Masquerade Act One: Hidden Figures
The Seventh Dance: A Ball Where you Fall
A/N: I've been listening to a lot of waltz music as I write this story. I don't know why, it just helps me get into the mood of the writing. Its inspired the slightly waltz-y themed chapter.
In response to one of the reviews, I will clarify the meaning of the wands being categorized in the last chapter. They were put in boxes labeled in certain eras or under certain names. This is simply because the hotel collects wands from witches and wizards and puts them in boxes relating to the era of which that witch or wizard came to the hotel. So because the wand Hermione had was in a box labeled Voldemort's War, this means the time period she came from is seen as more or less a war that Voldemort created.
Dance is the hidden language of the soul of the body. Martha Graham
The sound of frantic footsteps alerted the brunette to Bellatrix's moving before the weight of her body slammed into Hermione, the older witches hand slapping the door closed before Hermione could so much as move a toe past the threshold.
"What are you doing?" Hermione asked indignantly as she turned around to face the older witch who still hadn't moved. Her left hand was wrapped around her waist to prevent her from leaving and other hand still over her hand on the back of the door. The older witches eyes swam with real fear and her face had paled.
"Don't do that." Her voice was a soft horror stricken whisper.
"Do what? Leave? Because you clearly wanted me to," Hermione said, pushing the arm around her waist away and crossing her arms over her chest. Bellatrix leaned back, giving the two of them more space. "You can't leave without a mask."
Hermione jutted her chin in what Bellatrix knew was a wordless question. With a sigh she took her hand off the door, feeling a bit safer now that Hermione wasn't going to burn into a crisp. She had flew into a panic when she had seen the brunette head to the door without a mask on and moved without thinking. Her heart was settling down in her rib cage and she felt her voice was steady enough to respond. "It's not safe without it."
Hermione arched her brows, not satisfied with this answer.
"You'll die," Bellatrix snarled out at last. Damn was this girl infuriating. She had thought her curiosity would be helpful to their cause but it was only stressing her out more. "There, are you happy? Are you glad you know?" Bellatrix shook her hands, her voice raising in pitch.
Hermione was quiet. Then: "Why does that happen?"
Bellatrix wanted to let out a scream and tear her hair out. Of course the girl had another infuriating question on her tongue!
"I don't know okay, I don't know everything!" the black haired witch strode back to the living room and poked at the fire angrily, trying to calm herself down before she snapped and flung a curse at the girl.
"So if I wear my mask then can I leave? Cause I gather you don't need my help."
Bellatrix didn't answer, poking her fire until her eyes teared up from glaring at it for so long. Her nostrils flared as she took calming breaths to ease the internal fire inside her. "I do need your help," she said at last, quietly.
"You what? I couldn't hear you." Bellatrix gave a small start at this. The girl had soundlessly came closer to her and she hadn't been expecting her to. She cast a look to see the smug expression on her face and knew the girl had heard. She was just going to make it more difficult on Bella. "I said I need your help," she breathed through gritted teeth. "So I'd appreciate it if you stayed."
"And?" Hermione arched her brow and Bellatrix nearly bent the poker in her hand as she held back the snarl that threatened to rip from her lips. Instead her hands flexed on the poker and her lips twitched. "I apologize for my rude words. I'm simply on edge because I wish to get moving with the mission." She raised her chin, daring Hermione to refuse this apology. It was the best she would get. The other girl seemed to sense this because she took it. "I accept your apology. Now, enlighten me on this mission of yours."
"Now we're talking!" Bellatrix exclaimed excitedly, throwing the poker away and all her previous anger gone as she hurriedly explained everything she had planned to Hermione, her eyes alive with the exhilaration of doing something that would bring her closer to freedom. The girl struggled to reign in her questions until Bellatrix was done informing. But when they had briefed extensively the girl agreed to it.
"I'll do it."
"Good, now we have to get dressed. Can't be late for our ball now, can we?" Bellatrix winked and set off to fetch their dresses.
