A/N:
I think this was the biggest chapter. Not the longest, mind you, just the biggest (I wrote this note when it had about 5k words and the final count is over 7k which also makes it the longest. Oh well…). There is not much to tell now. Obviously, the bite and obviously the smut. Obviously, some ending. But this was the gamechanger. We already know shit will change when Bella finally bites her ;) What I'm saying is that we're slowly wrapping it up.
I should prolly add trigger for child abuse in this chapter so this is your warning.
Hermione was studying in the library, with Crooks purring right next to her, when she heard a terrible scream. She placed the book carefully on the alcove and then ran to Bella's bedroom. It must have been loud if she heard it all the way in the tower.
She entered Bella's bedroom, ready to murder anyone that made her vampire scream that way, but she was met with darkness. When her eyes adjusted, she saw Bellatrix panting on the bed, tossing around.
She didn't think about what she was about to do. She just couldn't stand the way Bellatrix was hurting. She climbed on the bed and shook the woman slightly. "Bella, wake up. It's just a dream. Wake up."
She was pinned on the bed with her hands above her head and a wand pressed to her chin in a matter of seconds. The vampire had a pained expression and was ready to strike.
"Bella, it's just me. It's me," the girl whispered. "You had a bad dream and you screamed in pain," she continued and swallowed. Bellatrix looked dangerous with her fangs extended, pupils blown wide. She had a distant look in her eyes and Hermione was not sure the vampire even heard her. "Bella, come back to me. Please?" She trembled. "It's me. Your soulmate."
"Fuck," the older witch growled when she came to her senses and released the girl from her grip, getting up from her body as if burned and lying next to her. "NEVER do that again. Do you hear me?!" she hissed.
"You had a bad dream," Hermione tried to reason.
"I could have killed you!" the vampire shrieked.
"But you didn't," the girl reassured and leaned closer to the other woman, stroking a pale cheek.
"Hermione, no. You don't understand. I could have slit your throat with my nails or my dagger, I could have simply murdered you with my wand. Or worse, I could have ripped your neck with my fangs…"
"You said that wouldn't happen," she whispered with a light smile.
"In order to feed from you, no. In order to kill you, yes."
"I'm sorry," the girl apologized. "I just heard you scream and I thought someone was hurting you."
"No one can hurt me, pet."
"It surely didn't sound like it."
"It was a memory," the vampire sighed. "My only nightmares are usually memories. But you can't barge in here and wake me up, sweet-thing. I could have…" she swallowed.
"You were screaming in pain," the girl replied and pressed herself even tighter to the other body, only now realizing Bellatrix again wore a night gown that covered little to nothing. "I can't stand that sound. I will always wake you up."
"No," the vampire shook her head. "You cannot do that, Hermione. Even after the bite, you cannot do that. I could kill you if you wake me up while I am still half in the dream world."
"You didn't kill me," the girl repeated.
"I wasn't far from it."
"I can't hear you scream like that and do nothing, Bella."
"You will have to learn."
"No. Bella, I can't ignore that sound! Maybe I won't try to shake you or something, but I will wake you up. Don't even try to tell me otherwise."
"I see you truly belong to Gryffindor, my brave lioness."
"That has nothing to do with it," she blushed.
"It has everything to do with it. If I told someone in Slytherin that I'd kill them if they woke me up, they just wouldn't wake me up. They would mind their own business."
"Not true. No one would be able to stand that pained cry."
"You might be surprised."
"What did you dream about anyway?" Hermione looked up into Bella's eyes.
"As I said, it was a memory," she replied and was ready to drop the subject.
"You screamed so much," the girl whispered.
"Well," she sighed, stroking brown curls.
"Tell me?" the girl pleaded.
"It was nothing, really. It was a memory of my parents introducing me to Crucio for the first time. I was five, I think."
"WHAT?!" Hermione shrieked in utter terror and raised her head to look at Bella.
"I grew up in a different household, pet. In a different time as well," the witch just shrugged.
"What did you do that they used that curse on you? On a five year old child!"
"I think I started to ramble at dinner. That was not suitable for a young pureblood girl."
Hermione didn't know what to say. That admission made her speechless.
"Pet, you need to understand that things were different back then. You also need to understand that I am from a very powerful and famous family. Me and my sisters were conditioned to behave properly, to present ourselves accordingly…"
"I never thought a parent would use that curse on their children."
"They didn't use it as much on my sisters. You see, I was the one that had to behave and set an example for them. They copied everything I did," the vampire chuckled. "So, if I misbehaved, my father Crucioed me in front of them. To teach them that misbehaving had consequences."
