A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update. I hope this over 10k chapter will make it up to you ;)
Hermione woke up next to Bellatrix after a slumber she hadn't gotten in years. She had her head buried in Bella's neck, her arm draped over the vampire and their legs tangled. Hermione inhaled the older witch's scent and smiled. She planted open mouthed kisses on her neck and heard the vampire purr.
"What did we say about waking up a sleeping vampire, pet?" Bellatrix said after a moment, her voice still hoarse from sleep.
"That I shouldn't shake you. I'm not shaking you," Hermione grinned.
"Cheeky this morning, are we?" she chuckled and pinned the girl beneath her body in no time, hands above her head, lacing their fingers. "Do you have a death wish, sweet-thing?"
"I could think of few," she replied and bit her lip, her eyes widening with arousal. Bellatrix was positively glowing. She was more beautiful than ever.
"Fuck," the older woman groaned.
"That would be one of them," the girl blushed.
"I didn't bite you," Bellatrix contemplated. "I would know if I did. So…"
"I don't think so, no," Hermione smiled. "But I have eyes. Do you have any idea what it's like to wake up next to you? You're so beautiful. Now more than ever and I didn't think that's possible."
"That's the effect of your blood," she replied quietly, studying brown orbs.
"I like that effect," she said and studied pale skin. If felt like Bellatrix was shining in the moon light. Like her skin was made out of silver. It wasn't, but Hermione was mesmerized nevertheless.
"What you did yesterday was dangerous," she said, studying Hermione in return.
"Right. Because starving yourself wasn't."
"I could have bitten you. Even if accidentally."
"And you didn't," Hermione shrugged.
"Pet," the vampire sighed and laid next to the girl again, releasing the wrists that she held above her head.
"And you should have told me. I would have offered it to you way sooner than after it was almost too late. I'm your blood bag, remember? It's my duty," she smiled.
"My what?" Bellatrix looked at her quizzically.
"Right, it's a muggle thing. Basically, they keep their blood in bags in the hospitals."
"That's twisted!" the vampire chuckled.
"It's not twisted," Hermione gasped. "They keep it for surgeries and so on. It's quite handy."
"Definitely twisted. Didn't know muggles were so wicked," she smirked.
"You're wicked!" she replied laughing and kissed Bella. "My wicked thing," she murmured against plump lips. "And I have new nickname for you!" Hermione exclaimed happily. "You didn't like black kitten and I agree, you will however like black mamba because that's so fitting," the girl thought aloud, observing the mass of black curls that framed Bella's pale face. They were shining in the moon light like a snake skin.
"Black mamba?" the vampire asked quietly.
"It's a snake. The fastest snake actually. Absolutely deadly, but very beautiful. A very territorial creature, too. You're my black mamba," Hermione smiled.
"Is it a black snake?"
"Ironically no," the girl chuckled. "Mostly light grey, just like your pale skin, but its mouth is black as coal. You see what you're facing only when it's too late. As I said, a very deadly and beautiful creature. Just like you."
"I might be deadly, but…"
"You're way more beautiful than you're deadly."
"Excuse me?!" Bellatrix gasped, pretending to be hurt by that admission.
"Oh hush, you've very, very deadly!" she reassured, laughing. "But also very, very beautiful. You know that, right?"
"You should get some breakfast," the vampire replied instead and got into a sitting position, facing the window and not Hermione.
"Bella?"
"You really need to eat! I drank your blood. A fair amount at that," she replied casually.
"Bella, look at me," the girl demanded softly.
Bellatrix fixed her jaw. Who the hell did the girl think she is? How dare she call her words like beautiful when she's anything but.
"How did you learn about the snake?" she asked instead, still not facing the younger witch.
"Muggle parents," Hermione murmured, afraid of the reaction, which Bellatrix immediately sensed. "I was attending muggle school before I got my letter from Hogwarts. We also had books about different animals in the muggle world. My mom always said I was special when my magical abilities made themselves known, but I was raised as any other muggle girl," she said quietly.
"I can't wait to meet them," Bellatrix reassured. "If you'd introduce me to them. I understand if you won't," she also replied quietly. Something about being older and a former Death Eater… "And even though you were raised as a muggle girl, you are a bright witch. Plus, you're my muggle girl, so."
"Of course, I'd introduce you, wicked thing!" the girl reassured and crawled to where Bellatrix was sitting to hug her from behind. "It just won't be possible," she murmured and the pain she felt in her chest made itself known once again.
That caught the vampire's attention more than anything else. "Why? I could wear some more proper clothes I guess."
"It's not about you, Bella," the girl choked on air. "You're perfect. It's just that…" she swallowed. "They are muggles, so…"
"Yes, they are, but they gave birth to you. For me. I should say thank you." Hermione smiled at that and Bella turned in her arms to face her. "What are you not telling me, sweet-thing?" she asked softly. Hermione's chin trembled and it was breaking Bella's heart. All she could do was to dry her tears with her thumbs.
"Well, they are muggles and I am their daughter, undesirable number 2," she started. "As awful as it is to say it, Harry doesn't have parents to worry about and Ron's family are all witches and wizards. They could protect themselves. They knew the risks, they knew there was a war," she swallowed. "But my parents," she sobbed. "Well, they wouldn't know what was coming. I had to… I had to protect them," she cried. "I obliviated them. They don't remember having a daughter. They wouldn't recognize me even if they saw me standing in front of them," she said at last and broke fully into tears.
"Oh pet," Bellatrix replied and pulled the girl into her arms. "You did good, sweet-thing. We couldn't find them. You protected them," she reassured and her heart was aching just from the pain Hermione felt. The vampire never realized how much the girl had to sacrifice.
"Really?" she sniffled, pulling the older woman even closer.
"Yeah. See, you saved them. You thought ahead and saved them."
"They went to Australia," she nodded. "We were all supposed to go during the holidays," she admitted and cried some more.
"Ah, well, that explains it. We couldn't find them anywhere on our continent nor in Europe so the search party stopped. We had more important matters at hand," she reassured and stroked brown locks. "I will bring them back, little one. I promise. When the war is over, I will bring them back."
"Really? You would do that?" Hermione looked up with puffy eyes.
"Of course, sweet-thing. As I said, I owe them a thank you," she smiled.
"But you couldn't find them before…" she swallowed.
"Na-ah, wrong. I wasn't assigned that task. It wasn't that important."
"So…"
"So, I will find them. Once He's gone and it's safe, I will find them," she reassured and kissed her forehead. "You wanted to travel if I remember correctly," she smirked. "Australia sounds fun."
