Broken Mirror

Disclaimer: I don't own anything and I don't make proffit either.

Chapter 3

Hermione woke with a smile on her lips. She felt the sun warming her face, waking her from her dreamless sleep. The Gryfindor stretched herself, and turned around, covering her head with a pillow. It was far to early for her.

Hermione grabed the clock from the nightstand and confirmed it was indeed early. Six o'clock. She wondered why on hearth the sun was up already, however she stood up anyway.

Walking to the wardrobe, she choosed her outfit for the day. A black robe would be more than enough to a trip to the Ministry for half a day.

It had been more than a month since Bellatrix Morgana Black had arrived and shaked her world. The coldness of November had arrived along with her. Her normal sechedull had been torn to pieces by the insuferabal but charismatic dark witch. Hermione had wanted a chalenge, and a chalenge she got. Bellatrix was the biggest chalenge in the all Wizarding World. In a litle more than a month, the raven haired woman had managed to break all the windows, two mugs, a table, to set one of the curtains on the living room on fire, to explode the micro-wave, to break the bathroom mirror, destroy the water system and to atrack a huge quantaty of animals to the gardens, like deers, rabits, ravens and on or two rackuns. How she did the last not even Bella was sure. All of that without a wand. It was as if the older witch had no control over her own powers. The good point was, that even if she was insuferable, Bellatrix had not tried any atempt on her life.

Hermione walked to the bathroom and started running a bath. She had more than time for that. Today she would meet would the other people who had sign for the Rehab Program, along with Harry and Kinsgley. She was slightly nervous, since her letter had not been well accepted. Neither had her choice of prisioner.

She slowly entered the bathtub, allowing the warm water to sooth her muscles. Her hair pinned on top of her head, she let herself relax, rolling her neck, closing her eyes. She thought about the events of the week.

Asides the magic incidents, everything had gonne smoothly. However, she found some of the witche's abits weird. There were long periods of time when Bellatrix would only stare in to space. Be it in the midle of a conversation, while reading a book or walking on the garden, there were moments when the dark witch would stop, the sense of reality gradually fading in her eyes. She would stare for hours, minust or seconds, and then, as if nothing, continue with the task at hand. Hermione had yet to confront the witch about this...

Her relationship with the eldest of the Blacks had also been mared by very diferent aproaches. If sometimes Bellatrix was a good companion and mostly happy, there were times where her maners lacked more than usual, where her words towards the younger witch were aggressive, or even times when she simple ignored her. In all, it was very frustating.

Hermione stood up and got out of the tub, using a drying spell on her body. Quickly, she dressed herself and went downstairs for a quick breackfast. She fixed herself a toast and a cup of milk with coffe, and checked the papers once again. Everything needed to be perfect.

Leaving a note on the kitchen table informing Bellatrix of her where abouts, she left for the Ministry. Steping out of the floo, Hemione was faced with a crowd of jornalists. It seems word of Bellatrix being out of Azkaban as already been spread. To be honest, it had taken more time than she thought.From the corner of her eye she saw a blond head full curls. The infernal jornalist was deseparetly trying to get to her.

Turning her back to Rita Skeeter, the Gryfindor made her way to the lift. She was met on her way by some of her ex-coworkers, who wished her good luck. There also were those who disaproved of her choices, but they limited themselves to send glares her way, probably curious about the outcome of all of this.

Soon, she was sat in a room with people she had never seen before, Harry and Shacklebolt. The Minister was facing them, sat on the other side of a desk. Everyone was revising their papers and ideas, just to be sure all was in order.

"Very well. Since we are all here I believe we should start." the Minister motioned for Harry to give him the first stack of papers. "The first thing we much discuss is how long will the subjects stay under vigilance."

"Minister?" a woman with blue eyes and light brown hair spoke from across the room. "In my opinion there should be under vigilance for at least an year. Of course there might be excepessions."

