** Author's note: Welcome everyone! I'm calling this Season 3 of my Shades of Grey series. If you haven't read Shades of Grey of Blurred Visions of Tomorrow yet, I highly recommend you read those first. I hope everyone enjoys this season. It's going to be mysterious, funny, romantic... fluffy and smutty. It'll have the race for minister, the bellamione wedding of your dreams, the honeymoon, a murder mystery and of course domestic bliss. Enjoy!**

*December 31, 2004 - present day*

Months had passed and life had moved on for the residents of Black Manor. The proposal was kept secret for only a short matter of time before the Black sisters got wind of it and transpired to start planning a dream wedding for the newly engaged couple. Bellatrix Druella Black, heiress to the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black and once right hand to the Dark Lord was marrying her long time partner, Hermione Jean Granger, one third of the Golden Trio. In all her years, she had never thought she would remarry let alone marry a muggle born. "No," she would often think to herself. She wouldn't change one damn thing about her life. She had been happy and content with her life for the first time she could recall.

Andy and Teddy had moved into the manor when Hermione had her accident, that was in May and they pair had yet to leave. At this point, Bella had just assumed that they were going to stay forever and she wasn't entirely put out by the idea. She loved having her little nephew to chase around. It kept her fit. Her sister on the other hand was tolerable. "Are you ever leaving?" She would often find herself asking Andy when the middle Black sister would do something overly annoying or meddle in her relationship. Andromeda would just smile at her and shake her head, "no. I've nested and you love me," would always be the response the eldest sister received. Bella would just roll her eyes and walk away from the cackling.

Hermione and Bella both returned to work in late September. The brunette was only meant to return part time as she was still recovering from her accident so this obviously meant that Bella was also only returning part time, "be thankful I'm here at all, Potter," is what she would announce when her once enemy turned friend would ask her why she was arriving late or leaving early. She didn't hate her job, she was surprisingly good at it. Solving murders turned out to be something an ex-criminal was adept in. Hermione would meet her fiancé for lunch and get treated to daily stories of gore and guts all while Bella smiled. "Once a criminal, always a criminal. Eat up love," she would say to the brunette when Hermione would give her a look of disbelief at her general excitement over solving a murder.

Hermione had officially put her ballot in for the race for Minister. Kingsley would no longer be the Minister of Magic effective January 1, 2005. The next minister would be picked in late spring and Hermione was already anxious about the results. When Bella had investigated the competition, she discovered that Hermione's running mate was none other than Antonin Dolohov. "Of course it's that asshole. I should've seen this coming. A pureblood running against a muggle born… he will no doubt use blood purity in his campaign," she shrugged, "it's okay, pet. You are far more qualified and likable than him." Hermione wasn't so sure. Bella spent the majority of her days campaigning for her fiancé to become the next minister though the efforts didn't matter until the race officially began in January. "You are the only option, love." The majority of their work lunch dates consisted of Hermione going on about not being picked for minister and the dark witch ensuring her that everything would work out.

Currently, Bella was pacing back and forth in the foyer. Every 2 minutes she would pull her hello phone out of the top of her dress and check the time. She yelled up the stairs, "hurry up. We are all going to be late and I won't have it." She paused only for a moment to check herself out in the mirror. She was wearing a dark navy tulle floor length dress with a deep V cut in the front showing off ample cleavage and a matching V cut in the back. The V cut top had embellished flowers and gems which ran down the long length of the dress. Her hair was piled up in the top of her head, a few long curls framing her face with small blue butterflies clipped throughout. She had dark eye makeup with a nude lip. "Yeah," she nodded appreciatively, "I still got it."

Andy could be heard yelling down from the third floor, "you only care because the three of you are in the wedding."

"Don't be jealous you weren't asked," Bella cackled. "Come on, pet. You're in this too. I blame you for getting us roped in."

Andy came walking down the stairs in a simple black cocktail dress carrying Teddy in his small navy blue tux. "Oh no. You are to blame for your relationship with Luna." She laughed, "but you do look adorable." She said as she put her grandson down and ruffled his hair.

"Granny," Teddy groaned and walked over to where Bella was standing. He turned to look at his butt in the mirror and Andy sighed.

