Hey guys! I am so so sorry for how long it took to get this up. I have had some major writers block and been super busy with work. But I finally got this chapter done, and it's longer than the past few chapters luckily. Thank you to everyone who has commented, reviewed and favourited I am so glad you guys are enjoying this story so far, your comments have really helped push me to get this done and to get future chapters done! I am working on getting chapters out earlier and trying to work out a time-frame for posting updates. Thank you again and I hope you enjoy chapter five!
As always, I don't own any of the characters or the world etc, it all belongs to J K Rowling.
- Weekly-Crisis
Hermione glowered at the witch before her. An indignant fury quickly clouding her thoughts as she leaned down towards the witch, their faces a breath away as her brown orbs burned into black. 'How dare she?!' The audacity of the older witch both confounded and infuriated Hermione and as she stared murderously into swirling amused ink, it made the younger witch want to drive her wand into the woman's throat and cast a sectumsempra. That thought sobered Hermione.
When had she become so cruel?
Hermione felt her throat tighten and it became increasingly hard to breathe, like a pipe clogged with unruly hair. She finally swallowed, her spit like thick soup.
"Has the kitten got claws?" Barked Bellatrix, teeth bared and chest heaving. The younger witch's eyes narrowed as she felt tempted to draw her wand on the animal before her. Something about this witch made her magic want to snarl and lash out, made her want to break something, anything. Bellatrix's destructive nature was irresistible and it latched onto others like a parasite. Hermione had never felt a stronger desire to be better than now. She had a job to do. She had to focus. So instead of retaliating, Hermione drew a breath and stepped back, never breaking eye contact with the bound witch.
"You ruined yourself." Hermione finally said. Bellatrix laughed loudly, though it lacked mirth. It was a chimeless sound; a broken bell, it was empty and though others wouldn't notice it, it was brimming with contempt and self-loathing. Hermione stared impassively. Several resounding sighs echoed in the room as Hermione felt a hand wrap gently around her upper arm and coax her backwards away from the shattered witch.
"Come on, Granger. Let's leave my crazy aunt to sulk and go grab a butter-beer, yeah?" Draco smiled supportively, gently pulling the girl closer to him until she finally locked eyes and nodded slowly.
"Crazy?" Bellatrix howled. "I am not crazy, nor have I ever been crazy! You're the one hugging filth, get your hands off of her, you might catch something!" She sneered and Narcissa sighed, stepping forward.
"Bellatrix, please-"
"Bellatrix, please." The witch mimicked before laughing once more.
"Bellatrix that is quite enough. I suggest you remain quiet unless you wish to be shipped off to Azkaban before Miss Granger's, very generous, solution even begins." Minerva spoke, steely gaze pinning Bellatrix to the floor even more so than the chains. Bellatrix growled quietly before huffing and crossing her arms. Despite herself, she quickly cast a look over to the brunette, only to see her levelling that same blank stare at her. Very quickly, Bellatrix felt vulnerable. That was not okay, Bellatrix never felt vulnerable, she refused to yet without meaning to she averted her gaze to the floor, visibly deflating as something hot and sharp stabbed at her gut. 'A kicked dog.' That's how the girl had described her mere moments ago. It made her want to snarl and whine at the same time, because as much as Bellatrix wanted to fight it, that is exactly how she felt- how she has been feeling for a long, long time. A kicked dog, an abused dog… a rabid dog. This girl, this insufferable girl with her strange chocolate eyes that seamlessly changed to raked magma had easily just burnt a piece of Bellatrix's wall, and it made her vulnerable. How utterly ridiculous. She wanted to laugh again but stifled it, feeling molten brown eyes on her form and kept her eyes firmly planted on the ground below her, even when Minerva resumed talking.
"Despite Mrs-" A small growl slipped past Bellatrix's lips and Minerva rolled her eyes. "Miss Black's outburst, she has a point, Miss Granger." Minerva levelled her gaze at Hermione, the young witch was smart, but even this seemed an impossible task for her. "If I'm being completely honest, I don't think there are any witches or wizards that would want to help Miss Black, let alone spend sessions rehabilitating her… in fact, most would much prefer her execution." Minerva pinched her nose in thought.
"'Mione, it was your idea, you must have had someone in mind?" Nymphadora asked tentatively, glancing at the brunette whose eyes snapped to her. Hermione wrung her hands nervously as she stared at the group around her.
