Broken Mirror
Disclaimer: I don't own anything and I don't make proffit either.
Chapter 6
Bella and Hermione sat quietly at the table, waiting. The Skeeters had certainly tried to impresse her. The space was beautifully decorated with flowers, large windows iluminating the dark wood tables.
One of the waitresses had placed what seemed to be a small barrier so that no one could hear what was being said inside. That unsetled Hermione, since there would be no witenness to refute whatever Rita wrote. Well, asides from Bella. And lest be honest, if she confronted them there would be blood.
The dark witch was sitting quietly next to her, playing distractly with her glass. It was good to have her there, but whatever Rita said would influence her chances of freedom a lot. Hermione had the discintc sentation that Bella knew that.
"Nervous?" Bellatrix looked up.
"Not really. Just curious about this new Skeeter." Hermione smiled hearing this. "Did she really toutched your ass?"
"Bella! I wouldn't invent something like that,you should know." Hermion blushed furiously, thankfull no one could hear Bellas question. "And I would apreciate if you didn't tell that to anyone."
"Aw... Don't worry, I won't let her do that again." Bella laugthed as Hermione cheeks grew a darker shade of red. "Mhmm... you look good in red." Bellatrix smiled as Hermione covered her face with her hands.
"Bella, please. Promess me you won't say anything like that in front of them."
"Relax, I'm just teasing you."
"I can see that."
Right as Hermione finished saying that two figures apeared in front of them. Hermione imideatly stood up, way more nervous now. Bellatrix on the other hand didn't move. They hadn't spoted her yet,and she had no intentions of intrudocing herself. She wanted to know how Skeeter junior acted around Hermione without the fear factor.
"Hermione! Oh, I'm so happy you could make it!" Susan engulfed her in a hug. "You already know my aunt." Rita took a step forward, a sweet and fake smile on her face.
"I was very pleased when my niece told me you had accepted our invite." the blond woman shook Hermione's hand vigorously. "You must tell us all about your expirience in the program. With who did you leave Bellatrix, if I may ask? She is quite dangerous, from what I remember."
"Actually, we talked and decided that it would be fine for her to come with me." Hermione step asside, letting the two witches see Bellatrix.
Rita gasped taking a step back, her face loosing color fast, almost loosing balance. Susan only frowned. She was not nearly as scared as she should be in Hermione's opinion. That's when it hit her. Susan had only heard stories, never seen Bella magic with her own eyes. And she probably thought Bellatrix was to weak to fight. Oh dear, I can't leave these two alonne...
"Well, hello to you too, Rita. It's been a while since I last saw you." Bella's voice was pleasant enough, but her eyes were cold and her face emotionless.
"Oh, hello Madame Lestrange. Ye-yes, in fact it has been quite some time." Rita giggled nervously, obviously unsetled with the other witch's behaviour. She tugged nervously at her niece skirt, telling her to sit down.
Susan did, almost reluctant. The table was circular, but as soon as they had arrived Bellatrix had rearenge the chairs so that the Skeeters were far away enough from them. So the Susan had to setle for a place in front of Hermione.
The waitress brought them the menu. Hermione knew it was an expensive restaurant, but the fact that there was no price indicated scared her a litle. She was half away through to just order water and claim that she wasn't feeling well, when she heard a voice in her head.
Don't worry about the price. I'll pay for it. We did go to Gringots yesterday for a reason, right? Just focus on the Skeeters. They're to sneaky for their own good.
Hermione looked startled to the side. Bella was not supposed to use wandless or wordless magic, much less legilimencies. She was still recovering. If she kept doing this she would get tired very quickly, and in front of the Skeeters none the less.
Thank you, Bella. But please, do try not to use too much magic, yes?
Hermione saw Bella's smirking behind the menu, and was sure she heard her. Sudendly, something toutched her foot under the table. She almost screamed, before looking up to see Susan smilling seductivly at her.
"So, Miss Granger, I would like to make you some questions, if that's possible." the waiter came and took their orders. Bella eyed Rita septically.
"Su-sure." it was dificult to think with a foot running up and down her leg.
"So, why did you decide to join the program?"
"I felt like I wasn't contributing much to my Departement anymore, and when the program apeared, I thought it would be a good idea." it wasn't a lie. It just wasn't the all true.
"And why did you choose Miss Lestrange to be your subject?" Hermione knew this question was coming. She could see from the corner of her eye that Bella was paying more attention now.
"Albus Dumbledoor allways said that everyone desearves a second chance." she saw the dark haired witch smiling.
You could've been a great Slytherine.
Bella, stop it.
"Even someone who tortured and killed? Weren't you tortured by Madame Lestrange, too?" the stupid feather was writing furiously. Hermione fought the hurge to take a deep breath.
"Before you continue with your non called for questions, I would just like to say that I have divorced my husband. So you would do good not to call me Lestrange again, Skeeter."
