Do you know how hard it's been to leave it an actual week between updates! Omg I nearly gave in so many times but I need to slow myself down or I won't have anything written to post.

Also trying desperately to stop myself starting new stories and one shots in the meantime!

This chapter will be Hermione, Ginny and Luna's girls night!

After ancient runes she headed back to hers room, there was no point going to dinner she knew that Winkie would sort out enough snacks and sweet's for an army!

She decided to get the TV set up in her bedroom so they could all get comfy. She hadn't had chance to test it here yet and she wasn't entirely sure it was going to work at Hogwarts but she had made it work at the burrow so hopefully it would be ok. She had picked out clueless for them to watch tonight, it was one of her favourites and an absolute girls night classic.

She threw off her robes and slipped on some PJ's and slippers. She really was looking forward to tonight, even after her panic attack earlier. The last time the three girls had been together like this was just after the war ended, Luna had walked herself to the burrow with a a TV, a Muggle book about things to do at a sleepover and mountain of sweets and informed Mrs Weasley that she would be staying the weekend and that her, Ginny and Hermione would be unavailable for the next few days. It was exactly what they had all needed as just weeks after the battle of Hogwarts all they could think of was their losses and hardships. The weekend together enjoying a decidedly Muggle sleepover reminded them all that this was the future they had fought for and that they had better live it whilst they had the chance.

There was a nock on her door which pulled her out of her memories. "Come in, doors open" Then started to make her way to the lounge.

In came Luna and Ginny in their own PJ's with overnight bags and Neville still in his school robes.

"Don't worry I'm not staying, I just figured I'd pop my head in before I left. Wanted to check you were ok after this afternoon?"

"Ye I'm ok Nev, thanks for worrying. Just a panic attack, I know you guys are used to them now but I need needed to be on my own for this one. Just a lot going on and things getting on top of me. But I'm ok, I promise! No need to worry."

"If you're sure Mi? You'll be ok with the girls on your own?"

"I'll be fine. Now get going before I make you stay here and I'll go explore that massive library!"

Ginny laughed and looped an arm around Hermione.

"I mean let's be honest guys Nev is going on MI's dream date. Sexy older lady, smart, whitty, with a MASSIVE library. She'd spread her legs like butter!"

"Ginevra Weasley!!! Shut your mouth right now!" Hermione was flushed scarlet (which she hoped looked like she was flushed in anger).

- I like this girl more and more as the days go on. But I mean ... she's right pet. I've seen what you want me to do to you in that library.

"Ok Ok I'm sorry Mi! But you have to admit... I'm straight and even I think Black's sex on legs, at least now she's sorted her teeth out anyway. But I would bet my last galeon that you like older more dominant women!"

Before Hermione could protect, Neville had stuck his hands in his ears.

"la la la not listening. lalala I can't hear you. I don't want to hear about our Professor being fit just minutes before I'm going to spend a night alone with her in her library. I am going to remove my fingers now and when I do this talk of sexy older women will have stopped!"

He waited a moment and then removed his fingers from his ears.

"Thank Merlin for that! I'll probably see you at breakfast tomorrow girls." He walked over to Luna and gave her a quick kiss. "See you later Luna, Bye Gin, Bye Mi."

Ginny and Hermione responded with their goodbyes and Luna said "I mean she is sexy" which left Neville looking sheepish and Ginny to burst out into giggles.

"Omg Luna! I've been trying to get the goss from you about Nev for weeks now and the first time you say someone's sexy it's our Professor! Morgana's tits that's funny!"

Luckily for Luna (and Hermione) Winky appeared with a crack

- You're welcome for the diversion pet. I'll try and talk to you later.

- Bye Bells

"Hey Winky!"

"Hello Missus Hermione, Ginny and Luna! Winky is bringing snacks!"

"What a good little elf" Luna said dropping to give Winky a hug, Hermione dropped down on Winky's other side and finally Ginny dropped down in front and swept them all up into one giant hug.

"Missus is making Winky cry. Missus too kind. Winky bring food now!"

As the girls pulled back, Winky was wiping her eyes on her dress. She snapped her fingers and on Hermione's table appeared all manner of sweets, snacks and cakes. It looked like she had raided the kitchens, honeydukes and the Hogwarts express trolly.

"Woah! This is amazing!" Ginmy was now stood with her mouth wide open.

"Ye Winky this really is amazing! Do you want to stay and watch the film with us?"

"Winky would love to but Winky has jobs. Winky is a very important elf Missus Mione!"

"I'm sure you are! Annother time then?"

Winky nodded "Enjoy your night missus!"

