Warning: Contains mentions of drug abuse and mentions stalking, please read with caution.
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters and no money has been made from this.
Enjoy...
Chapter Eight
1st November…
Bare legs tucked, mug in hand, she reclines into the sofa her muscles protesting. For days she's been on her feet, travelling, it's nice to finally sit down. Not just cramped into a passenger train or rushing to catch a ferry. To be back in her apartment, to be home with a freshly brewed mug of coffee.
It may be two in the morning, but she won't be getting to sleep anytime soon. So many potions and caffeine to keep her awake the last few days her nerves feel burnt out. She's jittery, slowly coming down from the caffeine from the adrenaline. Thankfully she still had some decaf coffee she nibbles on her biscuits.
Nearly being blasted into oblivion was worth it just to see Bella's face. She had launched herself into the witch's arms, needing to feel Bella. Needing to touch the witch, she has missed her more than she would ever admit. Reading the letters, the news of what was happening scared her. She was worried for Bella's safety, to hear on her way home the Auror unit has sustained losses. Croaker had informed her that Bella had been injured and was sitting before the Wizamengot, she almost apparated into the court herself.
Not that it would have been possible, she had a process she must go through. A debrief, travelling etc, she couldn't just return to England as though she had never been in Australia. No, there was no chance of that, but she's just grateful to be back.
With a nice hot shower dressed in a baggy t-shirt, she was doing chores when Bella sneaked up on her. Doing the washing, slightly embarrassed to have her knickers all over the floor. Now with the washing machine nearly finishing its cycle, cuddling her favourite cushion, she listens to the witch. Listens to Bella filling her in on everything she's missed. The curfew, her appearance before the Minister. Her interrogation with Rod, everything, she had missed so much in the short amount of time.
"It's annoying," Bella sighs sipping her cup of tea. "It doesn't make sense, to be honest."
"Bella," Hermione sighs picking another biscuit. "Out of everything you've told me, why does this bother you the most? Why does that one individual, just one person bother you the most?"
"Because it doesn't fit, they were brilliant at duelling. This cult is not just going to let one of their best duellists die. It doesn't fit, for Rod to lie about the mask. It means something, something more."
"Is it that the reason or something deeper?"
"Like what?"
"Like, perhaps that person best you in a duel? I mean it must have been terrifying they had you pinned down. A foot on your throat, it's a loss of control? It's… Oh lord, I sound like my therapist." Hermione trails off shaking her head.
"Therapist?"
"Hmm, god, I've got to see them tomorrow. Ugh, I'm not in the mood."
"I didn't know you saw someone?" Bella enquires.
"It's protocol, all Unspeakables see a therapist. It's part of the role we see them weekly. We have to, it's hard you know. Being an Unspeakable, we're not allowed to discuss anything outside our department. Not long ago, before it became compulsory, they had a few Unspeakables go mad. With suicide, murder and some stuff beyond the realm of explanation, it became apparent there was a need for an outlet. We must pass regular mental health checks to work. So much fun."
"So, all that time I was telling you to see someone…" Bella trails off annoyance flashing across her face. "You were, why didn't you say anything?"
"You mean when you were accusing me of being an alcoholic? Or the fact I was sleeping around?" Hermione enquires meeting the surprised stare. "I didn't feel as though I owed you an explanation."
Silence, Bella remains staring, blinking, confusion flicking through her dark eyes. Tension runs through Hermione's body, her bones ache from sitting too long. She knows her therapist won't clear her for work. Not after everything she's just been through, there's no chance in hell.
"I'm sorry about that," Bella answers carefully. "I was concerned about you; I should have thought it through more. I didn't explain myself well at the time."
Closing her eyes, Hermione rubs her eyelids, she is too tired for this, too strung out. The coffee in her hand hasn't helped ease her nerves.
"It's fine," Hermione dismisses. "I'm just tired, I haven't slept for a while."
"How long?"
"Ugh, about thirty-two hours now, it was a long journey back," Hermione answers glancing at the clock.
"Your drinking coffee?"
"Decaf," Hermione smiles.
"Would you like me to go? So, you can get some rest?"