Hermione looked at Bellatrix, thanking her. The dark witch had felt she was getting nervous, and decided to interrupt.
"Oh, I apologiese. It was not my intention to insult you." Rita turn to Bella, smiling."But since you're here, why don't you answer some questions? How do you feel about having a muggleborn as your supervisor?"
Hermione paled. They had not gotten to that matter yet. They had not discussed pureblood supremassim or anything like thatsince that first time and they couldn't finish because Bella almost died with a coughing fit... It was a trap from Skeeter. Whatever Bellatrix said would make her look bad, Hermione was sure of it.
"The fact that you only see Miss Granger as a muggleborn saies a lot. I'm happy someone was finally able to face me without fear. Muggleborn or not, Hermione Jean Granger is a rational being that doesn't judges without proof. I saw that the first I saw her and in the little time I have spent in her company I was able to confirm that."
Hermione was stunned. Bellatrix hadn't only avoided the question without revieling anything to personal, she had actually complemented her. She felt herself blush, forgetting who was sitting across from her. Susan had been dangerously quite.
"Very well. Your answer is quite surprising. How do you feel about not having a wand? The only other time when you didn't have one was when you were in Azkaban."
Bellatrix looked at Hermione. She didn't know if she should tell Skeeter that she actually had her wand.
"In fact, Miss Black already has her wand." hearing this, Skeeter eyes widened. "I thought that it was only fair to give it back. After all, Bellatrix is a witch."
"I- I see..." Rita smiled weakly. "What do you have to say about your recovery from Azkaban."
"I allways was of the opinion that Azkaban has no condiotion at all. It is down right cruel the way prisioners live. It's a miracle that after so long in there Bellatrix was able of recovering."
"So you're saying that Miss Black has made a full recovery? Does that means your project will start soon." Bellatrix greeted her teeth, and Hermione grabed her hand under the table trying to sooth her.
"As you know, Bellatrix is an extremely powerfull witch. We prefer not to take any risks, so we won't start until January."
"If Bellatrix is such a powefull witch, she must feel very depressed. Having wasted so many years of her life for nothing. She could've been great in our society."
Hermione gaped at Susan. Did she have no sense of self preservation? Provoking Bella like would make things way worst. They had discussed how Bellatrix felt about that, and she did felt depressed.
"Shut up." Hermione looked surprised at Bella. Her voice was way colder now, her face having dificult hiding her anger. "Don't you ever say that what I did was for nothing."
"Well, then what did you did it for?" Susan crossed her arms over her chest.
"What do you have to do we that?" Rita and Hermione were both growing scared.
"The people have the right to know!"
"No they don't. I don't have to tell anything about my personal life to anyone." Hermione was amazed at how well Bellatrix was managing the situation.
Before anything else could be said, the waiter brought their order. Without glancing up, Bellatrix started eating. Hermione followed her example, hoping the other two wouldn't dare to say anything insensible again. Or that would get them killed.
No one said anything until the plates had been cleared. Rita was very pale, squirming in her sit. Hermine was sure she wouldn't publish anything terrible about them for fear of Bellatrix. At least until she remembered that the other witch couldn't atack her without going to Azkaban.
Hermione didn't want to be there. She wanted to get home quickly. But it would be rude to leave. Maybe she should lie, tell them tha-
"If you have no more questions, we will be heading back home." That works too.
Rita only nodded and stood up, offering a hand for Bellatrix to shake. Bella looked at it and left, probably heading to the fireplaces. Embaressed, Rita looked at Hermione and extended the same hand to her. Sighting, Hermione shaked it. One fo us has to be civil.
She could see Susan was about to say something, so she too left. Hermione found Bellatrix near the fireplaces as she had predicted. The older witch grabed her by the waist and soon they were engulfed in green flames.
Arriving home, Hermione realised how close she was to Bella. Her face was pressed against her shoulder, her hand resting on her clevage. Blushing, she separated herself from the woman.
She was expecting Bellatrix to say something, to get angry, but she only sat on the couch looking at her hands. She seemed... lost. One of those moments when she really wasn't there.
Not knowing what to do for sure but not wanting to leave Bellatrix alone, Hermione sat next to her. She snugled closer. The other witche's eyes were looking without seeing, but they were... Changing? Darker, bigger? What now? Did she wait or... Bellatrix could take hours to come back-
"Sorry I ruined your interview."
Hermione looked up, surprised to see Bellatrix recovered so soon. She didn't look up, though. But she did seem to have come back to normal.
"You didn't ruin it. I'm happy things turned out the way it did." Hermione kissed her cheek. Still, the dark haired wicth didn't look up.
"I don't like that Susan. Something tells me they didn't only want to ask questions."
"They were just trying to provoke yo-"
"That's not what I'm saying. It's just that... The restaurant it self, the questions. I know Skeeter, she isn't that reckless."