Bella cackled, "yep. He definitely spends too much time with me." She winked at Andy. "Bet you love living here now. Hmm?"

"Why is it that one of you is always cackling when I enter the room?" Hermione asked, standing at the top of the stairs. Hermione was wearing a form fitted, navy blue tuxedo much like the one Teddy was wearing. It was completed by a white dress shirt and a navy blue tie. She wore her hair down, straightened with simple makeup.

Bella's mouth dropped. "Wow, you look," it was a look she hadn't seen in her fiancé very often but Hermione had a way of filling out that tux that was doing all the right things for Bella, "wow." That was the only word to accurately describe the natural beauty of her fiancé. "You are going to be the center of attention tonight, dove and that's not fair to poor Luna." Bella walked the short distance to her lover and started to sweep the long brunette hair over her shoulder while leaning in to place a chaste kiss on her cheek. Playfully exaggerated gagging could be heard from behind them, "Andy. One of these days my threats will happen. I won't always be this nice."

"We better get going," Hermione said looking at the clock.

"How about we pass on the wedding and just go back upstairs?" Bella smirked.

"That would be easier to agree to if we weren't part of the bridal party." Hermione laughed.

"How did that happen again?" Andy asked when Bellatrix started to pout.

**October 2004- Grimmauld Place **

"So how are the wedding plans going?" Hermione asked her best friend as they sat together in the living room drinking some butterbeer. Harry had invited the ladies over for dinner and they had stayed well into the evening hanging out and catching up. Luna and Bella were outback tending to the dirigible plum plants.

"Honestly?" Harry sipped his drink, "I couldn't tell you. I told Luna I'm fine with whatever she wants."

Hermione hummed in response, "did you pick a date?"

Harry nodded, "well sort of. She knows she wants it to be outside." Hermione didn't interrupt. She loved seeing Harry try to work out Luna's train of thought. "She couldn't decide if she wanted to get married in 2004 or 2005 so we've decided on 12/31 at night so we could get married in both years."

"We?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"Well, mostly her but I'm fine with anything. Really."

"Well we are both very happy for you. What did Ron say when you asked him to be your best man?" Hermione inquired trying to see if her once friend would be attending.

"Oh well. I was never going to ask him because I had someone else in mind and then I found out who Luna was asking to be her maid on honor and it was just perfect."

Hermione looked at her best friend full of confusion, "who did she ask?"

Her train of thought was cut off by a loud laugh and a slamming of the back door, "me? Are you nuttier than I am? Why me? Of all people. Bellatrix Druella Black… maid of honor at Harry Potter's wedding?!" Bella was being followed inside by a calm looking Luna.

"Well…" the airy voice of the ravenclaw started, "you are one of my very good friends and the energy you bring is needed for our wedding."

Bella stood looking at the blonde with her mouth open. "You're serious?" She looked at Hermione, "she's serious."

"And I want you to be my best mate," Harry looked at Hermione and the dark witch threw her hands up in the air. "Let's face it Mione. You've been the only solid and stable person in my life since we were kids. There's no way I want to have my wedding without you by my side."

The brunette had a small glimmer of a tear in her eye, "well I can't possibly say no to that now can I?" She threw her arms around Harry's neck, embracing him tightly.

The dark witch started pacing looking between the three adults in the living room, thinking. "Everyone is mad in this house. How am I supposed to function with this level of lunacy?"

Hermione pulled back from the hug and grabbed Bella's hand, "please?" the younger witch gave her the biggest eyes she could muster.

Bella stopped in her tracks, "you know those eyes do me in every time." Hermione smiled at her and Bella rolled her eyes, "fine," she turned and looked at Luna. "I'll do it but under a few conditions." It was Hermione's turn to roll her eyes, nothing with the dark witch came with a condition or two. "Cissy styles the bridal party," she looked and saw Luna shrug her shoulders. "She'll at least make us look good. Absolutely no crazy bubblegum colors. I will not and I mean NOT hold anything stupid or wear a dumb looking hat." Harry and Hermione looked at her with amusement,, "and lastly, if at any time you break our original contract, I get to kill you." Luna threw her arms around Bella and pulled her into an unexpected hug. The elder witch seized up at the action but managed to pat the young blond witch on her head. "Enough of this. Come on pet, we are leaving before they rope me into anything else." She grabbed her witch and pulled her to the fireplace grumbling, "never coming back to this god forsaken house."