"Thank you Miss Sanders. Everyone who disagrees with this decision please raise their hand." everyone stood still.

"The second point has to do with the projects. Any idea of how they shall be conducted?" Harry was trying to keep up with the conversation, while still taking note of everything said.

"I believe it to be better if it was donne within the walls of the Ministry. It would be both safer and easier to supervise."

"Thank you, Mr. Jhonson. And about the theme of the project?"

"Anything legal."

"Very well. That must give the subjects a better chance at making a good job." Shacklebolt placed the papers down and grabed others. "Now, who is in favor of a Trial please raise you're hands."

Everyone asides from Hermione, Miss Sanders and an old man raised their hands. Oh, great. This only makes things more dificults.

"This were the main points of our meeting. Now please say something if there are any other matters if you would like to adress."

A hand shot imideatly in the air. The owner was a blond woman with brown eyes. Her posture was rigid and severe.

"Minister, I have a sugestion." she paused, letting the affirmation sink in for a more dramatic effect. "I believe the subjects"- she pronounced the word with disgust, althought it was well hiden- "should spend some time isolated in the muggle world. I would say two years. They would have no access to wands or they volts in Gringots. Also, I believe the subjects should have their magic cores blocked for the all time of the rehab. For a matter of... safety." the woman seemed proud of herself for having came up with such an idea. It made Hermione sick.

Two years without any access to magic would be torture! Bellatrix would never do it. She would rather die than loose her magic.

"And the subjects would have to find a job and work as muggles?" the witch nod her agreement to the Minister. "It seems a good idea. Thank you for sharing you're thoughts Miss..."

"Skeeter."

Skeeter?! As in Rita Skeeter!? Are they familly? Oh... Can this get any worst?! You know what, I'm not letting this happen!

"Minister, with all respect, I believe you would be foolish if you agreed with such an idea. We are here to help the subjects, not humilliate them. Stripping them of the only thing they have ever known won't help them trust us." Hermione looked around for support, and to her delight saw many faces agreeing with her and nodding. Harry gave her a warm smile. "Isolating them in a foreign place will only increase their hate. Besides, two years is a long time. I'm sure many would prefer go back to Azkaban than face such an experience of isolement. If we really want to help them, than we must let them open to us. If they trust us, then we can understand their actions. I totally agree with them finding a job, but it could be donne in the Wizarding World, and there is no need to freeze their banck acounts. And on what depends on me, no one will touch on the magic core of the subjects. It's very dangerous and it can left permanent damage."

Slowly, the sound of clapping invaded the room. Hermione was proud of herself to say the least. She had just made a speech in defense of Bella and everyone had supported her. Well, it really wasn't only in Bella's defense. Wait, Bella? When did I started calling her that?

"I see your point Miss Granger. Who is in favor of exhiling the subjects and binding their magic cores, please raise your hands." No one assides from Miss Skeeter did so.

The meeting went on with less important matters like, should the subjects be aloud to see their families: yes. Should they be aloud to walk freely and without vigilance in public: decision of the warden. Should Miss Skeeter leave the programe: in Hermione's opinion, yes.

That woman was almost as bad as the other person she knew from her family. Big part of her sugestions were in personal profit, like 'The wardens should have total access to their wardens volt.' or 'Any residence the subjects might held and that it's not in current use will be transfered to the wardens as a payment for their help.'. Of course Hermione contradicted all of those ideas, and even if there were other people agreeing to them they were silencide by her speeches. By the end of the meeting, the young witch was feeling proud of her self.

Hermione hapilly bid Harry a goodbie, inviting him to dinner at her home (wich he accepted with a litle distrust, thanks to te other witch living there). She had walked down half the corridor when an iron grip as set on her arm. Thanks to the time spent in the run three years ago, Hermione had developted very good reflexes. She turned around to face her threat, and couldn't be more displease to see who it was.