"No, not unless you have to. I won't be sleeping anytime soon, I have so much caffeine running through my system I won't be sleeping just yet."
"What happens now?" Bella asks placing her cup on the table.
"Now? I will have a medical evaluation, followed by a psychological evaluation and a debrief. Followed by extensive paperwork."
"I wish you could tell me where you've been." Bella states.
"So do I,"
It's a soft reply, she wishes amongst anything she could tell Bella where she's been. Tell her what she's seen, what she's done. Her stomach churns at the idea, she feels sick the memories repressed. Everything seems tainted, the world is tainted she will never be able to look at it the same again.
"Hey," Bella whispers. "I know you can't tell me anything, but I'm here, you know that."
"I do," Hermione answers with a small smile. "I'm going to apologise now, I'm not going to be myself for a while. I'm sorry if I become… grouchy."
"Never apologise," Bella smiles. "Not to me."
"I'm sorry about Rod, I know that must have been hard."
"I'm booking the front row seats to his execution."
"Bella,"
"What? The bastard has it coming. I know there's going to be worse things coming, we've got to raid his places… I dread what we're going to find."
"Did he ever… you know." Hermione trails off.
"Me, ha not ever. He wishes. He slapped me once, not long after we got married. He woke up the next day strung up. I left him like that for a few days. But no, he never dared."
"Good."
"What did you do?" Bella demands leaning back into her seat, eyes focussed solely on Hermione. "Tell me, what happened."
"You believe him?" Hermione asks curiously. "What he said about me?"
"To get under Rod's skin like that, his anger. Most definitely, what did you do Hermione?"
"Nothing much," Hermione chuckles recalling the memory. "Don't look at me like that, I honestly really didn't do much. I was out with Mercy, we were having a few drinks when I overheard him. We were meant to be monitoring something, so we were in a dodgy neighbourhood, disguises in place. I heard him talking to his brother, about the divorce. The comments… Well, they became rather vulgar, what he and his bother were planning to do to you. Teach you a lesson. So, I thought I'd pay him a little visit and have a chat with him. We followed them both back to Rod's, his security is rather lacking may I add."
"Hermione, what did you do?"
"I just gave Rod a little something, helped him relax. Muggles are good at drugs did you know? Ever heard of LSD?"
"No?"
"It's a muggle drug, some people take it to get high. It sends users on trips, and Unspeakables during training are sometimes given it. To intensify their training. Another story for a different time. In low doses, Acid it's a powerful drug, it's very common at nightclubs and festivals. But in high doses well it's one hell of a trip. A dangerous trip as well. You see, LSD can distort a person's sensory perception, emotions and thoughts. It affects the way they see the world. I gave both Rod and Rab a dose each. It was something to experience. Let's just say when he came down from his high, Mercy was only too happy to help him clear up. If he signed the documents."
"What happened?"
"You'd have to ask him; we just sat there drinking his whiskey as they both flipped out. Didn't even lay a hand on him. He did start crying at one stage, it was very disturbing. But hand on heart never touched the guy."
"But you cleaned up?"
"Nah, he never left his house, he was still hallucinating. Was lucid enough to sign, to make a deal, and I said we'd clean up. So, whatever he envisioned I 'cleaned up', in reality, I threw him in the shower. Told his elf's to monitor them, one elf sent the documents to his solicitor, and we left."
"Remind me never to piss you off," Bella warns.
Shaking her head, Hermione reassures the witch with a smile. She had wanted to curse Rod, really wanted to hurt him. It would be too reckless, why bother when he could torture himself with his memories?
"How's Tom?" Hermione asks changing the conversation.
"Oh, yeah he's fine."
"Just fine?" Hermine repeats sceptically. "At one stage you wouldn't shut up about him."
"We argued; it's been a bit rocky since then."
"OH, the first argument," Hermione smiles. "What did he do? Ask you to move in with him?"
"No, he just blew something out of proportion, that's all. Said some shit that pissed me off."
"Bella, I mean this with as much respect as possible, but was it out of proportion?"
"You think the fight was my fault?" Bella scoffs.
"Was it?"