"Well… I …I thought that I could do it." Hermione voiced carefully, watching the mixed expressions of shock fall upon each face; only Draco knew of her plan. She would help Bellatrix, get her to open up and actually want to be a better person in hopes she would provide aid in finding Voldemort and the remaining death eaters. She would rebuild Bellatrix Black. And if she couldn't, well then, and only then would she have no issue leaving the witch to the bloodthirsty victims of the war. As she gazed at each person, she eventually fell to Bellatrix who had finally looked back up at her, the dark witch showed no emotion in her black depths, in fact she seemed to remain completely impassive to this information.
"Hermione, dear… you're not even a full fledged witch let alone an adult. This isn't a job for you, honey." Andromeda frowned disapprovingly.
"Actually, Andromeda, that…" Minerva sighed heavily, her gaze lingering on Hermione. "That isn't entirely true." Regret tinged the professors tone heavily and Andromeda raised a dark brow challengingly.
"Oh, and how so, Minerva?" Andromeda bit back.
"Hermione is technically nineteen." At this all heads were once again on a sheepish Hermione, who for her part, looked resolutely at a wall, feigning interest in one particular spot. "I gifted Hermione my old time turner in her third year, and well… the Ministry granted her permission to use it " Minerva gently fixed her glasses, purposefully ignoring Andromeda's aghast expression. "I assure you, it wasn't meant to be used for anything more than extra study time," Minerva cast an exasperated glance at the golden girl in the room who smiled shyly back. "However, obviously what came next was the incident with Sirius. It just so happens, that there was more than one incident in which Hermione, travelled through time. One in particular landing her stuck in time."
Bellatrix perked up at this, black eyes swirling with barely restrained curiosity. "Stuck in time? As in a time period or-"
"I believe I asked you to remain quiet, Miss Black." Minerva threw a glare at the dark witch who growled in response but otherwise returned to silence. Hermione cleared her throat, brown curls bouncing lightly as she stepped forward to address the entire room, even Bellatrix dragged her eyes to meet the young witch.
"The point is, during my third year I used the time-turner extensively. I studied it's magic; how it worked, the mechanics behind it and... eventually I got carried away." For just a fraction of a second, a shadow passed over Hermione's eyes. Subtle yet full of a thick, tangible darkness that momentarily seeped into the witch's frown, into the way her arms tensed ever so slightly beneath her sleeves and into the way the muscles in her hands tightened. Hermione was used to no one noticing these little habits, or noticing anything really. It had become ingrained into her life since before Hogwarts, even her natural intellect seemed to isolate her. Harry and Ron, her closest friends had never picked up on the small details of her life; when she had come back after a mishap with her time-turner, her hair had been longer, her muscles more defined, and scars lined her skin yet they didn't even batter an eyelid. She doubted they even noticed some of the major details of her life. They only focused on what they wanted to, saw what they wanted to see. Even now, everyone in this room didn't notice her minute fury, her magic silently thrashing beneath her skin. They eyes simply lingered on her with curiosity. Everyone, except a dark haired witch whose onyx eyes roamed over her form with a searing intensity that caused Hermione to silently recoil. "A-anyways, my… little traipses in time and experiments had some unforeseen effects. One of them being my age. If i'm honest, I don't even know the full extent of how much my travel has affected me. When I last cast an age reveal, it had raced through several different numbers before settling on nineteen." Hermione swallowed nervously, she had cast that spell again last month and it had repeated what it had done the first time, except this time it lingered on twenty before landing back on nineteen. She knew the time-turner had the ability to change it's users age, such with the Mintumble case. Hermione was lucky she had come back relatively the same and not a thousand years older. It made her heart race to think of the many effects of time travel she had managed to avoid, she was clever, she took as many precautions as possible.
Eloise Mintumble had been clever though, just as careful, and she had been aged five centuries. Yes. Hermione was indeed incredibly lucky.