*December 31, 2004 - present day*

The field outside of the Lovegood family home looked beautiful as the wedding tent blended in with the freshly fallen snow. Warming enchantments made the outside wedding possible in the cold and snowy night. When Bella, Hermione, Andy and Teddy landed in the field outside of the property line, they started their quarter mile trek to the venue. Stopping outside of the tent Hermione pulled Bella's arm slightly, "what's wrong?"

"I can see them now," she answered with a sad tone to her voice.

"What can you see?"

Hermione lifted her other arm pointing to the small fenced in area on the other side of the wedding tent, "them." The somber reply didn't sit well in the older witches stomach. Her fiancé was pointing to the herd of Thestrals and she felt an ache in her heart knowing she was at least partly to blame for the death Hermione had witnessed. "I think everyone here will be able to see them now," her voice got softer and she put her head on Bella's shoulder, a single tear running down her cheek.

"They are oddly beautiful though," Bella whispered. "I think maybe Luna wanted them here in remembrance of everyone who isn't with us anymore. That seems like something she would say," the dark witch tried to spin the sad situation into a positive one.

"She would." Hermione righted herself and started walking again. After a moment of quiet she looked over at her witch and smiled, "you want to pet them later don't you?"

"More than anything," Bella beamed back with the excitement of a child on Christmas morning. She led her witch into the tent where the ceremony would take place so they could get a quick look before they went to where they were needed. Hermione's eyes immediately filled with tears. Bella looked at her and confused, "I'm unsure what's going on but I'm concerned that you are crying again. If this wedding is too much for you, fuck Harry and Luna we can just piss off."

"No," Hermione dried a few of her tears, "it's not too much." She grabbed Bella and turned her around to face the chairs, "just look. Luna must have put the assigned seats together and just take a look at the names."

Bella looked out into the small crowd of chairs and saw a chair marked Nymphadora next to Andromeda and Fred next to George. It went on like this down the line of chairs for all of her and Harry's friends lost in the war. "Well," Bella cleared her throat, "that's…" she didn't really know how to respond to the gesture. "She will certainly have made a lot of people happy with that."

Hermione reached out and pulled Bella into a hug, "I know this probably brings up bad memories for you but just remember, you aren't that person anymore and everybody here loves you."

Bella pulled back slightly and said, "well not everyone," as she winked at her fiancé, wiping away Hermione's remaining tears and pointing to the seat labeled Ron.

Harry came rushing into the tent, "there you both are. Come on through, we need both of you in the house for final touches."

He started to usher the women towards the Lovegood house when Bella dramatically sighed, "I'm as primped as I'm going to get, Potter."

The ceremony was beautiful and Hermione swore that she had never seen her best friend look happier in all the time she had known him. Hermione spotted Bella engaged in conversation with her sisters and Minerva and thought it was the best time to broach the conversation she needed to have with Ron. It has been 4 years since she had last spoken and if she were being honest with herself, she was hurt to learn that he hadn't bothered to show up at the hospital when she was in her coma. Scanning the crowd, she should've known that she would find him by the buffet. She took a deep breath and made her way over to him, tapping him lightly on the shoulder to get his attention. "Hi," she said with only a slight awkward start.

"Hey, Mione," he responded, swallowing down a bite of food. "How've you been?"

"It's been four years and you asked 'how've I been'?" She parroted back trying to disguise the hurt in her voice. "Well let's see…" she pretended to think, "I just almost died and was in a coma fighting for my life." She saw him wince at her harsh tone, "but other than that I've been brilliant."

Ron started shifting nervously between his feet, "listen, Hermione I'm really sorry about that."

"Sorry about what exactly? Not coming to see me in the hospital? Sorry for writing me off four years ago? Or sorry for acting like a complete and utter arse?"

*Christmas Day 2000: The Burrow*

"No Ronald," the frustrated cry from the brunette sounded as the back door to the Burrow was slammed shut.