"I missed one of his stupid dinners," Bella retorts with a shrug. "I'm not some little doll he can flaunt around."
"Have you told him this?"
"I… Not in so many words. I don't give a shit about his political ambitions,"
"Do you expect him to care about your career?"
"I don't need him to."
Smirking, Hermione hides her smile by taking a sip of her drink, it's not fast enough. Bella huffs noticing the smile, she rolls her hand in annoyance.
"Out with it."
"I have nothing to say, I cannot comment on relationships, they're not my strong point. Sex though, I know a lot about that."
"Don't get me started on sex," Bella groans. "Is it so much to want a bit roughness?"
A blush covers Hermione's face her mind rushing to the gutter. She can imagine fighting Bella for dominance. Rolling around in bed both witches trying to get the upper hand. Bella would win, and Hermione knows the witch would win. She'd love to pin Bella to the bed, tied up with rope, strapped down like a star. Naked, dripping in need, Hermione would make her bed. Would make her scream before allowing the witch any release.
A cushion smacks her in the face, nearly knocking the mug off her lap. Cursing, Hermione frowns at the witch, brushing the droplets of coffee from her legs.
"Fuck sake," Hermione moans.
"Head out the gutter you," Bella orders.
"You started this," Hermione argues, rising to her feet, she plods into the kitchen. "So, tell me, when you want roughness. Is this you wanting Tom to pin you into bed and fuck you to oblivion? Or you have him pinned down as you use him for your gratification?"
Rinsing a tea towel Hermione places her foot on a stool drawing her t-shirt up to her hip. She dabs at the coffee stain, looking back to the witch on the sofa. Those impossibly black eyes are tracing the motion of the tea towel, focussed on Hermione's legs. Interesting. What did I miss? Hermione muses.
"Oi Black," Hermione snaps at the witch. "Oh, do you want to do the dirty? Do you want to bend him over and fuck him with a dildo?"
"Ugh, no." Bella remarks snapping from her daze. "Do you need to be so crass?"
"Pot calling kettle black? No?"
"Shut up," Bella sighs bringing her cup to the kitchen.
Dropping the towel to the side, Hermione leaves her foot resting on the stool, resting her head on her knee. It helps ease the kink in her back, a strangely comfortable position. She watches the witch approach placing the cup on the kitchen island pausing just a foot away from Hermione. Arms folded, Bella frowns at the washing machine as it continues its final spin.
"Right now, I wonder why I missed you," Bella remarks.
"Aww, you missed me?" Hermione taunts.
"Don't make me curse you,"
"Promises, promises. Unlike Tom, I enjoy some pain."
Smirking, Hermione mounts the stool, placing her hands between her legs to stabilise herself. Stop teasing. She shushes her mind, she's just testing the waters. Did Bella just lose focus or was she checking Hermione out?
"Oh really," Bella whispers turning her attention to Hermione.
"Really," Hermione answers with a smile. "I can just imagine you in a corset, restraints I think you'd enjoy it."
With the slightest twitch of an eyebrow, arms resting on the counter, Bella turns her body towards Hermione. Swallowing, Hermione, didn't think it possible, but those eyes grow even darker. Prey feels like prey before the big bad wolf.
"I bet during your duel with the mystery person, I bet a part of you enjoyed being pinned down. So, tell me, Black. Which is it? Are you one to beg? Or you the one holding the leash?"
"I think we both know," Bella murmurs. "I most definitely hold the leash."
"I think," Hermione murmurs, sliding further onto the stool, her leg brushing Bella's thigh. "A part of you wants to be pinned down."
"Do you know?"
"The loss of control."
"Doesn't sound like me."
"No?" Hermione smiles her hand rests on Bella's hip, absently removing a thread from the witch's robe. "I imagine you're a screamer."
"Imagine me often?" Bella taunts her hand curling around Hermione's wrist, preventing the hand from moving further. "I've seen your restraints. We both know you enjoy being the one pinned."
"We're not talking about me,"
"Aren't we?"
Swallowing, Hermione bites her lip, heart thumping beneath her ribcage. It hammers demanding to be let free, to break free off its iron chains. Her wrist is held between dextrous fingers; they flex as a thumb tracing along the pulse point. Can she feel it? Can Bella feel her pulse beating out of control?