"Miss Skeeter, how may I help you?" the other woman let her grip loose, but didn't stoped toutching her. She smeled of cinamon, but it was to exasgerated. The smell was sickening to the point of making Hermione's stomach protest loudly.

"You're litle speech was very... inspiring." the way Skeeter Junior (that's how Hermione had started calling her) made it obvious she was mocking her. "I wonder if you would like to have a litle chat over a cup of tea..."

Wow! Is she asking me out on a date?! I'm not even into women! Sure, Bella is nice and all, and her eyes are so... Wait, what?! I don't think about her that way! Do I?

Junior mistaked her slience for a yes, and placed a hand on Hermione's back walking her to the lift. The proximety betwene them was macking the Gryfindor uncorfotable.

"Uhm... I'm not sure if a lunch is the best idea. I have a lot to do an-"

"Oh, Hermione. Can I call you Hermione? Good. By the way, I'm Susan, but you can call me Susie. You don't have to be nervous. Will I see you tomorrow?" the hand on Hermione's back slided down.

"I... Uhm... Wh- What are you doing?" the smartest witch of her age felt the other woman's hand resting on her bum.

"Oh, sweatheart. There's no need to be shy. Would it be better if my aunt came with us? I'm sure you know her. She is Ri-"

"Rita Skeeter." the name lefted a bad taste on her mouth.

"Oh, good! You know her. Than it is setled! See you tomorrow at midday!" Susan kissed Hermione's cheeck and left.

Hermione was left there dumbfounded. Well, now it is donne. Maybe I could make things a litle funnier...

She went home, quickly forgetting the all afair. Arriving home, Hermione felt panick raising inside her. There was smoke everywhere and it was coming from upstairs. A scream erupted in the house. The Gryfindor didn't need to see anything else to know Bellatrix was behind both. She would have to have a very serious conversation with that woman! Hermione was donne with the her fury accesses and being called things like 'mudblood' or 'filth'! Even if the dark witch was nice the biggest part of the time, that didn't erase her words and acts.

Stomping up stairs, she garbed her wand from her sleeve, ready to end the fire. However, there was no fire upstairs. At least she restrained herself to her bedroom. Urgh, she is like a child!

The bedroom door was locked. Loosing her patiente, Hermione blasted the door open. Smoke hit her face, making her bend in a coughing fit. When part of smoke had cleared out, she finally entered the room.

The wand hit the carpet with a mufled sound. Her eyes filled with tears and a loud gasp left her mouth. There were flames everywhere. The walls had cracks and the curtains were closed. The room was dark.

In one of the corners was Bellatrix. She sat on her knees her eyes hollow. There was a knife in her hands. Her arms were bleeding, full of cuts. Tears run silently down her cheecks, while her eyes stared hauntedly to her self-inflicted injuries.

Carefully, the brunete walked to the dark haired witch. Last time she had seen Bellatrix like this was weeks ago. It had been the first time they spent some time together.

Seeing Bellatrix like this broke Hermione's heart. She calmly took the knife from the other woman's hand. With a wave of her wand (she had picked it up) the fire extinguished. She held Bellatrix's hand, her palm facing up and started healing. As the first wound closed, Bellatrix jerked away. The look on her Bella's eyes broke Hermione. They were full of hurt, pain, sorrow and fear.

Bellatrix recoiled herself further in the corner. Her knees were pulled up in her chest. It was obvious she was scared.

"Bella, please. Let me heal you. Let me help you."

"No! Get away from me! Don't touch me!" fury rised again in Hermione. Even when she was trying to help her, Bellatrix hold onto to her stupid spremacists believes.

"Why?! Because my blood is diferent! Because I'm a filthy mudblood!? How stupid are you?! We are just the same! Yo-"

"Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up! I'm not stupid! Don't you think I know that!?" this shocked Hermione. If Bellatrix doesn't believe in blood supremacy, than why did she joined the Dark Lord? "You don't understand... No one does... I had to do it. I didn't want to, but I had to..." she locked her eyes with Hermione's. "Give me my knife! Give me! GIVE ME!"