The ball gown that Bellatrix had picked out for Hermione was stunning. It was white of course, with accents of gold and intricate patterns that followed the material and gave her a dove like innocent appearance. Long gloves went up to her elbows with flowing gauzy white material attached to them (they made her feel like she had wings like a bird, a touch ridiculous really) and a corset pushed up her cleavage making it look bigger than it actually was. She didn't feel too comfortable with showing so much of her skin, her whole chest and back free but sucked it up. She had to look the part for her role in this. And her role was very vital. Everything depended on her playing the part right and on getting the key. Carefully she combed and styled her hair into the manner Bellatrix had instructed her too, the hair flowing down her back in gentle waves and she put on a heavy pearl necklace that laid nicely against her skin, before adding pearl bracelets. And for the final touch she put on her mask. It had a plumage of feathers at the top and swirling gold designs dripping down from her eyes. It covered a majority of her face which she was grateful for. Giving an appreciative twirl in the mirror she slyly smiled to herself. She felt beautiful, now if only she could feel confident enough to pull this off.
"Bella, I'm done," she announced, stepping out of her room and bumping into the older woman who was just outside her door. Whereas Hermione's outfit was light and pure the older woman's was dark and predatory. Her's was the opposite of Hermione's; long black sleeves, black with purple and red flairs and a corset (although she didn't really need one, so Hermione found it rather unfair she was wearing one) and a mask that was cat like, red whiskers drawn on the black material and two small black ears that protruded among the mass of raven curls that Bellatrix had swept one half over her shoulder and the rest over her back. Her neckline plunged dangerously and Hermione tore her gaze away to look at her choker instead. It was inlaid with a precious looking gem that matched the red of the witches crimson lips. Bellatrix had really dressed up for the part too, and Hermione was jealous how good the woman looked for her age. Surely she had to be in her thirties yet she was giving Hermione a run for her money and she was only...only what, twenty? No, that age didn't seem right. So even my age is a mystery here.
"What? Cat got your tongue?" Bellatrix smirked, causing Hermione to blush, realizing she had been staring at the other woman wordlessly and at her cleavage where her gaze had drawn unconsciously to again.
"Uh, no, I was just wondering what the purse was for," Hermione flustered, waving her hands in front of her as she blubbered the first lie that came into her head. How embarrassing.
"Sureeee, my bag," Bellatrix smirked, tapping it with the pointer finger of the hand it was held in. "Which happens to be down here." Her voice was rife with amusement and only flustered Hermione more.
"Oh bugger off," she snapped, as she turned and went down the stairs, her cheeks burning.
Bellatrix chuckled softly behind her and followed her down the stairs. "It's for our wands. Unless you rather we keep them elsewhere?" Hermione made the mistake of looking back on that comment and saw the other witch was gesturing to her cleavage. Hermione's embarrassment only doubled. "I said bugger off!"
They made their way out of the safe house and with a swish and flick of Bella's wand she opened up a portal to where the ball was being held. They walked down a corridor packed with people who were chatting excitedly as they awaited to enter the dance hall.
"From here we split up," Bella leaned and whispered into Hermione's ear. "I'll be keeping my eyes on you so you don't have to worry if you run into trouble. I can't risk giving you the wand now on this mission as he'll be able to sense it." By he, she meant the judge.
"Are you sure the judge will be here?" Hermione asked, tugging nervously on her gloves. Now that the big moment was here she felt uncertain if she could pull it off. What if she messed up?
"He's always here. It's his event. And he'll be the only one here too. The judges don't really hang out with each other. They have their own spheres of influence." Hermione nodded her head as she took this in, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. "He'll be the only one not wearing a mask. And before you ask why, it's because he runs this place. He's unaffected by whatever magic is here." Hermione let an amused smile grace her lips. The other knew her proclivity for question asking well.
The two girls had drawn closer to the entrance of the hall and Hermione could hear the waltz music. "I'll see you in a little bit. Good luck." With that Bellatrix separated from Hermione and went into the dance hall first. She was to check the hall for potential threats and enemies and keep watch on Hermione as the brunette up kept her part in this. Watching the other witches back disappear among the other party goers, Hermione rubbed her hands together. She had this. She could do it. She was Gryffindor after all. She still had no idea what that word meant but it gave her comfort and a surge of bravery.
