Hermione exhaled shakily, her hands trembling as she adjusted the Slytherin tie Bellatrix had loaned her. She was dressed in black jeans and a green sweater that had somehow managed to end up in her luggage (Hermione was pretty certain either her lover or her lover's sister had snuck the sweater in). Bellatrix found the outfit rather fitting of a Slytherin, and Hermione didn't have the heart to remind her she was a Gryffindor. Her house status was usually overlooked by the household and she chose to not mention it. Why add any tension that wasn't needed?
"You look beautiful, darling," Bellatrix complimented before she frowned. "I don't understand why I have to wear this ridiculous muggle outfit."
Hermione giggled softly and strolled confidently over to Bellatrix, brushing a wild lock from her face. "Because, love, I don't think they would really appreciate that corset you're so fond of."
Bellatrix pouted, but allowed Hermione to adjust the collar of her polo before pressing a gentle kiss onto Hermione's soft lips.
"I was thinking," Bellatrix murmured against Hermione's lips.
"Don't hurt yourself." Hermione grinned, leaning back slightly.
Bellatrix cleared her throat and glared playfully at the younger witch, "Anyways, I was thinking it might be a good idea if we brought Draco with us to your parents' home. I don't know muggles, but I do know that most parents wouldn't be okay with their teenaged daughter traveling around with a woman of my age without reason. Besides, Draco has been curious about the muggle world and while I despise muggles, knowing about them won't do him any harm."
"I don't want the Grangers thinking I'm dating him though," Hermione said absently, missing the fact she hadn't called them her parents, though Bellatrix noticed it. She shuddered at the thought of dating Draco.
Bellatrix shrugged somberly. "Love, they won't really remember it after New Years. Let them believe you've found someone to be happy with, even if you have to pretend it's him and not me."
Hermione stiffened, but nodded. She could understand her lover's thoughts on it, but she didn't enjoy the thought of pretending to be in love with the wrong Black. Maybe they wouldn't ask about it. Hopefully. "I'll go ask him."
(Bellamione)
Draco was more than happy to tag along. Narcissa wasn't thrilled with the idea of her son going into the muggle world, but she knew Hermione would need the comfort of her best friend, along with Bellatrix so she allowed Draco to go along with them. This was going to break the young witch's heart and everyone was well aware of it.
Hermione felt the familiar pull in her stomach when Bellatrix apparated, her eyes clenched tightly and her hand gripping Bella's almost painfully.
"You can open your eyes, love." Bella's soothing voice drifted past her ears and she slowly opened her eyes.
They were in her old bedroom, Gryffindor posters adorning the wooden walls with red and gold curtains covering her window. She could hear Draco snickering and crimson began to warm her cheeks. She glanced at Bellatrix and the blush deepened at the horror-stricken expression the eldest Black wore.
"Nice room, Mione," Draco jested, winking playfully, "Maybe we should take this stuff back to the Manor and you can decorate Aunt Bella's room up."
Bellatrix sucked in a horrified breath and glared at her nephew. "Draco…"
Playing along, Hermione wrapped her arms around Bellatrix's neck. "Baby, that's such a wonderful idea." She leaned close to Bella's ear and whispered, "I might even take my gold and red panties with us. I'm sure they'll make you happy to see Gryffindor colors."
Bellatrix sputtered, a lustful and broken whine escaping her lips. "Uh…Huh?"
Giggling madly, Hermione pecked Bellatrix's cheek. "I wouldn't do that to you, love. Your room will stay the way it always has been. I quite like your room." She wasn't certain what had come over her, but she enjoyed the lustful gaze her lover let drift over her body.
A faint hum and clatter of dishes came from downstairs and the lightheartedness seemed to vanish from the room, leaving Hermione to shiver slightly. The heaviness of the situation weighed on her soul and tears pricked the corners of her eyes, but she choked them down. She'd save them for later, when all was said and done.
"You don't have to do this," Draco said quietly, touching her shoulder comfortingly.
Bellatrix glanced at her nephew, but nodded. "He's right, darling. We can leave now and they'd never know we were here."
Inhaling shakily, she shook her head. "I have to do this. I don't want my leaving for Hogwarts to be my last memory of them. I can't…"
Bellatrix cupped Hermione's cheek and kissed her gently. "It'll be okay."
