**Author's note**. Hi. I just wanted to take a moment to let you all know that there is only one chapter left after this one. This story will be completed at chapter 20. This story is meant to be the first part of a threequel. There will be two more parts to this story. With that being said, I won't be publishing them here on . There is way too much negativity on this website for my liking and I can take constructive criticism however that it not the criticism that occurs here. If you wish to read the second and third parts to this story, you can find me on archive of our own. I have the same pen name there. This story will end as if this was a stand alone story though so don't feel pressured to read the rest of the work on the other site. Thank you to everyone who has actually enjoyed and took the time to leave relevant reviews. It's been a pleasure.
Now onto Chapter 19. :)
Since the Black sisters reunion at Malfoy Manor, Bellatrix and Hermione had barely seen each other. Hermione spent all of her free time in the library preparing for her upcoming exams. Studying for the group of tests had been overwhelming for Hermione but nowhere near as overwhelming as trying to think of something to compile a test for her Seventh year Muggle Study students. Bellatrix of course was no help to Hermione when she was planning her exams. She thought back to an evening the previous week when she was freaking about about preparing her tests.
Flashback- A week prior in Hermione's room:
Bella was sat on the couch petting Crookshanks absentmindedly while Hermione was pacing in front of the television.
"Dove. We can't see what's happening with Chandler and Monica there while you are walking in the way." Bella said pointing to the television.
"Ugh" Hermione growled out frustrated. "Have you not been listening to me for the last 20 minutes? We can watch this later. See I'm recording it on the VCR. I need your help now."
"Ahh the VCR. Muggles they are good for something." Bella chuckled at herself.
"Bella!" Hermione said while smushing the older witches cheeks with her hands. Bella scowled and tried to move her face luckily enough for her, Hermione let go after a beat. "Do I have your attention now?"
"Yes" Bella said sticking her bottom lip out pouting. "What is it you need my help with love?"
"I don't know what to test my NEWT level Muggle Study students on. I'm not cut out for this. Taking tests. That I can do. Preparing tests. No. Not for me. They're meant to have learned a lot from me this year and I'm not sure what to test them on."
"I'm not sure I'm the best person to advise on this subject. however, you could ask them to properly demonstrate the VCR." Bella said giving her a hopefully wide smile. When Hermione shot her a look of disbelief, Bella's eyebrows dropped. "Or Muggle London and the underground? The different types of London Royalty? Muggle Literature? Muggle healing? Doctors I believe you call them. British Muggle history?"
"I don't know..." Hermione said looking through her class notes.
"Seriously you could ask the students anything you want to Hermione. You are the teacher. Unless your students plan on working in the Muggle Artifacts division of the Ministry then they are probably just taking your class for fun. Whatever you choose to test your students on will be perfect and based on some of the essays you let me read from your students, they have learned more about Muggles in one year than I've learned in my whole 47 years of life."
Hermione smiled at her girlfriend. "How do you always know the exact perfect thing to settle me down?"
"Because I love you." Bella said reaching over to pull Hermione into her side. "And because I want to watch the telly."
—-
Hermione shook her head at the memory. Ginny rushed over to the table that Hermione had occupied in the back of the library.
"Shhh" Madam Pince scolded Ginny as she rushed past. "Honestly girl. You've been in this school for seven years. You must be quiet in the library."
"Sorry ma'am." Ginny said dropping her gaze and turning back towards Hermione. She hurried and sat down in the seat facing her. Ginny was scrambling around shuffling papers.
In a whispered tone Hermione asked, "what's so urgent Gin? I already told you I wasn't going to give you any study hints for the NEWT."
Ginny smiled and waved a letter in front of Hermione. "Here! Read this!"
Hermione began reading out loud. "Dear Ms. Ginerva Weasley, we are please to offer you a contracted position with the Holyhead Harpies as a chaser." Hermione looked up wide eyed at the red head. "You've done it Ginny! A professional quidditch player. I'm so proud of you!" Hermione continued to read the rest of the letter which had a proposed salary as well as offering Ginny a relocation allowance. Hermione's heart swelled for her friend. "This is brilliant. I'm so excited for you and I can't wait to come out and see you kick some ass."
