As usual the trio were the first ones in, Hermione sat them at their usual desks up front but unusually Ginny was sat with Neville not Hermione. Neville usually partnered with Demelza Robins, a Gryffindor girl in Ginny's year, but unfortunately she was awestruck by Hermione to the point that she went and sat next to a Slytherin student instead of face her idol. This left Hermione on her own at her desk, she knew someone was missing from class but with her mind full of Bella she couldn't quite remember who it was.
"Now then, now then, now then. Scales, books and kits out you know the drill by now. We will be working on a potion that you have made before so I expect for it to be significantly better than the last time you brewed it. We will be attempting the draught of living death. As with last time I will be offering 12 hours of liquid luck to the best brewed potion but I do expect them all to be brewed correctly if not perfectly."
There was a flurry of activity as everyone stood to collect their cauldrons, Hermione was relieved that she would be able to work without someone talking to her all lesson. She had made this potion near perfect first time and she knew she could do it again. This time without Harry and his half blood Prince book showing her up. No potions without someone sharing her desk was how she likes it, she was already a good way through her potion already. This lesson was nice and quiet just the way she liked it, focus on me and nothing else.
-And the sexy death eater in your head!
Bella's voice crooned inside her head and suddenly sharing the desk with someone didn't sound like such a bad idea anymore.
-Oh pet, but I know just how much you love it when I tease you.
Hermione tried to continue with her potion, thankful that the heat from the cauldron covered her blush.
-I bet your wet for me already. Are you wet for me pet?
Hermione crushed the Sopophorous bean with her silver blade, there was some benefits to being Harry potter's best friend and one of them was potion hacks from Snape's book.
- I asked you a question pet and I expect a response. Are you wet for me?
Bella's voice was filled with the same authoritarian sound as it had been the previous night and Hermione felt her insides curl.
- Yes
She thought back, sounding breathless even inside her head.
-Mmmmmm my good little slut. Bet you can't even focus on your potion. Just thinking of all the things I'm going to do to you.
'Come on Hermione, you've got this. Seven stirs counter-clockwise, one stir clockwise. Just like Harry did.'
-Oh pet, it's cute how hard your trying but I know you're thinking about how it felt having my hands on your body. How it felt to kiss me, how much you wanted to touch me, to taste me. I know you're a quivering wreck right now and trying with all her might to ignore me because if you don't you're going to touch yourself right there in the classroom.
Hermione knew she was right but also knew she couldn't possibly let anything like that happen. Luckily it was time to let her potion simmer for a while so she could focus on controling her breathing and calming herself down from the frenzy that Bella was working her into.
"Granger"
-DRACO! Shit!
Bella actually sounded suprised at the arrival too.
Hermione quickly jumped out of her trancs, she hadn't heard the dungeon door open or Draco walking in but her brain caught up to her and realised the person who had been missing up until now, was Draco. She also realised she had to decide how to play this. They had been enemies for years, but he left with Bella in the final battle and he was her nephew.
- I'm not going to ask anything of you, Hermione. This is your decision and whatever you choose I won't hold it against you.
-I know, Thanks Bella. Can you just give me a minute tho? You can listen if you want just don't talk.
-I can do that, pet.
"Draco."
The boy in question looked up at her from his cauldron, he was of course very far behind but he also looked so unlike the boy she had known. Gone was the smarmy attitude and sense of self importance, his father could no longer do anything about Draco's life so gone was the catch phrase 'my father will hear about this', before her was just a boy who followed his family where they led him and knew now that that path had been the wrong one.
"Draco look, we all did things in the war we didn't want to do, I broke into gringots so I can't exactly say I was on the right side of the law. You may have been on the losing side but you never killed Dumbledore and you could have, you didn't tell your family that it was Harry with us, and you left the final battle with your Aunt. Me and Professor Black have been trying to work through our differences so that she can heal my arm. If I can forgive her then I can forgive you. So if you would be happy to, I would like to begin again. Clean slate."
Throughout this Draco's face morphed through many expressions; hurt, anger, gratitude, confusion and finally settled on determination.
"Hello, I believe we will be sharing a desk this class. Allow me to introduce myself I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy" He held his hand out to her with confidence but there was a hint of vulnerability in his eyes, very much like the flicker she often saw in his Aunt's face.
"I'm Hermione Granger, a pleasure" She took his hand and shook it.
"Thanks Granger, it really does mean a lot. I'm sorry about... well I'm sorry about a lot of things. The way I treated you was horrible but it was how I was raised and with him spending most of the summer at my house those last year's it was hard to tell what was truth and what was his mania. So I really would like to start over."