"They won't know me, but at least I will get to see them. Thank you, Bella," she said softly.
"They won't know you only until we return their memories."
"But that's …"
"Let me guess, impossible?" Bellatrix smirked.
"As a matter of fact, I was about to say 'very complicated'," Hermione replied.
"I'm happy we moved from 'impossible' to 'very complicated'! Yay!" she chuckled.
"Shut up," the girl murmured and buried her head in Bella's neck and wild curls.
"You would get bored if I stayed quiet," she mused and stroked her back. "Will you finally get that breakfast now?" she asked.
"Well that depends," Hermione smirked and looked at the older woman. "Will you finally accept that you're beautiful?"
"This is blackmail," she gasped.
"I learned from the best," the girl grinned.
"Haha," Bellatrix rolled her eyes. "Let's go grab some breakfast for you, shall we?"
"Are you accepting that you're beautiful?" Hermione grinned and laid down on the bed.
"No?" Bellatrix simply stated. "I'm not beautiful. Not like you say anyway."
"Well then I'm not really hungry."
"Hermione," the vampire warned.
"What? I thought we're lying to each other now," she smirked.
"My appearance has nothing to do with your health!"
"We both know that's not true," she replied. "Just accept it. I've accepted I'm your meant-to-be, you need to accept that you're beautiful. Actually, absolutely breath taking, if you ask me."
"I'm not," she murmured.
"Yes, you are. I don't want you to accept that you're beautiful in general. Not yet. Just accept that you're beautiful to me. Baby steps, you know," she said and sat on the bed, next to the vampire.
"And then you'll go eat?"
"If you convince me that you've accepted it, I will. Just saying it won't do the job."
"I don't remember you being so difficult!"
"I'm difficult?" Hermione burst into laughter. "What would you be then?"
"Absolutely delightful and charming," she replied with a toothy grin.
"And beautiful."
"Fine," she rolled her eyes.
"Did I hear correctly?!" the girl smiled with a spark in her eyes.
"To you only!" Bellatrix corrected.
"I'll take that," Hermione kissed her softly. "We'll work on the 'I'm a beautiful goddess' part later. I'm starving."
"Are you now?!" the vampire huffed, getting up from the bed and pulling Hermione with her. "You could have saved this for after breakfast instead of getting stuck on such non-sense!"
"Your self-worth is not a non-sense!" the younger witch defended.
"Oh? Good to know. I'm happy you're ready to admit that you're more than just a brain then," she gave her another toothy grin.
Hermione eyed the fangs and then snapped out of it. "I'm very hungry," she exclaimed. "I would answer, but unfortunately my vampire would get really grumpy if I didn't eat, so if you'll excuse me," she laughed and ran from the bedroom. Unfortunately, she still didn't know this house much and since no light was turned on, she hit the wall pretty soon. She groaned.
Bellatrix cackled right behind her. "Need help, sweet-thing?" she teased.
"Should have cast Lumos," she murmured.
"Or just turn on the lights," Bellatrix shrugged. "I suppose this is fun too, though," she teased.
"No, it's not! My nose hurts."
"Poor baby," Bellatrix murmured and kissed said nose while wandlessly healing it with Episkey.
"This sucks!" she huffed.
"I thought I displayed pretty graphically yesterday what 'sucking' means," Bellatrix chuckled and enjoyed the blush she got out of the girl.
"Shut up," she murmured and finally made it to the kitchen with a small smile on her lips.
"Bella?" Hermione asked in the late afternoon when they were back in the living room, in front of the fire place, with mugs of hot chocolate and marshmallows in it. Of course the vampire eyed the drink at first, but relented when she took the first sip. "I thought you wouldn't mind a muggle drink since you're so keen on fries," the girl grinned while giving her the mug.
"Hmmm?" she raised her eyes from the hot chocolate that she'd already finished.
"I have some questions," the girl informed.
"Naturally," the vampire mused.
"Do you, like, shine or something in direct sun?"
"Do I WHAT?" she burst into laughter.
"I read it in a book," Hermione shrugged. She only saw Bellatrix very briefly during sunshine and the vampire was covered in clothes from head to toe.
"Which book?"
"Ehm, I may have asked Kreacher to bring me all the books he could find about vampires. Since there was little to nothing, I guess he grabbed some muggle literature as well," she shrugged.
"And vampires shine in muggle literature during daylight?" Bellatrix laughed.
"Apparently."
"Okay, I'm gay, but not glitters kind of gay," she snorted. "I mean, what the hell is that?!"
"I don't know! I didn't really see you outside in direct sun, did I?" Hermione rolled her eyes at being questioned like that. "You should burn for all I know."
"Would you like that?" she smirked.
"Of course not!" Hermione replied horrified.
"Good because I don't burn," she winked. "Nor shine!" she made a disgusted face at the idea. "Direct sun irritates me a little and I might get sick if I stayed outside too long, but it's nothing a drop of your blood couldn't fix," she winked again. "I am a vampire witch. I think my magic just balances it. I know muggle vampires can't face direct sun."
"So, you know other vampires?" the girl asked, chewing a marshmallow. "Apart from your sisters, of course."
"Well, not really," Bellatrix said after a moment, browsing through her memories. "My maker was a muggle and she couldn't go out during the day. I'd say that applies to all of their kind. I've only encountered a few muggle vampires and all of them were out during the night. I'm not sure if I've met any other vampire witch or wizard. Then again, who knows if I would know if they were magical beings. Well, probably yes. The magical aura is quite strong," she contemplated. "So, I suppose I haven't really met any other vampire witch or wizard, apart from my sisters."
"You totally just rambled," Hermione grinned. "Adorable."
"ADORABLE?!" Bellatrix shrieked. "I am NOT adorable!" she repeated and leaned over Hermione, straddling her and placing a hand around a peachy neck.
"So adorable," Hermione grinned and made herself at home beneath the vampire's body. There was no malice in Bella's eyes, nor in her voice. Those black orbs were soft and the older witch had a small smile tucked at the corners of her lips. She probably didn't even realize.
"You are not supposed to relax when I'm threatening you!" she sneered.
"Oh, you're threatening me? My bad, I'm so scared. Please don't hurt me, Bella," she teased, smiling like an idiot.
"Why do I put up with you?" the older witch mused, releasing her hold from the girl's neck.
"Because I happen to have pretty delicious blood," Hermione winked.