"They said I could stay in London if I wanted and just travel back and forth for the games and practices but I think I'll discuss it with Harry first. I might want to relocate at least for the first year to see how things go. I want to be able to say that I had the full experience."
"Talking with Harry is a nice thought but Ginny, this is your dream. You need to do what's best for you and Harry will just have to support it no matter what. Plus he can just apparate himself to Wales whenever necessary." Hermione said handing the letter back to Ginny.
"I'm so excited. I can't believe this is finally happening. What about you Mione? Have you had any offers from the ministry?"
"Oh. Well I've had quite a few. But I'm not sure I'm going to jump on any of them right away."
"Have you talked to Black about what's going to happen after you graduate?"
"No, not exactly. She has her meeting with the ministry next week. I guess we just silently agreed not to discuss it until Kingsley decides what is going to happen with her. I can't say that I'm not anxious about it but whatever happens we will figure it out."
Ginny shook her head and pulled out her potions essay to finish. "So no clues at all about the Muggles Study test?"
Hermione pick up her roll of parchment and hit Ginny in the arm.
"Shhhhh" Madam Pince admonished the behavior while walking past their table.
—
Testing week had flown by and not to Hermione's surprise, she felt very confident in her tests that she had already completed. It was of course the last day of testing and Hermione had to administer her Muggle Studies test after breakfast then everyone had their DADA test in the afternoon. Hermione wasn't worried about Bella's test in the least. She had been preparing with Ginny for the duel for weeks now and was ready to take on her girlfriend.
Hermione sat perched on the front of her desk as her Seventh years poured in. Her class was a smaller group of only ten students and she noted the nervous look on all of their faces.
"Good morning students and welcome to your NEWT exam for Muggle Studies. I see many worried looks as I look out into the classroom. I'm not here to trick you and worry you. I first wanted to start by saying how proud I am of all of you. Muggle Studies isn't something everyone wishes to take and the fact that all of you have stuck it out to the end has been amazing. I'd also like to thank you all for the welcoming response that you've had for me as your teacher. I can't tell you how amazing it's been to teach you about the things that are important to my home life as a muggle born. We've had such a great year and I don't want you to be stressed out. In front of each of you is parchments and quills. All I ask of you is what is on the blackboard. Please pick your top five favorite muggle inventions. Give me a brief history on it, why it is important, how the years have changed it and how it's helped to shape Muggle lives. After you've completed all five, bring your rolls of parchment up to me and you'll be free to go. There are two hours allotted for this exam. Remember to breath and please have fun writing your papers so I can have fun reading them. Good luck class. Time starts now."
Hermione took a seat behind her desk and watched as her students eagerly unrolled their parchments and began writing. Ginny looked up at her smiling as she started to write.
The two hours had passed quickly. Hermione spent her time reading over the essays from her students in other years. She was so proud of her students. They really seemed to enjoy her class. Realization hit Hermione that this would be her last teaching experience and her eyes welled with tears. Ginny walked up to her and bent over to give her a small hug.
"You've done an amazing job, Professor Granger. Your students will miss you next year. I'll see you in DADA." Ginny kissed the side of her head, put down her essay, winked at her and walked out of the classroom.
After the last student left, Hermione began to break down her classroom. She heard a shuffle by the door and turned around to see Minerva standing there.
"Hermione, dear, I just wanted to come by and thank you again for filling this position for us this year. It is clear by the smiles on your students' faces as they left your classroom that you have had the positive effect on the children that I had hoped for. I'm not sure what awaits you in your future but I wanted to let you know that you'll always have a home at Hogwarts and a position on the faculty if you ever choose to come back and teach."
"Thank you Minerva. This was definitely an amazing experience. I wouldn't trade this year for anything. Who knows maybe in a few years I'll have a desperate urge to teach again. I'm not sure what awaits after leaving. I guess it's something that is for discussion tomorrow after Bella's meeting at the ministry."
