The Death Eaters had cleaned up Mad Eye's body and Eeylops Owl Emporium burned to the ground with Eeylop in it. No one was left to make a complaint and Hermione didn't have to worry about any investigations into the matter. It turned out that Severus was right, no one cared what happened to a half mad ex-Auror, a wanted criminal and a werewolf except for the Order and their power within the Ministry was slipping away. The morning after she had murdered Sirius the Dark Lord called her in to his study along with Severus. He told her to hide the pendant somewhere as it was too dangerous to continue wearing. He left out that the pendant had served its purpose to help her fully embrace her darkness. It had done what he needed it to do and brought her the rest of the way.
He told her he couldn't risk her bringing it in to combat again. If she had failed against Moody the Horcrux would be in Order hands. There was no question she was a full-fledged member of the Inner Circle now and would see combat. After a discussion with Severus she stashed the necklace in her vault at Gringotts which was next to the Black vaults and therefore the Hufflepuff cup. A few days after she removed the necklace she realized it had been making her darker but she also realized that although she didn't think she could have eviscerated Sirius without its influence, she didn't feel the slightest bit guilty about it. If she had to do it again she still would probably kill the bastard necklace or no necklace.
She could only go so far in attributing her behavior to the dark artifact and this change in her was leading to numerous debates between her and Severus. They were both getting far more comfortable than they should and both were waffling back and forth between the right thing and the right thing for them. Hermione fell into a routine of plotting during the days and creating mayhem at night as she was sent on various missions.
She had helped abduct her Muggle Studies professor Charity Burbage the night before on the Dark Lord's orders and now she sat in her quarters arguing with Severus again. They both went back and forth on what to do. She was torn as she had actually liked the professor but Burbage had been cold to her once she became a pure blood and she was one of the professors that stood by and did nothing during Ron's tirade.
Part of her found it difficult to watch her beg for her life and part of her relished her professor's suffering. The part that enjoyed it seemed to be getting louder each day. She stayed stoic as the professor pled to her and Severus to save her. They both watched her die and then sat down to dinner an hour later like nothing had happened. The next night they were sitting in Hermione's chambers sharing a bottle of fire whiskey when they began their favorite debate again.
"What if we just stay Severus? Do you even care about the light anymore because I know that half the time I don't! Hell, more than half the time I don't. It feels good Severus, god help me but I am happier here than I ever was there. It's not like they are completely wrong. We both know that if muggles knew about magic we would probably be hunted down and if we were lucky executed. I don't feel guilty about it, ignoring the obvious fact that we would be guests at hotel vivisection if we were ever captured by them, look how much strife there is in the muggle world. Most muggles already have masters, just like we do. They have despots and parliaments, corporations and religions. We have Dumbledore and Voldemort. What's the bloody difference, we are actually probably nicer than the current regime for most of them. The many are already controlled by the few. We are just changing the few to us!"
He laughed, they had this debate three times a week and the only thing that changed was who was arguing which side, "You really drank the kool-aid tonight didn't you? How much of this is about political, moral and social implications and how much is you wanting to get under Bella's skirt?"
"Fuck you Snape! That's not fair. Pansy is barely in the ground."
"Hermione I don't fault you for it. Our lives are most likely going to be extraordinarily short, I know you still mourn Pansy but you need to take what pleasures you can. You don't have to stop loving Pansy to love Bellatrix. You need to take what you can, feel what you can, while you still can. You do realize you are considering shagging your aunt though, right?"
"First of all she is my aunt by marriage. We are not blood related. Second I am a pureblood now."
"What the hell does that mean?"
She smirked at him as she poured herself another drink, "it means they are no longer just family reunions...they are also single's mixers!"
Harry's birthday was approaching and he was to be transported to the Burrow ahead of time. Severus had found out when he was being moved and a full scale strike was going to take place once Harry had left the Dursley's. As they adjourned the meeting she pulled Severus aside to sort out what he was going to do.