"She seems good. Dobby would have been so thrilled that she's happy. I miss that elf" Luna looked lost in thought for a moment but it was hard to tell with Luna; what was her lost in thought in a good way Vs a bad way.

"No! No more emotions! This is girls night! We are going to eat until we feel sick, then we are going to watch this muggle film that Mione loves and then we are going to have girl talk. I WILL find out all your secrets tonight girls!

And they did. They ate until they felt sick, the. brought popcorn and sweets through to Hermione bed and watched Clueless. Ginny and Luna were in love with clueless.

"Hey, Cher's into older people just like you Mi! Maybe she can give you some tips."

"I mean there's like three years between them at max, She's not a real person she's played by an actress and who even says I'm into older woman?"

- The fact we've been humping like rabbits this week ..

- Wait Bells I can hear you!

- I figured... Now listen to Red and talk yourself out of revealing your prefrance for the more mature lady.

"Ye ok Mi, I'll believe you thousands wouldn't. The only people you've ever told me you thought were hot were Flegm" even now Fleur was married to Bill (and had been for over a year) Ginny still kept the nickname behind her back "That Helen Mirror muggle and..."

"Stop right there Ginevra Weasley! That was shared in confidence! Don't you dare!"

"I don't think there's anything wrong with having a crush on McGonagall. It's nothing to be ashamed about" Luna said wistfully.

Hermione and Ginny turned to face her, Hermione looked shocked, Ginny looked terrified!

She turned to the girl besides her and said "Mi, I didn't tell anyone I promise. I wouldn't have even said it out loud really, I was just teasing you."

"I know that Gin, I do. I know you wouldn't betray me like that. It's ok, I'm not mad. What I am is curious" She turned to the blond girl before then who seemed oblivious to the tension she had created "How do you know about that?"

"McGonagall? I thought everyone knew. The creatures of the castle are always telling me things that are happening. You just have to listen and they will tell you everything you need to know."

"So you know... everything that goes on?"

"No, not everything. But I know a lot of things. But like Ginny I would never betray the trust of my friends. I only say what needs to be said. I only use my knowledge if I believe someone needs to hear what I know. Sometimes if people know you already know it's easier for them to open up."

Hermione and Ginny stood completely shocked and utterly bemused. They had always thought Luna to be imagining the creatures she spoke of, but here she was saying things that Hermione knew she had only ever told one person. Ginny decided to take the lead, after all she was like a blood hound with gossip.

"So you get told this by the... creatures?"

Luna nodded.

"Ok let me think. If there is something that happened in the castle that I never told anyone would the creatures know about it and tell you?"

"Yes Gin, I know about you falling off the stairs in fourth year on your way to meet Dean."

Ginny's jaw hit the floor.

"I was completely alone that night. It was past curfew and there was no one about. I slipped on a staircase and nearly fell off the end of it as it changed. I was so embarrassed I never told a soul. Not even Dean or you guys. I never breathed a word."

The three girls were quite for a while. Ginny and Hermione trying to understand what this meant for their friendship, Luna just observing the dust mites dancing in the lamp light.

Hermione reached out with her mind to Bella.

- Bella? Are you there?

- I'm here pet what's up?

- Long story short. Luna knows. I didn't tell her but she knows. I have to tell Ginny it's not fair. I trust her with my life. They will not betray us.

Bella was quite for a moment.

- ok pet. I trust you and if you trust them then I will not ask you to keep this a secret any longer.

- Thank you, my Bells.

- Yes, yours. Always.

- I'll update you after.

Hermione stood and headed into the lounge.

"Mione? Where are you going?"

"I'm going to get the firewhiskey. School night or not we're going to need it for this conversation."

Hermione returned and poured them each a large measure of firewhiskey; not the aged stuff, not yet at least.

"Ok Gin, I'm going to tell you something that I think Luna already knows" She looked across and Luna nodded. "I was going to tell you tomorrow after my meeting with McGonagall but it isn't fair for Luna to know and you not. This is not going to be an easy conversation for me and I need you to keep your comments to yourself for now. I need you to trust me, to not judge me and above all else please don't tease me on this."

"Shit, Mi? Are you ok? Whats going on?"

"Yes I'm ok I promise. Just let me start at the beginning."

She once again settled on the bed, resting against the head board.

"Ok here goes nothing." She closed her eyes and pretending she was just recapping things for herself.

