Christmas Day was a blur of friends, family and excitement. Hermione had parted ways with Bellatrix after they shared a few kisses after the ball. Feelings were swirling around in her mind and she wasn't sure what to do about it. She had never experienced a kiss that went straight to her soul before. There would be time to analyze the kiss at a later date. Christmas Day found the ladies spending the holiday away from the castle. Hermione went to the burrow to spend time with the Weasleys and Harry. It had been the first time in two years that she accepted the invitation. She was going to pass but Ginny was persistent and Hermione couldn't think of a good enough excuse to skip the event. Bella had went to Malfoy Manor to spend Christmas with her sister and nephew.

Hermione flooed directly into her living room having had Minerva set up her fireplace to the floor network. She did have a good time with her old friends but she needed to be back in her own space. Most of the day was enjoyable except for her encounters with Ron. He is still persistent that they belong together. Hermione shook his advances the best she could but knew that she would have to put a dead stop to it at some point. Maybe she could just send Bellatrix after him.

When Hermione entered her living room, she saw a note and a little gift box sitting on her coffee table. She smiled when she picked up the parchment. It smelled of Bella. She opened the note and it read:

Hermione,

No, I didn't break into your room. I had your elf friend, Winky, drop this off for you. I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas. I know it's your favorite Holiday after all. I'll be at my sister's house until late tomorrow morning. I would like to take the winter break to go and see what we can do for your parents in Australia. I think it's time and I believe us both to be ready. Maybe tomorrow, we can leave for your parent's house so I can learn a few more things about them and we can discuss our journey to Australia. I have already set up our journey via port keys and we should be able to get there by the end of the month. It's time to bring your family home, Hermione.

Oh, and I saw this in the shop last time I was in Hogsmeade and I thought of you and our first trip into the city together.

Yours,

Bellatrix Black

Hermione folded the note and brought it up to her nose to inhale the smell of her crush. She folded it and put it back down on the table. She carefully picked up the small gift box and opened it. Inside was a silver necklace holding a small snowflake pendant. Hermione smiled a the memory of Bellatrix talking about how beautiful snowfall was. Inside the top of the jewelry box was a small note that read: While snow has a natural beauty, it'll never be as beautiful as you.

Hermione felt her cheeks hurting slightly from smiling so much. Hermione didn't have an owl but she wanted to send a thank you note to Bella. She would kindly as Winy to take it to the older witch. She would make sure to give Winky some treats for her trouble. Hermione took out a piece of parchment and started to write. The note read:

Dearest Bella,

Thank you so much for the wonderful present. It is beautiful. I remember our first trip to Hogsmeade fondly. I only wish I had something to give to you. If you think we are ready to bring my parents' memories back then yes I accept the offer to do it over break. We have a month until classes start up again. We can floo to my parent's house tomorrow. It's in the muggle world so prepare yourself. We will have a few days for you to become accustomed to the Muggle world before we head off to Australia. Traveling by port key isn't the most comfortable way to travel. If we are successful, I'm sure my parents will not want to travel home with us.

I'm not sure were we stand after last night. We haven't had time to process anything. I just wanted you to know that I don't regret it and I look forward to exploring my feelings about you further.

Merry Christmas, Bella.

-Hermione

"Winky?" Hermione called out.

"What can Winky do you for Mistress Hermione?" Winky asked happily.

"First of all, Merry Christmas Winky. Here are some sweets that I'd like for you to have and to share with your friends in the kitchen." Hermione said smiling and handing a box full of treats to the elf.

"A gift for me? Miss Hermione is too kind to me. I don't deserve your kindness."

"Non sense. You are my fired and deserve more kindness than you are shown." Hermione said reaching out to give the small elf a hug.

"What can I do for you, miss?"

"Can you please take this letter to Ms. Black for me? I don't have access to an owl and I figured you know how to get to her." Hermione said handing the parchment to Winky.

"It would be my pleasure." Winky said apparating away with a pop.

"Well Crookshanks, I guess I'm, going home." Crookshanks meowed and crawled into Hermione's lap. "Okay. We can watch some tv before we start packing."

—-

Hermione awoke the next day just before noon still laying on the couch with Crookshanks standing on her chest and meowing loudly in her face.

"Well good morning to you too sunshine. I guess you are wanting your breakfast now." Hermione laughed lightly as she pushed the cat off her chest. "Oh dear. I guess we fell asleep and didn't pack. I can just throw some stuff together real fast before Bella gets back."