"What? I'm not going to let you hurt yourself! Bella wha- Stop!" Bellatrix tried to get her knife with violence, but couldn't do much with all the blood loss.

"I deserve it Hermione! I have to pay! I'm not good! I'm not good enough! You should have let me rotte in Azkaban!" Hermione grabed Bellatrix's hand and rubbed small circles on the inside of her wrists.

"That's not true Bella. I know it. Let me help you. Tell me what's wrong. Please Bella. Let me understand..." that seemed to trigger something inside Bellatrix. Even more tears seemed to apear in her eyes.

"You want to understant... me?" Hermione nodded slowly. "Why? I... I don't have anything special... And... you have friends, and a familly, and friends and..."

"Bella, look at me." Bellatrix locked her eyes with Hermione's, who cupped her face with both hands. That was the first time Hermione saw hope in them. Just a twinkle, hiding behind a mask of distrust and shock. "You are special. You are the strongest person I've ever seen. But you feel lonely, that I can tell. I want to get to know you. The real you. I know you're not insane." Bellatrix bit her lip. It was obvious she was trying to control her emotions.

"I'm not. I really am not." tears streamed down the older witche's face like a river.

Hermione opened her arms giving the other woman a very needed chance of love. Bellatrix sent her an uncertain look. The Gryfindor nod and smiled warmly at her. Slowly, she wraped her arms around her warden waist. It was a new feeling. Bellatrix had no memory of ever being hugged.

Seeing the Slytherin hesitating, Hermione placed a hand on black curls, slowly pushing it down until it rested on her shoulder. It pained the brunete to see Bella flinch and close her eyes at the touch. It was obvious she was not used to be treated with care. What hapenned to you Bella? She hold her knew protégé in a warm embrance.

Hermione's scent was unic to Bellatrix. It felt so good to be like this. To feel loved.

"Am I doing it right?" the whisper came from the curly hair with a loud sobb.

"Doing what?" Is se crying?

"Hugging." Hermione would have thought the other witch to be jocking if it weren't the loud sobbs coming from her throat. She tighten her grip on the other woman, trying to tell her by acts what she couldn't by word.

"Perfect." the sobbs became worst, and Bellatrix was shivering.

This was not what Hermione had expected. An angry, insane and maniac witch, that strongly believed to be above everyone, yes. A broken woman who probably had had one of the worsts childhood, a woman who so desesperatly needed love and care, a woman who was so uncertain of her self that needed to ask if she was 'hugging right' a person, no. That's why Hermione promessed herself she would help and protect this witch, no matter what.

This was not what Bellatrix had expected. For the lasts weeks things had been very confusing. She wanted to befriend the girl. She really did. But could she let go of her beliefs? They used to be the only thing kepping her together. She had to held onto something, and that was the only thing there for her. Letting go of it meant loosing the only thing that had allways been a constant in her life. And Bellatrix Black was scared. But she just couldn't hate the girl. She was everything she had hopped to be. She was clever, brave, didn't have to hide behind a mask of hate, was free to do whatever she pleased and was surrounded by friends and familly that loved her. Oh, she had tried to hate her, but just couldn't. She also couldn't forgive herself. That's why when she had woken up from a nightmare, she decided it had to end. There was nothing for her, never was and never will. It was time to leave. For the greater good.

The only thing she hadn't count with was a savior. She hadn't expected the young woman to storm inside and stop her from killing herself. Even better, she had said she wanted to understande. No one had ever bothered to try. Maybe... Just maybe, she could try and open herself a litle. If Hermione asked about it, of course.

The slime body of Bellatrix rested against her shoulder, and her hand had moved slightly to her chest. I could get used to this... What?! Hermione No! Not now! She needs you!

"What do you say if we have some lunch, ãh? I bet you haven't eaten yet." Bellatrix nodded and stood up with Hermione, following her to the kitchen.