"Why?" Ron followed Hermione out into the backyard which was layered with thick snowfall.

"Because I'm not interested in you like that." Hermione huffed, "I've told you multiple times that I want to be your friend and nothing more."

"But," Ron caught up to her and grabbed her arm, spinning her around so she was facing him. "Everyone expects us to be together. We had gotten so close by the end of the war. I guess I just assumed you felt the same closeness I did."

Hermione removed her arm from his grasp, "I did feel the same closeness and that closeness was friendship and nothing more."

"Is there someone else?"

"That's neither here nor there and you know it," Hermione didn't look away.

"Who is he?" Ron asked, slightly annoyed.

"It isn't a 'he' Ron because I am not interested in dating you or anyone of your species."

"My species? What does that mean?"

"Men, Ron," Hermione practically shouted, "men. I'm not interested in dating men. I prefer the company of women."

The red head stood with his mouth open and Hermione had to bite her tongue not to tell him that he was about to catch Phoenix shit like that. "You never showed interest in any of the girls at school."

"If you hadn't noticed I was too preoccupied with my classes and not dying in a war to really date anyone, male or female. But since then, I've had time to really focus on myself and yes I am only interested in dating women." She let out a sigh she didn't know she was sitting on. "So that Ronald is the reason I can't date you."

Ron sat on the information for a few minutes going over to sit on the swing on the other side of the door. She followed her over and sat next to him waiting for him to speak first. "Is there someone you are interested in now?"

"Well," she thought about her options of telling the truth. Sure she could lie but after the ball last night and finally getting to kiss Bellatrix, she couldn't deny any of her feelings anymore. "Yes, there is someone I'm currently interested in."

"Someone at Hogwarts then? Not too many people went back. I bet I can guess." He gave her a sneaky smile.

"No, I'd rather not talk about it." Hermione tried to steer the conversation away from what she knew would be another blow up.

"Wait," Ron looked at her through narrowed eyes. "Ginny mentioned you getting close with Professor Black. Mione, please tell me it's not her. You fancy Bellatrix Lestrange?"

"It's not Lestrange anymore you said it yourself it's Black and I don't see why that would matter." Hermione couldn't keep the defensive tone from bubbling to the surface.

"You don't see why that matters?" He practically shouted while standing up from the swing, "it matters because she only had her hand in killing most of our friends and family."

"She left. She left with Draco and his family. She didn't kill Tonks and she wasn't even there for most of the battle."

"That's not an excuse. She's a murderer Hermione and I'm sure given the chance she would've murdered you as well." He stormed back over and pulled up Hermione's sleeve, "there," he pointed to her scar, "does a compassionate person do that!"

"That's not fair," she pulled her sleeve down, tears streaming down her face, "and you know it. It's been years since she did this to me, Ron and people can change. I've seen it. Bella," she was cut off by a harsh laugh.

"Oh. It's Bella now is it?"

"Bella has changed and she's getting better everyday."

"So that's it," Ron surmised. "You are in love with a death eater." He shook his head, "what if she did Fred in. What if she had killed someone else you love? You'll forgive her just like that and why because she's nice to you now?"

"You have no idea what you are talking about. She's helping me find my parents." Hermione sobbed. "She's been nothing but helpful and respectful and deserved nothing if not the same from me."

"You should leave." Ron turned his back to her.

"What?" She asked, shocked.

"Leave the burrow. I can speak for the whole family. As long as you are involved with that woman, none of us want to have anything to do with you." He conjured Hermione's suitcase then walked back inside slamming the door.

*December 31, 2004- present day*

Hermione and Ron stood at the buffet table for a while just staring at each other both trying to come up with something to say.

"Look," Ron started, "I shouldn't have reacted that way. I was stupid to condem Black before I knew any of the story."

"Go on," Hermione said, crossing her arms and staring at him.

"And I felt like an asshole everyday since especially after Ginny laid it into me after you left the Burrow."

"And?" Hermione tapped her foot.