Eyes dart to Hermione's lips, and Bella's free hand tightens on the counter, shifting impossibly closer. Until they're breathing the same air, her robes brushing Hermione's knees. Stop, stop, we've gone too far. For the life of her, Hermione can't look away. She's not strong enough to break this grip Bella has on her.
Clang. They both jump a mile, Hermione stumbling backwards off her stool, she manages to catch herself. Hand on her heart Hermione turns to the source of the noise. Crooks sits eyes wide, licking his paw acting indifferent. The bowl he crashed into shifted across the counter. Releasing a breath, Hermione turns back to the witch, flinching, as Hermione narrowly misses poking her eye out on the outstretched wand.
"Fuck sake, you, bloody stupid animal," Bella grumbles lowering her wand.
Laughter, bubbles up, deep belly laughter, Hermione clutches her sides as she doubles over. Bella is staring at her as though she's lost her mind, perhaps she has.
"Your face," Hermione gasps. "You should have seen your face."
"Because your blood cat…"
"Scared you! The great Bellatrix's Black frightened by a cat!"
"Fuck off," Bella groans pocketing her wand. "Doesn't he know there's a crazy cult around?"
"Oh, Bella!" Hermione claps her hands, stopping the witch from walking back to the sofa. "I figured it out!"
Pouting, eyebrow raised, Bella waits arms folded for Hermione's revelation. A smile grew on Hermione's lips, she hasn't laughed like this in so long. It feels so good.
"Think about it, they never talk, they skulk around. The masked individual. It's Crookshanks!"
She narrowly avoids the cushion that just misses her face. Glowering, Bella grabs another cushion throwing it, it catches Hermione between the legs. She stumbles to the floor, landing in a heap. Laughing.
"Still think it's funny?" Bella demands staring down at the witch.
"I think it's fucking hilarious," Hermione answers honestly, groaning as the cushion hits her in the face. It makes her laugh more.
2nd November...
Peace, away from the bustling below, Bella rests against the arch wall, nibbling away on her pasta. Piercing another piece with her fork, she watches the ministry workers go about their day. Unaware that she watches over them, studying them like a hawk. The ministry worker was late to pick up their child from day care.
The witch is having an affair with the worker from floor three. The older wizard meanders the hall, eyes darting to witches' bums as they walk past. The retired professor is rambling to the recruits as he guides them around the ministry. Life moves never pausing. Somewhere in the depths of the ministry, Hermione is working in the basement.
"Hey mama," A silky voice interrupts her musings.
"Peace is shattered," Bella groans turning to greet the witch.
"Room for one more?"
"No. But looks like you're joining me anyway."
"Wow, that's one serious drop," Mercy comments staring down into the depths. "Look at us two birds together on our perch."
"What do you want?" Bella demands dropping her fork.
"Rude, no way to treat an old friend."
"I wasn't aware we were friends," Bella remarks.
"Any friend of Hermione's is a friend of mine. It comes with marriage."
"I'd imagine you'd be humping her leg instead of pestering me."
"Oh, I did, when she walked in this morning, was all over like a dog on heat." Mercy grins. "But she's a sour pussy so I've left her to stew."
"Why?"
"Desk duty," Mercy grins. "She's not impressed."
"Desk duty?"
"Yeah, well, she failed her health check, so she's on reduced hours and desk duty. Until she's back."
"Mental or physical?"
"Both."
Biting her lip, Bella looks back down at the crowds below. She won't lie, it's killing her not to know where the witch has been all this time. Not knowing what Hermione has been through. So caught up in seeing the witch, she hadn't noticed Hermione had lost some weight. Not until they were sat down.
She had rambled about what Hermione missed while away, it wasn't until the play fight when she noticed Hermione breathless. Her slow movements from getting up, the hand resting on her back. The dark circles under the witch's eyes, the jerky movements. She had put it down to lack of sleep. Something was different though, very different. Those eyes, those honey brown eyes, they'd darkened. Wherever Hermione had been, not all of her had returned.