"Absolutely dreadful," Hermione scoffed.
"It was better than when he tortured them. I usually volunteered for the punishment because I couldn't watch them being tortured. That was worse than any Crucio ever performed on me."
"Bella," the girl choked. She pressed herself into the vampire's side and stroked a pale cheek with her thumb. She always thought that Bellatrix didn't really have a great past, but this was definitely beyond what she could have imagined.
"It's fine, you know."
"Never," she shook her head. "Why didn't you fight back? When you were older at least?"
"Well, parents were the authority. It's not like you could just Crucio them back. Of course, I tried," she smirked. "But my punishment for that was watching Cissy and Andy getting tortured. I couldn't stand that. I never tried anything again."
"Oh Bella," Hermione breathed out and kissed her softly. She was aching for the older woman. She also understood all the rebellion.
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, something clicked one day," Bellatrix admitted. "I was already an adult and we had a disagreement with Father about my wedding. He tortured me. And I felt something changing in my brain. I absolutely disassociated from my feelings. I didn't have them and I still don't. I feel nothing towards anyone but you. I care about my sisters, but that's the maker's bond. I haven't felt anything ever since something clicked in my brain that day. Nothing but anger."
"How is that supposed to make me feel better?"
"I don't know," the vampire shrugged. "I just… I don't feel the hurt. Emotionally anyway."
"That doesn't make me feel better. I can't imagine what kind of trauma you had to face if you disassociated from your feelings, Bella."
"It was a long time ago."
"You just said you still don't have them."
"I didn't until I met you."
"At least that's something the bond fixed."
"Well, I wouldn't say so," she chuckled. "I feel things towards you, pet, but no one else."
"I guess I'm fine with that," Hermione shrugged.
"Oh, are you now?" Bellatrix smirked.
"Shut up," she murmured into Bella's neck. "You're warm. How come you're warm?"
"Would you prefer me cold? I think I can make it happen with a spell."
"No!" Hermione shrieked. "Definitely warm," she said and nuzzled her nose into the nape of the vampire's neck. "It was just a surprise, that's all."
"Well, I'm not dead, pet," Bellatrix chuckled.
"Good."
"And you should go, sweet-thing. What time is it anyway?"
"No," she said. "I'm perfectly fine here, thank you. It's around 2pm."
"So, I can still sleep for a few. And would you be perfectly fine with my fangs in your neck?"
"I don't know. Probably not perfectly fine anymore."
"So hush, off the bed, you little tease!"
"A little tease?!" Hermione gasped and slid off the bed. "You wear this thing again, that leaves very little to imagination and you accuse me of being a tease?!"
"I always sleep in this, sweet-thing. Maybe if you weren't so adamant on spending your days in my bed, you wouldn't even know," she winked.
"I am not! … I … you're so frustrating!" Hermione shouted.
"I bet it must be very frustrating to get sooo flustered by good old me," the vampire smirked. "But you don't have to fight it, pet. Just come back to bed and I'll make it all go away," she cooed. "Well, after some hours," she winked.
"You're absolutely impossible!"
"Whatever fuels your fire," the vampire blew her a kiss. Then her smirk dropped and she looked at her forearm where the hideous mark was. "Shit," she hissed.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked.
There was another intake of breath and Bellatrix shuddered. She changed magically into her robes and turned to Hermione. "You need to stay here today until I tell you otherwise, am I clear?"
"What? Where?"
"Here. In this room. I need to go," Bellatrix said and walked out of the room, leaving Hermione gaping after her.
"Bella," Voldemort greeted her when she entered the study.
"Tom," Bellatrix nodded her head in acknowledgement. It was rare for him to come to her home, but it definitely wasn't the first time. "Nagini," she greeted the python as well.
"I had to come myself to inform you of the newest events and ask you to go on a mission. You see, I sent Lucius here, but he didn't deliver any of the information I asked of him. Sometimes I wonder why I still keep him alive," he said with a sigh.
"That was my fault, My Lord," she replied. "I was in a foul mood. Let's say, I didn't give him much chance to talk."
"A-hah," the man smiled. "Well in that case, he may live a little longer."
"Have a seat," Bellatrix motioned to the table and chairs. "Would you like something to drink?"
"A glass of Dragon Barrel Brandy would be nice, if you have any," he replied and sat at the table.
"Kreacher!" Bellatrix called the house elf. "Get us two glasses and a bottle of Dragon Barrel Brandy."
"Yes, Madam," he said and apparated away.
