The morning was spent laying around in the bed while the dark haired caretaker read more passages, this time moving onto Shakespeare. The bookshop owner was content enough to lay around and listen to the other woman read. It was slowly becoming her favorite pastime. Hermione was sure that she was in a dream that would end all too soon. Neither woman was ready for the morning to end, so Bellatrix offered to make the brunette something to eat and bring it to her in bed. Not wanting to seem too needy, the fact that breakfast wasn't necessary was a topic that got shot down quickly.

The older woman made her way to the kitchen for a little while longer than she would've needed if she were at home but not knowing where everything was kept slowed her down. When she came back into the bedroom, she saw a freshly showered brunette, resting against the headboard reading. "Waffles?" She smiled looking at the tray of waffles, crispy bacon and fresh cut fruit. Hermione inhaled the delicious intoxicating scent of her breakfast and smiled, "nobody has ever brought me breakfast in bed aside from my mum when I was little." The tray was set over to lap and she discarded her book just to the left of her. "It smells delicious. Cooking is a hidden talent of yours?" She looked over at her companion who gingerly got in the bed so as not to upset the bruised ribs and she sheepishly nodded. "Well I'm thoroughly impressed. Here," Hermione said, holding out a fork for Bella to grab, "it's always better when you have someone to share it with."

"I have a wide range of abilities that I hope to share with you one day," Bella smirked as she took a bite of her waffle, moaning at the appreciation of her own food.

The sound immediately dried Hermione's throat and she had to reach for her glass of orange juice. "Remember… we are taking things slow," she had to remind herself when the older woman looked over and winked at her flushed cheeks. "Well, with that glowing recommendation I have to try them," she threw Bella's words back at her and took a bite for herself, nodding her approval. "So good," she said, trying not to talk with her mouth full.

The women ate their breakfast while in trivial conversation and when the food was finished, Bella helped Hermione get comfortable on the couch then hurried to do the dishes. "I'll be back later, love. I have something I have to take care of this afternoon. Will you be okay by yourself for a while?" Hermione nodded, "I'll be back later, I promise." Bella leaned down and placed a soft kiss on Hermione's forehead before bringing her over a small stack of books and the telly remote to keep her occupied. "Oh," she turned back to face the brunette, "I've already made you a sandwich for later. It's in the fridge." It was hard not to swoon for this woman who was managing to say and do all the right things. Hermione couldn't believe that all of this was real. "Okay. I'll be back soon." Hermione said her goodbyes as the older woman left for the afternoon. She turned on the telly and prepared for a midday nap.

Bella didn't go far when she left the Rose. She went straight to the Magie Noire to talk to her niece and hoped that she could successfully avoid Andromeda today. She peeked in through the window and saw her sister at the chair applying a bright blue color to someone's hair but didn't see Dora so she figured she'd go around back and in through the backdoor. Quietly, she opened the door to the office and saw the surprise on her niece's face when Bella held a finger up to her lips for the young woman to keep quiet. She crooked her other finger, summoning the other girl to follow her outside for a moment, "hey. I need a favor."

"I'm only slightly worried with all the 007 actions you've taken to get me outside," she saw the glare coming from her aunt who started to slowly pace, "sure. Shoot. What do you need?"

"Well," Bella looked over Dora's shoulder to make sure her sister hadn't followed them. "I need to borrow your computer."

"You know mom won't like that." Dora sighed. "You aren't allowed on the computer. 'No electronics and no internet.'" She put air quotes around the last part of her sentence. "Mom will kill me."

Bella rolled her eyes and stopped pacing to look at her niece, "then I need for you to use your computer for me."

"Why?"

"I'll tell you when we get home. Do you have any more clients this afternoon?" Dora shook her head no. "Okay then tell your mother that you are going to clear out and meet me back here." Her niece nodded in agreement before she added, "I wouldn't ask if I didn't really need help." After her niece went back inside the pacing intensified. She had been on edge the entire morning thinking about Hermione's bruises. Nobody was going to treat Hermione like that and get away with it. Nobody deserved to experience that level of hurt and disrespect. Bella had many years of experience being on the receiving end of what Hermione experienced with her now ex-girlfriend and she wouldn't stand for it. "I just can't get caught this time," she thought as she paced.