Severus told her not to fret, he had charmed Mundungus to suggest using polyjuice potion to create multiple Harry's so the-Boy-who-lived-to- be-a-dunderhead would have a chance to make it out alive. They knew he eventually would have to die so they could either kill the Dark Lord or make him very happy but they wanted Harry alive as long as possible. He was the key to defeating Voldemort or at least keeping him distracted while they did all the heavy lifting.
She had now committed cold blooded murder and even torture but they had all been bad people and she had the aid of the necklace for the more gruesome tasks. Tonight she was going to go to war with the Order and her friends...former friends. Tonight she and Severus would be fighting the light. They were no longer protecting themselves or settling scores; tonight they would embrace their inner monsters and truly take their place among the Dark Lord's elite. If all went well they would be his closest advisors, and they would be able to strike him down when the time came. Tonight they stood on their own and took control their own fates they would just have to stomp on the good guys a bit to do it.
They put their masks on and headed out to meet the others. She had gotten over her fear of heights as Bellatrix and Severus both spent time training her on a broom and this time Hermione's nerves were all attributed to the upcoming battle. They were divided into six squadrons and Hermione's was lead by Lucius and consisted of her, Draco, Crabbe Sr., Goyle Sr., Dolohov and Marcus Flint. As her squad took off she felt her body relax and her fears were replaced with elation. She now understood the uniforms, the military formations and the masks. She felt a sense of belonging and righteousness, and she felt strong, almost unstoppable.
As they approached Little Whinging the sky lit up with a lattice of curses and hexes. She was battling Mundungus Fletcher while her squad was taking on several of the Weasleys and multiple Harrys. Mundungus, being a coward of epic proportions, apparated out leaving the rest of the Order to fight. Draco was being tag teamed by the twins and Hermione circled back to help him. She was intercepted by Arthur who sent a stunner her way. She blocked it and the two started dueling. Hermione was still working on her flying skills and the she was losing her grip on her broom trying to block Arthur's spells. She was hit in the face with a spell that blinded her momentarily and almost knocked her off of her broom. Her mask was dissipated by the spell and she was revealed to the Order.
She heard a scream of "Granger" and felt a shooting pain in her thigh as the slicing hex cut into her. She regained her sight in enough time to duck under the follow up jinx. She dove down into the cloud cover and circled back behind her attacker. Tonks broke off from guarding her 'Harry' and went after Hermione. Moody, Sirius and Remus had been going to meet Hermione the night they disappeared. She knew she was responsible for the death of her husband and she was getting payback. Tonks threw a hex and then pulled up sharply before Hermione could get a spell off. The two witches were diving and weaving through the firefight sending curses as they flew.
Tonks had started ascending bringing Hermione up after her. She knew flying was a weakness of Hermione's and she wanted to get high enough to try and ice up her broom. They were well above the fight now and Hermione could only hear faint cracks from below. They had to be a good 2000 meters above the firefight and her breath was getting thin. She was starting to have trouble steering and she started to pull out of her climb when she was hit in the chest by a stunner and knocked of her broom. She was falling fast and was rapidly throwing spells to try and slow her decent when she felt someone pull her onto a broom.
The broom was wobbling and she quickly centered herself behind Bellatrix and wrapped her left arm around her waist. Bella saw Tonks diving towards them and blocked a jinx Tonks threw at Hermione. She snarled, "you don't touch what's mine niece!" and sent an Avada at her. Her aim was true and Hermione watched as Tonks' body disappeared into the clouds. She had just murdered her own family for Hermione. Bella let out a howl of victory and circled back to join the fight when Hermione saw a flash of light. It was the turbo setting on Hagrid's bike.