Draco turned his head, but refrained from making his usual gagging noises. Now was neither the time nor the place to try and be humorous. He could tell Hermione was hurting and he wasn't about to ruin the comfort his aunt was managing to give her.
With a shaky inhale, Hermione instinctively reached for Bellatrix's hand and led her out of the room with Draco trailing close behind. At the top of the stairs, she reluctantly released her hold on Bellatrix's warm hand and slowly made her way down.
"Hi, Mum," Hermione greeted quietly when they stepped into the kitchen of the Granger house, wincing when Mrs. Granger dropped the plate in her hand in surprise.
"Hermione! What are you doing here?" Mrs. Granger rushed over to her and gathered her into her arms, hugging her tightly and kissing the top of her head. "We weren't expecting to see you until the summer! Why didn't you write and tell us you were coming?"
Hermione pressed her nose into her adoptive mother's shoulder and took a deep breath. She didn't want to forget the family that raised her, even if they wouldn't remember her. "I wanted it to be a surprise."
"Well, it's a very pleasant surprise," Mrs. Granger replied softly, cherishing the embrace. It had been so long since Hermione had hugged her like this. "How did you get here? And who are the lovely people you brought with you? Will you be staying for dinner?"
Pulling away from the hug, Hermione smiled as Mrs. Granger rapidly fired questions at her.
"One at a time, Mum. These lovely people are Draco Malfoy and his aunt Bellatrix Black. I've been staying with them over the break."
Mrs. Granger wracked her brain for why Draco's name seemed so familiar. "Draco Malfoy? Is that the boy you used to…"
"Yes, Mum," Hermione cut her off with a glance, "But it was just a misunderstanding and now Draco is one of my best friends."
Mrs. Granger nodded, satisfied with that answer. She trusted her daughter's judgment and smiled at the purebloods who were curiously studying the pictures on the wall.
"They don't move," Draco whispered, confusion radiating from him.
"Quite strange," Bellatrix agreed, her brow bunched with uncertainty.
Hermione giggled at them. "Bellatrix knew how much I missed you guys and offered to bring us here. They'd never been in the Muggle world before so it's an adventure for them too. As for dinner," Hermione peered over at Bellatrix, who shrugged, "If it's not an inconvenience, sure, we'd love to stay."
"It's never an inconvenience to have you home, Hermione. I'll need to run to the store to get some ingredients for supper. How does lasagna sound?"
Hermione smiled. "That's sounds great, Mum. Is it okay if I stay with Bella and Draco to show them around?"
"That's perfectly fine, sweetie."
Mrs. Granger walked over to Bellatrix, who twisted slightly to give the woman her full attention. "Thank you very much for bringing my daughter home for the day. I'm Jill Granger." She extended her hand and Bellatrix shook it firmly.
"Bellatrix Black, and there's no reason for thanks. It made Hermione happy and that's what's important," Bellatrix replied smoothly.
Jill nodded, though a question edged its way toward the front of her mind. She could practically feel the adoration the eldest Black had for Hermione and it made her curious (and if she was being honest, a little wary), but she shoved it down. Now was not the time.
(Bellamione)
Once Mrs. Granger was out of the house, Bellatrix and Draco started firing questions.
"Why don't the pictures move?"
"What's the strange box in the middle of the living room?"
"Where are the elves?"
"Why don't the dishes wash themselves?"
Hermione couldn't contain her laughter anymore and stumbled over to the couch and collapsed, her boy shaking with amusement.
"The pictures don't move because the camera takes a snapshot of a memory, not the entirety of it like wizard cameras do, though muggles have something called a video camera that will capture the video of something. The strange box is a television. There are no elves because this is a muggle home, Bella. Since muggles don't have magic, the dishes have to be washed by hand or through a dishwasher."
The purebloods nodded their acceptance and took seats on each side of Hermione, Bellatrix's hand falling habitually into Hermione's. She ran her thumb along the back of Hermione's hand and the tension in Hermione's body seemed to relax away.
"I must say, I prefer the wizarding world to this one. I don't think I could handle being a mudblood," Draco shuddered, shaking his head disdainfully.
Hermione shrugged. "It's not for everyone. I guess I see no problem with it since I was raised in it." She was proud of herself for not flinching at that word.