Over the years, Bella had gotten quite adept at controlling her urges. She was having a hard time getting the quiet to come back this time and knew she had to speak with The Laura. Her niece was always a willing participant whether Dora agreed with her or not. She understood the urges and helped whenever Bella would ask. They were always very careful around Andy. Her middle sister had very specific rules at the house and top of the list was no electronics, no internet and no cell phones for Bella. Of course the dark haired woman found ways around these rules but for the most part she obeyed when necessary. "Nobody fucks with the people I care about," was running through her head as she paced in the alleyway.

The two women had walked back to the house after Dora had told her mom that she was going to go home to start studying for finals. Of course she felt guilty but she also couldn't say no to her aunt when she looked so desperately helpless. They went into Dora's room and she sat down at the computer. "Okay, so what are we doing here?" She asked as she booted up her MacBook. Bella handed her a small slip of paper with a phone number and name written on it which she had gotten the number out of Hermione's phone when she had gone to the bathroom. "Laura? As in Hermione's girlfriend, Laura?"

"Ex-girlfriend," came the short reply of her aunt.

"Why are we looking up Hermione's ex-girlfriend?" Dora asked, almost afraid of the answer.

"She's a very bad person. Cheating was only the tip of the iceberg. Did you know that woman was verbally abusive towards the purest soul I've ever met?" Bella stopped pacing and squatted down to look in Dora's eyes. Her niece had noticed that Bella had a glazed over expression on her face and knew that her aunt was beginning to bottom out. "She beat the shit out of her, Dora. When I went over there Friday for our date, she could barely walk. When she finally opened up, her entire left side was bruised and she had a foot shaped mark on her neck. She was so scared and so tired. I ended up just holding her all night while she whimpered and sobbed during her sleep. It broke my heart." Bella focused on the computer screen, "Laura needs to understand that what she did was wrong and people who do what she did won't get away with it."

"Listen, Aunt Bella," Dora was choosing her words carefully, "I know what happened to Hermione resonates with you personally but do you think she'd want you to do this?"

Staring at the computer, Bella didn't blink, "find her please." It didn't take long for her niece to track down Laura with a quick Google search, she found Laura's address, Facebook page and her new girlfriend's address if it comes down to that. "I need one more favor," Bella said quietly. "I need a ride to London." When she saw the worry cross over her niece's face she started to panic, "I just need to go and maybe I'll get the quiet back. You understand right?" When Dora nodded, Bella added, "I appreciate you and if your mother finds out it's all my fault."

After what seemed like an eternity Dora consented, "okay let's go." A little over a half an hour later they pulled up around the corner from Laura's apartment complex. "How do you plan on getting in?"

"With a key," Bella answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Nicked it from Hermione's coat pocket last night. I'll just have to get it back in there before she realizes it's gone. I don't expect her to be rooting around her coat today though." She shrugged and opened the door, "are you coming?"

"I think it's best if I stay here," Dora smirked at her aunt. "Someone has to be ready to drive the getaway car." Dora tossed the extra cell phone she had to her aunt, "don't tell mom. Text me if you get into trouble."

Bella winked at her niece, stuffed the phone in her pocket and set off to go have a chat with Laura. The apartment was easy enough to find. The living room and kitchen looked as Hermione had described. "Fucking pig doesn't even clean up after herself," she said while slowly walking from room to room. She made it to the bedroom and a shiver ran through her thinking about Hermione on that bed. "Stop it, stop it," she yelled at herself. "Shut the fuck up!" Bella slammed her hands down on the dresser looking at a crazed woman in the mirror. Her hair was more wild and disheveled than usual and her eyes were glossed and unfocused. When the quiet disappeared, she was barely able to recognize herself in the mirror. "Get it together, Bella." She scolded herself trying to breathe deeply and all the other bullshit speil she's heard every week for the past 17 years.