She waited her turn and finally made it to the dance hall. It was enchantingly beautiful inside, a room with yellow and cream colored walls and pillars of light marble that held torches on them. Buffet tables lined the side, filled with the best food one could possibly wish for, and a dizzying array of drinks that simply begged to be tasted. Hermione was magically drawn to them but shook her head, reminding herself of what her goal was. She scanned the crowds, some people were eating, others talking but most dancing in pairs of two to the music. They twirled around in rhythm in some sort of coordinated dance across the dance floor. She couldn't see the judge anywhere. He was the only one not wearing a mask so it shouldn't be too difficult to find him. A figure from the corner of her eye caught her focus and she saw it was Bellatrix, leaning against a pillar and sipping a drink casually. She tipped her head to her left and Hermione followed it, and there, standing on top of a grand pair of stairs was the judge, talking to some woman.
Alright, it's time to make a move, Hermione thought grimly and made her way to the stairs. Now that she had spotted him, how did she get rid of the other woman in her way? This thought gave her pause when she felt her feet ripped out from underneath her as if someone with a rope had tugged them and she fell face first onto the stairs just a couple of steps from the man with an undignified squeak. Well this was just going smoothly, she thought sarcastically as shame burned in her stomach. How had she even fallen? She wasn't moving- oh, Bella was so going to get a scolding when Hermione saw her next. The witch had cast a tripping jinx on her!
"My fair maiden, are you alright?" A timbre voice asked and Hermione looked up to see the man had extended a hand to help her up, his attention now on her.
"Thank you, sir," Hermione said, tucking a stray hair behind her ear and allowing him to pull her up.
"That was quite a fall you took," he stated, appraising her with gentle eyes. "You're not hurt are you?" From closer up Hermione could see how stunning the man looked. He was wearing a tight red suit, the collar of his white shirt open to reveal a toned expanse of chest. He had long brown hair whose hair tips tickled the length of his jaw and impeccable facial features with green gold eyes that just pulled her in. She shook her head before she let the sensation of falling into them pull her along any further. What had Bellatrix said to do? To lure him away to separate room? Could she do it? She didn't know how to flirt with someone much less seduce them! Why couldn't Bella have just done this? She certainly fit the role of a seductress better.
"I can't be the one to do it. He'll suspect me before I get the key. I'm too popular for my own good." She had winked at this. "But if I stay out of the way and just watch I'm sure they'll pay me no mind and I'll be able to keep you safe while you do the key stealing. They'll never suspect you. You're not that high on their shit list."
That's right. That's what Bella had said. Hermione gave a pained grimace.
"I think I've twisted my ankle. May I trouble you for your assistance in sitting down somewhere and looking it over?" Hermione pouted and looked up through her lashes like the dark witch had instructed her in their mini impromptu lesson on seduction before they had headed out.
"Lean against him. Let him know you're helpless and weak and reliant on him. He fancies himself a lady killer. I'm pretty sure it won't be long before he decides he can conquer you and add you to his list of bedded ladies." Hermione had scowled at the way Bellatrix had put it.
"What? It's true. Don't be offended." The witch had shrugged and moved on to teaching Hermione something else.
Hermione leaned heavily against him, making sure her chest pressed against his side, and clutched his hand with her's as his free arm came to circle her shoulders. "My apologizes," he cast a look at the other woman he had been entertaining before. "But my good graces would not allow me to leave a injured lady to be." The woman didn't look too pleased Hermione was stealing the judge away but there was nothing she could do now. She nodded her head tightly and went down the stairs.
"I'm afraid I am troubling you," Hermione sniffed, sounding forlorn. "I did not mean to interrupt your pleasant evening." They made their way slowly up the stairs, Hermione faking a limp on her right leg.
"You did nothing of the sort. As I said before, it is my duty to help a fair maiden like you who has been hurt."