"I'm not gonna let you forget that I punched you in third year tho, you know that right? Clean slate, yes. But the way your head hit the stone after I hit you will stay with me forever."
He could see the mischievous glint in her eye and quipped back "So long as you don't forget it was me that got you your perfect teeth in the end"
"Oh god it was! If you hadn't have sent that jinx at Harry I'd still have my natural teeth! Damn it! Now I've got to thank you some how"
"Let me tell the story of the day you looked like a Beaver whenever you mention punching me and we'll call it quits!"
"Ok! You've got a deal!"
He once again held his hand out to Hermione "Friends?"
She shook it "Friends! But I need to finish my portion so stop distraction me Mr Mafloy or whatever your name was again."
"I wouldn't dream of distracting you Miss Ganrer!"
The two shares a relaxed giggle and just like that the tention of seven years was gone. The war really had changed people for the better.
- Either that or you're just exceedingly good at sweet talking my family, pet.
- Maybe that's it. I mean Tonks was one of my best friends, you know we all risked our lives for Sirius more than once, Andy loves me nearly as much as Mrs Weasley does, which ironically aren't the Weasley's distant relations through Molly? Makes sense why Ron's obsessed, it's my ability to charm the Black family. I've just got you and now Draco. Only got Narcissa left."
- Damn, you really do have Black blood wrapped round your little finger don't you pet! That potions nearly perfect pet but can I offer a little hack?
- What one that Snape hasn't already come up with?
- Yep, the only person who could best Snape at potions was me and Cissy. All you need to do is add one last piece of valerian root once you've finished stiring.
- Ok, I'll bite but if this goes wrong you owe me.
- If I'm wrong I'm sure you'll make me take my punishment like a good girl.
Images of Bella bent over a desk being spanked by Hermione popped into her head but they all seemed wrong.
- As if you'd ever let me do that. Here goes nothing.
She picked up a sliver of valerian root that Draco hadn't used and dropped it into her potion The potion turned palest pink.
- Told you pet. I think I'll take your thank you with you on your knees.
All that came as a response was a sound half way between a squeak and a moan which luckily was only heard inside of her head.
-I'm really going to miss you next class when I'm teaching.
- I can't wait for the first time you're teaching and I'm not.
-You sure you want to do that pet?
-I think you know I do.
"Excellent, excellent! Miss Granger your potions prowess has only grown and so as promised for the best brew, one vial of Felix felicis and 25 points for Gryffindor."
"Good job Granger, Not seen a living death that strong since my mum and she would never tell me her secret!"
"I've got my own little fountain of knowledge. You where definitely closest after me so don't worry you're not disgracing the Malfoy name, I just had a little more help."
"You know what... you're actually alright Granger."
"You're not too bad yourself Malfoy. Tell your mother I send my gratitude for what she did to protect Harry. We couldn't be where we are without her and I don't think she will have heard that from many people"
"I...ERM...thanks Granger. I...I will. See you around"
- Suck up!
- Maybe I just want to finish the set. Can't have Narcissa being the only black I can't befriend.
-Heaven forbid she said in mock outrage.
-Right Bella, you've got class now and I've got charms so we'll speak later? At lunch?
-I might even come down to the great hall just to see your pretty face
-No one would ever believe me but you're secretly a massive softy.
-Well couldn't have Potter and Dumblefuck thinking I was a push over. Although if I'd known how willng to bend over for me you where I'd have never let you out of the manor.
-If I'd have known how willing to bend me over you were I might have stayed.
-Lunchtime then pet.
-Lunchtime
Charms went by quickly with very few interactions between the two. Bella teaching and Hermione listening to Flitwick. Both waiting with anticipation for lunch when they could talk again. Both waiting their next fix like a drug. Neither had ever felt like this before, they had both had crushes, Bella had MANY affairs but nothing ever felt like this.
However having neither of them had a real relationship (that wasn't an arranged marriage) they both assumed this was how everyone felt.
As Hermione walked into the great hall for lunch she spotted Bella sitting at the teachers table already. They made eye contact briefly and then quickly busied themselves with eating so as to not get caught. Luckily Ginny and Neville hadn't arrived from their free period yet.
-Hi pet
-Hi Bella
-Fancy a snog in front of the whole great hall? I mean everyone would know by the end of the day?
-And you would be out of a job and I would be expelled before my NEWTs. Have you sorted a meeting with Minnie yet?
-Was worth a try, it's sexy as fuck knowing you're covered in bruises that only we know about. And Wednesday usual time Minnie's office instead of the room of requirements. I really don't know how it's going to go down but...