Finally, she heard the jingling of keys outside of the apartment door and quietly moved to look through the peephole. It was only Laura, the girlfriend wasn't with her. As the front door opened, a short blond woman Bella had recognized from outside of the Rose walked in and Bella hit her over the back of the head with a heavy book that she found in the bedroom. Laura crumpled to the ground, unmoving but breathing. "Okay. That makes this easier." Bella cackled and began to pull Laura fully into the living room.

2:45pm

She's taking forever to wake up.

2:47pm

You knocked her out?

2:49pm

All part of the plan Dora. Oh I think she's coming too. Be out soon.

When Laura woke up, panic was clearly abundant all over her face. She was restrained to one of the dining room chairs facing the living room where she saw an overly confident, wild eyed stranger staring at her, twirling what appeared to be a dagger in her hands. "Ahh, there you are," the woman said to her. Laura started to strain against her bonds holding her captive but quickly realized it was not worth it. Her mouth was gagged and no sound could come out. "I've been patiently waiting for you to wake up. Who knew one of Hermione's books could prove so useful." The tied woman glared her eyes as if trying to decipher the code being riddled to her, "oh where are my manners? I'm Bella. The letter writer. The woman you accused Hermione of fucking while you were here fucking a common whore." Bella sat up straight and leaned forward, her elbows resting on her thighs, "Hermione never cheated on you. But that's not what we are here to talk about." Bella's smile put a small amount of fear in the other woman, "we are here to talk about the bruises you left on a woman you supposedly loved." Bella moved like a ninja and grabbed a fist full of Laura's hair, straining her neck so their eyes met. "Beating the shit out of someone isn't a power move," she whispered in the girl's ear, dagger resting on her throat, "it's a sign of weakness." The girl tensed under Bella's ministrations, "oh does the little girl have something she liked to say?" The words came out in a childlike sing-song nature as she pulled the gag down with the hand holding the dagger. "Speak!" She commanded not easing up on the grip holding her head back.

"I didn't mean to hurt her that bad," Laura immediately regretted her words as the dagger went back to her throat a little harder than before. "I only meant to scare her. She always just pissed me off."

"NO!" Bella screamed, "you WILL not speak poorly of Hermione while I have this dagger against your throat. Do you have a death wish, girl?" Laura didn't respond. "Answer me!" She shrieked.

Laura gulped, "no," she whispered feeling the steel on her neck when she swallowed. Bella eased up slightly on the dagger. "I didn't mean for it to get that out of control."

"Oh but from what I hear, you've been verbally abusing Hermione for years and if that's true… that's also unacceptable."

"Who are you and why do you feel like you have any say in how I conduct myself in a relationship?" Laura spat back.

"Ahh," Bella hummed, "see I'm just a woman who cares deeply for Hermione and when she hurts, I hurt." Bella let go of Laura's head, shoving it as she released, "but more importantly I'm here because nobody deserves to have someone they love touch them like you did."

"Oh and what would you know about that?" The girl was goading her at this point.

Bella pulled up her shirt revealing scars down her sides and across her back. "I know," she growled. "So here is what is going to happen now, you are going to apologize to Hermione. I don't care how you do it, just do it. Tell her you never deserved someone as special as her." Bella started pacing, "you will also not lay a hand on your girlfriend because I have my ways of finding these things out. And last, you will not breathe a word of me being here to anyone"

"And what makes you think I'm going to do any of that?"

A crazed smile graced the older woman's face, "because if you don't you have two options. 1.) I will convince Hermione to go to the police about what you did to her. You will go to jail for a very long time."

"Or?"

"Or I will kill you." Bella's face turned deadly serious and the other woman didn't flinch. The older woman got up, rounded the room back to the chair and started to untie the ropes binding the other woman confident that she wouldn't attack.

Laura turned after being set free to look Bella in the eyes, "and why should I believe any of this."

Bella's face contorted into an evil grimace, "because I murdered my parents." As soon as the words left her mouth, the voices stopped and her mind cleared. She smiled at the shocked woman, patted her on the head and left the apartment as if nothing happened.

When she got to the car she saw her niece sleeping, "some get away driver you are," Bella laughed before knocking on the window, waking the other girl up. Dora unlocked the door and Bella got inside, "let's go."

