Two months went by slowly. Everyone was on edge as they went about their daily routines. The night they came back Bella told them that Tom would be trying to get to Hermione. Everyone was to be on guard for anything out of the ordinary. So far nothing has happened but everyone was too afraid to relax.

Hermione barely spoke to Bellatrix. Some nights she stayed with Chandra and Luna, others she would sleep on the sofa in the boy's dorm. She would only go to her dorm to change and eat, when she knew Bella wouldn't be there. She couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that the dark witch didn't say no to McGonagall's plan, or at least try to change her mind. She felt that somewhere in Bella's mind, she actually wanted to go to Tom. It made sense to Hermione. She knew Bella was against the prophecy in the beginning. That she was willing to kill her to get out of the prophecy's shadow.

As Hermione entered her dorm, her mind was filled with those thoughts and more. Maybe the speed of their relationship was too good to be true? Maybe Bellatrix was lying to her… planning on taking her to Tom? She didn't even know if Bella was telling the truth about what happened at Malfoy Manor. She let out a sigh as she reached the kitchen, pushing her thoughts aside as she grabbed a snack. She popped a piece of cheese in her mouth and turned, only to have a small heart attack. She didn't even hear anyone come in and now Bellatrix was standing inches away from her, looking at her with a look between irritation and confusion.

"Are you ever going to speak to me?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and shoved past her only for Bella to grab her arm.

"You need to talk to me."

"No, I don't."

Hermione stared, coldly at Bella before jerking her arm free. The brunette started walking toward the door and Bella yelled after her.

"Where are you going?!"

"To Chandra's. Obviously you've figured out when I come in here so… I'm just… I'm just going to Chandra's."

Bella let out a loud, irritated grunt as she stormed over to the girl, slamming the door shut, just as Hermione had begun to open it. Hermione could feel the slight cloudiness that filled her head for weeks spark up with a tinge of pain as the woman behind her finally reached her limit.

"You are going to talk to me… before we're both in way more pain than we want to be in…"

"Wow, I can't tell if that is you being worried or a threat…"

Hermione turned to glare at the dark witch, who glared back at her with anger in her eyes.

"What do you want from me?"

"For the woman that I'm going to marry to stop acting like I have some kind of horrid plague."

Hermione couldn't help the anger that built up. She bit down on her tongue to stop herself from saying something she wasn't sure of. Bella glared at her, waiting for a response. After a few moments of silence Bella's gaze hardened and Hermione's head gained another layer of pain. The brunette didn't fight the invasion and just stared at the dark witch with anger radiating from her body.

As the assault on her mind ended she watched as Bella's angry expression faded into one of concern. Before Bella could even speak Hermione's words came with a rough tone.

"I will never marry you. There are so many questions when it comes to me and you and I'm sure you wouldn't touch a Mudblood like me unless you were ordered too."

Bellatrix looked blankly at the girl as she tried to process her words. Seeing her chance, Hermione continued with the accusations.

"You hated the prophecy! You hated me before you even met me! You even tried to kill me! For all I know you're only with me because you can't kill me… because you're scared of dying!"

"No!"

Hermione jumped at the sudden interruption. Bella looked at her as she spoke in a low, quiet manner.

"I did hate the prophecy… and yes I did try to kill you…"

Hermione sarcastically nodded, her point being proven before Bella grabbed her hand softly, making the brunette freeze.

"But that night when you sat with me in my bed… I caught you smiling at me. I knew you were scared because of me hurting you but I kissed you anyway."

Hermione looked away, not wanting to look Bella in the eyes as she listened.

"Those thoughts you're having are unwarranted. I love you. I told you the truth about what happened. And I don't know how many times I can apologize about McGonagall's plan."

Hermione stayed quiet but let Bella gently turn her head, making the brunette face her.

" I love you. You have to talk to me…"

Hermione looked at Bella and let out a sigh.

"You promise you're not lying?"

"Yes, you can see my me-"

"I don't want to see your memories…"

Bella gave her a confused look.

"Then how am I supposed to prove that I'm not lying?"

"Bella, i… you're.. you're not lying…"

"Then what is it?"

"Bella, I'm scared… This, all of this shouldn't be happening. I love you, I really do… but I really don't want to be his target…"

Bella let out a sigh and brought Hermione into a tight hug. She laid her head on the girl's shoulder and she spoke softly in the gryffindor's ear.

"I'm not going to let him near you. You have me, Chandra, and all of your friends… we all know what's happening and none of us are going to let you get hurt."

Hermione's eyes stung as they filled with tears. She clung to Bella as the tears began to fall down her face.

"I'm sorry Bella. These two months have been hard…"

Bella looked at her and wiped the tears from her face before kissing her softly.

"I know it's been hard. We can lay off all of this if you want… all I ask is that you still keep an eye out for anything odd."

Hermione nodded as she wiped more tears from her eyes. Bella smiled and pulled her away from the door as she silently called out to Chandra. As Hermione sat down on the sofa the door swung open and Chandra stumbled into the room, closing the door after finding her footing.

"What do yall need?"

Bellatrix looked at the Hufflepuff.

"What have you been doing?"

"Well, after Pansy told me what she learned about Snape we have been keeping an eye on him."

"Good, now take a break."

Chandra looked at the dark witch with a look of shock.

"Uh, okay… how long of a break?"

"Don't really think of it as a break. Just lay off the urgency."

Chandra looked between Bella and her cousin.

"Are you two okay? What the fuck is going on…"

Hermione looked at the redhead and sighed. Everything that has been going on lately didn't just affect her and Bella. It affected Chandra and Luna too. The Hufflepuff barely had time to spend with Luna because she had been following Hermione around when her and Pansy weren't watching Snape. Hermione gave her cousin a small smile.

"I'm fine, I'm just a bit stressed. Why don't you take some time to be with Luna…"

Chandra left the room so fast that it genuinely surprised Hermione. The brunette looked at her dark witch and smiled.

"Well… I guess she liked that idea."

"I would hope so. I definitely like the idea of spending time with you. I've been alone for two months, I think it's time to make up for it. Potential threats are no reason to stop snogging."

Hermione let out a small laugh before Bella captured her lips in a rough kiss. Hermione smiled against Bella's lips and ran her fingers through her dark curls. As Bella broke the kiss she smiled.

"No matter what happens, I'm not going to Tom. I'm staying here with you."

Hermione giggled as she looked at Bella, causing the dark witch to question her.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Oh, just wondering if you ever smile like that in public…"

"Never, I have an image to keep up."

"Oh lucky me. So I'm the only one who gets to see it?"

Bella smiled at the brunette in front of her as Hermione giggled a bit more. The dark witch pulled Hermione into her lap and kissed her neck and held her tight.