Hermione found herself waking up in Bella's bed more often than not. The days seemed to melt together. They went by much too fast for her liking, she felt as if she hadn't had time to get to know Bella as much as she wanted too. The scared feeling that sat in her chest when she arrived at the manor had been replaced with a warm feeling that made her flustered. The one thing she was sure of was that she was glad she gave this a chance.

As much as Hermione found her time with Bellatrix to be amazing, if not odd, it was coming to an end for now. She woke that morning with a sickening heaviness in her stomach. She didn't want to go back to Hogwarts. She sat up and looked at the woman beside her, who slept with her arm wrapped tightly around her. She smiled and carefully slipped out of her grip, making her way to her room.

She passed Draco on the way, who was buttoning the cuffs on his dress shirt with his tie and robes over his shoulder.

"Good morning, Granger. Ready to go back to hell?"

"Oh it's not that bad?"

"Whatever you say."

Hermione laughed and went into her room, closing the door behind her. She walked to the closet and grabbed her uniform. She started to change into it, her mind kept going back to the woman in the other room. As she finished buttoning her shirt she heard the door creak open.

"You were going to say goodbye, correct?"

Hermione turned to see a tired looking Bellatrix leaning on the doorframe. The shorter woman yawned and looked at Hermione with a weak smile. She almost looked sad, her eyes were dull and it seemed like she was trying to force the small smile. Hermione made her way to her without a second thought and wrapped her arms around her waist, laying her head on Bella's shoulder.

Bellatrix held her tight and Hermione smiled. Bella sighed and spoke in a hushed tone.

"I won't see you until this summer if we're lucky…if I see you before then then I know you didn't listen to me."

"What if I just want to see you?"

"It's not funny, pet. If you sense a trap stay away."

Bellatrix tightened her grip on the girl and stroked her hair, pressing a kiss on her head.

"I want you safe. You've grown on me, pet."

Hermione smiled at this. It made her happy to know she wasn't the only one to feel that way. Hermione pulled back as she felt bellas body rattle from a small laugh. She looked at the woman who met her eyes with playfulness in her eyes.

"It didn't take us long to start snogging, did it?"

Hermione smiled, shaking her head. Her mind went completely numb while staring into dark eyes. She captured Bellatrix's lips with hers, making Bella jump a bit. As they broke apart Bella smiled and walked into the room.

She walked to the bed and picked up the red and gold tie. She looked at it for a moment before looking at the young witch.

"Me and your cousin have been exchanging letters."

Hermione felt her face heat up and her chest tighten as Bella walked to her, putting her tie around her neck. As she began to tie it she spoke again.

"It's nothing like that. There's a surprise waiting for you at school. Seems your cousin was expelled in her last year… I had Lucius pull some strings with the ministry and she should be privately sorted today."

Hermione's eyes went wide. Chandra had never told her that she never finished her schooling.

"I never knew that. Why did she tell you?"

"Me and her have come to an agreement. Just enjoy her company, I have everything under control."

Bellatrix tightened the tie and placed a kiss on the girl's cheek.

"Just stay safe."

Hogwarts

Later that day Hermione sat enjoying her dinner and talking to Harry and Ron. She kept looking around. She spotted Draco, Fred, George, Luna, but no sign of the one person she was told would be here. She was brought back to reality by Harry.

"So how was your Christmas?"

"It was good."

"That's good then."

Ron looked between the two and around the room before speaking.

"Does the school usually let students start during the second term?"

Harry raised his brow and poked at his food.

"I didn't know we had a new student."

"I saw her at the back of potions class. She's out right evil looking for a Hufflepuff. I get a bad feeling from her too."

Hermione held in a laugh. Surly Chandra wasn't a Hufflepuff. The girl was evil and had a twisted mind. She thought to herself for a bit, remembering all the cringe worthy jokes and klutzy moments, not to mention how she was loyal to the bone when she put her mind on it. Really it would be a fifty-fifty on Slytherin or Hufflepuff. there was a snap and Hermione looked at Ron.

"You okay Hermione."

Absolutely, I'm fine. Try not to judge people so quickly though ron.

Hermione watched as Ron went to speak but his eyes went wide and quickly went back to eating. Hermione gave him a confused look until she felt a pair of cold hands on her shoulders. Sharp nails slightly poked her skin through her shirt and she could feel the body jewelry cold against her cheek as Chandra brought her head down to her shoulder.

"Hey cuz'."

Harry and Ron looked at Hermione.

"That's your cousin?"

Hermione turned to see the tall woman with long red hair, half shaven. Her lip ring clicked against her teeth as she gave a big sarcastic smile. She placed her hands on her hips making the thick spiked bracelets clack over her studded crossed belts that sat over her skirt.

"I'm here. Introduce me to your friends."

Harry looked at Hermione and huffed.

"A little commanding, isn't she?"

Chandras cold blue eyes snapped toward the boy.

"Shut it potter."

Ron laughed a bit before Hermione elbowed her cousin in the gut, making her double over and groan.

"She's rude. But take it as a compliment. If she's rude and brutish toward you it means she like you."

She moved over allowing Chandra to sit next to her. Ron looked at her for a moment.

"Your American, but I've heard you use some terms that I don't recognize, where exactly are you from?"