"That doesn't mean you should be taking on this job, Hermione. In my books, you're still a teenager. It also doesn't change the fact that you have no qualifications and Bellatrix is a death eater! Hermione, dear, this is a job for St. Mungo's or a professional." Andromeda narrowed her eyes at the younger witch, a surge of protectiveness fueling her determination. She would not allow the girl to spend any more time with Bellatrix. For Andromeda, this was a dangerously stupid plan. Bellatrix was, no... still is a danger, still a death eater, still the sister that burned her name off the family tree and scorned her for her choice of love. Still the witch that tortured Hermione. Despite her faith in Hermione, Andromeda was nowhere convinced that Bellatrix could change, not even Nymphadora's belief that her 'Aunt Bellatrix' had saved her could sway her. She stared at the brunette prodigy capturing everyone's attention and her gaze hardened as Hermione twiddled her thumbs and gave a small smile. This couldn't be good. "I swear to Merlin, Hermione Jean Granger, if you say you trained as a therapist I will cast an ebublio on you and leave you to Teddy." Andromeda threatened with a curt raise of her eyebrow and an upward tilt of her chin. It was moments like these that Andromeda Tonks looked more like a Black, and it did not go unnoticed by her sisters.
"I loved that jinx! Didn't know you had it in you Andy! Wittle baby Andy casting wittle baby jinxes!" Bellatrix cackled, black hair tumbling forward as she shook with unhindered amusement.
"So help me Bellatrix Black, I will put a muzzle on you if you don't shut up!" Narcissa snarled at her oldest sister, glacial composure cracking. Bellatrix's mouth snapped shut as her eyes widened with a certain fear slinking into her irises that caused the witch to lean back and stare at Narcissa blankly, and if Hermione was right, which she often was, she was sure she could see hurt and betrayal flash in the dark witch's eyes. How peculiar. Bellatrix's change in demeanour had been instant. Her lips had momentarily pulled back to bare teeth before they fell and her eyes seemed to darken from their mirthful ink to a barbed, pitch sable. Even more peculiar was Narcissa's change. As soon as she had spoken, regret pooled in her cerulean blues; it seemed to weigh on her shoulders, forcing them to slump and it carved her scowl into a frown. Even Andromeda had deflated at the words. If Hermione wasn't mistaken, it seemed a line between the three sisters had been crossed. But over the mention of a muzzle?
Ridiculous.
Hermione was confused, more than confused. She was flummoxed but more importantly, she was intrigued. It seemed there was much, much to learn. Fortunately, Hermione lived for learning.
"You wouldn't dare." Bellatrix's voice dripped with a taut, carnal rabidity, layered with a smoky husk that forced a shiver to race along Hermione's spine. A snake coiled in her stomach, and Hermione found her fight or flight senses streaking through her veins with a sudden ferocity that was inextricable, as her heart pounded against birdcage ribs, that now felt too small, too fragile to keep the sporadic muscle in place. Then, to make the situation worse, Bellatrix looked at Hermione. Swirling abysses pinning Hermione in place. Hermione never felt more like prey than in this moment, if it was possible, the brunette's heart doubled it's efforts to break from her chest. She was even sure she heard a low growl rumble in the back of the dark haired woman's throat. But as quickly as the witch had paralysed her, she released her, choosing to send that venomous stare back towards her youngest sister.
"Bella, I'm sorry, I… I didn't mean it." Narcissa drew into herself, the ice-queen visage melting in the face of the eldest Black's ire.
"Oh? You didn't?" Bellatrix cackled. It wasn't the same bloodthirsty one that many in the room were accustomed to, but it still held that same terrifying effect with the way she tossed her head back, black tendrils curling like fur standing on end. "No, of course you didn't. No one ever means it, do they? Not you, not Andy, and definitely not Father!" This time, Bellatrix's laugh tumbled miserably from her lips and for those who weren't immediate family sensed this raw display of emotional, intimate turmoil was not meant for their eyes.
"Bella, she said she's sorry, please you can tell she means it, just- just please calm down." Andromeda wrapped an arm around Narcissa's waist protectively, the blonde witch tensing at the touch before sinking into the warmth of her sister's embrace. Bellatrix's answering sneer was so visually vicious that Minerva took a step forward, standing in between the three, ready to intervene should this family matter turn violent, even with the dark witch magically bound.
"Does she?! Does she really mean it?! I know Father truly meant it when he chained me outside with the dogs he starved for days just to-"
"Bellatrix please, she just-"
"Oh shut up, Andromeda! Just. Shut. Up!" Bellatrix ground out hoarsely, lips pulled into a snarl as her breaths rattled her chest. Her head shaking from side to side, hands tangling in inky locks and magic sparking quietly from fingertips. As if she was trying to wake up from a nightmare. Minerva's wand slipped into her hand as she watched the dark woman begin to descend into a past despair that seemed to haunt her present.