"Pfff," Bella scoffed. "I should have killed you."
"You should have because now you have to put up with me forever," she grinned, kissing pouty lips.
"Good," the vampire kissed her back softly.
"Why did you choose to become a vampire? Not the reason, but the creature itself? Did you know about the meant-to-be?"
"Of course, I did," Bellatrix replied and placed her head on Hermione's chest, listening to the steady heartbeat.
"So, you wanted to get a meant-to-be?" she asked softly.
"Who wouldn't want to be loved, pet?" the vampire replied and lifted her head to look into hazelnut eyes. "Unconditionally at that."
"Fair," the girl nodded.
"Vampires are powerful, generally unknown creatures and they get their meant-to-be. Sounded pretty good to me."
"Even I want to become one," Hermione chuckled. "You make it sound so good."
"Hush!" Bellatrix laughed. "You're my little one. No way you'd become a vampire."
"Can you just turn everyone? Do you have to? Are vampires born?"
"And who rambles now, hmm?" she smirked and kissed the girl's nose. "Every vampire is supposed to turn one human, wizard or a witch into a vampire in their life. You can make more, but you must turn at least one."
"Does it hurt? Did you just wake up with fangs?"
"It's a very intense change. You feel it in every fiber of your being. My magic intensified. I could feel it, it became nearly reachable how much it extended in my being," Bellatrix recalled. "It stayed that way, by the way. And to answer if it hurts… well, that depends. It hurt when all my scars were healed. It hurt when my nails became claws. It hurt when my fangs grew. And it hurt every time they extended for the first few weeks. I was so overcome with hunger that I didn't care. I had to feed many times a day. The fangs were extended most of the time."
"That sounds terrible," Hermione breathed out.
"Compared to everything else I endured; it wasn't that bad. Honestly, the worst was probably the new, additional second voice in my head. The creature's side. Sometimes it could get loud. It surely was very loud in its starvation at the beginning. I just fed and it was screaming at me to drink more more more. Those were a pretty unpleasant few months. Then we reached some sort of synergy."
"Okay, I think I do not wish to become a vampire anymore," the girl chuckled.
"You couldn't, sweet-thing. I'm afraid it would be a lot of pain for you and you wouldn't be able to turn anyway. You're a meant-to-be. Your vampire would be robbed of their soulmate."
"But what if the vampire that wants to turn me doesn't know I'm a meant-to-be?"
"Oh, they would know. You are still unbitten so in theory they could attack you and drink from you, but they wouldn't be able to turn you."
"Narcissa said that she could have drunk my blood because you didn't bite me yet," Hermione nodded.
"DID SHE TRY?!" Bellatrix shouted and got up abruptly.
"No! Bella no, it was in theory. She just commented on the fact I am not bitten yet."
"Oh, okay," the vampire nodded and sat back next to the girl. She would kill Narcissa if that was the case. Sister or not.
"Could she do that? With the maker's bond in place?" Hermione thought aloud.
"Yes. I didn't think of forbidding it. I should have thought of that! I just didn't think my sister would do that. But I should have. I…"
"Bella?" Hermione smiled and stroked her cheek. "Nothing happened. She actually said something about not being stupid. She wouldn't drink from me, little mamba."
"Little? When did I become little?! How long is that snake of yours?"
"The longest poisonous snake in Africa. Happy?" Hermione laughed.
"Well, it's good to know it's not the size of some worm," Bellatrix shrugged.
"Have I mentioned how absolutely deadly it is?" she grinned. "It bites and bites, injecting more and more poison into your body until you're done."
"So you die right away when it strikes?" the vampire smirked.
"Not right away. You have about 8 hours. You will however be paralyzed within five minutes. It's a nasty snake!"
"I like it," Bellatrix nodded.
"I knew you would," Hermione smiled. "My questioning hour is not finished yet, though," she grinned.
"Of course it's not," the vampire rolled her eyes playfully.
"Does the maker's bond overpower the soul bond? Is it more than me?"
"Nothing is more than you," Bellatrix said seriously.
Not even Noseless. Hermione thought.
"Yes, not even Him."
"You need to stop doing that, Bella."
"I can't help it. You're an open book. I'm catching your thoughts like a spider web catches flies. It's natural, sweet-pea."
"It's not natural," Hermione said through gritted teeth. "You can't live inside my head!"
"I try not to, but I hear your thoughts when they are strengthened by emotions. Now it was disgust."
"But every thought has its emotion!"
"Touché?" Bellatrix grinned and kissed Hermione's wrist. "I can promise to try, but I can't help it. We're connected whether you like it or not."
"So will it multiply even more when you bite me?" the girl furrowed her brow.
"No," the vampire shook her head. "Don't forget how the bond works. I feel it completely. I think I reached the peak when I drank your blood yesterday. It's you who will change after the bite."
"Will I be able to read your thoughts then?"
"I don't think so, but you don't need it. I'm the predator here."
"Especially then I should be able to read yours and not the other way around! You can kill me without knowing my thoughts," Hermione huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.
"That's where you're mistaken, pet," Bellatrix said softly and straddled Hermione, taking her face in pale hands. "My main goal is to protect you. Never to hurt you. Definitely not to kill you. So, when you feel like you're in danger, the creature makes me stop whatever it is that I'm doing that makes you feel that way. Because I feel it and I don't like it."
"Still," she huffed.
"I know I know. A dark magic kind of bond, remember?" she smiled softly and a little sadly. "I wouldn't abuse it," she said and hopped off the warm lap and leaned on the arm of the couch, facing Hermione.
"I know that, Bella," the girl nodded, missing the weight immediately. "It's just hard to come to terms with the fact that nothing is private."
"That's not true. Most of the thoughts are private. I am not trying to penetrate your mind. I am trying to stay away from it, but when you feel strongly about something, I feel it, I hear it."
"So you don't hear every thought?"
"No. Not at all. Now you just laced it with so much disgust that it screamed. I'm also right next to you."
"Is close proximity also a factor?"
"No," Bellatrix gave her a toothy grin.
"Hush then!" Hermione chuckled. "You heal the wounds with your saliva, don't you?"
"You're not just a pretty face," the vampire winked. "Smart girl."
"That's why the mudblood scar disappeared when you licked it, isn't it?"
"Yes," she sighed. If she regretted something, it would be carving that horrid word into the girl's forearm. "I'm…" she coughed. "I'm sorry I did that," she said quietly.