The bike was already being pursued by several people including the Dark Lord. She pointed to Bella and the two followed. As the chased the bike they saw Hedwig block a curse, the owl sacrificing its life to save Harry. This was definitely the real Harry. The Dark Lord appeared and again the wands took over. Harry's wand shot a pillar of flames and seemed to disable the Dark Lord. Hermione fired off a stupify intentionally missing Harry but accidentally catching Hagrid. She took the giant down and the bike began to spiral. Unfortunately it passed through the wards on the Tonks house and they couldn't pursue. As the two pulled up, Hermione directed Bellatrix to the Burrow. She knew they would never use Andy's house as a meeting place so she figured they could get a head start on where she knew Harry was going
As they flew towards the Burrow Hermione tried to calm herself. Her adrenaline was racing from waging battle and almost dying. She realized that she would be flirting with death frequently as the end of this war approached. Her body was humming and she realized she was becoming aroused by all of this. Bellatrix felt the body stiffen behind her and reached her hand back wrapping it into Hermione's hair and pulling her close. As Hermione leaned her chin on the witch's shoulder Bellatrix turned her head and kissed her.
The kiss only lasted a second but a second was more than enough. She wrapped both arms tightly around Bella and started nibbling on her shoulder and neck. Instead of feeling remorse she felt more alive than she ever had and completely turned on by the fight. Bella realized the reserved bookworm had just discovered battle lust and had every intention of taking advantage of it. She leaned back into her caresses as Hermione's hands started roaming up and down her body. Hermione began to explore her breasts while grinding herself against Bella. The older witch needed more attention and grabbed her hand and pushed her lower. She pushed her body as close to Bella as she could so she could feel her warmth.
She stroked Bella through her clothes and Bella arched into her touch and pulled up her skirt to give Hermione full access to her body. Hermione had danced this rhythm a thousand times alone in her room and captured Bella with her fingers. She rubbed the witch's clit while Bella started moving her body to match the pace set by Hermione's hand. Bella had to place both hands on the broom to keep from crashing but she had no intention of stopping Hermione's ministrations. She was aroused from the kill and knowing the younger witch was finally hers. She quickly came with a scream and grabbed Hermione's hand to stop a repeat performance. She honestly thought she would crash if Hermione didn't stop. She took Hermione's hand and kissed it, licking her fingers clean. She could feel Hermione shudder behind her. This wasn't over by a long shot. She knew Hermione wasn't thinking straight and her needs stemmed from her fragile emotional state but Bella was a huntress and when your prey is weak you strike. She wanted the witch and she was going to have her.
They flew low as they approached the wards of the Burrow. They didn't want be seen by Order members returning from the battle. They set down a few meters away from the ward line and Hermione dismounted and kissed Bellatrix. She pulled away, whispered "work first" in response to Bellatrix's whimper and walked up to where she knew the line was. She picked up a hand full of stones and threw them into the ward.
"We can't get through that ward!" Bellatrix whispered.
She looked to where the stones fell inside the boundary, "no Bella, humans can't get through the wards." She remembered the ease that Sirius and Peter entered and exited Hogwarts. Wards blocked people but still let nature in. She changed to her animagus form and began to weave her way through the field. She needed to be careful as a bright red snake wouldn't be hard to miss. As she approached the house she curled up behind some fire wood stacked by the door and waited.
Soon enough Arthur landed with the twins. Ron landed next and Bill and Fleur came up behind him. They were in the yard talking when Molly and Ginny came out and started assessing the damage to George who had his ear clipped by a curse. While everyone was distracted verifying each other and checking for damage, Hermione slithered in and hid under the couch.
She was rewarded for her troubles as Harry came in through the floo. The others came in and they started relaying who was alive and who was lost. Everyone was devastated by Tonks death and Harry confirmed that Hagrid was alive and unconscious at the Tonks house due to Hermione's wand. Arthur told them she had been the one dueling with Tonks before she went down and it turned out Severus was the one who took out George's ear. There was a heated debate as to what was to be done with the two traitors once the Order caught them.
She was surprised by the coldness in her friends' voices but she guessed from their perspective she deserved it, but she wondered how they were the 'light' when they so gleefully discussed murder and revenge. She knew she was in no position to judge and as she eavesdropped on their conversations she wondered if anyone could stay compassionate in a war. She knew she was always happier with logic and facts and she wondered if she was born stone hearted. She thought of Sybil calling her out during divination and realized she was always a bit icy.