"And," Ron visibly gulped, "I will never be able to forgive myself for not coming to see you before or after your surgery. I've been the absolute worst friend and I know you'll never be able to forgive that but I do hope that we can move on from here and maybe be friends again." He saw Hermione soften her stance slightly, "look I won't fuck things up again because if I do your fiancé will murder me instantly." He nodded over his shoulder to Bella who was glaring at him from across the room making obscene gestures. Narcissa slapped her oldest sister on the shoulder and they could tell that Cissy was telling Bella off but the dark witch just stuck her tongue out like a petulant child and returned to the obscene gestures before motion for Andy to join her which is happily did even though she had no real problems with the red head.

"I suppose," Hermione laughed at Bella, "I might be able to forgive you. But if you ever do something that stupid again Ronald Weasley, I will send Bella after you."

A little later into the evening after sufficient mingling had taken place, Hermione was ready just to spend some time with her witch, dancing and relaxing after a long emotional day. She had looked everywhere and was coming up short of places to look when she stumbled across Narcissa who was sitting at a table texting on her phone. "Hey," Hermione slid into the seat next to her, "you haven't seen Bella around have you? I've been looking everywhere for her."

The youngest Black sister put her phone away and smiled. "As a matter of fact, I do know where she is. Seems George asked her to hold his son and after a brief panic, she refused to give Little Freddy back." Narcissa pointed to the dance floor where Bella was swaying in time to the music with the small, sleeping baby. Hermione's heart swelled with the visual. "She's been out there for quite a while now though he's been long asleep. I'd say it's possible she's catching what the muggles call 'baby fever.'"

Hermione said her thanks before leaving the table and making her way out to the dance floor to join her fiancé and the newest Weasley. "Hi," she whispered when she came around to the front of Bella trying not to startle either her or the little baby. "I see you've gotten yourself a new dance partner."

Bella smiled and kissed the top of the baby's head, "he's okay. A little whiny but at least he lets me lead."

Hermione brought her arms around Bella's waist, sandwiching the little Weasley between their warmth as they swayed to the music. "This is nice," she whispered, leaning in to kiss Bella's cheek. "I didn't know you had such a maternal side."

"Excuse me?" Bella scoffed, "I don't have a maternal side. Superior Weasley asked me to hold this child because he couldn't find anyone suitable for the position. I only said yes because I was coerced into it, I assure you."

"Ah," Hermione snickered, "because Narcissa said you've been out here for awhile. I'm sure George would've taken him back by now."

"Semantics, love." Bella looked down at the baby, "plus he seems perfectly content. We are fine."

They continued to dance for a few more songs before little Fred started to cry signaling it was time for Bellatrix to cut ties with her new mate and send him off to his mother for food. Hermione excused herself for a dance with Harry while Bella went over to bother her baby sister. "Why are you always on your damn hello phone?" She asked as she snuck up behind the blonde. "It's a party. Shouldn't you be doing just that?"

"I have partied." Narcissa shot back. "And never mind who I'm messaging." She noticed Bella's lack of company. "What happened to the baby?"

"He got hungry and these," she pointed to her boobs, "have never been and will never be available to babies to feed on."

"Do you always have to be so crude?" The blonde smirked.

"You love me." Bella laughed, "you know spending time with that baby wasn't so bad."

"Maybe the two of you," Narcissa nodded out towards Hermione who was being twirled around the dance floor by Harry, "won't wait so long after marriage to have your first child."

"Oh no," Bella shook her head. "I will not talk about babies with you before I've spoken about them with Hermione. You tell one person and then the whole goddamn planet knows. Just look at the engagement fiasco."

"In everyone's defense, the only thing that went wrong was Andy finding out." Narcissa rolled her eyes, "if you want anything to stay a secret, never let Andy find out."

"Speaking of the little loudmouth," Bella smirked, "where is Andy?"

"Oh she left a little while ago. Teddy was sleepy so she took him home."

The two sisters sat and shared a drink watching the excitement start to die down on the dance floor. "So you are next," Narcissa spoke once her drink was finished.

"Yes, I suppose I am." Bella smiled thinking about marrying her witch.

"Consider this your only warning," Bella's eyes shot to Narcissa, "if you make Lovegood your maid of honor, Andy and I will kill you and there will be no wedding." She got up, kissed Bella on the head and said her goodbyes, leaving before her oldest sister could respond.

