Tucked away in the middle of the woods, overlooking a beautiful lake, sat an incredible castle. With a Quidditch field in the back, a greenhouse connected to the side, and a separate building created specifically as a library, Rayne Manor was the perfect combination of those who would live there in the future. Or those she hoped would live there soon. Bellatrix and Hermione appeared in their brand-new bedroom upstairs on the third floor, one decked out in black and green with gold trimmings. Hermione changed the moment they were alone. She shifted nervously as Bellatrix inspected the room, like a teenager showing her crush her poster-covered walls after school.

"Holy…shit. This is amazing," Bellatrix said, slightly distracted by the size of the room.

"Yeah?" Hermione said with a big smile on her face.

Bellatrix chuckled and kissed the side of her head. "Yes," she murmured.

"I genuinely brought you here because I missed you. I know we've been together at the manor, but you've also been going from tired to healthy as your body re-adjusts. And while we have had some time to…get to know each other, it's just… there's so much we have to talk about and I-

"Hey," Bellatrix whispered. "Talking sounds fine."

"Good," Hermione exhaled. "Because yes, I do have so much I want to say to you, but-

Hermione held out her hand, and a box landed on her palm. She opened it and showed it to Bellatrix. It was a ring crafted similar to the one she had tucked against her neck. It also matched the Mark on both of their arms.

"I know, by law, you are still married as he is unfortunately still alive," Hermione said slowly, getting down on one knee. "And while I am not quite ready to get married, I want the world to know how I feel about you. So, Bellatrix, will you do me the honor of being my forever?"

Bellatrix froze. Hermione panicked inwardly but maintained her composure. Then, unbeknownst to her, the box started to shake in her hand, and that snapped Bellatrix out of whatever trance she'd been in.

"You want to marry me?" she asked.

Had the rest of the world not been so quiet, Hermione was sure she wouldn't have heard the question. Then the question itself registered, and Hermione swallowed the rejection bubbling in her throat.

"Yes? Was that not- fuck. I should have waited. I assumed that you would still-"

Bellatrix clamped her hand over Hermione's mouth, and her pale skin was an unusual shade of red. "That is not what I meant," she muttered.

Hermione stared at her in confusion, and that's when it hit her. Bellatrix wasn't asking if Hermione wanted to marry her. She was asking why Hermione wanted to marry her. Hermione gently tugged down the hand over her mouth and put the box on the vanity. She cupped her face, staring into the eyes of her literal soulmate, and struggled to find the words to say. Sure, Bellatrix was older, but at that moment, she looked so young and vulnerable.

"I'm in love with you," she blurted.

Bellatrix lifted her eyebrows in surprise. Hermione chewed on her bottom lip and kept going.

"When I was younger, there was this memory I was obsessed with. I remember my mother being there. I remember the feeling of her finger trailing down my cheek. I remember the colors of the flowers, the warmth of the sun on my face, but I could not put the entire memory together. I dreamed of that day every night, straining to figure out what it was I was missing from it. Then, one night, after a long day of chasing Draco and Tonks through the mud, I crawled into bed when something stopped me."

Hermione could see the gears turning in Bellatrix's mind, and she smiled.

"The house shook that night. Literally, I heard my mother screaming at the Death Eaters, cursing them with whatever spell she could think of, and there was a moment where she paused. I remember her saying, 'she could have died tonight because of your idiocy.' It was said with so much coldness that I hid under my covers. Later that night, I heard whispering and whimpering, and I got up immediately. Something wasn't right. I remember getting out of bed, opening my door, and peeking out into the hallway. I saw Narcissa and Severus running out of an open room, frantic. I waited. Then, I made a run for it. I ran into the room, shut the door, and held my breath. I was afraid my mother was going to break in and drag me out of the room. But nothing happened. I tiptoed through the room, scanning the darkness, and bumped into the bed. There was a moan of pain, and I panicked. That's when I saw you on the bed. I blurted out-

"Please don't die," Bellatrix whispered with tears in her eyes.

Hermione nodded. She slowly started to undo Bellatrix's corset. Pale hands kept her from going any further.

"Calli-," she said, her plea unspoken but loud enough to break Hermione's heart.

"I need you to trust me," Hermione said softly.

Bellatrix closed her eyes and dropped her hands. Hermione managed to get the item off and tossed it across the room. She traced the faint scar going across Bellatrix's chest.