Flipping on the television, Hermione leaned comfortably against Bellatrix's side and rested her head on the older woman's shoulder. Draco was enthralled by it, but Bella couldn't care less about it. Her free hand scratched the top of Hermione's head, massaging her scalp and teasing her fingers through the long brunette strands.
"You know," she mumbled, leaning closer to Hermione and whispering in her ear, "We could always go christen your bedroom." She winked playfully, but her eyes widened when Hermione seemed to contemplate the idea seriously.
It would be the only time we could…
Are you insane? This is your parents' home! And Draco would still be downstairs! No.
But…
Control your hormones, Riddle! God, you're acting like a horny teenager.
But I am a horny teenager…
…true.
"No," Hermione sighed. "It's a bad idea."
Bellatrix pouted momentarily, but shrugged. She wasn't going to pressure her love into anything, especially something she'd said as a joke.
"Why don't we use televisions in the wizarding world?" Draco wondered. "I mean, it seems much more effective and efficient than the bloody newspaper."
"I don't really know," Bellatrix admitted. "Maybe because, even in their campaign to conclude everyone (she practically spat the word), even the Ministry is against Muggle technology. No matter what bullshit they spout, the Ministry keeps to the old ways."
"Seems like something they should look into," Draco grumbled, leaning deeper into the couch.
(Bellamione)
When Mrs. Granger returned from shopping, Hermione hurried into the kitchen to help her prepare dinner, leaving Draco and Bellatrix on the couch. Draco was asleep against the armrest, having gotten bored of television while Bellatrix flipped through a few muggle magazines, her lip curled in disgust at the lack of moving images and the hideous outfits muggles chose to wear.
"So, how is your schooling coming along?" Mrs. Granger asked conversationally as she began preparing their dinner.
Hermione smiled. "It's going great. I'm first in my class. Surprisingly, Draco is second in our class."
Mrs. Granger hummed quietly. "And Draco? Are you dating him?"
Hermione laughed and shook her head, her amusement evident. "No, Mum. Draco and I are just friends."
"Do you want to date him?"
"Not a chance. I like Draco, but in a brotherly manner – not in a romantic way."
"Good. I think you and Ronald should date. I quite like that young man, though he does seem to eat like a wild animal," Mrs. Granger replied, ignoring Hermione's gag of disgust.
"Mum, I'm not going to date Ron. Just… Ew, no."
Mrs. Granger sighed. "I'm sorry, sweetie, your father and I are just worried. You've never seemed to show any interest in boys and we're just worried that people will start to think you're a… Well, that you're…" She couldn't seem to find the right words and Hermione's face paled.
"That I'm gay, Mum?"
Mrs. Granger nodded guiltily.
"I didn't realize you had such a problem with gays. I mean, you and Dad used to be close with Jeffery and Hank," Hermione pointed out, her hands shaking slightly.
Mrs. Granger sighed and set down her knife, turning to gaze at her daughter fully, worry etched into her worn face. "I have no problem with… That lifestyle, Hermione. But it is a challenging one and you're already different as it is. I don't want to see you hurt."
"Would you love me less if I was gay?" Hermione whispered, her eyes burning holes into the floorboard.
"Of course not, dear. Are you… That way?"
Hermione barely nodded, her lip tucked between her teeth. Her body trembled with fear and anxiety, her eyes clouded with tears. She had hoped to avoid this situation, though she knew Mrs. Granger wouldn't remember it in a few days time.
"Oh darling." Mrs. Granger gathered Hermione into her arms and held her as she cried, stroking her unruly mane of hair.
Once Hermione had calmed down, Mrs. Granger wiped away her tears and smiled lovingly at her child. "Come on, sweetie. Help me finish cooking before your dad gets home. I'm sure he'll be famished."
(Bellamione)
Dinner was a rather enjoyable affair. Mr. Granger had come home just a few minutes before dinner was ready, his face rather drawn until he noticed the guests in his living room and the sound of his daughter's laughter coming from the kitchen. He was more than pleased to see Hermione and swept her up into his arms, hugging her tightly and complimenting how confident a woman she seemed to be becoming. No longer was she the little meek bookworm; no, she'd become a strong, vibrant young woman and he was quite proud to call her his daughter.
At dinner, he'd told stories of Hermione as a child, much to Hermione's embarrassment and the pureblooded family's amusement. Water was snorted by Draco when Mr. Granger recalled tales of Hermione's nude phase of childhood.