Instead of going through tactical scenarios and planning their next move, they discussed whether to cancel the wedding. Molly said they couldn't let the Dark Side defeat them, that the Light must not show weakness. Hermione would have rolled her eyes if she could. Bloody brilliant! You are on the losing side of a war and your ingenious idea is to gather everyone on your enemies to do list in one place and make sure to add festive lights in case they couldn't find where they were attacking. The self-righteous cluelessness amazed Hermione. Her Lord would be pleased at this news and with her.
Finally everyone went to sleep and Hermione was ready to make her way out when Harry came down stairs. He had the backpack she created for him; Kingsley obviously never told him where it came from. He walked out the door and Ron came running down the stairs to follow. Ron chased Harry out the door and Hermione snuck out unnoticed behind him. It was only a quarter moon and as usual the yard was unkempt making it easy for Hermione to get close to where they were standing. She was hiding behind a broken wagon listening to the two talk.
Harry told Ron that no one else was going to die for him. She could hear Ron say that they would go together after the trace was gone and that Harry's birthday was on the day of the wedding. They would attend the wedding and then go on their search for the Horcruxes immediately after. She knew their plans and could now report back to her Lord. As Ron took Harry's pack and walked Harry back in, Hermione slithered back to where she had left Bella. The witch was lying in the grass watching the stars and Hermione realized she was absolutely beautiful. She changed back, walked over and straddled the witch leaning down to steal a kiss. Bella grabbed her hands and rolled Hermione over her pinning her in the grass.
"Are you really going to claim me forty meters from current Order headquarters?"
Bellatrix smirked and whispered, "you started it, I'm just finishing it."
She cast multiple silencing spells while Bellatrix began opening her robes and then pulled the dark witch down to her and captured her mouth. The two fought for control with their tongues as clothes were torn and thrown to the ground and needy hands found flesh. Hermione had always thought she would lose her virginity in a romantic setting not rutting like a cat in heat in the middle of a field but she needed Bella and she needed her now. Hermione moaned as Bella began to stroke her. She pulled at Bella's s skirt but her hands were smacked away and she found them once again pinned above her head.
"I have wanted you so long my dark little angel, I have spent so many nights pining after you, fucking myself to the thought of you and now I will have you. We have all night to explore when we get back to the castle baby but I am going to make you mine and I am going to do it in that little ginger boy's back yard."
Hermione was so turned on all she could do was wrap her legs around Bella's waist and grind against her. Bella returned her attentions to Hermione's need but as she entered she felt unexpected resistance. She pause and began to withdraw, she hadn't expected her to be pure. Hermione grabbed her hand and looked into her eyes.
"No one has had me. It has to be you, I need it to be you. Please Bella...I want to feel you. Don't coddle me, don't hold back. You said you want to claim me, then do so."
Bella didn't need to be asked twice. She would be soft and love Hermione fully later but now was about claiming her forever. She was rough and thorough and Hermione welcomed the pain encouraging her lover to take her harder. She felt like she couldn't get enough of Bellatrix's love or her violence.
They bit and scratched each other bruising whatever flesh they could find. Hermione begged Bellatrix for release and she finally granted her pleas covering Hermione's mouth to swallow her scream as she climaxed clawing Bella's back bloody in the process. After she came down from her release she curled into Bella's arms shaking and crying from the raw emotion of it all. The two witches kissed for a while longer while Bella let her come down and then got up to return to headquarters. Bella had sent a patronus to the castle letting them know they were to be delayed. They knew their reconnaissance had earned them a few hours but the Dark Lord would expect them in soon.
They returned back to the Castle and found out that Tonks and Hedwig were the only ones taken out. The only casualty on their side was Stan Shupike who was under an imperious and not considered much of a loss. Hermione took Severus aside spoke to Severus before they approached the throne room. He told her that the Dark Lord once again had a problem fighting Harry and was furious at the results of the evening.
They decided this was the time to solidify their position with him. Hermione and Bellatrix would report in first, they were the only ones to get a kill during the raid and He would be pleased with them. Hermione's snooping would also earn her high praise. Severus would jump in then and he would postulate the' Harry the Horcrux' theory. They guessed that since Harry was a Horcrux he wouldn't be able to be killed by common spells. The diary was destroyed with a basilisk fang and they theorized the same would work with Harry. He was seconds away from death the first time when Fawkes saved him and the Phoenix was no longer around to bail Harry out. They knew that no matter which side they chose Harry would have to die and neither one really had any qualms on telling Voldemort how to do it.
Bellatrix came up to where Severus and Hermione were talking and possessively took Hermione's hand. Severus gave Hermione a look that said we will discuss this later and then walked into the throne room followed by the two women. Voldemort was now complementing Yaxley on his battle skills and noble defeat of Hedwig. He had at least calmed down enough to replace the yelling with sarcasm and Yaxley was thankful to be the butt of his jokes rather than the target for his wand. When he saw the three enter he dismissed everyone else and motioned for them to join him in the study.
As they entered he poured everyone a drink and they sat down to discuss the evening's events. Bella filled him in the battle and their trip to the Burrow and Severus confirmed that he did manage to make the twins distinguishable from each other. The Dark Lord congratulated the two women on their performance in battle and was extremely pleased to hear about Hermione's idea to eavesdrop. Knowing that Harry would be at the wedding gave him the ability to pursue the boy and strike the final blow to the Order in one sweep. Just when he didn't think his day couldn't get any better Severus shared his theory with him.
It made perfect sense. Their wands would always clash because he couldn't defeat his own Horcrux with a wand. He knew he had chosen his advisors well and Severus had once again proved his worth. This was the answer he needed. He assumed Dumbledore failed to tell Harry the part about his dying but his death had to be part of the Headmaster's master plan. Well at least something the daft old man planned would come true. The three planned the dual attack on the Burrow and the Ministry. As they wrapped up he told them that he wanted them at the Ministry as he wanted to lead the attack on the Burrow himself and he wanted people he could trust in charge of the Ministry raid. After they finished up their plotting he dismissed the others and asked Hermione to stay behind.
He switched to parselmouth and hissed to Hermione, "You have allowed Bella to claim you?"
"Yes my Lord, but we will both always serve you first my Lord."
"I know my friend. You have proven yourselves again this evening. My Bella pleases you?" she nodded her approval of the match. He smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, everything was going perfectly to plan.
"Hermione, you know how Bella is and you know how obsessed she is with you. You cannot casually date her like some Hogwarts student. You have claimed her, are you willing to face everything that means? Are you willing to bond with her? Give her a child?"
"My Lord, I knew what I was doing when I submitted. I know I am hers now and I accept what comes with it. Tonight after the battle I felt almost compelled to be with her and I finally realize we belong together. I didn't know a child was a possibility my Lord but I would happily give her one."
"Magic Hermione, there are fertility rites that can be performed. Are you ready for this?"
She knew it was completely insane but she was. Bellatrix was twisted and completely fixated on her and Hermione loved her for it. It was amazing to have someone want you so bad they would do literally anything for you. She knew that she would need to leave open an escape route for her and Bellatrix and her because she had no intention the leaving the dark witch and this bond would be forever. She now accepted her place was with her and it all felt so right.
"Yes my Lord."
"Very well, I want you to finish your schooling Hermione. You will already carry a high status in my ranks and eventually I could see you as Minister, but you need to complete your education. Once you finish your N.E.W.T.s you will be bonded with Bella and serve by my side along with your wife and Severus."
She went to one knee and bowed her head, "Thank you my Lord". He was offering to fulfill her wildest dreams and she was starting to wonder if she would be able to kill this man when the time came.