"It made sense. Mum was angry because it was you that almost died. When I saw it was you, it was like a nightmare. I could not lose my Bella Bear," she teased. Her smile faltered as she continued, "I crawled onto the bed and placed my hands on your chest. I was barely old enough to dress, but something inside of me clicked into place. Like I was holding onto a fire, my hands got so warm, but I had this urge to move that warmth to you. I stayed like that until the warmth was gone. You rose up so suddenly and wrapped me in your arms. That is the last thing I remember."

"You were so foolish," Bellatrix murmured. "Five, and you were using your magic to heal someone you barely knew."

"That's the thing, you stubborn woman. I did know you. Because it hit me that once I placed my hands on your chest. You were the missing piece of that memory. You were the cinnamon and campfire smell I could never place. You were the soft, warm body I was protected by. You were the moon in the middle of my darkness. God, even as an infant, I knew how important you are to me. And yes, the context is a little weird, but dammit, Bella."

Hermione grabbed Bellatrix and dragged her to the bed. She pushed her down and straddled her waist. She kissed the Azkaban tattoo on Bellatrix's neck and the scars across her collarbone, chest, and shoulders. Hermione laid her head on Bellatrix's sternum and tangled her hands in the sheets. There was an emotion building in her chest that she couldn't place. Hermione struggled to breathe properly, but she fought through it. Finally, she lifted her head and looked Bellatrix in the eyes.

"I would have been yours regardless of Fate, of a prophecy, of a Divine Will. I would still be completely and wholly yours even if I met you in the middle of battle. If I met you and we were on other sides of this War. I would still ache for you even if you were torturing me just because I was friends with the boneheaded hero of the Light. I would want you in every lifetime, in every universe, and in every book of our lives."

Hermione's eyes closed, meaning she missed the look of shock that goes across Bellatrix's face. "Bella, I love you as you are. I want you as you are. I need you. I cannot live this life or any life without you. To you, I gladly submit. I gladly give you all that I am and all that I will ever be. I-

Hermione's voice cracked as her emotions finally got the best of her. She barely registered Bellatrix sitting up. She did, however, feel the sharp pain on her face. Hermione reached up and grabbed at her nose. She frowned at an amused Bellatrix.

"Did you just hit my nose?" she asked, confused.

"I take it your mother never told you," Bellatrix said.

"Told me what?"

"Your mother explained what happens when you work yourself up and how to get you back down to Earth," Bellatrix said. "Though I had no idea it would still work when you were an adult."

"Hitting my nose keeps me from being too emotional," Hermione repeated. "Are you serious?"

"I just did it, right? And you feel better?"

"Yes," she answered lamely, still rubbing her nose. "But please do not do that in public. That is embarrassing."

Bellatrix agreed, but her smile faltered. She cleared her throat and said, "One of my biggest fears was that once I got out, you would see me as frail and weak, too old, and decide you didn't want me anymore."

Hermione went to respond, but a sharp look from Bellatrix made her think twice.

"I am well aware that was my fear speaking. But when you asked if I wanted to be your forever, I was shocked. I'm half the size I used to be, my hair is dull, and my skin is so dry and pale. I feel like I'm eighty when I'm barely half that. I feel like you should find someone younger, someone, who isn't so damaged."

"Why in the world would I want someone else? I have been literally waiting for you since the day I found out you were arrested."

"Exactly. I was, and still am, in your head. I know you turned down many dates and potential partners over me."

"I cannot bring myself to be attracted to anyone else. It feels wrong, dirty, like they are beneath me and not in a good way. I-" she stopped. She remembered something about her girlfriend, and a horrible idea sparked in her mind. She sighed and said instead, "You know what? You are right."

"Excuse me?" Bellatrix said.

"Do you remember the boy who asked me out my third year? Ravenclaw, beautiful blue eyes, blonde hair?" Hermione asked, keeping her face neutral.

Bellatrix narrowed her eyes. "Yes, why?" she asked.

"He was younger, sexier, and I doubt he is damaged goods."

Bellatrix stiffened.

"I think his name was Kevin. Kyle?"

"Kirk," Bellatrix gritted out.

"I wonder if he would be down for a shag in the broom closet once we get back to school," she said, sliding off the bed.

Hermione toyed with her hair and walked to her vanity. She moved the box over to the side and hopped on top. Bellatrix rose off the bed, her anger and jealousy fighting for dominance, and Hermione smirked and waited. Bellatrix clenched her fists and was in front of Hermione before the younger girl could blink.

