The next week Bellatrix announced that she would be having a visitor stay for a few days, a cousin from the French branch of the Lestrange family. Lenore Lestrange turned out to be a pretty woman in her mid-thirties, whose personality reminded Hermione of Rita Skeeter, which meant that Hermione tried to stay far away from the woman, helping Horna in the kitchen. After dinner Bellatrix and her guest moved into the sitting room with wine, and Hermione was forced to wait on them while Horna cleaned up from dinner. Each time Hermione had to enter the room to bring them something Lenore was sitting closer to Bellatrix, it was obvious that she was extremely interested in her.

"Another bottle of wine Granger." Bellatrix ordered. Hermione hurried away at once and was back in seconds with a fresh bottle.

"I don't know why you bother with the mudblood when you have a perfectly good house elf." Lenore said, looking at Hermione in distaste.

Bellatrix shrugged. "I have my reasons."

"Fill my glass, whore." Lenore barked. When Hermione reached out to steady the glass she accidentally grazed Lenore's hand with her own. "How dare you touch me filth!" The woman pulled out her wand and fired a stinging hex at Hermione. Lenore was shocked when her wand was suddenly pulled magically from her grasp and caught by Bellatrix.

"At what point did I give you permission to hex my slave?" Bellatrix asked, one eyebrow raised.

"Your permission? She is nothing but filth. How dare she touch me. I am shocked that you aren't punishing her yourself. This is not what I would have expected from you Bellatrix."

"Come here girl." Bellatrix said to Hermione, who had moved back several feet. Hermione did as she was told, trying to gauge the expression on Black's face. Bellatrix took her hand and tugged her down to sit in between the two pure-bloods and wrapped an arm protectively around her. Lenore's wand was now dangling inches from Hermione's own hand. "Yes, my permission. She belongs to me, after all."

"I see." Lenore said. "Bella, you're such a beautiful woman. You have no need to stoop to such levels. I know you were imprisoned for a long time, and that you never loved my cousin, but there's no need for this." Lenore reached out and bypassed Hermione to stroke Bellatrix's cheek. "I'll be back in a moment, send this disgusting trash away and we can enjoy each other."

As soon as she was gone Bellatrix whispered to Hermione. "You're being such a good girl, pet. I can only imagine how badly you want to take this wand."

"Don't sleep with her." Hermione asked, turning her head to meet Bellatrix's gaze.

"Jealous?" Bella sounded amused. "I wouldn't normally be that interested but it has been a long time since I had a woman in my bed, are you willing to take her place?"

"Yes." Hermione surprised even herself with the offer.

"In that case, come, let's go upstairs." Bellatrix stood up just as Lenore entered the room. "Lenore, as tempting as your offer is, I'm going to have to pass. I have to work tomorrow and need to sleep. Perhaps another night." Bellatrix handed Lenore her wand back and took Hermione by the hand and led her from the room. As soon as they entered Bellatrix's bedroom the older witch gently pushed her towards the bed. Hermione sat down nervously waiting to see what was expected of her. Bellatrix went into the bathroom and changed into a black gown and then handed Hermione a similar one in red. "Go change and we'll get some sleep."

"Sleep? But I thought you wanted…"

"I do. But, you don't. I'm not entirely sure why you offered."

"She's vile."

"Yes, that's true. But, then again so am I."

"No. Not like her. I guess I just didn't want her to get her way."

"That's quite a competitive streak Granger."

"And I admit I hated the idea of her being with you. I don't want her touching you."

"Why not?"

"I don't know. The way I feel about you is...complicated. Even I don't understand it. Do you want me to leave and go back to my room?"

"No. I don't trust her, you're safer here with me." Hermione went to the bathroom and changed. When she came back Bellatrix motioned for her to get into the giant bed. She laid awake in the dark for a few moments and then Bella's arms encircled her from behind. "You always smell so good." she murmured sleepily.

Hermione had to suppress a giggle. Never in a million years would she have imagined that she would be snuggling with the infamous death eater.

"Bellatrix, are you even listening?" Rabastan asked the next afternoon. Bellatrix was in one of his tedious department head meetings, daydreaming about the way Hermione felt curled up next to her in bed.

"Yes, I heard you. You got a tip that McGonagall is in the Alps living among giants. That's absurd. Where did this tip come from, a drunkard at the pub?"

Rabastan blushed. "Well, since law enforcement is your department, I thought you would want to know."