"I only hope my company will be enough to make up for this little mishap in the smoothness of your night." Hermione felt a sweat drop roll down her back. What else was she to say now? Was Bella even following her? She cast a furtive glance behind her and saw the witch was now ascending the stairs behind them, attempting to act as casual as she could about it.
The man chuckled, a deep rich thing. "Your company is enough for me. You are a delightful young lady." They had made it to a seat cushion in a corridor off to the side. She sat down on it and twisted her ankle experimentally, a fake look of consideration on her face as she tested it out.
"Shall I check for you?" he offered and Hermione's head shot up to look at him. He had a charming grin on his face. "My good sir-"
"You can call me Dorian," he interjected smoothly, holding out a hand to pause her words before he knelt in front on her on one extended knee and took her ankle between his strong hands. "And it is not beneath me to check a fair maiden's foot if she is in pain." He rolled the foot back and forth, left and right, casting minute gazes at her face with each motion to determine if it hurt her or not.
"I think it is fine," Hermione said, batting her lashes at him. "Your touch has made it all the better." A cocky smile broke out on his face at hearing this.
"I have heard my touch makes a great many things better." The way he said the words caused a shiver to run down the brunette's back. Oh, he was definitely flirting with her. Could she prod him just a bit further?
"Such as? Forgive me if I require further evidence," Hermione said playfully, feeling a bit ill. She hated the thought of being alone in a room with him and having to do this next part but she took comfort in the knowledge her friend would be close by. He stood up, offering her his hand and she saw a glimpse of the key as it slide around his neck before hiding underneath his shirt again. It was small, gold and simple. Was it really the one they needed?
She took his hand and he lead her down further to a room. He pushed it open and then closed it shut behind him. The room was decked all in red and Hermione avoided making eye contact with the bed. Instead she tried her best to smile at him demurely as he slowly approached her, his eyes taking her in. She was sort of surprised how easily this was going. She had been expecting it to be a bit harder honestly.
He grabbed her hands and she was unable to hide the small tremors that went through them. "You are nervous?" he whispered, green gold eyes peering at her in concern, gaze then hovering over her lips suggestively.
Hermione knew she would have to kiss Dorian to make this work. In all honesty she didn't know if she would successful. She hadn't ever kissed someone before. She knew it to be true despite the lapse of her memories. When she had told the dark witch this she had merely laughed.
"Ha!" She cackled with much more vigor than was necessary. "You don't know how to kiss?"
"No, I don't okay," Hermione hissed in embarrassment, clenching her hands as her cheeks flushed. "I guess I never had the opportunity to!"
"Well we can't have you going over and seducing Dorian without ever having kissed anyone before."
"So how am I going to learn?" Hermione asked, casting the dark witch a gaze as she paced around the room they were in.
"Don't look at me like that," she sneered and grabbed a pillow off of the armchair. "Here, practice on this pillow." She waved her wand and tossed the now changed object into Hermione's lap. She picked it up curiously and let out a little 'eep!' before throwing it across the room. The pillow had a vague human face, indents for its eyes and mouth, and it made kissing motions at her.
The object collided with a vase on a shelf and knocked it to the floor. Bellatrix tsked as she waved her wand and cleaned up the little mess. "You don't need to throw things like a little brat. I'm only trying to help."
"I am not kissing that, that thing!" Hermione said, pointing accusingly at the pillow which was still producing kissing noises. Bellatrix picked it up, admired it and showed it to Hermione who shrunk back in her seat on the blue couch as if the sight of the pillow physically hurt her. "It's kinda cute, I don't see why you don't wanna kiss it," the dark witch said.
"Why don't you kiss it, if you're so fond of it," Hermione countered and the dark witch gave a short laugh. "I'm not the one with no kissing experience." She gave the pillow a thoughtful look. "I suppose you can go with the innocent act. Tell him it's your first time. That'll really get him going."
Hermione frowned in disgust at this. It was either that or the pillow.
"Only a little. I only wish to please you well Dorian," she said, biting her lip in what she hoped would come off as a playful gesture as she swayed gently from side to side, hands demurely hidden behind her back. He smirked at this and lifted her chin up with one hand so she could look up higher at him.