"He wouldn't know how to handle you."

"I think he would be decent enough," she countered.

"Oh, please. His fingers would be too slippery to unbutton your blouse, let alone have you screaming his name so loud the entire school would hear. He would leave you all alone in that broom closet once he finishes squirting his filth all over his clothes. He would run out like a scared little boy while you stand there, flustered, annoyed, and so unfulfilled."

Hermione gripped her vanity so hard the wood creaked under her grip. She looked into Bellatrix's eyes. There was darkness swirling in her girlfriend's gaze that made her weak.

"Do not tell me you think you can do better," she challenged.

Bellatrix grabbed Hermione by the hair and yanked her head back. Hermione whimpered, but her legs went around Bellatrix's waist, and she locked her ankles. After a week of being in each other's presence, the tension between them still burned. They had yet to take that next step, each one waiting on the other, but Hermione reached up and traced Bellatrix's Azkaban tattoo.

"You spent so much time in that prison," she said softly. "But I do not see the state of your body or your hair as deterrents. On the contrary, I see them as blessings because it means you are alive. The undeniable truth is that I love you, Bellatrix. So much. There is nothing that will change the way I see you and feel about you. All I can do is love you as you are in every stage of this life."

Hermione sighed. She unlocked her ankles and rubbed the back of her neck. Bellatrix let go of her hair.

"I should not have done that. I should be going at your pace, not forcing you to match mine. I am so sorry. I should not have pushed you like this or assumed we would be on the same page. I should have waited," Hermione said.

"Baby-

"And I mean, of course, you would need time. It has only been a week."

"Hermione-

"I should have been paying more attention to you. I should-

"Calliope!"

Bellatrix slid her hands up Hermione's legs and grabbed her by the hips. She kissed Hermione on the nose and said, "You were too busy apologizing to see I that had already forgiven you. I know you better than you know yourself. I knew what you were up to the moment you brought up that Ravenclaw."

"Oh."

"Remember, I am in your head. But as ridiculous as your idea was, it was what you said afterward that more than made up for your foolishness. My self-esteem took a hit when I saw myself in the mirror. I lost so much weight, so much of my color, and my hair looks like dry strands of burnt grass. I let myself run away with the idea you would never be interested in me again. Then, you go and propose, and we do our usual beautiful and chaotic dance where we get emotional, push each other's buttons, and finally get back to the beginning. You still me as me, and that…soothes me."

Hermione leaned back on her hands. Bellatrix rubbed circles on her thighs, but it was nothing sexual about the moment. She picked up the box and opened it. Bellatrix took out the ring and held it up.

"This gem looks very similar to the mark on my arm," she mused. "Which mysteriously appeared after my other one vanished."

"I was going to do a proper introduction later."

"Oh right. Have you decided what you want to call your merry brigade of psychopaths?"

"Pot meets kettle," Hermione said wryly. "But to answer your question, no. Hopefully, I come up with something before the dinner."

Bellatrix handed her back the ring.

"Ask me again," she said.

Hermione took the ring back and cleared her throat. She floundered for the best way to ask a second time. Bellatrix snorted and took the ring back.

"My answer is yes," she said, laughing.

Hermione was relieved she didn't have to ask again, and she threw her arms around Bellatrix and kissed her deeply. Bellatrix picked her up and carried her to the bed. They fell in a heap on top of the covers. Bellatrix broke the kiss first and stared down at Hermione with a genuine smile. Her curls framed her face perfectly and Hermione just...cracked. She had been doing so well, so fucking well with not succumbing to the years' worth of pain that came with losing Bellatrix. But seeing her, having her in her hands, everything hit her at once.


Bella POV

Bellatrix panicked when Calliope broke out into tears.

"What's wrong? Did I hurt you?"

"No," she whined.

"Then why on Earth are you crying?"

"I was alone," she cried.

Bellatrix caught on and kissed every tear that slipped from her eye. Calliope wrapped her arms around her and cried into her neck. Bellatrix knew it would happen, though she couldn't deny it happened at a rather awkward time.

"You held on for so long," Bellatrix whispered. "Too long."

Muffled sobs were her response. She flipped on her back and held Calliope close. There were so many facets of their relationship that made her head spin. They were lovers, friends, partners, protectors, and they were comforters. Bellatrix had the sneaking suspicion Calliope held on for so long because she was afraid to let go in front of anyone but her.

"I got you, love. I got you," she sighed.