Bellatrix sat at the table and wondered what was so important that made Tom come himself. It must have concerned Plotter.
"The boy broke into the Ministry some months ago. I do not know why," Voldemort started when Bellatrix poured them both a glass of the brandy. "Now, he's tried to break into Gringotts. Again, I do not know why," he sighed and Bellatrix tensed. There was only one reason why he would do that. A reason no one knew about. Only herself and her soulmate. Now apparently, also Harry Potter. She started to seethe. "I suppose you don't know any more than me and so I need you to find him, Bellatrix."
"I suppose he didn't want to take some galleons from his vault, did he," she joked to create a diversion.
"I don't think so, no," he chucked bitterly. "Is the cup I gave you safe?"
"Yes, My Lord," she replied. It was safe after all. In the vault. In a place where Potter tried to break into. Hermione must have told him….
"Good, very good."
"I wouldn't disappoint you, Tom."
"I know that, Bella. You're the only person I can count on."
The door to the study opened and Crookshanks ran in, followed by Hermione. "Come here, you stupid cat!" she hissed and froze when she realized who was watching her closely from the other side of the room.
The cold eyes of Noseless however didn't distress her as much as the betrayed look on her vampire. What did he tell her?!
"Sorry, I …" she said and turned to leave in the direction that her cat took.
"Oh no, stay, mudblood," Voldemort hissed. He got up from the table simultaneously with Bellatrix and Hermione froze in her place. "I am sure you came to tell me where your precious boy is, didn't you?" he barked.
The girl shook her head.
"No?" he mused. "Well, then…. Crucio!" her shouted and hit the girl with the curse.
She screamed and fell down to the floor, her legs unable to hold her.
Bellatrix shed tears from the pain she felt through the bond, but didn't make a single sound. She couldn't. Good thing she was used to not showing pain after all.
"Tom," she breathed out when she'd gathered herself enough and magically dried her tears. He stopped the curse and looked at her. "I kidnapped her to turn her to our side," she started. Unbeknown to Voldemort, she also started to heal the wounds and took care of the pain the girl felt. Wandlessly. "Plotter won't figure out much on his own, and if we could convert her to our side, she would be a valuable addition."
Voldemort eyed her, trying to break through the barriers in her mind, but without any success. Bellatrix was always guarded beyond his abilities.
"I appreciate the gesture, Bella," he stated. "I am sure you had your reasons for doing this. I, however, will never teach and welcome a mudblood among us."
"But…"
"No buts," he hissed. "You need to kill her. She better be dead before I visit next time," he instructed and with a last disgusted look towards Hermione, apparated away with the snake.
Bellatrix all but ran to the girl on the floor to look for any damage, but saw she'd patched her up just fine with her wandless spells.
"WHAT were you thinking?!" she barked when she knew the girl was not in danger anymore.
"Crooks ran away and I…"
"And you what?!" she hissed.
"I'm sorry," she sobbed.
Bellatrix ached to see her meant-to-be like this, it was nearly unbearable when he tortured her… but then again, was Hermione really her unconditional love?
"You should be because now I have to kill you," she barked and got up.
Hermione got on her legs as well and gasped. "I thought I came first…" she murmured.
"Oh yeah, yeah, you did. Until you stabbed me in the back!" Bellatrix shouted and backed the younger witch to the nearest wall. "HOW did you tell him?!" she screamed right into her face. "Was all of this just an act? Just a distraction?! You claiming you want me, so I don't watch out?!" she continued and the hurt on her face made Hermione ache more than the stones of the wall pressing into her spine.
"Tell who what?" she swallowed.
"Plotter, of course! How else would he learn about the cup, hm?!" she barked and her fangs extended. She was overwhelmed with emotions.
"Bella, I don't know what you're talking about," the girl whispered. "I do want you. There is no act."
"No, you don't. I get it now. You used the bond to fool me. I thought for a second that maybe, maybe you did want me for who I am, but that was wishful thinking, wasn't it? You fooled me into trusting you and the first chance you got, you stabbed me in the back."
Hermione cried. She cried because hearing that confident, absolutely no fucks given attitude kind of woman saying those things… believing those things, made her heart shatter into tiny pieces.
"I want you, you wicked thing," she reassured and kissed her. If she was about to die, she would do it with dignity. She would fight. Kissing an angry vampire was surely a death wish, but she couldn't help it. Bella was hurting and the girl didn't know how to make it better.
Hermione trailed full lips with her tongue and then did that on each fang before diving into Bella's mouth, tasting her. The vampire growled and pressed the girl even harder to the wall while reciprocating the kiss with full ferocity.