Hermione pulled her self up from the couch and stretched her muscles. She was surprised how rested and relaxed she felt after spending the night on her couch. Now she didn't feel too bad about that night Bellatrix had spent sleeping on her couch. Hermione smiled at the memory of the older witch face down sleeping soundly. She shook the memory out of her head and walked over to pour food into Crook's bowl. She then went and took a quick shower. She had decided on all muggle clothing for the trip since they would be dealing in all muggle environments. She wore a pair of light wash skinny jean with rips in the thighs, a white button up shirt and a dark blue sweater. She dried her hair using a drying charm and wore it down.

Hermione hurried and packed clothing, makeup, bathing supplies, and a wide berth of potions and books into her backpack which of course had an extendable expansion charm in place. Hermione brought her bag into the living room and set in on the couch. She went over and fixed herself some toast with jam and brewed a pot of tea. She had just set her tea and toast on the table when there was a knock at the door.

"Just a moment." She called out and she walked over to unlock the door. Standing on the other side of the door was Bellatrix. She was wearing a long black skirt, a flowy white button up shirt that was of course cinched at her waist with a deep green corset. She had on knee length black combat boots and her hair was up on her head with wild curls fall down framing her face.

"Good afternoon, Pet." Bellatrix said leaning in and placing a kiss on Hermione's cheek. "Ready to go?" She asked walking into the room.

"I was just about to have some tea and toast. Would you like some?" Hermione asked pointing to the table.

"That would be lovely." Bellatrix said walking over and sitting down. Hermione walked over to prepare some toast for Bellatrix. She noticed Bella bend over in her chair and scratch Crookshanks behind the ears. Hermione smiled to herself and walked back over.

"Here you go Bella," Hermione said and she placed the toast and tea down in front of the older witch. Bellatrix smiled and eagerly dove into her toast. "So, is that what you are wearing to muggle England?" Hermione asked out of curiosity.

Bella looked herself up and down and frowned at the brunette. "What's wrong with my outfit? Is it not fetching enough for you dear?" She challenged.

"No. You look great. It's just that there aren't many corsets England or Australia. You might stand out a bit. Also, where's your stuff?"

"What stuff? I figured I'd just transfigure this outfit into whatever I need. I'm sure you already have the potions and books pack. Am I wrong?" Bella smirked.

"No, they are packed. You are going to need more than one set of clothing though unless you plan to scourgify your clothes every night. We can go to a store and sort something out for you." Hermione smiled back cheekily.

"Like in Diagon Alley?"

"No, in London." Hermione replied noticing Bellatrix visibly gulp. "It'll be fine Bella. I'll protect you from all the big, bad muggles."

"Talk about exposure therapy." Bellatrix rolled her eyes.

"Exposure therapy? You know about Muggle Psychology?"

"I'm well versed in many things, Hermione. Just because I haven't been to the muggle world recently doesn't mean I haven't studied their academia."

Hermione was surprised by that confession from Bellatrix. She thought that being a pureblood, Bellatrix would have no interest in Muggle academia.

"I have a wide variety of interests." Bellatrix said finishing her toast and winking back at the girl.

"Well that's good news. I have a lot of stuff to show you when we get home." Hermione smiled as she got up and started to clean the dishes.

"What do you mean by that?" Bellatrix asked as she came up to stand next to the girl at the sink. She was shorter than Hermione so she had to stand on her tiptoes to put her chin on the other girls shoulder. She wrapped her arms around the other girl's waist and gave a small squeeze.

Hermione placed her hand on Bella's that was cover her stomach. She took a moment to revel in the other woman's touch. It had been quite some time since Hermione felt an embrace like this. "I can't give away all my surprises just yet. You did say in your letter that there would be a few days before we head to Australia. I want to make the most of our time as possible." Hermione said sighing contently.

Bellatrix removed herself from Hermione and went over towards the couch, picking up Hermione's backpack. "Extendable expansion charm?"

"Of course." Hermione said laughing. She finished the dishes, put them away then dried her hands off on a towel.

"Now are you ready to go?"

"Let's be off then. Crookshanks, be good. Winky will be in to take care of you twice a day while we are gone. Be a good boy won't you?" Hermione bent down to hug her cat goodbye. She and Bella went and stood in her fireplace. "Granger Residence." Hermione said clearly and threw the floor powder down in the fireplace.