"Yes, thank you. I have good intelligence that she is in Belgium at the moment. If I wasn't so busy chasing these fools that keep torturing muggles I would have much more time to devote to the matter. But, I will send someone to look into the giant idea to be on the safe side."

"Thank you Bella," Voldemort interjected. "Now, have you looked into the theory we previously discussed?"

"Yes my lord. I am pleased to report that my hypothesis appears to be correct."

"Very good. I am delighted to hear it. You will need to choose a partner of course."

"Yes, if it is convenient for you I would like to discuss that in private. I have a theory and would greatly value your wisdom."

"Of course. Come see me tomorrow."

"Thank you my lord."

Once the meeting was dismissed Bella headed back to her office. Suddenly the necklace she always wore began to glow and pulse. "Travers, I need to step out for a bit." She said to one of her aurors.

"Of course."

Bellatrix prepared to apparate home. The necklace could only be activated by Horna and the house elf would only use it in an extreme emergency. She arrived in her own foyer and heard screaming coming from the second level of the home.

"Miss Bella, you came. Horna did not know what to do. Horna is afraid of that lady!"

"Who?"

"Miss Lestrange. She is torturing our poor Hermione!" The elf wrung her hands in despair. Bellatrix hurried upstairs and followed the sound of the screaming to the library. Hermione lay on the floor, curled into a ball, hands over her head.

Bellatrix easily disarmed Lenore, just as she had the night before. Hermione stopped screaming and started rocking back and forth, whimpering instead.

"What are you doing?" Bellatrix demanded

"Teaching this filth her place, since you don't seem to be bothered. I should have killed her for what she did"

"Which was?"

"She slapped me. And called me the most insulting things."

"Horna is this true?" Bellatrix asked.

"Yes Miss Black. But only after Miss Lestrange hexed poor Crookshanks."

"You hexed my cat?"

"I didn't like the way he was looking at me." Lenore said haughtily.

"You should leave at once. Go back home or to Rabastan, I do not care which. And Lenore, if I ever see you again you will greatly regret it. In fact, just to make sure you don't forget me, I'll give you a taste of true power." Bellatrix flicked her wand and watched as Lenore crumpled to the ground in pain.

"You...how could you." Lenore stuttered once she could talk again. "I'm a pure-blood. A Lestrange."

"You're nothing to me. Now go."

Bellatrix went and knelt next to Hermione, gently touching her back. "Hermione, it's ok now. It's me, she's gone."

"Here Miss Bella." Horna passed Bellatrix a vial of liquid.

Bellatrix managed to pour most of it into Hermione's mouth. Gradually the girl stopped shaking and whimpering. "You're going to be ok." Bellatrix stoked her hair.

Hermione crawled closer and leaned into Bellatrix. "Why? Why did you leave me with her?"

"I'm so sorry. I never thought she would go that far. She's gone. She will never hurt you again I swear. Come on, let's get you to bed."

"Crookshanks. Is he ok?"

"We'll find out." Bellatrix led Hermione to the bed they had shared the night before. As the death eater helped her into bed they heard a soft meow from the doorway. "Hey Crookshanks, how are you feeling?" Bella asked. The cat came over to her and jumped on the bed with Hermione. Bella checked him over. "He's fine Hermione."

"My poor baby." Hermione said, stroking his ginger fur. "What was that? That was no ordinary cruciatus curse."

"A curse unique to the Lestrange family. Only they know how to cast it. Not only does it cause immense physical pain but mental anguish as well."

"That's what made the Longbottom's go insane isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Do you know how to do it?"

"No. But I'm much more powerful than Lenore, she suffered greatly before she left."

"No offense, but that was much worse than when you tortured me at Malfoy Manor."

"I didn't use my full power then. You wouldn't have been able to withstand it."

Hermione shuddered. "I hope I don't ever really make you angry then."

"You should get some sleep."

"Are you leaving? Don't go."

"I just need to send instructions to the office. I'll be right back."

As Bella headed to the library fireplace to send instructions via the floo, Horna appeared. "Will Miss Hermione be ok?"

"Yes. She's lucky I got to her in time."

"Did Horna do right to summon Miss Bella?"

"Yes. You did exactly right. Could you have saved her with your magic if you had to?"

"Yes Miss Black. But, not without harming Miss Lestrange. And Horna cannot harm Miss Bella's guest, a pure-blood witch…"

"I understand. If you ever need to do something like that, to help Hermione, then you have my permission. I don't care who it is."

"Yes Miss Bella. Horna will go now and prepare a nice meal for you both."