"I'm sure you will not fail." And then he kissed her. His lips were soft and skilled but failed to elicit any genuine feelings in Hermione. Pretending to be engrossed in his mouth, she ran her hands over his chest, her thumbs just brushing against the cold steel of the key. He chuckled into her mouth at that and pulled away, pinning her hands to where they were still on his chest. His eyes had grown darker. Was he going to comment on the key? "Eager, aren't we?" he poised and Hermione covered up her tenseness with a laugh. So he didn't suspect her yet.
"You could say that. It is my first time after all. Please be gentle with me," she pleaded looking up through her lashes at him. There was no way she would have kissed that pillow. She was going to play the innocent girl and hoped her first kiss hadn't been too awkward. She must have done well because she could see his face light up with some sort of satisfaction.
"Don't worry, I always take care of my ladies." He gestured to the bed. "Make yourself comfortable." Hermione gulped and nodded her head. Holy shit, things were escalating in the direction she didn't want them to, although missions wise it was all going super smoothly. She sat down, every step closer to the bed having made her heart race faster. Dorian took his time taking of his suit, and his shirt, leaving his toned top half on display. The key still hung around his neck, glimmering in the glow of the candlelight. How was she to take it off? Could she, without him noticing? But that was some strong looking chain.
He strode over to her, before he gently pushed her to the covers and hovered over her, his eyes taking her in greedily. "Should I take off my mask?" she asked not knowing what to do in this tense moment, as his eyes seemed to bore into her very soul. A sad smile played on his lips. "Sadly you cannot, but I will never forget the taste of your lips, so you need have no worry that I will not remember you tomorrow or the day after."
Hermione didn't really care for that and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Dorian brought his lips closer to her's and they kissed again, his hands roaming up and down her sides. She did the same to him, running her hands all over his back and up to his neck, trying to find the necklace's clasp. Where was it?! She didn't know how much longer she could keep this charade going before she couldn't take it anymore. She felt like she was suffocating on his lips.
He pulled his mouth from her but not far, his breath brushing her mouth as he spoke. "You seem fascinated with my necklace."
"A-apologizes," Hermione stuttered, caught off guard. "It merely is in the way of my exploration of your body." He sat up, hands coming to the back of his neck and with deft motions unclasped it and tossed it to a desk drawer next to Hermione's head. "Is that better?"
"Yes, much," she whispered as he hovered over her once more. Again they kissed and she could feel him searching her sides this time-but for a zipper. "Let me undress myself," she insisted. "It'll be easier since I know where the zipper is." Dorian paused at this and her heart pounded in wonder of what he would say. Something flashed in his eyes, too quickly to decipher, before he finally gave an answer.
"Very well," he sat up once more and moved off the bed, allowing Hermione to slide off the side where the night dresser with his key was. He watched her with eager eyes, but that was what she didn't want.
"Could I ask for a bit of privacy? I want to surprise you with-" she gestured to her body and he got the message.
"You are an odd one. The first woman I've met who insists on undressing herself." He smiled but complied with what she said. He turned to face the wall and as silently as she could Hermione grabbed the key off the desk and making sure it was securely hidden inside her bra, she made light conversation as she slowly edged to the door, her gaze on him.
"Can you guess what color my under garments are?"
"White, I would hazard. There's only three colors here. And white is the one you deserve." Hermione paused in her movements, her body mere inches away from the door and to freedom, but her mind was no longer on escape like it had been for the whole duration of this scene, but on finding out what else he had to say.
"White? Why am I white?"
"Each color signifies a persons accomplishments in their life, and because of what you've done you deserve white," he explained vaguely, his back still to her and hands raising as he gesticulated.
"Is white a good color? I know it stands for purity so then-"
"Hermione, you ask as many questions as you did before." His utterance of her name froze her. She didn't recall ever telling him her name during this night. "And here I thought you'd changed during your time in the prisons. But I can see Bellatrix has gotten her evil claws into your mind and further corrupted you. I had such hope that you'd seen the sense of things and would just follow the rules of this place obediently." He turned around to face her, his lips hard. "Hermione, you hold so much potential. You have the chance to achieve the greatest of glories, if only," he took a step forward, "you wait," two steps forward, "patiently to be judged." And now he was in front of her, towering over her, his eyes no longer green gold but black.