Her fangs slid against the witch's tongue a little and blood poured out of it. Bellatrix moaned in pleasure at the taste.
"Fuck," she growled when she realized what happened and withdrew from the sinful mouth, panting hard.
"One step at a time, shall we?" the girl chuckled, holding the older woman's face.
"Your tongue… I'm so sorry," she started to spiral again.
"I don't care. I didn't mind. Barely noticed to be honest."
"Pet…" she breathed out.
"I want you, Bella. I really, really do. You're all I think about lately. I don't want to be away from you. I don't know what he told you that made you react that way, but this is not an act. You're my soulmate, dammit. You say you're hurting when I am, but Bella? I'm hurting too when you are. I don't feel it, but I see it and it hurts."
"So, you didn't tell the Flash Scar about the cup?" she asked, trying to steady her breathing and ignore everything Hermione just said. She didn't do feelings. Didn't know how to process them.
"I wouldn't even if I knew how," she reassured. "I didn't tell him."
"Why was he in Gringotts then? Trying to break into my vault?"
"He did?" the girl asked, quite shocked. "I didn't tell him. I swear. I didn't write to Ginny again either," she clarified. "Ha!" she exclaimed happily. "Gryphook was captured with us and then saved by Dobby. I guess he must have told Harry something and helped him to get in," she beamed when she figured it out. "You did freak out when you found out we had the sword. Harry might have put two and two together. He's not as stupid as you think."
"Perhaps," the woman sighed. "You're really proud of yourself now, aren't you?" she chuckled.
"Yes! Because I didn't tell him and you needed proof."
"Sorry," she sighed again.
"Bella?" the girl asked.
"Yes?"
"Did you really believe that I managed to use the bond against you like that? That I would?"
"Yes," she only said.
"Okay, listen to me very carefully now," Hermione said and looked deeply into black eyes. "I know you've been through so much and you don't have a single reason to trust anyone, but Bella, I am not just some random person. I am your meant-to-be. I can't hurt you even if I wanted to. And I don't. I so don't want to see you in pain ever again. You're the strongest and brightest creature I've come across and I will make sure you're not hurting ever again. You deserve love, you know."
"Stop," she shook her head, trying to untangle herself from the girl.
"No, I will not stop," the younger witch declared and held Bella's face in her hands. "I will stop regarding anything else you ask of me, but not this. You deserve everything good that's in this world. You deserve love, you deserve happiness… you deserve someone that will make you smile. I don't care that you've murdered people. They probably weren't that good themselves. You. Deserve. To. Be. Loved."
Bellatrix didn't reply. Her chin trembled and she started to cry, overwhelmed. She was ready to murder the girl minutes ago because she believed she was betrayed. She believed this sweet creature betrayed her. She was so stupid.
"Oh, come here, you wicked thing," Hermione said and hugged the woman, placing a soft kiss to her temple. "I won't torture you with words anymore," she chuckled and held the vampire close until she calmed down while trying to contemplate what Noseless' visit meant for them. What would happen now. He will expect her to be dead…
The moment was however interrupted by Noseless himself. Somehow, he apparated into the room with the snake again.
"Well, isn't this beautiful," he spat. "I came back to inform you that you need to kill the mudblood right away. She could be dangerous," he sneered. "And what do I come back to? I can't even say it," he hissed. "You disgust me, Bellatrix. How could you ever let such filth touch you?" he hissed. "But maybe there's an explanation?" he suddenly cocked his head. "Did you invent a new way of torturing and killing them?"
"No, My Lord," she replied and untangled herself from Hermione. Magically drying her tears once again before she turned to look at him. She didn't move away from the girl, though. She was shielding her with her own body.
"You don't get to call me that!" he spat. "Crucio!" he sent a curse aimed at the vampire before she could react. It hit her and she screamed in pain. Alongside Hermione. Bellatrix didn't fall to the floor like everyone else, she just lost all color from her face and screamed, leaning away from the girl.
"Stop that, you horrible man!" Hermione cried out when Bella clutched the table to steady herself. To her surprise, Voldemort did stop. He stopped to turn his attention to her, though.
"Hermione, isn't it?" he hissed. "I like to know their names when I kill them," he laughed and raised his wand to strike. "Make it cozy there for your friends. They will be joining you soon."
Voldemort started to shout the killing curse, but Bellatrix raised her own wand and started to duel him. There was no way she would let him harm the girl. She couldn't kill him, she knew that. There would be no point in displaying her power to him when the horcruxes were still out there. She would just need to engage him long enough before apparating Hermione and herself away.