On the way, Hermione waved towards the bathroom and a first aid-kit came flying their way. Bellatrix sat on a chair and Hermione started cleaning her wounds without magic. The touch of the brunete seemed to relax the pureblood witch. In truth, Bellatrix was loving every second of it. Not that she would admit it to anyone, even herself. After all, it was wrong.

Hermione slowly traced the old scars. They were faded but it still was easy to see them. The skin was itchi, tainting the pruicelan skin of the pureblood woman, forever reminding her of her sins. It had been by accident Hermione first saw them.

She had been walking througth the house when she saw Bellatrix in the garden. She seemed to be simply walking when sudendly her eyes darted to her sleeve and she started ripping them. However, she was so nervous that it wasn't working. Quickly, Hermione run down stairs and to Bella. The older witch had been stung by a bee, and she was alergic. Having read Bellatrix's medical history, she had bought the antidote, so it was easy to solve. The problem was when Hermione toutched the scars. Bellatrix had forgoten about them with all the choughing and vomiting.

The dark witch had pulled away instantly. Hermione had jumped aftre her, holding her arm. Her words calmed the dark witch. Soon, Bellatrix told her all about how she had gotten them. The most faded were self-inflicted, and it worried Hermione the careless way she spoke about them. As if it was normal. Bellatrix said she used to do it before Azkaban and even after that for a while, but not since she met Hermione. It seems that's not the case after all...

The dark witch said there were some that could only be seen if you knew they were there. And it was true. To them, she only said they were part of the burden of being the eldest Black.

The worst ones were from Azkaban. Bellatrix descibed how the rats would come and for a snack at night, bitting her flesh. How she was too weak to kick them away. How she had to push herself against the chains to reach her food and fight for eat with the rats, just to vey probably vomit everything later. How the cuffs dig in her skin making it raw.

Hermione had seen the haunted and scared expression in Bellatrix's eyes. She couldn't help but confort her about her past. That day, something had trigered inside each of them. Something they had still yet to discover what it was.

She saw the blush apear on Bellatrix's cheeks, the witch turning her face to the side to hide her embarecement, flinching at the toutch and imideatly felt the urge to kiss all the scars, assure the woman she was beautifull and that she shouldn't be embarecd of them. That they only show how brave she was. And beautifull.

During the lasts weeks she had gain more weigth as well as control over her magic. It wasn't possible to see her bones anymore, her eye weren't so caved and the bags weren't so obvious now that the witch had started to sleep better. However, Hermione knew something was wrong, because there were many nights the witch would spend awake reading in the living room. Also, her hair fell in luxuries black curles. Even after the first time Bella had escaped Azkaban she had not looked this good. The prison had almost been erased fisically from her, asides from the tatoo on her neck.

Hermione wraped the bandage around the witche's arms earning a smal thank you. Bella was recovering from the all incident, and the brunete felt it was time to finaly ask. But before, lunch.

"Hey Bella, do you like pizza?" Hermione asked her back turned to the other witch while she washed her hands on the kitchen sink.

"What's picha?" there was a look of curiosity in her eyes, much like Hermione's.

"Piz-za. With a Z. It's a muggle food. It's really good and you're going to like it. I'm going to order some." Hermione grabed her phone.

"What are you doing?" Bellatrix walked until her chin rested on her shoulder, watching the strange object.

"Do you remember the explanation I gave you about the micro-wave?"

"The one about how the invisible waves reacted with the moleculums on the food rising its temperature." Hermione stared at Bellatrix in disbliefe. When had she learned those things. "What? There's not much to do in here when you are out there having fun. I found it interesting so I searched something about it to read."

"Uau Bella. I'm proud. Any way, this uses the same invisible waves to conect with other dispositive and send a wrighten message and proportionate a real time conversation with someone else. Each dispositive is identified by a number. For example: I wright here the number of the restaurant and then I press here and it's calling. Before you ask, yes you can here the conversation, but please set the table."