Chandra looked at the redhead with a shocked face.

"Well hi I'm Chandra. And you are?"

"Oh sorry, Ron Weasley."

Chandra grinned, she loved messing with new people.

"Well if you must know that… i'm from the southern area of America, Texas actually. That's where any of the slang terms you heard in potions class today came from."

Harry let out a short and sharp laugh.

"Ha! Knew it!"

Hermione glared at him and he shrugged his shoulders.

"You can hear it in her voice, mione. A southern drawl is a bit hard to hide, even if it is small like hers."

Hermione kept staring at him until Chandra slapped her shoulder.

"Chill the hell out. He didn't say anything wrong. I'm a big girl and I can handle myself."

Harry quickly examined Chandra and gave her a questioning look.

"How old are you exactly."

Hermione groaned and let her head fall to the table and Chandra laughed. She patted her back and looked at Harry.

"I'm twenty-five. I got expelled years ago. Dumbledore is letting me finish my education here."

Harry nodded and Hermione sat up straight. Glaring at her cousin.

"Yet you never told me about that."

"Yes, well, I don't speak of my failures."

Ron spoke up between mouthfuls of food.

"Why were you expelled?"

At this Chandra lit up with a tinge of excitement and darkness.

"I can show you…"

As Hermione was about to jab her with a fork they heard an infuriating sound.

"Hem-hem."

Hermione and Chandra turned around to see umbridge in all her pink glory. She stood there eyeing the group before turning her attention to Chandra.

"Ms. Goldwing, is it? I would have you know that all students are required to follow procedures when it comes to their uniforms. Your accessories are, may I say, not appropriate."

"More appropriate than using a blood quill on students."

Umbridge stiffened as she stared at the rather unorthodox girl. Chandra on the other hand sat, leaning against the table and staring at her with a cold blank face. Umbridge huffed and walked off. Leaving the group alone. Hermione looked at her cousin.

"You know you made an enemy right?"

" I heard about what happened to Harry. Harry's your friend, it won't happen again."

Harry stared at her and smiled.

"Well...thanks."

"Don't thank me. I'm more than willing to play the big sister role."

She looked at Hermione and smiled.

"Been playing it for a while."

The next day the trio were walking to a meeting when Chandra came up from nowhere, draping her arms over Harry and Hermione's shoulders.

"What y'all up too."

Harry looked at Hermione and she shrugged. He looked back at Chandra shortly.

"Come along then."

The four of them walked through the corridor until they reached the room of requirement. As they entered students were already practicing their defensive spells. Chandra looked around. She gritted her teeth. Then Harry turned to her.

"So I know you were expelled. How much magic do you know?"

Chandra put her hand to her chest and gave him a hurt look.

"Ouch Potter. Let me show you. But first...I'm not dueling or even practicing magic in this uniform."

With a flick of her wand, and without a word. Her uniform was replaced with an outfit that consisted of her usual accessories, a form fitting black tank top, a pair of ripped jeans that fit snug to her legs and disappeared into knee high combat boots.

Harry looked at Hermione and back to her.

"you don't have to speak when casting...did you teach yourself?"

"You can say that."

Ron looked at her for a moment before nudging Hermione.

"I know who she reminds me of now, mione."

"Who, Ron?"

"Tonks."

The three of them looked at her for a moment before laughing. Chandra crossed her arms and glared at her cousin. Hermione notices and nudges Harry in the side, making him stop and look at Chandra.

"Care to show me what you can do?"

Chandra grinned and nodded in agreement. And soon her and Harry stood facing each other with their wands at the ready. The crowd of students watched them closely and whispered to each other. Chandra smiled as Harry began to speak but before he could say the spell Chandra whipped her wand harshly, sending Harry flying back,hitting the mirrored wall behind him.

The crowd gasped and Chandra ran over to him.

"Hey you good?"

Harry groaned and sat up slightly.

"Yeah. Absolutely. Completely fine."

Chandra chuckled and offered her hand to him. Harry grabbed it and she pulled him to his feet, Harry having to grab onto her bracelet for extra support. When he got to his feet he looked at her, panting as she tried to speak.

"Not bad...Brilliant actually."

"Thanks."

Harry tried to walk but stopped holding his back. Chandra laughed,rolling her eyes and threw his arm over her shoulder, helping him over to where Ron and Hermione were.

Malfoy manor

Narcissa walked through the study with her sister as they talked. The conversation went silent, then she asked.

"Did you tell her why Chandra is there."

"No. It's better if she didn't know."

"You don't think it will hurt the progress between you two?"

"Even if it does, if she knew I put her there to protect her then she would avoid Chandra and get herself into trouble."

Narcissa nodded.

"It sounds like you've thought hard on this."

"Yes. I can't very well protect her and do what has to be done."

Narcissa smiled and lightly hugged her sister, making Bella stiffen. Bellatrix looked at Narcissa with a questioning expression. When her sister spoke again she was almost crying.

"I'm happy that you actually care for the girl, Bella."

Bellatrix gave a light smile and hugged her sister tight, earning a giggle from Narcissa as she returned the gesture. She broke the hug and looked at her sister, holding her hands lightly.

"I do care for her, Cissy. Thank you for forcing me to give it a chance."