He was still trying to aim at the girl and was getting frustrated when he couldn't overpower Bellatrix. Then he turned to Nagini and used parseltongue. Bellatrix didn't catch what he hissed, she just saw the snake started crawling away from him and towards Hermione.
The girl saw it, too. Nagini was too fast and Hermione was still just a student, she didn't know any snake destruction spells. Voldemort didn't let Bellatrix take a break to solve the situation either. Hermione was on her own. She cast Avada Kedavra, but that didn't hurt the snake at all. She lost all hope. She would die and this foul creature would be her undoing. When she braced herself for the inevitable, something shiny grabbed her attention in her peripheral vision. She saw the sword, grabbed it and with one swift motion chopped Nagini's head off.
She didn't expect the snake to just vanish into black smoke that turned into the shape of Voldemort's head.
She also didn't expect Bellatrix to jump through the unnatural black smoke, grab her arm and apparate them away.
They landed somewhere outside in the snow, in complete darkness, in front of some generously built house surrounded by spruce trees.
"You're okay," Bellatrix breathed out and hugged the girl. "You're okay, you're okay," she chanted.
"I'm fine, Bella," she reassured. "Where are we?" she looked over the older witch's shoulder and couldn't see a single light coming from any house. They were completely alone. She also realized she was still holding the Gryffindor's sword.
"In Lapland," the vampire replied, still clutching the girl tightly. "This is a safe house. No one on Earth knows of its existence. Not even my sisters."
Hermione nodded. They were safe then.
"So, Nagini was…"
"A horcrux, yes."
"And I killed it…" she swallowed.
"No, you destroyed a very dark magic, sweet-thing," Bellatrix released the girl from her arms to look her in the eyes. "Nagini lived unnaturally long and had zero soul of the creature it used to be. It was just a horcrux. Nothing more."
"The sword…" she whispered and looked at it.
"Can destroy the darkest of magic, yes. It was supposed to be in my vault."
"It just appeared," Hermione replied, not believing it herself.
"Well, I didn't place it in the vault after you first brought it to Malfoy Manor. I took it to the castle and enchanted it. It was supposed to come to you if you thought that something was trying to kill you."
"Why? Did you know this would happen?"
"Oh no, pet," Bellatrix chuckled. "The sword is the only weapon that can kill me. It was supposed to protect you from me."
"Bella, that's…" she swallowed again and dropped the sword. Suddenly it felt too heavy.
"No need for such dramatics," the vampire grinned. "You would still have to try pretty hard to stab me with it so pick it up, sweet-thing."
"I wouldn't stab you!" Hermione shrieked. "I can't believe you did that," she breathed out. "Enchanting it, I mean."
"Yeah well," she shrugged. "I didn't know how long you'd be pushing my buttons and I knew I would snap eventually. Thankfully, you never pushed enough for me to want to kill you."
"You said you physically can't."
"I can't, but if you felt scared for your life, I needed you to have some form of protection."
"But normally you have it in your vault?"
"Yes," Bellatrix nodded. "Let's get you inside, pet. You're freezing."
"Bella," Hermione whispered and made no motion to move. "The cup…" she swallowed. "We need to get the cup," she clarified.
Bellatrix looked at her and sighed.
"Harry can't get it from your vault and even if he got it, he doesn't have the sword anymore. We need to destroy it."
"Hermione," the vampire groaned.
"Please," she breathed out. "Please, send someone there and get it. Bella, it's essential. We can't let him win. He turned against you the second he saw me there. How do you think I'll survive if he wins?"
"Fine, fine!" she barked the second word.
"Please," the girl repeated.
She then just saw Bellatrix apparating away with a pop and being back five seconds later with a cup in her hand.
"How?" Hermione looked at her in awe.
"I can apparate straight to my vault," the vampire shrugged.
"But that's…"
"Impossible?" Bellatrix finished, smiling.
"Yes. Same as international travel without portkeys!"
"And yet here we are. With the cup from my vault," the older witch grinned.
"But…" Hermione huffed in frustration.
"Pet," she sighed. "I am a Black, a Death Eater and a vampire. Your standard rules don't really apply to me," she said gently and stroked a peachy cheek that was now very cold from the outside temperature. "And we should really head back inside. You're freezing."
"You're not a Death Eater anymore. I mean, you won't fight for him, will you?" she looked pleadingly into black eyes.
"I suppose I will not. Still a Black and a vampire. That alone serves me quite right."
The girl nodded. "You should destroy the cup," she suggested.
"I can't do that," she shook her head.