Hugging the witch goodbye, she felt the weight loss. Holding the witch, she could feel her ribs, her shoulder blades more pointed. She should have stayed the night, and ensured Hermione ate, but she couldn't stay much longer.
Their moment in the kitchen, she cannot ignore it. She had wanted to kiss Hermione, to take the witch's face in her hands and kiss her. The biting of the lip had nearly been her undoing if it weren't for the blasted cat. She would have swept Hermione into her arms. Then what? Kiss her? Fuck her against the worktop, then go home to Tom?
The idea makes her feel sick, she couldn't just shag Hermione against the counter and then leave. It was just down to longing, she had missed the witch, the lack of sex from Tom. It was recipe for disaster. Now, who's lying?
"She's going to be unbearable," Mercy comments opening a bag of crisps.
"She needs rest," Bella summarises.
"That's not a word in Hermione's dictionary. She has field notes to complete then she's not allowed back in the department until she's cleared at least one of her medicals."
"She'll be fine," Bella comments.
"I don't know, I haven't seen her like this… well since you know."
"What do I know?" Bella asks turning her attention to the witch. Stressed, Mercy is stressed.
"She didn't tell you?" Mercy guesses.
"Tell me what?"
"The reason she swapped from politics?"
"No, she just said she was headhunted."
"Well, kind of. Croaker always finds us at our lowest point. I don't know the full reason she moved department, I know the trigger."
"Tell me."
"I'm telling you this, because, without this job, Hermione has nothing."
"She has us."
"No, she has nothing. This will sound callous, but Hermione isn't like others. She's been burnt too many times. I don't know the whole truth behind her parents there's bad blood. Hell, her father died last year and she's let Croaker tell the world his still alive. The reason she was in Australia."
"He died last year?"
"Yep, cancer, Hermione went to the funeral, she didn't see him before. That's bad blood. I don't know the history I just know, Hermione struggles to let anyone in. I suppose she's scared of being hurt or something."
Scared of being abandoned, Bella thinks sadly. Remembering the letters from Hermione's father, and the secrets of her mother's death. Knowledge, Hermione craves knowledge it's not the job she needs, she needs to feel useful. She needs to understand, to focus on something because if she doesn't the noise in her head becomes too loud. Bella can see it now when she looks at the witch. So eager to please, to give to others to forget her own needs because she doesn't want to be left again. Doesn't want to be abandoned. Forgotten about.
"Tell me," Bella orders.
"She was up and coming in the Ministry. They had her pegged for future Minister of Magic. She had moved three legislations through court already, new regulations. Stricter rules to helping magical creatures. Needless to say, some of the rules rubbed some people up the wrong way. A rumour started; Hermione hadn't long broken up with Ron. You must remember at that time she wasn't as confident as she is now. Not with her sexuality. Someone outed her to the Ministry staff before she was ready to come out. They started a rumour that she was sleeping with one of her work colleagues. Pictures were put in the offices, of Hermione with another witch. It was everywhere. For the record she wasn't sleeping with a colleague, it was her and Fleur. Some sicko had stalked her the pictures were of them on a night out. They didn't get Fleur's face didn't need to, a blonde witch it looked like a high member in the Wizamengot."
Anger pulses through Bella's veins, the urge to hunt down the sicko who had tarnished Hermione's career. If Croaker hadn't stolen Hermione for the Unspeakables Bella fears where the witch ended up.
"It goes without saying, by this point Hermione's career was dead in the water. It would have destroyed her, she's an insanely private person to have her whole life splashed around. Being forced out before you are ready, well. You can imagine."
"Who was it?" Bella grinds out. "Who spread the rumours about the pictures?"
"Don't know, she said she never found out." Mercy shrugs wiping a tear from her eye. "I didn't come here to drag up shit. I came here to ask for your help. We need to keep her busy, I'm worried."
"I think I may have an idea." Bella answers.
"Really."
"Yes," A smile on her face. "I know just the way to keep her busy."
Hermione knew she'd fail her mental health check, she wasn't prepared to fail a physical health check. She had lost weight, but she had also gained some muscle mass. Frustrated, she puts the key in her lock the whole day was a waste of bloody time.