"Bellatrix Lestrange, you will calm down this instant or you will hurt yours-"
"I AM NOT A LESTRANGE"
And there it was. That awful, mind deteriorating sound. Like someone dragged a knife along glass. That blast of magic and the resounding scream. A strangled, sobbing scream of pure frustration, pain and anger. The screaming had lasted approximately ten seconds before Minerva recovered and cast a silencing charm on Bellatrix, who now in complete silence writhed on the floor. Taking a glance around the room, Hermione saw the devastating effects that Bellatrix had on others. Nymphadora had covered her mouth in shock, her hair a gloomy cobalt. Narcissa's face was buried in Andromeda's chest, the two clinging to each other as the blonde sister weeped, her sorrow evident in the way her sobs came tumultuously. Draco… Draco simply looked away. His normally slick back hair sticking up at different angles due to the blowback of his Aunt's burst of magic. Hermione, herself, was stunned once more. Except this time, the brightest witch of her time, had been given a more in-depth snippet of the dark woman's life. Hermione swallowed down her pity as she reminded herself once more that she had a job to do, and it seemed a lot of it would be digging into Bellatrix Black's childhood. What turned her into Bellatrix Lestrange. Yes. Her plan would work.
"Hermione. If this isn't proof enough that my… estranged sister is too much to handle than I don't know what is." Andromeda murmured softly, her gentle voice nudging everyone out of their own heads.
"Andromeda, I understand. But… I've always wanted to help people, and during my time-travel I started training in therapy. And if we're all being really honest here, Bellatrix is someone who is in desperate need of help." Hermione spoke softly before tilting her chin towards the mess of black hair and twitching skin still mutely screaming on the floor. "I mean, look at her, Andromeda. At least I'm someone who actually wants to help her, I could bet you galleons that anyone you find would sooner throw her under the bus than actually work with her." Hermione stared imploringly at the middle Black sister, begging that she would see and understand how important this was. Andromeda stared back at the witch, deemed genius, thoughtfully, before eventually sighing and hugging Narcissa just a little tighter.
"I truly hope you know what you're doing Hermione Granger."
Hermione beamed brightly at that. "I always do."
Over the next few days, the transition of Bellatrix into Hogwarts was not the easiest one. The news of Bellatrix Lestrange's sentencing spread faster than wildfire with many readers flocking to the captured death eater's location. Most were indignant, some heartbroken with very few understanding and supportive of the decision. However all were partially sated by the fact that the brains of the golden trio was on the case. Eventually, the difficulties were ironed out and there had been two rooms specifically made inside of Hogwarts for Hermione to rehabilitate Bellatrix and then a safehouse built in the forbidden forest, not too far from Hagrids' Hut. Everything was in place and ready for Hermione to truly begin the main steps of her plan. It was around seven at night when Hermione walked down the path to the safehouse to meet Professor McGonnagal and Bellatrix herself, the warm night air tickling her cheeks and playing with her hair. She replayed everything that had happened during and after Bellatrix's trial and many things stuck in her mind, but one in particular was that… Bellatrix had seen. No one ever saw. Yet the dark witch had seen her, had actually noticed the way her body and even her magic reacted to memories of her time travel experiences. She would have to be careful not to let the death eater learn anymore from her, at least anything she didn't want the witch to know. Knowledge is power, and Bellatrix knowing too much of her past could have undesired effects, it could give the woman power over her and the point of this was to get Bellatrix to relinquish power. To open up and reveal herself… more importantly reveal what she knows of Voldemort. After all that was the purpose of all this planning. It also gave Narcissa and Andromeda a chance to get their sister back, as well as Draco and Nymphadora a chance to really bond with their Aunt. Looking up Hermione noticed the freshly built cabin come into view. It was a simple and rustic piece of work but still quite beautiful if she did say so herself. Despite it being in the forbidden forest, it was relatively peaceful, with bird songs drifting soothingly in the breeze and a quaint stream babbling nearby. If it wasn't for the purpose of rebuilding a death eater into a good person, Hermione would consider it a good holiday home. She sucked in a breath as she finally reached the doorstep she was greeted by Nymphadora.