"Oh, don't worry about that. We're eating on the living room. I'm going to choose a movie."

Hermione laugth quitely. It was fun to think how Bella accepted so easely muggle technology, seemed very interested in learning everything she could. That only proved to Hermione that there was more in that woman than she let out. Actually, the only thing in the Muggle World that Bellatrix was completely against were the muggles themselves.

But not in the way of feeling surpirior or degradating them. It was as if she was scared. The lasts times Hermione had something delievered by a muggle the dark witch run upstairs saying she had forgoten her wand when it was obvious she had it in her sleeve.

Soon, both witches were sitting on the carpet enjoying a good movie and eating pizza. Bellatrix had changed her bloodied nightgown to one of Hermione's XXL shirts. Seeing Bellatrix with a Rowlling Stone's shirt, crossed legs, watching a muggle movie and eating pizza was just too cute. The young Gryfindor moved closer to the witch and placed a hand on hers. She felt the dark witch tense under her toutch before entwirling their fingers.

"Bella?"

"Yeah?"

"What started the incident in the bedroom?"

Bellatrix stoped moving. She paused the movie and truned to face the brunete. It was time to finally open to someone.

"How good are you in Legilimancis?"

"Not bad..."

"Then enter my mind and I will show you the nightmare I had."

Flashback...

Hermione did so and entered Bellatrix's mind. It seem she was in some sort of allway. It was decorated with paintings and artfacts. There were some books here and there.

Sudendly she heard a cry. It came from the door on her left. Entering without thinking, her body passed througth the door without problems.

The room, a living room it apeared, had some white couches that contrated with the black bookcases. In the midle was a tall man with a severe expression. Anger flashed in his eyes. His black hair was cut short as well as his beard. He had his wand raised towards... a litle girl that was crying. She had dark curly hair and seemed to be seven. In front of them was a table with a feather.

"Again!" the man barked at the litle girl who shivered.

"Wingardium Leviosa." the girl pointed her finger at the feather doing the right movements. However nothing hapenned.

A hard slap left a red handprint on the girls face. She tried to contain her tears but a sob lef her throat. The man grabed a hand full of hair and pull at it, yanking the litle girl's head back. That only made her sob louder.

"Shut up! Blacks don't cry! You are a waste of space! A shame to you're family!" he let her go. "You" -a slap- "should"-he kicked her stomach and the girl fell- "have never"- he kept kicking her everywhere- "been born!" The girl was covered in blood. Her nose and mouth were totally red and her right arm wasn't working propraly.

He pushed the girl up. She stood shivering, crying, bleeding and cowaring away from him. The man stood above her, telling her to try again and again. The firsts times she failed at doing wandless magic her hands were hitten with a spoon of wood. When they were puffy and red, the whip came next. A few tentatives later the back of her dress was torn and covered in blood. Her skin was raw and she could barelly speak the incantation with the sobs.

"Do it, Bellatrix! Do it, you uselless shit!" The girl tried to do it, and once again failed. Hermione closed her eyes, waiting to hear the sound of the whip. But what she heard was even worst.

"You will never be anything! Why can't you be like your sisters?! Who will want to marry such a powerless whore like you!? Cruciu!" the girl fell to the ground, squirming and screaming in pain. Her breath was dificult and it looked as if she was going to have an asthma atack.

"Again!" this time, Hermione saw something flash in young Bellatrix's eyes. Anger...

Still crying, the young witch waved her wand violently towards the feather. She did not say a word but the feather started levitating.

The man looked at the Bellatrix. He walked towards the door but before he left, he turned around. There was no emotion on his eyes.

"You can have dinner now. Go and ask the Elves to give you some bread and water. Nothing more." he left.

Bellatrix did not move. However a scream filled of pain left her throat. Pain, anger and hate. She let herself fall to the ground, sating on her knees. The flame of the candles disapeared and the temperature fell.