"You're right, I have always been into older women, but it is less to do with their age and more to do with the social hierarchy of it all. I am attracted to powerful women, dominant woman. In the muggle world there is something called BDSM. It stands for Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, Sadochism and Masochism. Muggle's like to tie each other up and hurt each other a bit in the persuit of pleasure and it's something I have always been interested in. They don't cause any real harm, after all they can't heal each other but they do cause pain. It does bleed over into the wizarding world but it is not as wide spread. I don't know that until recently tho. "

She took a gulp of her firewhiskey without opening her eyes, even without her sight she could feel Ginny's eyes baring into her.

"I, I met someone during the war who is of a... similar inclination to me. During our interaction we both felt the pull towards each other but at the time it would not have been possible and so everything was left unsaid. Neither of us were aware the other felt the same way. Since returning to Hogwarts we have been able to spend time together outside of the war and have discovered we get along a lot, as well as a really strong...sexual attraction. We've slept together already and it was everything. It's settled my soul in ways I didn't know it could, my nightmares have lessened and I feel less highly strung. She's really helped me."

"Oh my god your fucking McGonagall!!!!" Ginny burst out.

Hermione snapped opened her eyes. "What! No no, not McGonagall! I got over that crush years ago. No McGonagall is... if anything a friend, a mentor...I'm not sleeping with McGonagall."

"Then who?" Ginny was nearly bursting at the seams now whilst Luna just watched on nonchalantly.

"I... please don't scream at me. It's Professor Black, it's Bellatrix." She let out a whoosh of air as the guilt over keeping a secret from her best friends was finally released. She braced herself for Ginny's rage, it was not going to be pretty.

"Oh...oh ye that makes sense." Ginny said with a shrug.

Hermione quickly tried to justify her feelings. "I know she was a death eater and she tortured Neville's parent but she's trying to...wait...what?" She stopped in her tracks.

Ginny continued in a calm methodical manner, talking to Hermione as of she was thick.

"I said that makes sense. She's clever, she gives you as much fire as you give her, she's powerful, and let's be honest if this whole BSDM thing is something you want I'm sure she's willing to torture you if you ask. She's clearly trying to make amends and honestly she's a damn good teacher. You've seemed more sure of yourself this last week, a bit distant and distracted but more confident even when distracted. And I've already said before that she's hot as fuck. Honestly Mi, it's such a you thing! You take in the strays and you show them love and heal them. I mean crookshanks is like a different cat now from when you first got him, S.P.E.W., Buckbeak I mean the list goes on. I think you'll actually be really good together."

Hermione opened and closed her mouth like a fish. She had been preparing herself for a fight but it hadn't come.

"Ginny is right. From the moment I heard of your connection I approved. You are two sides of the same coin, two halfs of a whole. You are soulmates. Destined I'd say."

Hermione brain was malfunctioning by this point. She had a complete lack of thought as her brain just stopped.

- Pet? Hermione? Are you there? Your thoughts have just stopped.

- I...I'm here Bella. I'm... just give me a minute to process. I'm ok. I'll explain when you're home.

- ok Pet, if you're sure.

"You think that me and Bella are..."

"Soulmates yes. Your aura's are so very similar. Identical yet opposite. I believe you are what she could have been if she had known love and you could have been her if you were denied that love. I saw your aura change after the Manor, I wasn't sure what it meant at the time. I thought it just meant that you had been permanently changed but I didn't know in what way. It was only when I saw the two of you together that I realized that both of you had been changed. You were perfect mirror images. Like Ying and Yang."

"But she... Tonks...and Gin your house" by now tears were falling down her cheeks. Gin snuggled up closer to her, resting their legs together to give Hermione some comfort.

"No one knows if she killed Tonks, there wasnt any evidence and Bellatrix never admitted to it. She admitted to everything else, even your torture. Why wouldn't she admit that too? Hey you know as well as I do that the Burrow is better than ever! Even got a guest room now after the rebuild!"

Hermione finally started to realise her friends weren't mad at her, in fact they were happy for her and her shock started to bubble over into relief.

"So you're really not mad at me?"

"No, it's destiny. It's like Harry and Tom riddle. Tom marked Harry and their lives were irrevocably linked. Bellatrix marked you but she marked you to claim, you not to kill you and that has bound you together in a much healthier way that the boys."

"Mi, I've been trying to get you a boyfriend, or in this case a girlfriend, for as long as I can remember. You've bagged yourself a sexy, clever and damn rich one! No one's perfect and we all did fucked up things during the war, maybe not quite like her but we did them all the same. I'm just really excited that I FINALLY get to hear about someone else's sex life!"

Hermione laughed through her tears "You really want to hear about my sex life and then sit in class with her on Thursday?"

"Oh no... maybe you're right."

"I don't even know if I want to sit in her classroom on Thursday! It'll be the first one since we..."

"Fucked the shit out of each other?" Ginny offered, eyebrows wiggeling.