Hermione came walking over and noticed the shocked expression on her lover's face. "What's wrong Bella?"

"Oh nothing. Just being threatened by my own flesh and blood," she got up and linked her arm in Hermione's. "Ready to head home?"

The brunette nodded enthusiastically, "yes. Let's go home."

The pair had rang in the New Year quietly together when they got home. They toasted to 2005 with glasses of champagne then spent the remainder of the night getting lost in each other.

A few days into the new year, the women both returned to work after the holiday break. The race for minister officially began as Kingsley had stepped down on January 1st. Hermione was already feeling the pressure with the added presence of Dolohov in the ministry everyday, campaigning and working. He had taken a job in the Department of Intoxicating Substances to which Bella responded, "that useless piece of shit just had to weasel his way into the ministry somehow." Thankfully, the younger witch didn't have to see the man very often as they worked on different floors. Though she got a daily update as to his whereabouts. Upon Hermione's return, she was promoted to head of The Department of the Regulation and Care of Magical Creatures. It was a position she cherished as she had worked most of her adult life towards the betterment of life for magical creatures. Hermione wasn't the only one who experienced change when returning to work after the kidnapper ordeal. Bella was offered a position in the auror's office which she effectively told them to "shove it up their asses," when she walked back into the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. From there, she was offered Harry's supervisory role when he was promoted to Head of the department. Of course she jumped on the chance to be Draco's direct supervisor, "oh Dragon. This is going to be so much fun." Bella was mainly excited because Harry tasked her with hiring the replacement for Flowers. She took her new task very seriously and had thoroughly investigated every potential candidate. Hermione tried to relay that it was an interview not an investigation in which the older witch responded, "semantics," and continued thoroughly interrogating and terrifying every potential candidate.

Hermione almost fell over when the final candidate had been selected. "Wait? What?" She questioned Harry when he called her office to tell her that Bella had made her decision. "You are joking, right?"

"I'm just as gobsmacked as you are," Harry said into the receiver. She heard yelling coming from the office, "well I believe that's their first fight. Call your witch and settle her down, please."

Hermione laughed and hung up the phone, dialing the dark witch. "Bella. Harry said that you are harassing people again."

"Tell Potter to mind his own damn business. Everything is fine." She heard Bella audibly sigh over the phone.

"So… he said you picked a new investigator."

"Yeah. And what of it?" Bella answered defensively.

"I thought you hate her," Hermione cautiously broached the subject.

"Well I do," Hermione could see Bella raising her chin up in the air without actually seeing it, "but she was the most competent contender for the position and I'm already used to her being around all the time so I suppose Kate will have to suffice, won't she?"

Since that phone conversation and everyday after, Hermione had started her work days by sending Kate good vibes because Merlin knew she would need every one that she could get. It's been a few months since she was hired and both women worked together successfully for the most part and Bella had not yet killed anyone or lit anything on fire so Hermione took that as a good sign.

Two weeks into the new year and Bella found herself working on a new case that had just come in that morning. A girl was found dead out back of the Leaky Cauldron overnight. She was tasked with assigning the officers to assess the scene and Bella would be lying if she said she wasn't itching to go herself. Being a supervisor was a lot more paperwork and a lot less action. She would still manage to go out when she could sneak out from under Potter's nose. She was Bellatrix after all and nobody told her what to do. "Draco and girl… get in here." She shouted out from inside her office.

Draco entered first followed by a sour looking Kate. "I've been here three months now. When can I expect you to call me by my name, Bella?"

Bella's head shot you from her paper and she narrowed her eyes, "Bella? That's a bit informal for work isn't it, new girl?"

"I'm sorry. What I meant to say was…" Kate rolled her eyes, "what is it that you need Supreme over ruler Black." She crossed her arms over her chest, "better?"

"Much. Now sit." She commanded as the pair took their usual seats opposite her desk. "We've got a new case and since Potter has been watching me like a hawk, I need the two of you to go and work the scene. Bring back any and all evidence you find and I expect a few theories about the source of the crime when you get back. Now," she looked at the clock on her computer, "get the fuck out of here. I have a lunch date to keep."

