Hermione sat across from Draco as they ate dinner. She was now wishing she had sat across from Bellatrix because now they sat side by side,so close that she could smell her scent. The woman smelt of smoke and firewhiskey with something sweet like cherries. Their small kiss ran through Hermione's mind, making her blush a bit. She acted like nothing was wrong and kept eating until Narcissa broke the silence.

"Hermione, are you the only one in your family to have magic?"

Hermione swallowed her food before answering.

"By blood yes. I discovered last summer that I have an adoptive cousin who comes from a pureblood family. I had Dumbledore help me track down all the information on her birth parents for her."

Bellatrix raised her brow and took another bite.

"Well pet, that's interesting…"

"Yes, Hermione dear what is her family name?"

"Goldwing."

The two sisters looked at eachother. Bellatrix spoke up while picking up her glass for a sip.

"It doesn't sound familiar, where is she from?"

"She is from the U.S."

The two sisters nodded and rolled their eyes as they spoke in unison.

"She went to Ilvermorny…"

Hermione looked between the two sisters watching their mocking expressions as they said it. Hermione laughed a bit.

"What's wrong with Ilvermorny?"

Bellatrix audibly groaned.

"Nothing against your cousin, pet but she had an inferior education."

"Oh a little biased are we?"

"No, I'm just stating facts."

Hermione laughed and Bella smiled weakly and looked at her from the corner of her eye. The younger witch smiled and picked at her food, eating slowly as the group talked.

Dinner turned out to be more of a laughing fest as Narcissa told stories about their time at Hogwarts while Bellatrix constantly tried to stop her. Draco even got a laugh when he showed off a black and blue bruise that Hermione gave him with a well aimed snowball.

By the end of dinner Narcissa was beyond tired. She asked one of the house elves to clean the dishes and excused herself. Draco followed suit shortly, leaving Bellatrix and Hermione sitting at the table.

Bellatrix looked at her and rested her head on her hand. Hermione tried not to look at her but she found herself looking over every few seconds. Bellatrix spoke softly.

"You don't have to do it."

"What?"

"Don't act brave, pet. I know you're scared."

Hermione shrugged a bit and looked at her with a soft demeanor.

"Yeah, I am.. aren't you. You have a lot at risk…"

"I'm terrified…"

That caught Hermione off guard. She would have never thought the woman would be capable of such a feeling, let alone fear. Bellatrix took Hermione's hand gently.

"Come with me, it's late and I want to talk."

The two women made their way up to Bella's room. Bellatrix closed the door, locking it. She turned to Hermione and stepped close to her. Hermione could feel her breath stick at the back of her throat.

"Do you know how much I'm risking...even just by being near you? He could kill me."

Hermione sighed and blushed. She didn't know what came over her. This morning she arrived here almost too scared to function but now she was practically falling apart for a woman who I had threatened to kill her just a few hours ago. Bellatrix lent in and stopped just short of her lips.

Hermione closed her eyes awaiting the kiss but instead Bellatrix turned away, walking to her desk. The older woman shook her head as she sat down. Hermione looked at her for a bit before leaving the room. Bellatrix, seeing this sighed in defeat.

Moments later the door opened and Hermione came in holding the yearbook. She walked over to Bella and took her hand. Bella stood and followed her to the bed where they sat next to each other as Hermione opened it to the picture of her having a coughing fit over the cauldron.

" this is the picture that I was looking at when I was told about the prophecy…the day we both passed out. I was wondering if you could tell me about it?"

Bellatrix looked at her with a questioning face. She gave in the minute she saw Hermione's eyes looking back at hers. She sighed and looked at the photo.

"I don't even remember what potion we were brewing. All I know is that I was adding the last ingredient and a first years pet toad jumped into my cauldron. There was a huge cloud of purple dust and I felt as if I was choking on coals. I swear I coughed up puffs of smoke for a bit."

Bellatrix laughed lightly, the memory vivid, as if it had been yesterday. As her laugh faded she caught Hermione smiling at her. Bellatrix couldn't help herself. She placed a finger under Hermione's chin and tilted her head up and planted a soft kiss on her lips.

Hermione returned the kiss and looked up at Bellatrix. She could tell she was scared. She had her reasons to be but at this moment they didn't care. Bellatrix lay her head on Hermione's shoulder.

" I don't know what to do with you pet. I don't want to hurt you but I know he will make me. I don't know what to do about any of this."

Hermione looked at her. She was still trying to piece together the long day and figure out how she landed here. By all rights she should be locking herself in her room out of fear. But not now. Now she sat in a comfortable bed melting into a beautiful woman and strangely enough, she felt safe.

"Bella, can I sleep in here?"

Bellatrix raised her brow and looked at her with a smile.

"Oh I have a nickname now….of course you can, pet."

Hermione's heart began to race. Where did that come from? Asking that wasn't even remotely on her mind but yet she asked it. She felt Bella shift away from her as she got up. She gave Hermione a smile.

Hermione left the room and returned shortly in pajamas. She crawled into bed as Bellatrix watched her with a small sideways grin. Bellatrix went to claim her spot next to the girl when there was a loud thud at the window. The two women jumped, turning to see a very tired owl shaking its feather, recovering after hitting the window. Bella looked to Hermione.

"I haven't wrote to anyone…"

Hermione groaned as she realized.

"I did, I let my cousin know where I was spending my break. We have been talking all year."

Bellatrix opened the window and the owl weakly hopped onto the desk. As she closed the window she took the letter out of its beak.

"She wouldn't tell Potter where you are would she?"

"No. It may seem odd but she actually full heartedly supports the Deatheater's cause."

Bellatrix raised a brow, looking at the envelope.

"But you and her are the only witches. Her whole family is muggles?"

"She always said the family would be protected if she was to ever get into their ranks, out of respect for raising her."

Bellatrix nodded shortly, understanding the views. When Hermione chimed in.

"The odd thing is that she chose to live as a muggle. She claims she loves the look on peoples faces when a normal girl presses a wand to their necks out of nowhere."

Hermione laughed and shook her head. Bellatrix handed her the letter and sat next to her as she opened it and read the letter.

"Hermione,

You lucky bitch. Not even pureblooded and allowed to step into Malfoy Manor. And as for the prophecy I'd say that's even more luck. A woman like Bellatrix lestrange that's a whole lot of alot of things. You have no idea how much I'd like to take your place. All l can really say is that your big cousin is proud.

I do expect you in Texas this summer though...because I want to hear everything. My cousin is finally seeing things my way. And plus I have new games to play and I do hate to drink alone.

Your cousin,

Chandra"

Hermione tossed the letter onto the night stand with a slight blush. Bellatrix was laughing beside her lightly holding her stomach.

"Well she doesn't hide what she wants dose she, pet?"

Hermione rolled her eye.

"No, no she doesn't. She's jealous of me and now I'm stuck in America for the summer because she will find me and drag me there if I try to get out of it."

"What if I come?"

"The Dark lord's second? She would have a heart attack."

Bella laughed and gestured toward the owl. Making Hermione wave her hand in a dismissing way.

" we can't send him back out at night. He's not used to the cold here… it's hot as hell where she is."

Bellatrix nodded and silently conjured up a cage for the cold bird and placed it a bit closer to the fireplace. The bird let out a happy hoot and flew into it, fluffing up his feathers in delight.

The two women finally got into bed. Hermione turned facing away from Bellatrix. They layer in silence, Hermione thinking of how awkward this all was. She found herself taking a sharp breath as she was pulled into bellatrix's arm as she wrapped her arm around Hermione tightly. Hermione's face turned more than a few shades of red. When she heard Bellatrix speak.

"Goodnight, pet."