"I have no doubt that Bellatrix has fulfilled every wish of the ministry. Chin up, Hermione. The two of you are on your way." Minerva patted Hermione on the shoulder. "You know how to reach me if you ever wish for guidance, advice, to chat or to take me up on my teaching offer." Minerva turned to walk away before adding, "I also extended the same teaching offer to Bellatrix if one day all of our paths cross again."
The two women shared a knowing smile before Minerva left and Hermione decided to just to leave her stuff for the next Muggle Studies professor. They would need it more than she would. She had hoped that the next professor would find use for her notes and lessons as well. Hermione walked out of the room for the last time, pulling the door behind her.
—
Hermione walked towards the DADA classroom. Ginny had opted to arrive early to practice some offensive spells so that left Hermione to travel to the classroom alone. She saw Luna standing outside the door waiting for her.
"Hi Luna," Hermione greeted her friend. "Are you ready for this test?"
"Oh yes. I'm quite prepared to duel Professor Black. I have no intention of winning but I've prepared what she asked. And my patronus had come a long way." Luna smiled.
"And after school?"
"Oh well. I suppose I'll go work for my father. I always loved the quibbler and I like to deliver real news." Luna beamed.
"That sounds wonderful. I hope to see you and Neville regularly after this is all over." Hermione leaned in to hug her friend.
"Oh, of course. No matter where life takes you, you and Professor Black will always be welcomed over to our house. Neville would insist."
"Ladies." The girls turned to the voice at the door. A flashback to the first day of class flooded Hermione and a smile crept on her face. Bellatrix smirked at her girlfriend. "Class is in here. The testing begins in five minutes and I do not like to be kept waiting." Bellatrix sauntered back into the room with the girls following behind.
Hermione noted the room had been rearranged. Bella's desk was pushed against the back corner and all the tables had been removed from the room. There was a row of bleachers again the windowed wall facing a little dueling platform. Hermione drank in the sight of Bellatrix. She visibly gulped. Bellatrix was wearing a billowing white button up shirt with a red corset. She has on a pair of tight black dragon leather pants and knee high black boots. She was also wearing a black cape draped over one shoulder. She looked ready for a duel and Hermione thought she'd much rather take her to bed.
Bellatrix entered Hermione's mind. "Careful pet. You need to raise up your mental guards. You are practically screaming your intentions with me throughout the room. I doubt that is how you wish your fellow class mates to find out about us. I'll keep this outfit in mind for a later date with you." Hermione heard Bellatrix laugh as she pushed her mental walls up. Blushing furiously, Hermione looked out the window trying to control her thoughts.
An hour had passed and all the students were sat on the bleachers or against the wall sweating. Bellatrix stood in front of the class smirking and casually taking a sip from her class of water.
"Not bad. Surprisingly everybody did well in the duel. No shock that not one of you was able to disarm me though. Ms. Weasley did come dangerously close to it." Bellatrix paused to smile at the red head. "Take ten minutes then we will line up to see you do your patronuses one by one."
Bellatrix turned towards Hermione and tapped the side of her head. Instantly Bella felt the younger witches mental walls melting away. "You did an amazing job as well pet. Don't let Ginny steal your spotlight. Just didn't want to call you out. They might start getting suspicious. After all, you are my favorite pupil."
Hermione pushed back, "Ginny is going to be reeling from that. I'm sure she's going to owl her mum as soon as we are done here. Ginny's been making me practice with her in the Room of Requirement a couple of nights a week for the past two months. She was determined to best you." Hermione laughed.
"Ahh so that's where you've been all those night when your side of the bed lay cold." Bellatrix feigned sadness. "You were helping Red when you could've been giving me a helping hand. You missed some of my best solo performances, pet." Bellatrix felt the mental walls surge back into place pushing her firmly from the younger witches mind. Bellatrix's cackled at the front of the class causing a few of her students to give her strange looks.
"Oi! Aunt Bella!" Draco called from the corner where the Slytherins were gathered.
Pansy smacked him on the shoulder. "It's Professor Black. Show some respect."
"Aunt Bella. Pansy said I have to show you respect. Could you tell her there is no respect on our household."
Bella rolled her eyes. "And what is it that my little dragon wants from his Aunty Bella?" She said in a sickeningly sweet voice reaching out to pinch Draco's cheeks. The class roared with laughter and Draco flushed a bright shade of red.
"I was only going to say I hope you ready with your end of the bargain. I can't wait to see your patronus. Mum said it's magnificent." Draco smiled at his aunt.
"Ahh yes. Well, just wait until you lot have proven you've mastered this task. Then I'll perform like the trained sea lion I apparently am." Bellatrix said with a sarcastic lilt while ruffling Draco's hair.
Luna raised her hand. "Go on Ms. Lovegood. It wouldn't be a class without a question from my favorite Ravenclaw."
"Well seeing as how it's our last meeting and chances are good that we will see for ourselves what your patronus is... I was only wonder if you'd tell us what your patronus was."
"You can't wait a few extra minutes to be surprised?" Ginny scoffed at the blonde.
"Well I'm only curious because it might be different now. When people experience emotional trauma, disarray or even strong emotion feelings a patronus can change."
"Enough you two. Seeing as how I haven't actually attempted my patronus, I'm confident that it'll be still be the wolf that it was before I joined ranks. Now... everyone line up. It's time to get this show on the road. Everyone start thinking of your happy memories. We are going to go by house starting with Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, Gryffindors then ending with the Slytherins. If you are successful, you will receive an O in this class. Oh and there is a bowl of chocolate on my desk, you'll need it."
The patronus test was going well. A few of the hufflepuff boys needed a couple of tries to get their memories right but were able to produce a full bodied patronus. Hermione was amazed with Bella's level of patience with these trials. Bellatrix even caught the one boy as he was passing out after his patronus sprung to life.
"Someone get this boy some chocolate." Bellatrix shouted while gently setting the boy down on the ground. She conjured a pillow for him. "He'll be fine. Give him some space." She said as the students started to crowd around. Bellatrix opened his mouth so his classmate could put some chocolate in it. The boy started to wake and looked mortified to see Professor Black kneeling over him. He began to chew his chocolate. "You did excellent. Just relax a minute and finish this chocolate." Bellatrix said offering a small smile. "All right everyone. Back to the testing. Luna you are up next."
Luna moved up from the line and closed her eyes. She was concentrating hard. Hermione noted her eyebrows creasing then a smile cresting over her face. Luna pointed her wand and whispered "expecto patronum" and a silver bunny shot out of the tip of her wand and started hopping the blonde girl then over to hop by Bellatrix.
"Very nice job Ms. Lovegood. Red you're next." Ginny rolled her eyes and without preamble she cast the spell and a mare shot from her wand rearing up on its hind legs. "Excellent job. Ms. Granger. The last of the Gryffindors. Let's see it then." Hermione stared deeply into Bellatrix's eyes causing the older witch to suppress a shiver. She cast the spell and a spirited otter came out from her wand swimming around the girls standing next to her. Bellatrix smiled at her girlfriend. "Beautiful job. All right everyone take a seat. Let's move onto the Slytherins. Hmm I think we will save my dear nephew for last. Parkinson you first, then Blaise and then Draco. Whenever you are ready."
Blaise had a harder time than Pansy did producing his patronus. Pansy shot a raven out of her wand in one try. Blaise took four tries to get something other than a silver wisp to come out. "Concentrate Zabini. I know you can do this." Bellatrix encouraged. Blaise closed his eyes and concentrated and a little blue hummingbird came to life out of the tip of his wand. Draco started laughing and Bella shot him a warning look.
"It's adorable, Blaise." Pansy said suppressing a laugh.