"Hold on a second…" Kate started but Draco effectively shut her up by grabbing her upper arm and pulling her towards the door.

"We are going," he said to Kate looking back at his aunt, "we will be back soon as everything has been cleared. Enjoy your lunch." He dragged Kate out and Bella could hear him say, "what's wrong with you? Did you want us in there for an hour-long lecture?"

Bella laughed, shaking her head. At least she had her nephew well trained. Kate would learn soon enough. She shot a quick message to Hermione asking her to save her a seat in the cafeteria that she'd be down in a few minutes.

"There you are," Hermione smiled up at her witch as she came over and bent down to kiss her on the forehead. "I've missed you today."

"Well," Bella sat down in the chair next to Hermione, scooting it a tad too close for what would be considered appropriate in public. "I miss you everyday, pet." She leaned in again and nuzzled her face into Hermione's neck, nipping at her pulse point which caused the younger witch to gasp slightly.

"Bella," she tried to not let her name come out in a moan. "You can't do this here. We are in a very crowded cafeteria and the one lunch lady just looked over and winked at us."

Bella pulled back with a pout, "spoiled all my fun. Fine. I'll have you however I wish when we get home tonight." She leaned back in and kissed Hermione softly on her lips, nibbling softly on her bottom lip before pulling back completely and scooting her chair back over to an acceptable work distance. "How has your day been?" Bella asked before looking down and seeing that Hermione had gotten her a double cheeseburger with chips. Something about muggle food had become addictive to Bella now that the cafeteria at the ministry added new options to the menu. The cafeteria had gone under new management and everyone was loving it. There were some days where you couldn't even get a seat in the joint. Bella didn't care as long as she got her greasy delicacies.

"Hey," Hermione said, putting her fork back into her salad and nudging Bella's shoulder, "look."

"I'm a little busy here, pet," she said, taking another bite then putting her burger down. "What?" She asked with her mouth full, chewing in a very non-pureblood way.

"It's Luna." Bella quickly thought of her exit strategy with her burger in hand. "Oh no. She's coming over here and you aren't abandoning me."

Luna walked over to the table after stopping at a couple of tables to cleanse a few auras. "Hello ladies," she sat as she sat down across from them.

"Hi Luna. How are you?" Hermione asked, watching intrigued as the blonde put down a folder she was holding.

"I'm okay. Haven't seen a lot of nargle activity lately so I'd say everything is as it should be." She shrugged.

"How are the plants?" Bella asked with a mouth full of chips.

"Oh," the girl lit up, "they are wonderful. Finally blooming to their full potential. You should come over and visit them soon."

Bella swallowed and looked at her fiancé who shrugged, "I'd love to but we just got a new case. Dead girl in Diagon Alley. And I have Dragon and New Girl…ouch, pet."

Hermione elbowed her in the stomach and whispered, "Kate."

"And Kate," Bella rolled her eyes, "are out investigating now but I have a feeling they will be needing my expertise. Sadly I'm very busy but say hello to the plants for me."

"That's okay. The invitation is open for anytime." Luna smiled at her friend.

"So what brings you here? To the ministry cafeteria in the middle of the day without Harry." Hermione asked, trying to get to the point as their lunch hour was quickly diminishing.

"Oh you see," Luna opened the folder and took out a piece of paper, "dad received this at the Quibbler asking him to run it in the next issue. He thought both of you should see it. He has no intention of running the story." She handed the piece of paper to Hermione who began reading it, Bella reading over her shoulder.

"Hermione Jean Granger, the once Golden Girl, has resorted to a fake campaign for Minister so her Death Eat fiancé can take the throne this summer. Backed by the funds of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black, the muggle born witch is being used as a sympathetic front runner to hide the fact that Bellatrix Druella Black has her claws in the ministry. Is the rise of a new Dark Lord on the horizon?" Hermione put the paper down, unable to finish the article and looked disgusted. "It's only the second week of January and the smear campaigns have already begun? I'm in way over my head, aren't I?" She turned to her fiancé who was reading the rest of the paper.

"Well this is clearly falsified. