. "I need to go!" she informed Hermione and ran to her room. She'd betrayed her Lord. She just passed information to the enemy. To Potter's closest friend.

And to think how her Lord was so pleased with her when he gave her the cup. "This is one of the most precious things I own, Bellatrix. I need you to keep it safe. I trust you," he said. She knew what it was. She knew of his irrational fear of death. The cup was full of dark magic, it was part of his soul. And it was in her vault where she knew no one could access it without her. And now undesirable number 2 knew about it.