As the group of girls talked amongst themselves about the wedding in the middle of Dumbledore's office, professor McGonagall entered the room and nodded towards Narcissa. The youngest Black sister nodded back to her and got both of her sisters attention. Bella gave her a strange look and Narcissa whispered.
"Get Chandra and come with me."
Bella nodded, despite the strange behavior and walked to the group and pulled the Hufflepuff away from the girls. The two of them exchanged confused looks as they followed Narcissa and Andromeda out of the office. After a short walk with McGonagall they were let into a room, where Draco sat waiting for them. Bella and Chandra turned to look at McGonagall and the professor looked at them with a worried look.
"Because of recent developments and Tom's search for the two of you… there has been a change in plans…"
Bella and Hermione's dorm
Bella entered the bedroom quietly and looked at Hermione's sleeping form. She stood there for a moment and watched the girl sleep as a sickening feeling swirled in her stomach. She took a few breaths and got in bed. She pulled the brunette into her and squeezed her tight. When the girl shifted she let out a shaky sigh. She relaxed her grip and the girl turned towards her and smiled lightly, never opening her eyes. Bella let out a sigh as she thought ' good, she didn't wake up' and closed her eyes. Just when she got comfortable she heard Hermione speak.
"Where did you all disappear to?"
"McGonagall wanted to talk."
"About?"
"Nothing,pet… it's fine."
Bellatrix laid there waiting for a reply. When one didn't come she continued.
"I have to leave for a while…"
Hermione sat up, fully awake now. She looked at Bella with a worried expression.
"What? Why? For how long?"
Bellatrix looked at her and her stomach twisted again. She couldn't believe this was happening.
"I can't tell you. I just need you to do something for me."
Hermione nodded and Bella grabbed her hand.
"You need to stay calm, stay close to Draco and the others. Alright?"
"I'll have Chandra to help me with that."
Bella shook her head and Hermione's eyes filled with tears.
"What's going on Bella?"
"Just promise me you will stay close to the boys and keep an open mind to whatever happens."
Bella cringed as Hermione started crying, and pain flooded her head. The gryffindor looked up to her as she cried.
"You're going to him aren't you?"
Bellatrix couldn't think of what to say and she just pulled the crying girl into her lap. She held her as she sobbed into her shoulder, completely lost on what to say to the girl. She placed a kiss on the girl's head.
"I love you Hermione."
Chandra and Luna's dorm
Chandra sat on the sofa, staring at nothing, as she tapped her nails against the frosted glass of a vodka bottle. She couldn't bring herself to say goodbye to Luna, just the thought of it made her feel like she was going into a panic attack. She kept shuffling through her thoughts, trying to find a way out of her situation. Could she bring up the vow? Surely her job was still to protect Hermione. Didn't she have to stay at Hogwarts to do that? Wouldn't Bella want that? Why were they even going with McGonagall's plan? Her thoughts were interrupted by the bottle being taken away from her. She looked up to see Luna smiling at her.
"It's okay… you know?"
Chandra shook her head.
"I'll never understand how you do that…"
Luna sat next to her and laid her head against the taller woman.
" I saw you leave with Bella and Cissy. I assume McGonagall would have had a change in plans because of what Cissy warned Bella about."
Chandra laid her head back and sighed.
"You're amazing, Luna."
Luna smiled lightly and nudged the deatheaters side, making her look at her.
"I know you have to leave. It's okay…"
"No it's not. I don't want to. You're here."
Luna kissed Chandra and smiled. The redhead pulled her into a tight hug.
"I have to leave tonight…"
" It's okay. I love you."
"I love you too."
The forbidden forest
Bella walked down Chandra's path, kicking rocks as she looked at her feet. She eventually got to the clearing where Chandra sat waiting. The Hufflepuff was on her forth cigarette and was shaking. Bella touched the woman's shoulder and she jumped before looking at the dark witch. As Chandra calmed down bella spoke in a broken voice.
"Are you alright."
The redhead shook her head and wiped a tear from her eyes. She sucked in a lung full of air and let it out slowly.
"I just found someone…"
"I know Chandra."
Chandra looked up at bella with a weak smile.
"Are you okay?"
"No…"
"Is Mione?"
Bella shifted and tugged at her slave.
"She cried herself to sleep…"
Chandra threw her head back as she let smoke out of her lungs.
"This sucks…"
"We should get going… tomorrow is going to be rough."
Chandra stood and wiped her eyes before the two women disapparated.
Malfoy manor
As the two women appeared in the study Narcissa entered the room with a sad look on her face. She went over to the two of them and wrapped them in a tight hug. As they parted, Narcissa looked at the both of them.
"It's going to work out fine. It won't be long. I promise."
Bellatrix looked at her sister with dead eyes and decided not to talk. She just looked away and made her way up to her room. Narcissa looked at Chandra who had begun to cry again. She instantly pulled the Hufflepuff into another hug and rubbed her back gently.
"It's going to be fine."
Chandra managed to speak through the sobbing.
"Please don't tell anyone I cried Cissy…"
"Oh hush, there's nothing wrong with it. Now, go get some rest."
Chandra gave her a small smile and went upstairs.