"Whatever it is, we will know it in time." Hermione placed an arm around Bellatrix waist. The older woman finally managed to smile weakly. "Let's not think about that. What do you feel like doing? We could watch a movie."
"Not a bad idea, but I really want to try out my magic." Hermione eyed her suspiciously. "After all, I'm an extremely powerfull witch, right?"
"Really? Never thought you would use my own words against me."
"Oh, but why? I feel flatered. Means I can still surprise you." Bellatrix sneaked an arm around her shoulders.
"Tell me something new." Hermione rolled her eyes. "Anyway, what do you want to do with your magic'?"
"I don't know. I've already caught up with all the new stuff. Maybe we could try something together."
"Like what?" that had caught Hermione's attention.
"Ever thought about becoming an Animagus?" Bellatrix smirk grew wider when Hermione's eyes lit up.
"Would you really teatch me?! I saw in your medical filles that you were one, but it didn't say what you were exacly."
"Wait and see. And if you really want to learn, we better go somewhere else. Don't want to breack anything, do we?" Bellatrix stood up, and ofered her arm to Hermione.
"But we just arrived..." Hermione pouted, not wanting to leave home.
"It doesn't have to be today if you're tired." Bellatrix smiled, and then scooped Hermione up in her arms. The brunete yelp in surprise. "We can allways laze around."
"But I want to know what is your Animagus form!" Hermione hugged Bella's neck as they headed upstairs.
"You seem to want a lot of things. Just relax. You'll know in time."
Hermione humed hapilly at how good she felt around Bella. It was as if she could be her really real self. Not that with her friends she couldn't. But Bellatrix seemed to understand how she felt. With her, Hermione wasn't required to know everything. She could make questions, say 'I don't know' without being judge. If she said she didn't felt like reading there were no coments of 'Are you sure you're not feeling sick?' or 'Something must be wrong.'. There was just no pressure.
"Wich one." They were finally on the second floor.
"Yours."
Bellatrix walked to her bedroom door and openned it with magic. Carefully she placed Hermione on the bed and covered her. She then closed the curtains, leaving the room almost completely dark.
Hermione move so that Bella had space enough to climb in next to her. When they were finally setled, Hermione turned to Bella, confused.
"I though you wanted to do something with magic."
"And I do."
That didn't clarify any of Hermione's doubts. Bellatrix winked and raised her hand, pointing at the ceiling. Closing her eyes, she started mutering words Hermione couldn't hear. To her surprise, the ceiling grew darker. As if clouds aperead, it started circling around her hand, before wxploding and expanding, covering the all ceiling with a dark blueish color mixed with wight and purple. Small spots of light apeared, blue, black, purple, pink, yellow and wight mixing together until it formed... the night sky.
"How...?" Hermione stared upstairs in awe.
"Dumbledoor saw magic as an asset, as a friend. He saw it as an asset too, as a weapon." Hermione knew who she was talking about. "I don't think it is an asset. Magic is... us. We, wizards and witches are magic. Our bodies are only condutors. Magic is linked to feelings, emotions, wills. If you know magic, there's little you can't do." Bellatrix was looking up, in wonder, the stars reflecting on her eyes.
"We're... magic. I like that." Hermione looked at Bella. "I like you."
"Oh..." Bellatrix stared at her blanckly, put off by the admission. She smiled at Hermione, pulling her closer. "I like you too. I meant what I said in the restaurant. And... I won't hurt you. I don't want to."
"I know." Hermione smelled the scent of Bella. It was a mixture of rain, old parchment from spending so much time around old books, and something distinctivly Bella. "I'm happy. I won't let people take you away. Never. I'll... I'll protect you." Hermione looked up, and Bella could see the fire in her eyes. "You'll have another chance, I promesse you!"
"Thank you, Hermione. You really are something else."
They looked in each other eyes. Everyday, Hermione grew protective of Bella. She grew atached. She wouldn't let go of that feeling. She felt... at home, with Bellatrix.
Bellatrix felt wanted. As if for the first time in her life, someone really cared for her. She would protect the amazing being that was Hermione Granger, no matter the cost. Because she was sure there was something wrong.
"Sleep. You're tired." Bellatrix kissed Hermione's head.
"You too." the brunete rested her head on top of Bella, not caring the position they were in. "Sleep tight."
"Sweat dreams."
Hours later, when the sun had already gonne down and the two witches were still soundly assleep, the front door openned. A man walked inside, surprised to see everything engulfed in darkness.
Placing his trunk on the floor next to couch, he flicked his wand and light imideatly shone in the room.
"Hermione! Where are you!? Are you ok?!"
Getting scared for his friend when he didn't receive an answer, Harry Potter imideatly run upstairs.
To be continued...
A.N.: Hey everyone. Sorry it has been so long since I last updated, but here it is. Hope you enjoyed, and please let me know what you think. Anyway, till next time. Adeus.