"That's exactly what she said! But yes...that. Tomorrow we've called a meeting to discuss it all with McGonagall, we decided no secrets. It's only been...oh god only five day! But hopefully Minnie won't hold it against us. I have a sneaking suspicion that she already knows tho. Remember you said she was weird with me in class?"

"Ye I remember Mione. She was very strange I wonder what it actually means?"

"I told you at lunch. The meeting will be fine, I cannot betray the knowledge I possess but I am confident that you will come out of your meeting happy." Luna finally jumped back into the conversation, sounding sure and strong.

"WAIT! So Friday when you got drunk with Black in detention?"

Hermione flushed.

"Oh My God Hermione Jean Granger! You slept with a teacher in detention!"

"No I most certainly did not! She flirted a bit that was it. We didn't do anything until... until the next night."

"Hermione Granger you little horndog! It took you less than a week to get into your professors pants! OH MY GOD! THE LIBRARY! You really were cross about the library then?"

Hermione pursed her lips. "Yes I've had words with Bella about her little library trip, she is very sorry and has promised to take me as soon as possible."

"Omg you've got Bellatrix Black wrapped round your little finger!"

"I think it might be the other way round Gin. Or maybe it works both ways, I'm not entirely sure." She looked at Luna for some advice but she was watching something over Ginny's head.

"Ok ok so talk me through the time line then. I need to get my head around it."

"Ok so I ignored her for four day, knocked her out on the fifth, and on the sixth well in class I showed her a memory of me checking her out."

Luna perked up "So when you said you meant for her to see your memory, it was of you checking her out? I was very confused, the wrackspurts couldn't get in whilst Black was using Legilimency"

"Yes that's what I meant, I wanted to make her flustered how she had kept making me. Anyway that night we had our detention, we talked about my scar and that she had to become familiar with my magic in order to do that. So we agreed to dueling twice a week and sharing our past traumas, I guess to help Bella to distinguish her magic from my own. So the Saturday night we had our first duel. The intention of the duel was not to test my skills but to highten my emotions so that Bella could feel my magic. She had to make me scared or in pain. So we pretended she was still Bellatrix Lestrange, that it was still the war. We didn't hold back and we called each other some pretty fucked up shit but it was fine until she..." She flushed "until she called me a dirty little slut. We stopped dueling for the night and had a glass of firewhiskey, there was a lot to unpack I guess. And well one thing led to annother and we were kissing and then..." She blushed scarlet as she went quiet, her hands combed through her hair.

"You can't stop there!!!!! Miiiionneeeeee please!!!!!!! I don't even care if I have to look Black in the eyes on Thursday I NEED to know!!!!"

"For what it's worth Hermione, I've already been told and I think it's hot."

"Now you have to tell me! Come on Mi you can't leave me out of the loop like this!"

Ginny had crawled over the bed to her now and was giving her her best puppy dog eyes.

"Oh fine, have it your way. We were kissing and I didn't stay where she told me too so she spanked me. Then she left and I...I...well I"

The girls were all so wrapped up in Hermione story that they hadn't heard the door open or the figure walk into the room.

"Then she let me use Legitimacy on her from my room whilst she made herself cum, isn't that right pet?"

Luna smiled, Ginny looked guilty as sin and Hermione wanted to floor to open up and swallow her whole.

"I wasn't expecting you back, you never said..."

"I wanted to come and make sure they weren't giving you a hard time and then I couldn't resist making you blush so deliciously."

Ginny beamed and turned round to face Bella. "She blushes so easily doesn't she! I like to play a game with myself to see how many times I can make her blush in a day."

"Ginny!" Hermione was completely humiliated but she wasn't sure if it was a bad way.

"What?" Ginny flicked her head back to Hermione. Bella started walking into the room.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you Red. Think I'm clever, powerful, a great teacher, sexy and I also play a very similar game with Miss Granger. It is ever so satisfying to see how flustered she can get."

Hermione pouted and crossed her arms, giving them her best dissaproving look.

"If you're not going to be nice you can all get out, this is my room after all"

Luna placed an arm around Hermione and spoke to her softly.

"Hermione they are just teasing you. We all love you and we are happy the two of you have found each other, isn't that right Ginny?"

Ginny bravely stood and faced Bellatrix, a determined look on her face.

"A few questions first Professor. What are your intentions with my girl?"

"Not that I need to...I want to make her happy, however it is she needs me."

"And do you intend to hurt her?"

"Not unless she asks me too, right pet?" Bella winked at Hermione.

"Do you respect her?"

"Greatly!"

"Do you love her?"