In that moment, Hermione understood what this was. The birth of Bellatrix Lestrange.

End of Flashback...

Hermione left Bellatrix mind with tears in her eyes. So that's why it was easy for Bellatrix to do wandless magic, even without saying the incantation. Because if it wasn't, she would be beaten and starved.

She couldn't believe the hell her Bella had been througth since such a tender age. And that at the hands of her own father. Of course Bellatrix had hide behind the beliefe of pureblood surpremacy! It was the only thing that she could have hold onto at such a young age.

Hermione knew that neither Narcissa Malfoy neither Andromeda Tonks held much love for their older sister, wich meant she probably had no one. And probably things at Hogwarts hadn't been easier, otherwise Bellatrix wouldn't have ended being a Death Eater. And what about her marriege? Did it held dark secrets like this too?

How much more had Bellatrix sufered? What kind of experiences had driven her to insanity? Was there a reason behind her hate towards Sirius? Why did she feel scared of muggles? What about Andy's choice of husband? How had it affected her?

In that moment Hermione saw Bellatrix for the person she really was and not by romours said. Bellatrix Lestrange was a maniac murder, the result of a life full of pain, a person who had lost herslef on the way. A mask for the real pain.

Bellatrix Morgana Black was a strong woman, a woman who had faced terrible things in her life with a head held high, a woman who had never had anyone to relly on, who had faced the harsh world from a young age and alone. Bellatrix Morgana Black was a woman who had grabed the only thing that was allways present in her life. Bellatrix Morgana Black was exacly what Hermione hoped to be one day. Strong, fierce, capable of protecting herself and her beliefes, the smartes witch o her age and the most powerfull in centuries.

Her Bella was exacly what Hermione hoped to protect. Alone, scared, in need of love and a shoulder to cry, a woman who felt lost. A woman that was only now opening up for the first time to someone. A woman who was brave enough to admite her mistakes and flaws, a woman who was only now discovering herself. A woman that diserved not a second, but a first chance at hapinesse. A witch that desperted strange feelings in Hermione, yet pleasants.

Bellatrix was scared. Is she mad? Was it to much for her? Wait, she is crying! I shouldn't have shown her! I should have warned her at least! How could I have been so selfish?! After all this girl has donne for me... She saw my scars and didn't feel repulsed, she is there when I need the most, she has admited openly that she wants to know me! And what do I do?! I make the girl cry! No, not girl. She is a woman now. A beautifull woman with shinning brown eyes and li- NO! It's wrong! This is not right!

Slowly, Bellatrix reached out to confort Hermione. She knew those images could be traumatising, and if the other witch needed to talk than she would.

At the same time Hermione reached out to confort Bellatrix. Even if it had been a long time ago, in that night Bellatrix had been in need of someone, and Hermione had to be that someone.

They stayed leaning against each other, an arm wrapped around each other, their hands still together (not that they had notted).

Neither felt like speaking, and Hermione knew better than to push the witch. She was probably in deep thougths about her memories. Even if the dark haired witch's eyes kept darting to her lips. There would be plenty of time to talk about that later. When Bellatrix felt ready.

Later! Oh, no! I forgot to tell Bella!

"Uhm, Bella?" Bellatrix wondered when the brunete had started calling her that.

"Yeah?"

"I inveted Harry and Ginny to come over for dinner."

"You what?!" Bellatrix had had no contact with anyone else assides from Hermione. And a meeting with a Ginger and a the Boy Who Lived didn't seem a good start to her.

"And I was invited by Susan Skeeter, who wants me to call her Susie and who is Rita Skeeter niece to have lunch tomorrow and then she toutched my bum and said Skeeter Senior would go and I don't want to be alone with them so you're coming with me to the lunch."

"WHAT?!"

To be continued...

A.N.: Hey everyone. I hope you like it and sorry for any mistakes. Please let me hear you're thoughts. Tell me if you have any sugestions. Adeus.