"Oh yes, she was very fond of nudity," Mr. Granger chuckled, "At a housewarming party for a friend, she managed to convince all of the other children to strip and jump into the pool. I must say that I've never seen so many bare-naked children in our area. It was quite amusing, though Hermione readily pointed out that all of the girls were different from the boys. So many parents were red when they tried explaining to their four year old children why there was a difference."
"Dad!" Hermione whined, covering her face with her hands.
"Oh, and when she would stay with her grandparents, she would hurry out of the bathroom soaking wet and naked as the day she was born, and run through the house screaming "naked baby" as loud as possible. Oi, I can't even begin to describe how red my father-in-law would be."
Hermione's head thumped against the table.
"We're going to miss you so much, sweetie," Mrs. Granger nearly cried as she embraced Hermione. "Promise to write us, okay?"
"I will, Mum," Hermione lied, knowing she'd never hear from the people she considered her family again. Her heart was cracking, but she remained strong.
Mr. Granger stood in front of Bellatrix and Draco, offering each a strong handshake. "You two must come back sometime this summer. I quite enjoyed learning about your world. We can share more stories about my daughter's childhood and what she's like now. I'm sure you have plenty of stories." He winked at the pair.
Hugging Mr. Granger one final time, Hermione inhaled his cologne deeply and fought back her tears. This was the last time she would be here, with these people, ever again.
"I love you, darling. Have a good rest of the year."
"Thank you, Daddy," Hermione replied quietly, squeezing him slightly before returning to Bellatrix's side.
"It was very nice meeting you all," Bellatrix said cordially, offering Hermione her arm. "I hope we see each other again soon."
Hermione felt a familiar tug in her stomach and the world she was leaving behind disappeared in front of her eyes. Only then did she let the tears fall.
(Bellamione)
Ginny lounged on her bed, a school book laying face down on her stomach. She was trying to study up for the next semester – or that was her excuse, at least. She was trying diligently to avoid everyone down stairs. The only people she could stand where the twins and Tonks, who'd been staying with them since they returned after Christmas.
Tonks…Beautiful, clumsy Tonks.
Ginny groaned softly and leaned her head back, closing her eyes and inhaling deeply. She'd known for nearly a year that she fancied the older girl, but she fought desperately to ignore her feelings. She went so far as to feign interest in Dean and Harry, though she felt very little for Dean and practically nothing for Harry anymore. He was too immature and self-centered for her taste, but Tonks… She was so kind and sweet and caring and she made Ginny's stomach turn and heart pound into her chest.
Fuck, I'm so screwed.
Something crashed loudly outside her door and she jumped, grinning when she heard a string of curses passing Tonks' lips. She rushed to the door and threw it open, catching sight of Tonks bent over, a decent view of her cleavage showing. She was muttering quietly to herself, trying to fix one of Molly's ancient, extremely shattered, vases.
"Hello, Tonks," Ginny greeted impishly, giggling when Tonks nearly fell over in surprise.
"Oh, Ginny! Bloody hell, you scared the shit out of me." She laughed, smiling triumphantly when the vase was repaired.
Lifting it up carefully, she set it back on the table and stepped away, though she stumbled over a small table and into Ginny's arms. The youngest Weasley squeaked, but held up the Auror. Their faces were rather close together and Ginny could feel Tonks' breath against her lips.
"Sorry," Tonks whispered, though she made no effort to move.
Tonks was rather conflicted. She'd met Ginny over the previous summer and felt a connection with her unlike anything she'd ever felt, though she shoved it away. Ginny was only a fourth year for Merlin's sake! But, here, in this moment, she wasn't sure she could fight the feeling. She liked Ginny's gaze, the way soulful brown eyes flickered between her lips and her eyes. She couldn't help but lick her lips, watching proudly as Ginny's eyes followed her tongue's movement.
"Tonks," Ginny mumbled, her eyes locking onto Tonks', "I…"
A door slammed downstairs and broke them violently apart. Coming back to her senses, Tonks' cheeks grew pink and she muttered an apology before rushing past the Gryffindor. Ginny leaned up against the nearest wall and tried to catch her breath with one thought on her mind.
I really fucking wanted to kiss her. Fuck.