"You can," Hermione reassured. "And you should. Hell, he just Crucioed you! He deserves to feel some pain."
"Does he now?" Bellatrix smirked.
"Yes," the girl replied without a second thought. If someone deserved pain it would definitely be Noseless.
"Maybe he's just very misunderstood," she cocked her head playfully.
"No, he's not. You are, but he's not."
"Then I guess you should be the one that inflicts the pain, don't you think?" the vampire smirked and gave her a ghost like kiss on the cheek.
"Bella, I just killed…"
"Destroyed," the vampire corrected immediately.
"Okay, destroyed one horcrux. Me and him are even. It's your turn."
"Pet, I can't," she shook her head again, the playfulness gone.
"Yes, you can," she said steadily and grabbed the sword from the snow. She placed it in Bella's hand while taking the cup from the other. She created a boulder with magic and placed the cup on it. Then made her way back to the other woman and took her face in her hands. "It's for all the things he's done to you. I bet it wasn't the first time he's tortured you. Your debt, whatever it was, is fully paid."
The turmoil in Bella's head was killing the girl. The older witch looked between the cup and her eyes repeatedly and couldn't move.
"Bella, please help me destroy him. He wants me dead. If he wins, I'll die," she breathed out and that sentence managed to snap Bellatrix out of it. The vampire screamed, untangled herself from the girl and cut the cup in half with one swift swing of the sword.
There was a lot of black smoke in the shape of Voldemort again. It had three heads this time and Hermione rushed to Bellatrix who sank to her knees and sobbed. She sat in the snow and hugged the older woman from behind. Then she murmured constant reassurances while rocking them slightly.
"I'm so proud of you, black kitten," she said at last.
"Don't you ever call me that again," the older witch chuckled.
"But…" Hermione pouted.
"No."
"This is not fair! I didn't veto any of your nicknames for me."
"Because you love them all," she turned her head and winked.
"I do not," she lied.
"Oh? Which one don't you like then? Hmmm?"
"Well… I mean… There definitely is…."
"Is there now?" she smirked.
"Shut up," Hermione said and buried her head in black wild curls.
"Atta pet," the vampire cooed.
They stayed in that position for a few minutes before Bellatrix calmed herself enough to leave the place where she openly declared her service to Voldemort was no longer valid. She felt strange, but somehow lighter. It was like a heavy weight was lifted from her shoulders. The fact that Hermione held her and only reassured her with thoughts was definitely helping plenty. Then the girl started to shiver and this time it wasn't from arousal as much as the fact she sat in snow in a place where the temperature was far below zero.
"Come on, little one. Let's get you inside," she kissed a peachy cheek and helped Hermione get up. They started to walk towards the house when a flicker of green light illuminated the sky. Hermione immediately raised her wand, bracing herself for the worst. "Easy, sweet-thing. It's not Him. It's the Northern Lights," she explained.
"A what?"
"Right. We don't get those in UK, do we," Bellatrix smiled. "It's a pattern of colors caused by solar wind, it's also called auroras or polar lights. I don't presume you've heard of those either."
The girl shook her head and once she realized they were not in danger; she was able to enjoy the spectacular view above their heads.
"Well, I freaked out myself the first time I saw it here," the vampire chuckled and hugged Hermione from behind. "We will have to watch them tomorrow, though. You're freezing, pet."
"But it's so beautiful," Hermione breathed out, not being able to tear her eyes away.
"It's a very frequent occurrence here, I promise. One of the reasons why the house has so many huge windows. We can watch them from inside. From in front of the fireplace."
"The windows will be behind the curtains, Bella. You don't enjoy daylight," Hermione mused and started to walk towards the house.
"No curtains here," she clarified. "It's Polar Night."
"Again, a what?"
"Right. There is very little to no sunshine here during this time. It's just night all day long. I'm sorry."
"No daylight?"
"None."
"That's…"
"Sorry, pet. This is the only safe house I have. Obviously, there are many estates, but He knows about most of them, my sisters know about all of them, except this one. There are no people here for miles. Obviously, it's still enchanted and under a glamour. Muggles don't see it. I've never met one here, though. It's too far North, there is nothing around here. They would die."
"It's okay," the girl reassured. "It looks magical actually."
"It is," the vampire smiled gently.
"I guess it will take some 'getting used to' as the human body is designed to expect sunshine, but you are the meant-to-be of a nocturnal creature. Maybe you'll take it better than expected. I truly hope so."
"Bella, it's fine. Really," the girl reassured her again. The curtains were usually closed at the castle anyway. She opened them only in the library so she could read sitting at the window, but most of the windows in the castle were shut down.