"All you have to do is hand over the key right now, and I'll forget all about this. I won't send you into a fiery pit of doom." He held out his hand, waiting for his key. Hermione clutched her hands to her chest, his sickly sweet promises poisoning her mind. His voice was telling her to give in, but her heart told her to ignore it.
"I-" She didn't get to finish that thought as the door to her right suddenly exploded into a thousand tiny pieces.
"Bella," Hermione breathed out the same time Dorian cried out, "Bellatrix!" The dark witch strode into the room, her dress missing pieces of fabric, but otherwise unscathed. Her wand was out and without a second to spare she flung a curse over Hermione's head at Dorian, sending him crashing into the wall across the room.
"Do you have the key?" she asked, eyes searching Hermione. The girl pulled the key chain out to show proof before tucking it back in. "Good." Bella nodded her head curtly. "Now we get the fuck out of here."
"Bellatrix!" Dorian bellowed with the strength of a crowd of pissed of men. He stood up, his skin caked with wall plaster. His muscles rippled and his eyes had turned completely dark, two bumps on his forehead rising and bubbling, whatever was underneath them straining to free itself. "Go, go!" Bellatrix hastily cried, grabbing Hermione by her shoulder with one hand and pushing her out the doorway behind her.
"But what about-?" Hermione couldn't stand to leave her friend behind.
"I'm coming I promise! Confrigo!" Dorian exploded into flames as Bellatrix directed the spell on him. With that she turned on her heel, knowing she hadn't really hurt him just succeeded in pissing him off more. "Run!" she ordered and Hermione, who had dawdled as she waited for her friend, took to her feet, lifting up her dress to maneuver more easily. "Take this," Bellatrix tossed her her wand and Hermione grasped it, feeling more protected already.
"What took you so long?" she asked as they raced down the stairs, pushing past confused people.
"I got held up by some of his guards. I think he knew who we were from the start. But we got the key, that's all that matters."
"Bellatrix!" Dorian's roar was more monster than man by now and when Hermione hazarded a look back she saw him at the top of the stairs. His skin had blackened from Bella's conflagration, his pants tatters around his legs, and two massive curling horns adorned his forehead.
"He is so mad~" Bellatrix sang as his guards came from were they had been stationed against the wall the whole night. They wore powdered wigs, cream colored old fashioned outfits in the style of French guards during the 18th century, and carried battle axes. They were no match for Bellatrix's spells, as she shot them off left and right all the while charging towards the exit, Hermione blasting one or two of her own jinx's off. Patrons of the hotel ran to avoid the fighting, some cowering behind the tables of food. Bellatrix sent one of the guards into a bowl of fruit punch and a woman who had hidden behind it screamed as he toppled it over and spilled the juice on her.
"Your wish to escape this place is futile. No one desires to see you where it is you intend to go. No one loves you!" Dorian's cries rang around the hall. "Give up your hopes now!"
"How about you fuck off?" She snarled back, lifting up a guard with one of her spells and flinging it right at him. He batted the poor guard away without consideration from him and the man hit the pillar by the stairs, blood pooling around his head.
"Bella, we have to go," Hermione tugged on the woman's sleeves as the dark haired witch engaged in a heated glaring competition with Dorian. More guards were pouring out from secret crevices and the balconies of this place.
"You know it's true Bella," Dorian whispered yet the words carried over the music and pierced her heart. Was it...true what he spoke? Was her quest foolish?
"Bella!" Hermione's cry brought her out of her confused thoughts and she shook her head to ground herself. This man was just messing with her head. Trying to make her falter and give up. Well, she wouldn't. She shot him a two finger gesture and then turned on her heel. The two girls left the chaos of the dance hall behind not stopping until they had reached their safe house. There they collapsed tiredly on the sofa. Hermione's heart was still pounding and adrenaline coursed through her veins. She couldn't believe that they had done it, but they had! They were one step closer to their plans succeeding!