"Everything okay?" the younger girl asked suspiciously.

"Yes, aside from an apology to Hermione, I don't think Laura will be hurting anyone again. Drive while it's still quiet. I have to get this key back into Hermione's coat before she realizes it's gone." Dora started the car and pulled away, the rest of the drive home was silent.

It was shortly after 5 when Bella arrived back at the front door to the Rose. She noted that Hermione had kept it unlocked for her. She grabbed the bags out of the donation bin and brought them inside. "I'm back, love." Bella called up the stairs and when she didn't get a response, she took the donation bags up the stairs with her. Crooks was the unofficial welcoming party waiting for her to ascend already meowing and demanding rubs. "Well hello to you too," Bella chuckled, putting the bags down and scratching her furry friend behind his ear. "Where's your mummy?" Her question immediately followed by another meow as Crooks trotted off into the living room. Bella walked in and saw the brunette curled up on the couch sleeping, book still in her hand and the movie on the tv long over. The sight warmed her up like never before. She quietly made her way over to the coat closet and pulled Laura's key from her pants pocket and returned it to the coat she found it in. "Perfect," she whispered before she made her way into the kitchen to use Hermione's landline to order in some pizza and sodas.

She walked back over to the stairs, retrieved the bag of books, sat down on the floor in front of the couch and started sorting through them. She didn't feel it necessary to wake Hermione until dinner arrived. Her thoughts went entirely to the task in front of her and everything remained quiet.

Bella was unaware how much time had passed though the pizza delivery person hadn't arrived yet so it couldn't have been too long when she heard a whimper behind her and she looked back into the honey eyes blinking away the sleep then a full body wince as she tried to stretch. "Hi," she whispered to the waking beauty.

Hermione smiled a cute sleepy smile that Bella would always remember, "why didn't you wake me?" She asked, her voice thick and full of sleep.

Bella scanned the other woman and reached out to stroke the small sliver of skin that peeked out from her shirt that had ridden up when she stretched. She felt Hermione's abdomen constrict and moved her hand to settle on her hip, continuing to stroke her thumb across the top of her hip bone. "Your sleepy voice is irresistible. Did you know that?" Hermione reached out and cupped Bella's cheek, softly caressing it. "You are without a doubt the most genuine and purest soul I've ever met."

Hermione could only blush at her words, "what's gotten into you? Did you miss me that bad while I was napping?"

Bella shook her head, "no. Well yes I did but I also just thought that it's finally time for you to hear the things you deserve to hear." She turned her head and pressed a kiss into Hermione's palm. "I feel there are many years of affection to make up for and I plan to see it through to the end." Bella leaned up, grabbing her wrist slightly so she was inches from her face, "and I will tell you everyday how beautiful and important you are," closing the distance, Bella whispered her lips across the brunette's only giving her a brief taste of what a kiss would feel like. She felt Hermione inhale at the contact. Bella pulled back to see the young woman's eyes still closed and lips slightly parted. "Beautiful," she whispered, kissing her on the side of her mouth. A knock sounded on the front door, startling Hermione, "that would be the pizza, love. I'll be right back."

Bellatrix came back with the pizza and sodas and deposited them on the coffee table in front of the couch. She went to the kitchen and reappeared with two plates and some napkins. Hermione looked a little confused. "What's wrong, love?"

"Nothing, it's just," Hermione handed her phone to Bella, "Laura texted me and apologized for everything. It is oddly final and I feel like I can breathe for the first time in 2 years." She took her phone back and tossed it on the coffee table.

"See?" Bella said, putting a slice of pizza on her plate, "you deserve to be treated immaculately and it seems she finally realized it."

"I'm glad it's finally over," she said before taking a bite of her pizza. The two women sat and watched some cheesy television while enjoying their dinner together. Bella started talking about the books she started to sort and couldn't help herself from showing them to Hermione as she talked about them. She could get used to this and she was nowhere near ready to say goodbye to Bella for the evening. Turning to the older woman, Hermione grabbed her hand and her mouth spoke before she could stop herself, "stay with me tonight?"

Bella turned and gave her a genuine smile, "as you wish."