"Wotcha, 'Mione!"
"Tonks? I didn't think they would allow you to be one of the aurors on this project. But it is a pleasant surprise, it's good to see a friendly face." She smiled warmly at the pink haired girl, wrapping her arms around her in a hug. She truly meant those words, when she returned to Hogwarts to make preparations, Harry had fought with her for hours. Fortunately he did eventually see reason after she told him her plan. Ron was a whole other story, he refused to understand. He had been the one to shun her, but once she got Harry on board he seemed to settle. Though he still consistently warned her, it was becoming quite taxing. He would stop her in the corridors, near the dorms, just to give her spiels about being safe and not letting her ideas get the best of her. In all honesty, Ron was driving her crazy. At least Neville had just avoided her. The only other person to understand her, apart from Draco, was Luna. She sighed, releasing the girl who smiled brightly back at her.
"Well, no other auroras actually wanted the job unless it was to … well most of my colleagues interests lied in Bellatrix not getting better, to say the least." Nymphadora's smile fell and her eyes hardened. "Obviously I was the only one who stepped up bearing no ill-will." Hermione nodded in understanding; that made sense. Even one aurora would be enough, Hogwarts was protected property and they had Hagrid nearby anyways. This would still be enough protection should anything happen, and the presence of Bellatrix's niece might work to her advantage.
"Is Professor McGonnagal here?"
"Yeah, she and Aunt Bellatrix went in about half an hour ago. They were arguing about the set up, last I heard them." Nymphadora shrugged and chuckled before allowing Hermione to press her ear against the door. It seemed quiet. No, that wasn't quite right, it was silent. McGonnagal was supposed to be waiting outside the door with Bellatrix. But if they went in? And they were arguing?
"Uh, 'Mione? What are you-"
Hermione reached for her wand before throwing open the door, a spell on the tip of her tongue before she stopped in the doorway, eyes wide as she watched a distraught, antagonised Minerva McGonnagal chastise a disgruntled Bellatrix Black. Hermione blinked in surprise, a warm blush spreading over cheeks. She forgot about the silencing charm to ward off students and those not authorised. And as she had not yet put herself on the authorised list she would not of heard a thing. Her first mistake. Nymphadora chuckled, coming to stand by the brunette in the doorway to watch the two.
"I still don't like it."
"For the last time, Bellatrix. You don't have to like it." Bellatrix pouted at this, arms crossed over her chest and eyes narrowed before huffing impatiently.
"Why can't we just move it."
"Because Miss. Black, you don't get to make the rules here! Stop acting like a child over a table!" Minerva threw her hands upwards in exasperation, glasses slipping slightly to the left and strands of hair coming out of place whilst Bellatrix simply feigned an aghast expression, hand held over her heart.
"I am not a child. At best I am a mopey teenager." Bellatrix grinned devilishly at the dishevelled and clearly fed up professor before lazily glancing at Hermione. "Ah welcome, muddy! Perhaps you will see just how right I am about that bloody table!" She laughed mirthfully, rocking back on her heels as she did so.
"Miss Granger, thank Merlin you're finally here. This witch is insufferable, I truly feel for you and the task you have given yourself." Minerva approached Hermione calmly, running a hand to smooth errant curls and to right crooked glasses. "That is, if you still are absolutely sure about this? There's still time for someone else to do this."
"Professor, whilst I appreciate your concern… everyone's concern, I am dedicated to this." Hermione met the older woman's gaze head on, her gryffindor spirit roaring at the challenge presented. Eventually, Minerva sighed and reluctantly stepped to the side to allow the girl to walk forward. "You can go, Professor." Bellatrix sat surprisingly silent during the exchange, choosing to pick at her teeth despite the manacles still clamped around her wrists.
"Go? Miss Granger is that such a wise idea?"
"Please, Professor, if this is to work at all, it needs to be just me and Bellatrix. I have the emergency coin and there's the floo for you to make a house call whenever you need. Tonks will be right outside and even Hagrid is a short run from here." Minerva frowned at the thought of actually leaving her favourite student alone with the death eater but slowly relented. She trusted Hermione, the witch was brighter than almost anyone she'd met and she had taken many security precautions. She would be okay.