They entered the house and Bellatrix lit the fire with her wand immediately. Of course, they could have used a drying and warming spell, but if she was honest, a warming spell never worked as good as fire.
She turned on the lights and the cabin came to life. The walls and interior were made of wood and the whole room felt very cozy.
"Wait, shouldn't we keep the lights off? What if someone sees us?" Hermione asked when she finally got rid of her soaked jeans.
"Enchanted, pet. We will be fine. We just can't apparate around because He surely has his ways of finding people. And He does want to find us. But when it comes to light and fire, we can do as we please."
"Didn't you just say that there's absolutely nothing around here?" she questioned and stripped from the pullover and t-shirt.
"Yes?" Bellatrix asked, unsure.
"I mean, what about food?"
Shit. "Well, your food is covered. I'll tell you tomorrow. And mine… I'll figure something out," Bellatrix replied and realized she's very well fucked. She never stayed here longer than few days. She could have also apparated to the nearest village that was about 100 miles away and just feed from a muggle. As much as it was disgusting, there were no wizards or witches up here so she couldn't be picky. Now, though? Apparition was not an option. Could she feed on animals? She'd never tried. It disgusted her. She guessed it was possible, though.
"Bella?" Hermione asked when she saw the turmoil in the other woman again.
"All good, pet. We'll be fine," she reassured. There were reindeer here. She could try that. Yucky.
"Okay," Hermione nodded, not at all convinced. She stood in front of the fireplace in her underwear and slowly started to warm up. She was somewhat aware that she had barely any clothes on, but she couldn't be bothered because she was freezing.
Bellatrix smirked and then swallowed. Her meant-to-be was perfect. Absolutely innocent and so, so cute. She had to cover the view if Hermione was supposed to stay innocent a little longer, though. She summoned a fluffy warm blanket and wrapped it around the girl. "You know, it doesn't help much if you stay nearly naked when you're cold," she kissed her cheek and wrapped her hands around the younger woman, placing her chin on her shoulder, absolutely content.
"I wanted the fire to have no barrier," she explained.
"Oh? Is that how it works?" Bellatrix cooed.
"Well, to be honest, not really. This blanket and your body are much better."
"I'm glad," she replied quietly. Bellatrix already changed magically to dry clothes, but only because of Hermione. She didn't feel cold temperatures nor snow and she couldn't get ill.
They stared into the fire, in each other's arms and both were trying to sort through the whole day and its events. To think that Crooks had started it all… if he hadn't run with a bezoar in his mouth that she needed to complete her potion, Hermione wouldn't have tried to catch him and wouldn't have stumbled into the study.
Crooks. Shit. Crooks!
"Pet, what is it?" Bella asked when she felt her soulmate getting distressed.
"Crookshanks!" the girl sobbed. "He stayed there! He…" she choked.
"He will be fine, little one. Kreacher will take care of him," the older witch reassured.
"But if Noseless…"
"He didn't do any harm to him."
"How can you know?" she turned to look into black eyes, crying.
"Because he was too busy trying to catch us," she replied. "When you killed Nagini, he fell. I had about a second before he would realize what happened and who did it. So, I jumped across the room and apparated us away. Of course, he knew I would do that so he tried to catch us, but he was a second too late. However, he left the castle with that maneuver."
"But what if he came back when he found out he didn't catch us?"
"He couldn't have," Bellatrix smiled gently. "The castle is protected by blood magic and most importantly, it's protected by one handy spell that allows only people with good intentions to enter," she explained while stroking a peachy cheek with her thumb. "The Death Eaters were often entering the castle to seek council, advice or simply to make plans for next mission. None of them ever wanted to harm me, though. If that was the case, they would be met with a brick wall and wouldn't be able to enter the castle through any way. So, He couldn't have come back there. Crooks is safe."
"Okay," Hermione breathed out and hugged the older witch. There was only so much that she could take in one day. "He's safe," she repeated.
"Yes. He's safe and so are you."
"I am," the girl nodded. "How you could have apparated both of us to a different country while trying to shake off Noseless is absolutely beyond me, though."
"Well, I said I am quite powerful, didn't I?" she chuckled.
"I guess it still just surprises me just how much."
"You asked me before if I feel Crucio. Now I know the answer since I felt it when He did that to you," Bellatrix said after a moment. "While it is a torturing spell so there is no reason why I shouldn't feel it, I believe I've never felt it to the full potential after becoming a vampire. Everything is multiplied when you're a kid so I always thought I just made it worse in my head, but when He tortured you…" she swallowed. "I've never felt such pain, little one. I am so sorry I didn't kill Him right there and then."