-But we've got to try. So I know we're not officially arranged to meet up again till then but would you... prehaps...want to come to mine for a short while tonight? Ginny spends Monday nights writing letters home, she's always done it with that many brothers it needs scheduling in. So, I'm free and I know you've got time with Neville tomorrow so I thought...
-Hermione?
-Yes?
-You're waffeling. Of course I would love to come over. Just try and keep me away pet. Anyway we've got a contract to write.
-Only you could make a magically binding document sound sexy.
-On the contrary I believe we can both make magically binding documents sound sexy. Smartest witches of our ages and all that.
-Bella?
-Yes pet?
-Will anyone else have access to the contract? I mean as much as Rita Skeeter is terrified of me I think she would risk it all to reveal this. I mean think of the headlines!
-Golden girl spreads for the dark lords lieutenant- Imperius Curse or mental breakdown? Ye I can see it now. With a picture of you bent over showing that pretty pink pussy of yours.
-BELLA!
-Even from here I can see how red you are. But no pet the contract would only be seen by someone else in the case one of us broke the contract and wanted monitary compensation or if something were to go wrong and you got injured, in which case the contract would give me legal immunity as you where consenting. I hope we never have to reveal the contract to anyone else. But it is there for your protection as much as mine.
-That makes sense. I've been thinking about some of my limits.
-Go on?
-Ok well let's just start off with no skat, no sploshing, no piercing or staples that's just...ye no. No animals in any way shape or form, including animagus if you are one. And no chastity, the idea of how dirty those belt things must get always make me feel sick.
-Those we can all agree on pet. Although there are more I would expect on that list so we will discuss those more later. For reference I am not an animagus although I always wanted to be.
- Ok I'm happy with that. God's you look sexy today. I'm glad I don't have defence against the dark arts with you today I wouldn't be able to think straight.
-You're going to have to be my partner for the rest of the semester now if we're doing Legilimency. One wayward thought in front of your classmates and we're toast.
-Oh dear, however will I cope with my sexy professor delving into my mind and seeing all the perverted things I want her to do to me. Hermione quipped.
-By going back to her bedroom and letting her do all those perverted things to you.
-Yes, I guess that's one way.
-How have you snuck up on me like this golden girl?
-What do you mean?
-I tortured you, I got tortured for letting you escape, we were on opposite sides of the war before you even knew there was a war, you're best friends with my lords arch enemy, you're the golden girl of the wizarding world, probably be minister of magic sooner or later, you're a muggleborn. I should hate you.
-But you don't. Bella you left your lord, the battle wasn't over and for all we know you leaving with Draco and your sister turned the tide in our favour. I should hate you too but I don't, I don't think I ever did. Even in the ministry that very first time you took my breath away. I...
-Hermione?
-I was really harsh on Neville for days.
-Why?
-Because... because you held him in your arms. I shouldn't feel like this even now but the thought of someone else in your arms instead of me it...it hurts.
-Oh my sweet girl, please don't cry. I know how you feel. When I think about the fact I let you leave the Manor with weasel I feel sick. I could have kept you with me, kept you away from the war. Instead you left and he kissed you. That weasel kissed what is...
Bella trailed off but it was obvious to anyone what she meant (if they had been able to hear her).
-What is yours. I think we can both say that now. I think I always have been. It's terrifying but nothing in my life has ever felt so right before. I wouldn't wish the war again for anything but at least out of the pain and suffering we found each other.
-Shit pet, now you're gonna make me cry. All I wanted to do was tell you how pretty you look, tease you, rile you up a bit; not get all sentimental. But yes we can agree that you are mine. You were made for me. My kinky little pain slut. I wonder if you can get off from pain alone?
-How you can go from sentimental to horny in the blink of an eye I'll never know but I'm willing to try if you are.
-I can't believe I'm talking to the golden girl about getting her off to pain whilst sat in the great hall three seats down from McGonagall. If someone had told me a year ago this would happen I'd have laughed.
-You'd have probably have used the criciatus on them for fun.
-Probably... Do you reckon it's legal to use a criciatus curse if it's consentual? I could totally see you enjoying it if I used a really weak one.
-That might be a soft limit for me. Not a definite no but... well it's not exactly pleasant. I know how that curse feels coming from you remember!
-I know but I've also seen you get wet from me slicing you open...twice now, although I didn't realize the first time
-You really are going to be the death of me aren't you?
-Probably. Anyway pet you've got to go Longbottom Jr and Red have just walked in. Enjoy Herbology, try not to get got by the Venomous Tentacula, but if you do pick a good swear word! One that with fluster the old sprout!
-Ok Bella I promise. See you later.
-Bye Bella