Now she's on stupid leave until she gets cleared by at least a physical or a mental health check. This means eating healthy, working out and hopefully passing at least her physical. A month though, they gave her a month's leave, what is she meant to do in a month?
Nudging the door open with her foot she juggles the bags of shopping as she moves into her flat. Nearly tripping over Crooks who rushes under her feet, frowning as the light is already on. The smell of Chinese makes her pause, she stops in her doorway staring at the room.
"There you are," Bella announces emerging from Hermione's bedroom making Hermione jump.
"Bella," Hermione greets confused.
"Here," Bella scoops up Crooks and takes a couple of the shopping bags. "I wasn't sure when you'd finish but I got us Chinese."
Vanilla Bella smells like vanilla, smells like Hermione's body wash. Frowning, Hermione nudges the door shut behind her following Bella into the flat. She places the bags of shopping down on the counter. It was when she noticed the big boxes on the coffee table, more confused than ever. She turns back to the witch who is searching through the shopping bags similar to Crooks. Looking for food.
"Bella," Hermione murmurs rubbing her eyes. "Why are you in a pair of my pj's?"
"I showered," Bella answers arm deep in a shopping bag she remerges with a cheese string with a grin. "My clothes were dirty."
She states it as though it's the most obvious thing in the world. As though Hermione should know why the witch is using her apartment as though it's her own.
"Bella, why are you here?"
"Oh, you got plans?" The witch asks for cheese dangling from her mouth.
"No, I just didn't expect you. I thought we were meeting in a few days?"
"Yes, we are, but I need your help."
"My help?"
"I know, you'll be busy with work, but…"
Trailing off, Bella walks to the mountain of boxes, she lifts the lid on the first one. Pulling out a folder Bella turns smiling at Hermione.
"I could do with some help. All these boxes hold folders for missing persons. Now, usually, we don't get involved but I'm running on a theory. So, I need to go through each case file, word by word and examine it."
"How many are there?"
"Two hundred and fifty-three."
"Wow. How long does this go back?"
"About three years."
"Three years… That's a lot of people."
"Yes."
"Why not just get your unit to look into it?"
"I have a mole in my unit. Until they're dealt with, I need to do this and you're the only person I trust. Can you help me?"
"Yeah, sure."
Grinning, Bella drops the file, she moves to grab her food lifting a file from the counter. She places it on the table, the list of everything that needs cross-checking.
"Bella," Hermione murmurs plucking her own Chinese from the counter.
"Hmm?" Bella whispers sucking a noodle into her mouth.
"Mercy told you that I'm off work, didn't she?"
"She may have mentioned it," Bella answers vaguely.
Sighing, Hermione plonks down on the sofa staring at the box of folders. This is exactly what she needs to keep her distracted. Cracking open a fortune cookie, Bella continues to chew on her noodles as she reads the notes.
"Bella,"
"Hmm?"
"Thank you,"
"Free labour," Bella shrugs. "Saving me a job."
It's a lie they both know it; this gives Hermione a focus point to keep her busy. It also means Bella has a reason to visit more than usual to keep an eye on Hermione. The Chinese will be the first of many meals Hermione knows the witch will be bringing with her during each visit.
"Huh, fortune cookie. 'A mountain lies ahead of you.'" Bella reads the small note.
"No, it doesn't," Hermione answers suspicious.
"No, it says 'I cannot help you, for I am just a cookie.' What does yours say?" Bella snickers.
"Anxiety won't help your problems." Hermione reads chuckling.
"Oh, well, in that case, let's just not have anxiety."
"Right."
They both chuckle, Hermione reclines against her sofa, digging into her food. Perhaps a month off isn't too bad. Not that she will admit it, but the whole day she's been a nervous bundle of anxiety. Fear that the moment she and Bella had last night might scare the witch away. She hadn't expected this. Something changed while she was away, she's not sure what though.
"What's Tom up to tonight?" Hermione asks dipping her chicken into sweet and sour.
"Oh, shit." Bella groans smacking her forehead. "I need to borrow your owl."
Laughing, Hermione watches the witch move to the waiting owl, scribbling something down on a scroll.