"It's good that you didn't. It wouldn't help anything," Hermione reassured. "It was not your fault."
"It was my fault. I didn't trust you. I should have stopped him."
"And you did. If you were in as much pain as I was, I don't think I would be able to form a sentence. And you did. And you stopped him. You were so brave."
"Brave?" Bellatrix repeated and untangled herself from the girl to look at her. "I was everything but brave. And I wanted to hurt you when he left," she whispered, ashamed.
"Understandable," she nodded to which Bellatrix raised her eyebrows and took a breath to say something. "Let me finish," Hermione chuckled. "I think I would have wanted to hurt you too if I thought you told him that we were chasing the horcruxes. We made a promise not to tell and if I thought that promise was broken, I think I would have wanted to hurt you too."
"Still, you can't justify that."
"I just did," Hermione shrugged.
"Oh, my my," Bellatrix grinned. "Still, I should have protected you better."
"Bella, stop torturing yourself, will you?" she said and kissed her softly. "I am fine, you are fine, Crooks is fine. I'm not even freezing so much anymore. Hot tea should do the trick," she smiled gently. "Plus, I only felt the pain when he was inflicting it. Right after he stopped, some warmth spread through my body and made the pain go away. It was like a touch of velvet."
"Right, I can make you hot tea," she nodded. "I healed you wandlessly," she explained and closed herself off. If she wasn't supposed to torture herself over things and blaming herself, what was she supposed to do then?
"You know, I am perfectly capable of making one myself," she smiled. "So, I'm gonna do that and you can make the bed. How does that sound?"
"Bed. Right. Okay," she murmured.
Hermione looked at her and sighed. "Bella, look at me," she whispered and the vampire pretended she didn't hear her. "Bella," Hermione warned. "We've talked about this, haven't we?" she asked and was pleased when the vampire reluctantly met her eyes. "That's better," she smiled softly. "Please, stop blaming yourself for everything bad that has happened in this world," she said. "If you desperately need to take the blame for something then start with how happy you make me. How you make me feel safe, protected. How you make me feel special and wanted. How you make me feel taken care of. If you need to blame yourself for something, blame yourself for all the things I just said."
"Do I really make you feel that way?" she asked uncertain.
"Well, wouldn't you know if I lied?"
She just nodded. "You're perfect."
"So are you. And before you start, no I'm not just saying that and yes, I really do mean it."
"Well," Bellatrix only replied and fidgeted a little.
"So, point me to the kitchen so I can make my tea and you make the bed while I'm at it," she gave her a ghost like kiss on the cheek and smiled reassuringly. Bellatrix explained the way to the kitchen and started to make a place for Hermione to sleep. It wasn't a bed. It was a mattress on the floor, right in front of the fireplace. She needed the girl to be warm and she couldn't provide that herself because she would really need to keep her distance.
Bella just finished magicking fluffy pillows and the warmest duvet when the girl came back with a cup of tea in her hand.
"Do you like this?" Bellatrix asked.
"It's amazing!" Hermione beamed and yawned. The whole day finally catching up with her and wearing her down.
"Good," the vampire smiled. She enchanted the fire so it would last throughout the night and keep the house warm and cozy.
"What kind of spell did you place on the floors? My feet were warm even though I don't have socks, let alone shoes," Hermione asked when she made her way to the bed.
"Simple warming spell," she smiled. "I like my feet warm."
"Same," the girl grinned and finished her cup of tea.
"You need to eat something," Bellatrix informed.
"I'm not hungry, Bella. I don't really eat that much. Especially if there are exams or anything else that occupies my mind."
"Well that's not healthy."
"I couldn't stomach food right now after everything that has happened today. Plus, I had a pretty big lunch."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Well," she sighed. The vampire inside her wasn't happy that their mate didn't eat properly, but they both knew it was a lost fight tonight. "Good night then, pet."
"Will you stay?" she asked.
Bellatrix sighed again. She really had a hard time saying no, especially when Hermione asked with those big pleading eyes of hers.
"But only until you fall asleep, sweet-thing," she replied and made her way to the mattress.
"Okay," she pouted, but didn't insist on anything else.
The vampire laid on her back next to her and Hermione immediately leaned on her body. She threw a hand over Bella's stomach, leg over hers and buried her head in the nape of the older woman's neck.
"I love you, Bella," she breathed out before sleep completely claimed her.
A/N:
Sorry, Neville. You can surely help the boys in the castle, tho!
So, that was it. What did you think?