"All right enough with the two of you. Blaise. Wonderful job. Go get some chocolate and have a seat." Bella turned her attention to her nephew. "Okay Mr. Malfoy. Let me have it then. We are all so very excited to see what you can produce."
Draco took a couple of deep breaths and relaxed his shoulders. He closed his eyes to focus and when he opened them he confidently said "expecto patronum" and a small silver fox sprang from his wand. He face lit up in the brightest smile Bellatrix could ever remember seeing on him in years.
"Brilliant, Draco. Absolutely brilliant." Bellatrix gave Draco a small hug and inquired quietly, "what were you thinking about?"
"I thought about this Christmas actually when you, me and mum were sat around the tree talking and laughing together. It was the happiest I've been in years." He gave his aunt a small smile and bumped his shoulder into Bella. She leaned in and whispered "your mother will be so proud."
"Well then. A bet is a bet. I always keep my promises." Bella said making her way to stand in front of the class. If she was being honest with herself, she was nervous that she wouldn't be able to produce a patronus anymore. She thought of practicing but always felt a sense of dread wash over her. "Well here goes nothing," she said as she cast her eyes out to her students. Her eyes fell to Hermione. Warmth spread throughout Bella's body thinking about all of their adventures over the past year and landed on the memory of Hermione confessing her love to her a few months ago. This was the happiest Bella had been in decades.
"Expecto Patronum," Bella said barely above a whisper. A small silver spark shot out of the tip of her wand followed by a small silver and blue otter. There was a gasp that came from a few of the students. Bella's eye shot up looking at Hermione who was blushing profusely.
"Oi! Isn't that Granger's patronus?" Draco spoke out. All the students turned to look at Hermione who was at this point as red as Ginny's hair. Ginny of course had a shit eating grin across her face.
"See, I told you, patronuses can change when trauma occurs or a strong emotional bond happens such as soul mates finding each other. You are very lucky Professor." Luna said smiling brightly watching the otter swim around Hermione.
"Very lucky indeed. Well, pet, I guess we don't have to worry about how to tell everyone. I'm sure by the time class is dismissed this lot will have it spread all over school." Bella said smiling while her otter evaporated after breaking the spell. "For the last time, class dismissed."
The students started leaving but Draco and Hermione stayed behind. Draco scratched behind his head, "well I can't say I saw this coming. Mum didn't even hint at it."
"We weren't ready for everyone to know. Minerva asked us to keep it quiet until Hermione was through with her classes."
"It took us by surprise as well, Draco. Neither of us were looking for it but somehow it found us." Hermione said reaching over to squeeze Bella's forearm.
"I have to say. I've noticed a change in you Aunt Bella. I am happy for the two do you. Now if you'll excuse me. I have to go spread the news of the two of you to anyone who will listen. I think I'll go find Peeves to tell him first." Draco started to take his leave but turned back around, "oh but don't expect me to call you Aunt Hermione. Never going to happen."
Hermione started laughing. "Oh please never call me that."
Draco left and Bella pulled her witch into an embrace. "Well, dove. I'd be lying if I said wasn't expecting a wolf to come out of my wand today." Bellatrix kissed Hermione's pulse point making the younger witch's breathing stutter. "You could've knocked me over with a feather when your otter shot out of my wand." She sucked Hermione's earlobe into her mouth.
Hermione let out a shakey breath. "Soulmates. I think I could get used to the sound of that title."
"Mmm" Bellatrix hummed in response against Hermione's neck as she left a trail of open mouth kissed down the column of her throat.
Hermione realizing they were still in the very open DADA classroom tried to reel in her libido. She slightly pushed against her girlfriend. Bellatrix's lips left Hermione's throat with a wet pop.
"What is it love? By now I'm sure the whole school knows of us." Bella said placing a chaste kiss on her lips. Hermione groaned at the gentle action.
"Do you wish a wolf had come out of your wand today?" Hermione asked staring at her soulmate with big eyes.
Bella's eyes softened. "Hermione, love, I wouldn't trade my otter for anything in the world."