At the same time that Hermione said "Ginny you can't ask that!" Bella said "Yes, I do" As Hermione took in what Bella had said she let out a simple "Oh".

"Well then Hermione so long as you keep my secrets about Harry then I approve!" and she plopped herself back on the bed.

"Believe me Red I do not need to know what you and Potter get up to. As both your teacher and as an ex death eater believe me I have no interest. If I ever find out something I promise I will obliviate myself, as much for me as it is for you."

"Deal!"

Ginny held out her hand and Bella shook it. Bella then seemed to realise that she was sat in the middle of a sleepover and took a step backwards.

"I should probably be heading back now pet, leave you to your sleepover." She looked over to Luna and Ginny apologetically "I didn't mean to intrude but I wanted to make sure she was ok."

"No Professor Black, me and Ginny will head back to our dorms, I think I have given Hermione some information that she would like to share with you. Good luck with your meeting tomorrow, not that you will need it. Come on Ginny." Luna had already stood and had both her and Ginny's overnight bags in her hand. Ginny looked confused but knew there was no arguing when Luna got like this.

"Bye then, I'll see you at breakfast! Goodbye Professor, oh and if she drinks anything more make sure she had a potion by her bed for the morning."

"I'm on it Red don't worry, Goodnight"

Hermione shifted over on the bed so Bella could sit beside her.

"I'm sorry for barging in, and I'm sorry for embarasing you. I just wanted to protect you and then, well it was so easy and I knew you would never say it yourself. Are you mad at me?"

She looked slightly concerned and it tugged at Hermione's heart.

"No of course I'm not, thank you for coming to my rescue; even though I didn't need it."

"Anytime pet. So Luna?" She reached into a bag of sweets and pulled out a cola bottle.

"It's one of those times where it's much easier to show you than to tell you!"

"Ok Pet" She pulled out her wand and cast "Legilimens"

Hermione played back what Ginny and Luna had said in the time before Bella arrived. As they reached Bella walking in the withdrew.

"Soulmates .." She muttered, lost in thought.

They sat in silence for a long time, long enough for Hermione's heart to start to break. Maybe the woman before her didn't feel the same way.

"I guess that makes sense."

Twice in one night Hermione was blindsided by someone saying something made sense.

"Can you... explain what that means? Magically I mean? It isn't something I've ever heard in the magic world. Only the muggle and then obviously it doesn't have any real impact. Just a way to say a couple was really good together."

"Well pet, it explains why we can communicate and from such a long distance. It also explains why I felt I needed to mark you. Why it only took us a few days without the same castle to fall into bed together. Our souls, our magical core's are bonding together. It also explains why you can suddenly block my spells so easily when you couldn't before. Our magics are litrally blending together, making us strong where we were once week. For you that's your dueling, for me it's my emotions. We are filling in each others gaps."

"Bella? Can you just hold me? It's...well, it's a lot..."

"Oh my sweet girl" Bella sent the left overs onto the desk and then pushed the duvet off her. She opened her legs and patted the mattress between them.

"That's not exactly what I meant Bella..."

"Oh Merlin's saggy ball sack. I'm not thinking about sex! Sit here and then you can lie back against me."

"Oh, ye that makes sense I guess."

She managed to climb over Bella and sit herself between her legs.

"Grab the duvet little witch"

Hermione pulled the duvet up over their legs and snuggled back again Bella, the older witch wrapped her arms around her and pressed kisses to the top of Hermione hair. Hermione instantly felt herself relax. They sat like that for some time, Bella stroking her thumb over Hermione's stomach and Hermione tracing patterns on Bella's thigh with her finger.

"I think I would like to be your soulmate Bella. I've been selfishly thinking about ways I can keep you all to myself for days. This is it for me." She stilled her finger and went quiet for a moment. "Please don't leave me" the tone of her voice nearly broke Bella's heart.

"Oh my little witch, you couldn't get rid of me if you tried. I think you've been who I've been looking for my whole life...and believe me, I've been looking for a very long time. I really hope Lovegood is right and Minnie is accepting."

"Honestly, I've never seen Luna be wrong about anything that she's truly sure about. I'm even starting to believe those wrackspurts and stuff might actually exist, at least in some way. I mean no one can see thestrals at first, maybe the first person to see them was thought to be mad too." Hermione yawned loudly at the end of her scentance.

"Rest little one, I will wake you before I leave. I promise. I can feel how sad you are when you wake up alone. I will try my best to not do that in future."

Hermione had already rolled onto her side and curled up against Bella's chest.

"Talk later, cuddle now"

"You really are cute when your sleepy baby girl."

"Hmmm night night Bells"

"Night Night Hermione"