She pulled the key out from her chest and it glinted in the lights of the room, looking amazingly like freedom right now. "One out of three," Bellatrix breathed as she looked at it, her hopeful expression reflecting in the pure gold.
A/N: The masks in this story are a symbol. They obviously hide the person's true identity and their true intentions but also are a life source for the people in this hotel. Thus they die when they remove it because where they are right now, anonymity is everything and once their true self is revealed they regain their memories and regaining one's memories dooms them and they can no longer exist in the hotel because they no longer belong to this world. Is this understandable or is it still convoluted? I can't say too much without revealing the other secrets. I promise I'll have an explanation at the end of the series to clear everything up if it is needed.
Outtake: Practice for Dorian
A/N: So originally this scene was supposed to be in this chapter, but I felt like it would be slightly out of place and therefore decided to take it out. It's literally the long version of something that was included in the official chapter and I decided in the end that I didn't want to waste what I had written, so I included it at the end of the chapter. Leave me any thoughts if you have some on this scene telling me if it would have been too soon to include this in the story line or if it was fine.
"Ha!" She cackled with much more vigor than was necessary. "You don't know how to kiss?"
"No, I don't okay," Hermione hissed in embarrassment, clenching her hands as her cheeks flushed. "I guess I never had the opportunity to!"
"Well we can't have you going over and seducing Dorian without ever having kissed anyone before."
"So how am I going to learn?" Hermione asked, casting a gaze at the dark witch who paced around the room they were in.
"Don't look at me like that," she sneered and grabbed a pillow off of the armchair. "Here, practice on this pillow." She waved her wand and tossed the now changed pillow into Hermione's lap. She picked it up curiously and let out a little 'eep!' before tossing it across the room. The pillow had a face on it that made kissing faces at her.
The object collided with a vase on a shelf and knocked it to the floor. Bellatrix tsked as she waved her wand and cleaned up the little mess. "You don't need to throw things like a little brat. I'm only trying to help."
"I am not kissing that, that thing!" Hermione sputtered, pointing accusingly at the pillow which was still producing kissing noises. Bellatrix picked it up, admired it and showed it to Hermione who shrunk back in her seat on the blue couch. "It's kinda cute, I don't see why you don't wanna kiss it," the dark witch said.
"Why don't you kiss it, if you're so fond of it," Hermione countered and the dark witch gave a short laugh. "I'm not the one with no kissing experience." She gave the pillow a thoughtful look before setting it down behind her. "I suppose you can go with the innocent act. Tell him it's your first time. That'll really get him going."
Hermione frowned in disgust at this. It was either that or the pillow. "Well what if told you, I refuse to do either." She crossed her arms over her chest .
"You can't be serious," Bellatrix uttered in disbelief. "Do you not want to escape?"
"I do."
"Then why are you being so difficult?"
"Because, because I don't and won't know how to seduce him properly. It'll be a failure," Hermione flushed as she admitted this. Bellatrix smacked her forehead and spoke through gritted teeth. "And why exactly would we be doing all this," she raised her arms to indicate what they had been doing in the room, "all evening long if I wasn't training you to seduce him?"
"I know what we've been doing all evening long. It's just hard to visualize all of it or fully grasp the concepts you're teaching if I don't have an actual representation," Hermione explained.
"And what do you expect me to do? Have the judge just waltz in here for you to practice on?" Bellatrix snapped, her wand twirling in her fingers. "Don't be absurd."
"I don't want him. I just need...something physical to project my actions on. Like a dummy to practice on," Hermione hesitantly voiced.
"Well, why didn't you just say so?" Bellatrix huffed and with a whoosh a life like dummy of a man plopped down next to the couch by Hermione, complete with clothes, a skin tone and goofy smile painted on his lifeless face. "There, practice to your heart's content, you annoying little brat."