Hermione looked deeply into onyx eyes and softened. She knew how hard it was for Bellatrix to admit her mistakes. Mostly because she just didn't think she'd done something wrong. This was a huge step.
"I'm not gonna lie, Bella," she started as quietly. "It was bad. If it wasn't me, your meant-to-be, that person would carry that horrid scar for the rest of their life. But I know how hard it must have been for you to apologize so thank you. I know you wouldn't hurt me. I forgive you."
"You do?" the vampire furrowed her brow.
"Yes. It's not even there anymore, is it?" the girl smiled, showing her flawless forearm. "I guess we wouldn't even be here if you didn't do it, would we? Wasn't that the moment that made you, ehm, lose it?" she smiled gently.
"Yes," the raven-haired woman admitted. "I did lose it when I tasted your blood. When I smelled it, I just thought that one taste can't do any harm," she cackled. "And here we are now."
"Here we are," Hermione nodded.
"Come here," Bellatrix said and opened her arms into which Hermione immediately fell and laid on top of the vampire. "I wouldn't change it, you know," she said softly, stroking Hermione's back.
"You could have someone better than a mudblood," she said quietly.
"Hardly," she scoffed. "You were born for me, remember? Clearly it was supposed to be like that. You're my muddie."
"Can we not add this nickname to list of what you call me?" Hermione tensed.
"Of course, pet," she replied and kissed the girl's crown.
"Bella?" the girl asked again.
"What do you want to know now?" the vampire chuckled, amused.
"You promised to tell me about your dragon. And you know, your Fiendfyre is a dragon so…"
"So you've been wondering about my pet dragon ever since you saw the fire dragon," Bellatrix finished for her.
"Basically," the girl admitted with a light blush.
"Aren't you tired, though? It's a long story. And it contains the reason why I served Him," she admitted.
That got Hermione's attention and she lifted her head to look at Bellatrix. "I'm widely awake," she stated.
"Are you now?" the vampire grinned. "Well, I guess I would have to tell you eventually, wouldn't I."
"You don't have to," the girl whispered.
"You'd die of curiosity."
"Probably."
"Therefore I have to," Bellatrix winked, but Hermione couldn't see it since she again placed her head on Bella's shoulder.
They laid like that for a long time. The vampire was stroking Hermione's hair and held her close, thinking of where to start. The Dark Mark was still burning, a constant reminder that she still was a Death Eater and she supposed the girl deserved to know why. It really never was about the cause. Sure, mudbloods weren't her favorite by all means, but she wouldn't go as far as to kill them just because they were born.
For her it was a question of a caste, really. Bellatrix, as a pureblood witch from a wealthy and famous household, was at the top of the food chain. Halfbloods were bellow and mudbloods were down there, in the mud.
Did she believe muggle-born kids stole magic from wizards? No. Of course not, that was non-sense. Magic is not something you can just steal. Magic could be bent, multiplied, suppressed, but definitely not stolen.
But she knew that now. She wasn't a stupid kid anymore. She'd travelled the world, met many creatures, magical same as non-magical. Of course, she didn't fancy the latter, but she was too old to believe non-sense like kids could steal magic from wizards.
So she never fought for this cause. It just happened that she loved the Dark Arts and He was able to provide her with protection. He even encouraged her to use it and helped her master it. He was a powerful wizard without question.
Just when Hermione figured she wouldn't get any information on the matter today, Bellatrix took a deep breath and started to tell the story.
"I got my dragon when I was about 200 hundred years old," she stated. "Got him as an egg. The hatching was a very slow and nearly painful process because you need to keep it warm and safe and…" she huffed and Hermione grinned into her neck. "So anyway, I was his mommy. And you should have seen him, pet. He was perfect. Such a smart creature! And absolutely beautiful," she smiled softly at the memory of him.
"What did he look like?" Hermione asked.
"He was black as a night without the moon illuminating the whole sky. The tips of his scales were bloody red, though. I don't know to this day what breed he was. I only know his element was fire. I never saw a similar creature. His egg was red as well, which was rare of its own accord. He was perfect," Bellatrix smiled that soft smile again. "And then the Order killed him."
"What?" Hermione lifted her head in confusion. This is not how the story was supposed to go.
"Well not while it was still a little baby dragon," she corrected. "It was some decades later. We became one. We were wreaking havoc left and right," she smirked. "Did I mention he was absolutely majestic? And then one day they just killed him and me nearly with him. If I wasn't a vampire, I'd be dead."
"But… but why?" Hermione tried to figure out.
"Why? I don't know why!" she snapped. "I was just flying across a lake, minding my own business and then there were these two Longbottom idiots and they dared to aim at us and killed my baby when we were above the shore! Those fucking idiots! I tortured them, pet. I fucking sucked them dry and yet I couldn't find out how and where they learned that spell. It's not easy to kill a dragon, mind you. It requires dark magic," she sneered. "What does that tell you about your precious Order, hmmm?"
"So that's why they didn't find a single drop of blood left in their bodies," the girl murmured.
"They really shouldn't have done what they did. I brought them to madness for it. But they deserved much more pain than what they got. I just lost my mind and I was hungry. The rest is history."
"You never went to Azkaban for it, though. How?" she asked, uncertain.
"That's when Tom comes into the picture," Bellatrix replied, but she was still tense. "And the Longbutts wouldn't be sent to Azkaban either! Even though they used a very dark and twisted spell. It was for the greater good, though, wasn't it?" she barked.
"So what did Noseless do that you didn't even stand trial?" Hermione asked instead. She needed more information to come to some logical conclusion for all of this. Surely the Order didn't decide to just kill an innocent creature. Even though its innocence might have been questioned considering it was one with Bellatrix.
"Don't call Him that," the vampire said through gritted teeth and pushed the girl away from her. The older witch couldn't stand Him being called this disrespectfully when she was remembering how He saved her from Azkaban. "Tom made someone else take the blame," she explained. "The Order thought I died with the dragon. Mister Longbutt killed my baby pet and Lady Longbutt stupified me at the same time. So, we fell from the sky. He would have crushed me with his weight if I were a mere human. But unfortunately for them I wasn't. I paid them a visit that very evening. They drew their last breaths two days later," the vampire hissed, still full of grief and anger for her dear pet. Hermione could read that much.
"So You-Know-Who made someone else take the blame? But I know you did it. You're known for that crime, Bella," the Gryffindor replied, choosing not to call him Noseless again and anger her soulmate even more. She would however never show him enough respect in calling him by his name. Family name nor his pseudonym. Plus, there still was the taboo spell on that.
"Only among the Order and they had no grounds on which to make their accusations. If they said anything, they would admit the crime," the woman sneered. "I was still kicking their dead bodies because my dragon didn't deserve it, pet. He really, really didn't. I would have tortured them for many more hours if the hunger didn't get the best of me. So I at least kept kicking them, hoping they could still feel it. I used the Cruciatus curse as well, but they were already very dead. Their bodies weren't even twitching anymore. I sank to the floor, grieving my companion, spitting venom at least verbally, at the dead wretches. It was then that Tom appeared. He said he had been watching me for a very long time and He would be honored to have me in his ranks. He spat at them for killing my pet. Said how barbaric such action was, said how He wants to get the magical world rid of this barbarism and the Order. The Order was the real poison. He said I'm wasted potential. Said that He liked me and saw a lot of Himself in me," Bellatrix said proudly which made Hermione's stomach turn. Bella was nothing like him. "I knew I'd be sentenced to Azkaban," she sighed. "Well, if they caught me," she smirked. "And I knew I couldn't go there. I wouldn't be able to feed on dementors. I wouldn't die, but I would probably go insane from hunger. Of course Tom didn't know any of that. He just said it would be a waste if I were to rot in a cell. He said I should be free. He said He would make it happen in exchange for my service and loyalty."
"And you accepted," Hermione stated and leaned back on the vampire, missing the warmth.
"And I accepted. I was broken and angry and He was the first person that didn't fear my name, the first person that actually wanted me around. He liked me. Me! And He was always honest with me," she replied and snaked her arm around Hermione's back to hold her closer.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Hermione murmured.
"Excuse me?!" Bellatrix hissed.
"Have you ever wondered why they attacked you?" she asked and lifted her head to look at the vampire.
"Because they felt like it!" she sneered.
"Okay," she said. "So to sum it up, you were wreaking havoc left and right with your dragon for decades, yet they never really cared. Then suddenly they killed your dragon, almost alongside with you and then Noseless came to offer you the chance to become a Death Eater."
Bellatrix just shrugged, looking perplexed and a little angry at the horrid nickname again.
"And you think that was an accident?" Hermione asked carefully, quietly.
"What do you mean?" Bellatrix narrowed her eyes.
"You just confirmed that the Order didn't really attack you before," she started and really feared where this was going.
"They however knew of my passion for Dark Arts. They were watching."
"Yes, but they never even approached you until that day, correct?"
"Yes. Where are you going with this, Hermione?"
"I just…" she swallowed. "I just find it hard to believe it was a coincidence that they attacked you, killed your dragon and two days later Noseless came and offered you a way out of Azkaban in exchange for your service," she whispered.
"I am sure you are not suggesting what I think you are," the vampire growled. The only person in her life that she thought was always honest with her, liked her for who she was and never lied to her, surely couldn't have betrayed her like that and lied to her right from the start.
"No, I guess I am not," she said when she saw the pained expression. She promised not to hurt the vampire and this would do a lot of damage.
"Don't lie to me, pet," Bellatrix hissed.
Hermione looked up into onyx eyes and bit her lip in frustration. Maybe it was better that Bellatrix didn't see it for what it was. Maybe it would be the breaking point. Maybe not knowing was a blessing. "Don't worry about it," she said after a moment. "And don't look into my head!"
"Well, don't make me and say it aloud then."
The girl sighed. Why such a stubborn witch was her soulmate was beyond her. She wouldn't drop the subject until she got answers. And knowing her, she would go to any length to get them. "He set you up, Bella. He tipped them off and…." she swallowed the rest of the sentence.
"NO!" the older witch screamed and untangled herself from the warm body. "You don't know what you're talking about! Tom saved me from Azkaban! Someone else took the blame because he made it happen!" the vampire shouted and paced the living room, breathing heavily.
"Maybe he was the one that sent you there in the first place," Hermione chipped in, wishing she could hold the woman and comfort her. Wishing that she would let her. "It just doesn't add up. No one cared until that day. You could have done whatever you wished until that day. You were wreaking havoc left and right and no one cared until that day. Then suddenly, when absolutely nothing significant happened, they killed your dragon and nearly you with it. And suddenly, there he was. A salvation. A savior. He didn't want anything but your loyalty in return. It's very hard to believe it was a coincidence, Bella."
"I need to go," the vampire just said and apparated away.
"NO! Bella, no!" the girl shrieked and tried to stop the other woman, but it was too late. She sank to the floor, broken and desperate. She didn't know where her soulmate went, didn't know if she would ever come back… she just knew how pained she looked before she disappeared.
"Hello, Tom," Bellatrix hissed, eyeing the man from head to toe. "You have been very persistent in calling me lately so here I am," she said calmly, even though her breathing was very uneven. "Crucio!" she screamed before he could more than greet her back. She took his wand for good measure, even though she knew very well how skilled at wandless magic he was.
He tried to resist the curse, but had no chance against her. It actually made Bellatrix even more angry and she screamed from the top of her lungs while watching him squirm on the floor.
There were others in the room, but they all fled after seeing the woman dared to curse the Dark Lord himself. They didn't even think of trying to defend him. No, when you met Bellatrix Black in all her fury, you just hoped it wasn't aimed at you and you ran for your life.
"Stop!" Voldemort shouted and after few more seconds the raven-haired woman lifted the curse. "How dare you curse me?!" he spat when he caught his breath. "How dare you, after everything I've done for you?! After I've saved you?!"
"Saved me?" she cackled. "Tell me, Noseless, how come the Longbutts knew where to find me, hm? What did I do to them that they decided to end me? Where did they learn the curse? We both know it's not exactly easy to kill a dragon," she sneered.
"Ah, I see you finally figured it out," he laughed. "Took you long enough indeed."
"Crucio!" she screamed again in agony. So, it was true. He did set her up. Hermione was right. Her little girl was right. Bellatrix trembled with rage. She should lift the curse before he turned into vegetable state, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. Sure, it took time before people went mad from the pain, but her Cruciatus happened to be one of her strongest suits.
She was only mildly distracted by Hermione. The girl was screaming for her. She was filled with despair, she feared for the vampire's safety. Well, that's cute. Bellatrix chuckled and lifted the curse to let him catch a breath before she would strike again.
And then she felt pain. She looked at her forearm, but only saw the Dark Mark, no trace of any cut. Hermione.
She stunned the Dark Wizard just to be sure and apparated back to Lapland. She found Hermione on the floor, with a dagger in her hands and a deep cut in her forearm. The girl was shaking from how hard she cried.
"I'm here, little one," Bellatrix immediately reassured and knelt in front of her. "What is it?"
"I… I didn't know how to… how to summon you," the girl sobbed. "You looked so pained. I didn't know… Bella…" she choked on air.
"Oh," the vampire breathed out and hugged her, holding her close. She was grateful that she fed yesterday and had a rather fair amount of Hermione's blood because the cut was irritating her nostrils.
And libido at that.
"Are you okay?" the older witch asked when the girl calmed down in her embrace.
"I am now. I'm sorry."
"Let's go together, shall we?"
"Where?" she asked uncertainly and untangled herself from the vampire. Bellatrix was clearly still distressed, but not as much as before. That was good. Hermione just tried to figure out what helped the older witch to calm down when it clearly wasn't her soulmate.
"You'll see. Are you ready to apparate?"
The girl nodded and so Bellatrix did just that. They landed in front of Voldemort, lying on the floor, stunned.
"Finite Incantatem," the vampire murmured and he started to move again.
"Ah, you brought the mudblood with you. How beautiful," Voldemort spat, eyeing Hermione from head to toe. The girl's wounded forearm caught his attention. "You know Bellatrix, you need to do more than that," he pointed at the cut, "to kill a mudblood. I would think you'd know by now, considering how many you've already killed, but then again, you seem to have lost your brain lately," he mocked.
"Shut your mouth you foul creature!" Hermione hissed and pointed her wand at him before she thought better of it. No one would mock, terrorize or hurt her soulmate anymore.
Bellatrix chuckled next to her. So that was the famous Gryffindor fire.
"You dare aim at me, you filthy little girl?!" he spat. "You're nothing more than a silly little mudblood. You are nothing."
Now it was the vampire's turn to get even angrier than she already was. "Crucio!" she spat in his direction.
Hermione watched curiously how the darkest wizard of their time wriggled on the floor, hissing in pain. Not quite screaming, but some pained sounds left his mouth nevertheless. And she felt nothing. She should stop Bellatrix, this wasn't right. No matter who was at the receiving end of the vampire's wrath, this was wrong.
But Hermione couldn't bring herself to stop her. She even agreed with that new awfully quiet voice in her head that said he deserves it.
Bellatrix lifted the curse after long minutes, looking curiously at her meant-to-be. She lowkey thought the girl would try to stop her. She thought that Hermione wouldn't be too convincing, but that she would at least try. And yet the girl didn't.
The young lioness was actually watching him squirming in pain the whole time. Not only did she not attempt to stop her, she didn't even avert her eyes.
Now's the time. Bellatrix thought and circled the girl. She stepped behind her and gave a ghost-like kiss to the pulsing vein on Hermione's neck while the pathetic excuse of a wizard gathered himself.
"Oh pet," the vampire cooed. She pressed her body even tighter to Hermione's and placed her head on the girl's shoulder.
And Hermione? Well, Hermione nearly forgot how to breathe. Goosebumps erupted all over her body and she swallowed. Sure, she was now used to the close proximity, but the air was filled with electricity. Bellatrix's hand snaked around her waist possessively and all she wanted to do was sink to her knees and worship her goddess.
"I'll teach you how to torture properly, my sweet-thing," the older woman whispered to her ear. "You've watched me, you know the movement, you know the spell…"
Hermione fixed her jaw and watched the hateful look on that unhealthy looking face of Voldemort. She shouldn't do this. She shouldn't learn Crucio, but then again, she shouldn't have learned Avada either. And she felt Bella's magic enveloping hers, she felt the pull.
"Like the mudblood could cast such spell," the man laughed. He still probably didn't get who's in charge here.
"You do wanna prove him wrong, pet, don't you," the vampire cooed. "We both know you're powerful enough," she whispered and gripped the girl's waist harder. Hermione whimpered.
"How's mom and dad?" Voldemort mocked and the girl lost the fight.
Bellatrix knew that as well and she unapologetically sank her teeth (not fangs, just teeth) into the girl's neck right when Hermione shouted "Crucio!" and aimed at the Dark Lord.
The girl whimpered and moaned when the older woman eased the pain with her tongue and tried to hold the curse in place despite the wetness that pooled between her thighs.
Voldemort laughed on the floor, even though Bellatrix registered slight pain in his features when she finally looked at him. She got distracted by Hermione's arousal and clearly the girl got distracted, too. The curse was lifted.
"Okay, pet, good," she said an octave lower than usual and the lioness shivered. "Now you just make him feel what you want. Could be thousands of needles, could be his blood boiling, could be flesh eating bugs… get creative," she kissed a peachy cheek. "Or it could be all of the mentioned pains combined, that's my personal favorite, but let's not overwhelm you from the start, little one."
She'd held Voldemort down with her magic from the start, but the torture performance was solely on her perfect girl. Of course, he didn't feel much on the first try, especially considering he was powerful enough to cast it aside with the weaker wizards, but that was over. If Hermione was anything, it was determined.
"Did you get a new pet, Bellatrix?" he mocked, looking at Hermione. "I suppose you did since your dragon is dead," he taunted.
The raven-haired woman was ready to break the 'spell' she had over the girl and torture the man into a vegetable state for this, but Hermione beat her to it. "Crucio!" she screamed and this time he was knocked even further to the floor by the impact.
Hermione had her jaw tightly fixed, determination and hate screamed from her eyes and her wand performed such strong Cruciatus that even the vampire herself would be proud of casting. And the lioness did it for her. Bellatrix mewled.
"Lift the curse, sweet-pea," the vampire instructed after a bead of sweat broke out on Hermione's skin, and the girl obeyed. "You need to let him breathe for a little while so he doesn't pass out right away. That would be no fun," she pouted.
"How dare you, mudblood!" he spat, clearly agonized this time.
"Again," Bellatrix breathed out and Hermione just cast the unforgivable without a second thought.
It was a strange feeling. Definitely more powerful than when she practiced Avada Kedavra on the training dummy. Sure, the killing curse made her feel powerful because one simple incantation could take a life, but now… now she watched one of the most powerful wizards squirming on the floor. She could make him feel the pain she felt. Make him feel the pain of everyone he ever killed, or tortured or molested. And she did. She let the curse fill her entire being and she projected it on him.
Bellatrix watched the scene absolutely mesmerized. She didn't let go of the girl, she still held her by the waist, head on her shoulder. She was breathing through the curse with her. She felt the girl's magic. She felt how her lioness operated with the magic inside her, how she let it expand, fill her and then release it and it made her proud. And yet this pathetic existence on the floor thought that she stole it. A pathetic existence that was about to pass out any second from the power of the curse.
"Lift it, little one," she instructed again. Hermione did. She was breathing hard, new drops of sweat appeared on her forehead and she surely must have been exhausted.
Voldemort panted even harder, his mouth dry and neck sore from the screams. Bellatrix left the girl's warm body much to the protest of them both and made her way to the man on the floor. She stepped on his chest with her right foot, the heel of her shoe pushing into his chest and she scowled. And for the first time in her whole existence he looked at her with fear in his eyes. "I must say you don't look that good without all those horcruxes, Tom," she sneered. "Without me doing your dirty work."
"You loved it," he said dryly.
"I did," Bellatrix nodded. "You however made the fatal mistake of making me choose between you and the girl. I will always choose her. And with that I officially withdraw from your service," she said and pointed her wand at the Dark Mark. It would hurt like a motherfucker and no one has been able to do this, but she was Bellatrix Black, ancient vampire, apparently a goddess as her meant-to-be tended to say.
He bared his teeth in a twisted smile, knowing it was impossible to get rid of his mark.
His smile however faltered when he saw the black ink being sucked by Bellatrix's wand out of her skin, blood replacing it while the woman let out a pained cry.
A cry that made Hermione jump and twitch. Cry that she never wanted to hear again. And he made Bella do it. He has hurt her once again. Well, that just wouldn't do anymore.
"Crucio!" the girl shouted one more time, to the surprise of both Voldemort and her soulmate.
Bellatrix stepped away from Noseless with her forearm covered in blood and rushed to the girl. Poor thing must be so exhausted.
"Lift the curse, sweet-thing," she said gently, trying to decipher the girl's energy. "You must be exhausted."
Hermione just shook her head. She risked a glance at the vampire's forearm and added extra pain to her curse after seeing all that blood. He deserved to die.
"Okay," the raven-haired witch sighed. She understood very well when you just needed to get something out of your system. "Then let's focus on his screams, on his body, on everything that could give us a clue about when he's about to pass out. As I said, it's no fun when that happens," she winked.
"We don't need him awake, though."
"No, we don't. We're done here," Bellatrix nodded. "But you tell me when you think he's about to pass out, hmmm? I promised to teach you this curse properly and this is definitely part of it."
Hermione nodded and paid better attention to his cries and screams. She noted there was a wet patch on his dark robe in the crotch area and she scowled. Oh look, that almighty invincible dark wizard needs to take a piss just like the rest of us. Pathetic.
"I think he's about to black out," she said uncertainly.
"Very good," the vampire cooed and kissed her cheek. She expected Hermione to stop, but the girl didn't. Voldemort passed out, but the girl still kept the curse in place, jaw fixed and eyes full of hate. She was sweating by now, panting hard and yet she hasn't lifted the curse. "That's enough, sweet-thing," Bellatrix said, but Hermione still didn't lift the curse. While the vampire understood it was important to get things out of the system, she also knew you couldn't do it in spite of your own health. "Enough, Hermione," she said with a little more edge to it.
The girl lifted the curse and looked at her as if slapped. She was clearly in some sort of a trance before. The unforgivables could do that to you. That's why a killing spree usually took so many lives.
Bellatrix threw Voldemort's wand back at him with words of "enjoy the fucking battle" and apparated herself and Hermione back to Lapland.
The girl sank onto the edge of the bed in their bedroom and looked at her own hands as if they belonged to someone else. She dropped her wand to the floor and went awfully quiet.
The vampire knelt in front of her and took those trembling hands in her own. She kissed each of them with care and asked: "What's wrong, sweet-thing?" She had an idea, but she wanted the Gryffindor to say it. She was however met with silence. "Is the problem that you just tortured someone or that you actually liked it?"
"I'm a monster," Hermione breathed out.
"Am I a monster?" Bellatrix asked.
"No! You're just my Bella."
My Bella. The vampire softened even more. She liked the sound of that.
"Well, then you are not a monster either, little one."
"You don't understand," the girl started, sounding absolutely horrified. "I liked every minute of it. It made me feel so… so…" she was looking for the right word.
"So ecstatic? Powerful? That you're more than just a mere human?"
"YES!"
"Don't you think we all feel that when we cast it? So, I'm asking again, am I a monster?"
"You're not a monster," she murmured.
"Then again, you are not one either," Bellatrix replied and kissed those hands again to show the girl that she was not afraid of them.
"I just…" she sighed. "That feeling should be forbidden, that's all."
"It probably should," Bellatrix nodded and smiled softly.
"So I guess I can say goodbye to my light magic, can't I? Bye Patronus, bye Episkey, bye my beliefs," she started to hyperventilate. "I traded you for two unforgivable curses. Doesn't matter how good they felt. Actually, that feeling just makes it worse."
Bellatrix spread the girl's legs and moved closer to her. She pressed her body to Hermione's so close that she could feel the girl's warmth on her stomach even through all the clothes and she took that furrowed face in her hands. "You're thinking too much," she said and kissed the Gryffindor's collarbone. "You didn't trade anything. You can reach your light magic just as same as you reached the darker one."
"We were always taught that Death Eaters couldn't use light magic. You said it yourself after all."
"I don't remember you becoming a Death Eater, sweet-pea. I'm pretty sure Noseless wouldn't agree either if he had anything to say on that matter," she chuckled. "Or do you think this is how he's recruiting his people? By getting tortured to the verge of death?" she laughed.
"Well, no," Hermione chuckled.
"No indeed," Bellatrix smiled. "I said I can't use light magic because I haven't in centuries. I didn't need it. However, I healed your nose just this morning, didn't I? The magic is there. It's just a little rusty, but it's there."
"But… the Patronus charm…"
"The Patronus charm lives from happy memories if I remember correctly. Do you think I don't have them?"
"Of course, you do."
"Well, I didn't for a long time, but now you're here," she said and averted her eyes, deciding it was more important to study the bite on Hermione's neck.
And the girl smiled at that, the implication not lost on her. "So if I wanted to cast Patronus or Episkey, I could?"
"Mmmmh, although I doubt you would ever need Episkey again. You have me. I won't let anything happen to you," she said and placed her head to Hermione's chest. The girl hugged her and held her even closer by instinct.
"And if something happened, I could always have your blood," she said, content.
"Mmmmh," the vampire purred.
"Show me your arm, Bella. It looked so painful what you did," she said after a moment of silence.
"It's healed, sweet-thing."
"I doubt that! I saw the blood."
"Well, I bleed," she chuckled. "But the wounds were sealing as I was getting rid of it. It's just dried blood, nothing more."
"Promise?"
"Very much so. Your arm is what we should talk about."
"My arm is fine," Hermione huffed.
"No, it's open."
"Oh," the girl replied when she observed it. She forgot all about it. "I just didn't know what to do to call you back," she murmured and hugged the woman even harder now that she had her. "Just calling, more like screaming in my mind didn't help and I didn't know what to do. I can't lose you," she choked.
"You're not losing me, pet," Bellatrix reassured and kissed her collarbone again.
"I need a way of contacting you, Bella. It's driving me insane that I don't know if you're safe or if you're even in the same house as me. I just…"
"You just need to know," she chuckled, but not in a bad way.
Well, there was a way, but…
"Yes. I will get you a phone if it keeps going like this," she huffed.
"A what now?"
"Little electronic device that can connect calls and messages!"
"Muggle device."
"I don't care! I need to know where you are and that you're fine. I don't really have a connection to your mind, do I," she huffed again, frustrated.
"I'm always fine," the vampire reassured.
"Bella," she warned.
"There is a way," she sighed. "But…"
"No buts, tell me. What do I have to do."
"Just withstand a bit of pain," Bellatrix replied. "Well, a lot."
"Okay, do it," Hermione replied, determined.
"You don't even know what it would be, pet," she chuckled. "I would need to brand you…"
"Is it something like the Dark Mark then?"
"Identical, yes. But we would place more information into it. You would know when I'm near, you would know if I were in danger, it would also help you to apparate wherever I would be or make me apparate to you."
"Okay," Hermione nodded. "I'm down for it."
"Pet," the vampire sighed. "It's dark magic. Blood magic actually. You would know all the above because it would burn if I were away. Not much, mind you. Just to let you know that we are not in the same house. It would surely burn if I were in danger, though."
"And it would take me to you."
"Well, yes," the vampire nodded.
"Okay, let's do it."
Bellatrix chuckled and brought Hermione's head down to kiss her. "You'd be branded, pet."
"Well, don't you always say that I'm yours?"
"Oh, you are mine."
"Might very well make it official then," she shrugged.
"My brave lioness," she purred. "It hurts…"
"Will the pain kill me?"
"No, of course not," Bellatrix replied horrified.
"Well then," Hermione shrugged, ready to get whatever Bellatrix had in store for her.
"Okay, my eager kitten. If you still feel the same tomorrow, I'll brand you," she kissed her chin. "You still need to figure out the shape and where you want it, though."
"Fangs on my neck would be nice," she mused. "But too telling I suppose. I'll think about it."
The vampire growled. Her meant-to-be was a tease.
They stayed in this position for a long time. Bellatrix's head on Hermione's chest, arms encircled around the other's back. They were content.
"I just tortured someone," the girl said after a while, still trying to come to terms with it.
"Mmmmh, and you looked so sexy while doing it," the vampire purred.
"That's twisted, Bella," she chuckled.
"Oh don't play coy with me," she smirked. "I saw the look you gave me when I tortured him."
"In my defense, you looked absolutely divine! How was I supposed to resist that?! And you did it only because he insulted me…"
"Right, because you didn't look absolutely divine, huh. And didn't cast it the second time for the same reason," the vampire smirked.
"He was just cruel for no reason," she huffed.
"Well, to be honest, pet, he was on the floor, overpowered by two witches. I expected more bite."
"Me too… I killed his snake," she said quietly.
"Destroyed a horcrux," Bellatrix corrected. She would not let Hermione spiral with this one.
"Okay, destroyed a horcrux," she smiled. It did sound better like this. "Still."
"Well, I was holding him down a little with my magic. I guess he didn't appreciate it, but couldn't do much about it."
"You were?" Hermione asked.
"Mmmh, I didn't want him to hurt you. I know you can take care of yourself; I know that you're powerful enough, but… I just didn't want to risk it. He's dangerous even without his wand."
"Oh, Bella," Hermione purred and it sent a wave of arousal to the vampire's core.
They held each other in silence again, but Hermione's mind was spiraling. She was tired after the day they had, but also so content. Bellatrix held her like she was the most precious thing in the world. The vampire was again on her knees to show the girl that she held all the power. Thinking about it, Bellatrix hadn't done anything to intimidate her in a long time. She even held back from biting her when she was starving. She didn't use her seduction game to get what she so desperately wanted, nor the power over Hermione's mind. No. She just suffered in silence.
And Hermione was overwhelmed by feelings. It was clear as a day that Bellatrix really wouldn't hurt her. She protected her even in spite of her own health and happiness. You come first. She was a fool. She loved the vampire. She's known for quite some time now. She fell in love with a Death Eater. A very sexy Death Eater, but the enemy's most loyal servant nevertheless.
And she was okay with it.
Bellatrix treated her better than anyone else, really. She didn't mock her, belittle her. Didn't constantly judge her for wanting, needing to know more, needing to be the best all while still challenging her. Teaching her spells and curses, reassuring her that she could.
Yes, they have come a long way, but thinking of it, Bellatrix wasn't vile even at the very beginning. She was teasing, seducing, torturing her with words about unconditional love and affection, but she hasn't hurt her. Even when the older witch's beliefs were surely still very much in place.
Hermione guessed that the vampire side prevented all that, but nevertheless, she wasn't hurt. She wasn't in pain as everyone would assume. She herself assumed that much when the woman kidnapped her.
And then Hermione learned that Bellatrix was actually human. Obviously not in the magical sense, but in the emotional one. She wanted to be loved and cared for. Well, didn't we all? And Hermione needed to tell her that it has happened. That her wait wasn't fruitless because she loved her even without the bond in place. And she was ready to take the next step.
The vampire untangled herself from the warm body and looked at the girl with big black eyes. She felt what Hermione was feeling. She must have been mistaken, though. She was sure of that.
"Bite me, Bella," the girl whispered, looking pleadingly into onyx eyes, cupping pale cheeks in her hands. "I love you."
A/N:
and yes, I just did that - end it like this *devilish smirk*
also I know the reason why bellatrix served him is not really that great, but I came up with it at the very beginning and clearly didnt get any better idea, so...
again, if you're on fb, you're more than welcome to join the Bellamione Land - groups/398716687931372