—-

They exited the fireplace at the Granger residence and Bellatrix was immediately overwhelmed with all the muggle artifacts that she saw. She made her way around the living room looking at everything she could see. Bella walked over to the book case and ran her finger down the spines of many of the muggle books. She found some of the names of the books funny but made a note to ask Hermione which her favorites were so she could plan to read them at some point. Bella looked over to see the brunette staring at her biting on her bottom lip.

"Don't look so worried, Hermione. I was in my sister's muggle house prior to us not speaking. I'm not going to do anything crazy here. I promise."

"Oh. I wasn't thinking that. I just hope you like it and are comfortable here. That's all." Hermione said quietly.

"I'm comfortable anywhere you are." Bella said back with a smile before turning her attention to the shelf over the fireplace. She had noted many family portraits however she saw that none of them had Hermione in them. A touch of sadness entered Bella at that moment knowing that this was most likely due to taking her parent's memories. This would indeed be a harder task that originally thought. "I'm going to need to see what residual memories are left inside of your parents to be able to have a shot at giving them back everything, Hermione." Bellatrix said in a soft tone. She heard a soft sob and turned around to see Hermione crying into her hands.

Bellatrix made her way over to Hermione and wrapped her arms around the younger witch. Comforting others was not her strong suit but she couldn't stand to see the girl crying. "It's going to be okay." Bella whispered to the other woman while stroking her hand up and down Hermione's back. "This is going to happen and we will be successful." She said sounding more confident.

Hermione's sobbed slowed. "What if I ruined their memories forever?"

"Everything is reversible if you know what you are doing." Bellatrix said placing a chaste kiss on the other witch's cheek. "Well except the killing curse. You are fucked if that comes at you." Bella added trying to lighten the mood. She saw a smile on the other's face so she took that as a little victory.

"I wish for you to work the magic on my parents. I don't think I'll be brave enough to do it. My Gryffindor pride can take the hit. I want this done right for mom and dad."

"I will do everything in my power to return them to you." Hermione leaned into the older woman for another hug then pulled back and returned the kiss to Bella's cheek.

"Come on." Hermione said taking the woman's hand in her own. "Let me give you a proper tour."

Hermione guided Bellatrix through the confines of her house. She showed her the living room where the television resided and in the kitchen there was something called a microwave thought Hermione said that they would be dining on 'take away pizza' for dinner. Hermione had also mentioned something called central air and heat. Bellatrix had an every growing list of questions that she would have to ask at some point. Her parent's bedroom was on the first floor and Hermione told Bellatrix she could look through her mom's wardrobe for muggle clothing if she would like as they were around the same size.

The upstairs was a loft dedicated to Hermione. There was a living room on one side of the room and her bed on the other side and there was a full bath connected through an adjoining door. There was a whole wall of books and many posters hanging on the walls. Bellatrix inhaled deeply and smelled oranges, vanilla, cinnamon and parchment. It was inherently Hermione and she could get drunk on the smell.

"So, this is my room. It's not much but it's home." Hermione said holding her arms out presenting the room to the older witch.

"It's cute." Was Bella's response. "I wish to read some of your books. Could you pick out your favorites?"

"You want to read my muggle literature?" Hermione asked shocked.

"Of course. Some of the titles downstairs intrigued me and you honestly have enough to spare." Bella smirked as she pointed to Hermione's wall of books.

Hermione placed her finger on her chin and thought. "Hmm. I know just the starter muggle book for you." She walked over to her book shelf and searched for the title. "Here it is." She exclaimed and grabbed the book. She brought it over to Bella and handed her the novel.

"Wuthering Heights." Bella read. "What a peculiar title…and you think I will enjoy this?"

"I think you'll be able to relate to the story. Yes."

"Very well then." Bellatrix said and she sat down in the corner of the couch and started to read. Hermione smiled at the sight in front of her. Bellatrix looked so normal to her at that moment in time. She was not a former death eater or a powerful witch. She was just a woman sitting on her couch reading a book and it was a sight that Hermione could get used to seeing. Hermione took the opportunity to grab a book for herself and walked over and sat down at the opposite end of the couch. She extended her legs and put her feet into Bella's lap. Bella only acknowledge the gesture with a smile as she continued reading.

The women sat and read in comfortable silence. Bella looked over and saw the younger witch lost in her book. Her mind drifted back to the night of the ball and those lovely kisses the two witches shared. "At some point, I'd like to talk about the other night. Or at the very least, I'd very much like to kiss you again soon." Hermione looked up and she saw Bellatrix looking at her book with a knowing smirk.

"As you wish." Hermione responded looking back into her book with a smile.