"I will," sniffed Hermione. "No need to be so rude about all of this." But even with the help of the dummy things did not go smoothly. Hermione felt awkward talking to an inanimate object, and having Bella watching her like a hawk, dissecting and directing every one of her motions was no help. "Too weak of a pout, you need to stick out that bottom lip like you mean it! You call that clinging to him? It looks like you're pushing him away. You have to hold onto him like as if he were a lifeline. Push your boobs more into his chest. Come on, I know you don't have much to work with but pretend like you do." Hermione shot a hurt look at the older witch at this, her cheeks pink. "What?" Bellatrix barked, her brows high. "Don't tell me you're going to get offended by that. It's the truth."
"I know it is," Hermione said in a small voice. "You don't have to rub it into my face." Then with a sigh, "Bellatrix, I don't think this is working."
"No shit," Bellatrix shot back. "You're stiffer than the dummy."
"I don't think I can practice on it. It's weird. Do you think you can like reanimate it or something?" Hermione asked, afraid of the anger that flared in the other witch's eyes. "Why don't I just fucking summon the judge here and get it over myself?" She began to stalk towards Hermione who felt tempted to shrink into the couch. "I don't know how to do a reanimation spell. I would have done it already if I did. I don't have anymore time for this! Just watch and learn."
The dark witch plopped down on the other side of the dummy. Instantly she began to cuddle up to it, cooing sugared and suggestive words as her hand came up to stroke the side of the dummy's face. Watching this Hermione couldn't help but laugh. She tried to hold it in but it bubbled out, her hand coming up to cover her mouth and holding in the noise but failing to do so.
"What?" the irritated witch snapped as Hermione continued chuckling.
"Nothing, nothing. It's just you look so ridiculous trying to make out with the dummy."
The dark witch's cheeks flushed slightly and she shot up, grabbing Hermione roughly by the front of her shirt and off the couch by a couple of inches. "It's not funny. This is a serious matter," she said, trying to come off as menacing as possible but the brunette only laughed harder. "Oh I'm so~ sorry Mr. Judge for bothering you but could you check on my heart please? I think it's beating a bit too quickly in your presence," Hermione snickered, mocking the lines Bellatrix had used, as she ran a hand down the others face. The dark haired witch couldn't take the mocking anymore. I'll show her for laughing at me!
Without warning Bellatrix tossed Hermione onto the couch, and she let out a gasp as she sprawled across the full length of it, her leg kicking the dummy to the floor. She didn't have a chance to sit up because Bellatrix was suddenly hovering over her, one hand on the arm rest above Hermione's head, one knee propped up on the couch between the brunette's legs and the other one supportively planted to the floor. Her figure blocked out the light of the room, her raven curls trickling down, the edges of them tickling Hermione's cheek as she leaned closer, her lips in a sneer.
"Well Mr. Judge," she husked, her voice smooth and silky. Hermione was quiet, her eyes wide and watching the older woman's actions. Bellatrix's free hand began to slide up from the bottom of Hermione's shirt upwards, deliciously slowly as the older witch never broke eye contact. "I saw you standing across the room and I just couldn't resist myself. I knew with one glimpse that I needed you." Her voice dipped lower on this as her hand slide up between the valley of Hermione's breasts.
Hermione's breath hitched in her throat and the dark witch smirked, silent for a moment before she lowered her mouth to Hermione's ear. "So allow me the pleasure of your company for tonight," she purred, her hand coming up to Hermione's throat and grabbing it, pretending the key was there. The quick squeeze startled the brunette and she let out a choked gasp. The dark witch leaned back after this, a satisfied smirk on her lips. "And that is how you seduce someone and get the key," she confidently stated and then her presence was gone, across the room already and twiddling with her wand. Hermione slowly sat up, her heart pounding in her chest and feeling like her hair was messy. What was that?
"And that my dearie is what you need to do," Bellatrix's voice was back to it's regular pitch and tone, sharp and caustic. "Now hurry up it's time to get dressed. We haven't much time until the ball." And with that she was gone up the stairs leaving a still speechless Hermione wondering what the fuck just happened as her heart still pounded away in her chest.