After a shared embrace, Minerva left the cabin and Nymphadora resumed her position outside the door. The moment Minerva left, Bellatrix shifted on her feet, watching curiously as the younger witch fished around in her robe pockets. A few seconds later and the brunette produced a bland, silver coloured box, the girl smiling as she opened it for Bellatrix to look at. "I convinced the ministry to try my idea of bracelets for keeping your powers bound instead of those god awful chains. They should hurt less too." Hermione spoke softly, unsurely but confident regardless. Bellatrix frowned at the girl, confusion swarming her brain.
"Why would it matter if it hurt less? I imagined you of all people would want me hurting, muddy." Bellatrix cracked a grin at the girl, one that was teasing and showed teeth. One that she was used to getting a fearful reaction from. However, Hermione just watched her, brown, calculating, eyes carefully checking the woman over.
"No one deserves that kind of pain, no matter what they did. I believe the same with Azkaban." Hermione took two silver bracelets from the box, gently unclasping them, inspecting the quality of the devices before approaching the other witch slowly, the way one might a wounded animal. Bellatrix's lips pulled up at this, a low growl burning in the back of her throat. The girl was lying. She had to be. She didn't even react to the slur. The girl was lying through her teeth.
"Is that so? What if I believe I deserve it?" Bellatrix's stare hardened at the girl as she simply clasped the bangle-looking devices around her wrists and then vanished the heavy chains. Bellatrix glanced at them, they weren't connected, she could move her hands without restriction. Her initial growling quietened at the prospect of more physical freedom and she stared at the objects thoughtfully; turning her wrists over a few times curiously, flexing her fingers for good measure and then stretching out her arms. Her lips pulled up ever so slightly at the feeling.
Hermione watched the death eater quietly, observing the other woman's reactions and saving anything important in her memory for later. Listening to the intimidating rumbles in her throat settle, a warmth of pride settled in Hermione's stomach as the woman relaxed a bit more. Enough to even unconsciously let the tiniest smile out before the girl. "Then… I think you have a sadness in you, one that shows that you regret the things you did." Hermione tried to choose her words carefully, she honestly wasn't entirely sure if Bellatrix regretted anything, but she had seen the way the witch reacted to her past and she understood things she did wrong, even if she didn't care they were wrong. A moral compass suggests morals. Bellatrix must feel something, and if she doesn't now, she will eventually. It's all a matter of progress, experimentation and success. For now, it seemed giving the woman freedom to actually move was a step forward.
Bellatrix regarded the girl before her carefully. Her face slipped into an impassive mask. "You're a fool to think that. I don't regret anything." 'Do I?' Bellatrix's gaze lingered on the girl. At the beginning of this journey to war she liked to imagine she didn't regret a thing, but as time went on she knew things had changed. But there was no room for feelings like regret, sympathy or empathy. Such things would get you killed. Bellatrix honestly didn't remember if she regretted anything anymore. Sometimes she would feel something, a wallowing sadness burrowing in her heart, but that would be quashed immediately by the Dark Lord. The girl was a fool, she was naive. She had no idea what it was like. Watching the brunette double check the bracelets she began to wonder if the girl was just stupid or have an insane amount of that ridiculous Gryffindor courage that house took so much pride in. Hermione then stumbled over the rug on the floor causing Bellatrix to grin ferally. Definitely stupid. Flustered, Hermione cleared her throat and threw a glare over her shoulder at the snickering woman behind her.
"What do you think of the house?" Hermione ventured slowly, clicking her tongue as she ran her fingers over the mahogany wood of the fireplace.
"I don't like the table."
"What's wrong with it?"
"It needs to be moved more towards the centre of the living room. In front of that couch." Bellatrix gestured between the table near the window and the couch in the center of the room, her eyes alight with excitement. "And then get a smaller table to go near the window. That would look much better." Hermione was surprised. Who knew the witch had a thing for decorating, she almost smiled at the witch's behaviour before she crossed her arms. Except she wasn't just the witch, she was a death eater. Hermione would have to remember that.
"Since when does a death eater care about home decoration."
Bellatrix looked over her shoulder at the little witch behind her. It was like a curtain had been drawn apart. She momentarily forgot who this witch was. And that… she was at this present moment, still a prisoner. A lab rat to her, to her people. Bellatrix straightened and mirrored the girls crossed arms, staring defiantly at the witch's insolence. "I was more than a death eater, obviously."
"I find that hard to believe." Hermione chuckled darkly. "From what i've seen, you were made to be death eater, you even admitted it yourself to me." Bellatrix frowned, watching how quickly the girls eyes swirled from honey to raked dirt.
"I didn't say that."
Hermione scoffed at that answer, her hands moving to ball at her sides. "Why lie now, Bellatrix?! You said to me that you were born to-"
"Be a monster."
Hermione froze as Bellatrix locked eyes with her. Oleaginous black mixing with a buried sorrow that tinged her irises and swam in the inky colour. Hermione felt her heart clench painfully and she wanted to look away but the dark witch held her gaze, demanded it.
"A monster. Not a death eater." Bellatrix finally broke their gaze and looked out the window silently. "I will retire to my room to… settle in. Are… there clothes for me?" Hermione watched as Bellatrix drew her arms closer to herself, insecurely? The witch even hesitated. Twice. That was… different. Hermione swallowed, she didn't expect to feel guilty.
"Um, yes. It'll be in the dresser or the closet. Narcissa sent some of your belongings."
"I see. I appreciate that. Goodnight, mudblood." Bellatrix sneered and sauntered off to the back of the cabin. Back to the slurs? Hermione frowned and sighed. She should have expected that. 'I may have just destroyed the progress we just made.' Hermione thought angrily. She let her anger get the better of her and now Bellatrix once again had every single defence back up. Hermione grumbled in frustration and flinched when she heard the bedroom door slam. Slowly, Hermione walked to the room Bellatrix was residing in and listened quietly. From what she could hear the dark witch was acquainting herself with her room. By throwing, what Hermione imagined, was the bedside lamp at a wall. She sighed and knocked gently.
"I'll be back in the morning. Goodnight." Hearing no response, Hermione rubbed the back of her neck anxiously before leaving the house, the front door locking magically behind her.
Nymphadora nodded to her as she passed and Hermione gave a half-hearted smile back before waving goodbye to the young auror.
Bellatrix sat cross-legged on the bed in the room. Gripping the sheets beneath her angrily. She wanted to destroy everything around her, she had far too much energy. Sighing she took a few calming breaths, it didn't help, not much anyways, she still wanted to tear apart the bed, the wallpaper, all of it. But she already broke the lamp, and she wanted to at least live comfortably if she was to stay here. Bellatrix stared at the strange contraptions locked around her wrists curiously. They weren't tight, but they weren't loose and they were light. She hated to admit it, but the young muggleborn was right, these were far better than those chains. Bellatrix's energy began to simmer as she observed the devices. It was like jewellery. Bellatrix sighed and flopped backwards, her head cradled by a feathersoft pillow. Her eyes fluttered at the feeling, she hadn't slept in a bed, a real bed in years. Slowly, gently, as if she was afraid someone was watching, Bellatrix turned and buried her face into the sheets, it had many different scents, a soft, blossom smelling fabric softener and… some smells she couldn't quite place, but they were all pleasant. Bellatrix recounted how the last few days… or week? She lost track of the time a lot. But a lot had happened, a part of her was still in disbelief at the outcome but one thing stuck out to her as she began to drift to sleep. That mudblood… that muggleborn… Bellatrix growled at herself for her thoughts changing and drew the covers over her head. That witch, had seen her. No one ever saw. Not truly, people saw the anger, the fury. Only her sisters ever saw the pain, but in recent years she had become a master at covering it from them as well. Yet the little witch, had actually noticed the way her body and even her magic reacted to her memories. The pain and sadness that wracked her. She would have to be careful not to let the golden girl learn anymore from her, at least anything she didn't want the witch to know. Knowledge was power after all.
So that's it for chapter five! I hope you guys enjoyed it, let me know your thoughts, responses and any questions i'm happy to try and answer (unless it gives away the plot too much ;) ) etc. I'd love to hear how you think things are progressing between the two. Obviously the real Bellamione is coming through now, especially towards the end; in previous chapters they kind of dance around each other and there's always more people with them, never just the two of them alone so there's going to be more time focused between them. We did get to see some hints into the two witches lives, past and experiences and I'm hoping to delve more into that later, I've got plans and ideas in the motions!Apologies for any grammar or spelling mistakes, I'm still working through everything. Thank you for reading, see you in the next chapter!
- Ebublio - Puts an object in a large bubble (video games). Jinx.
- Weekly-Crisis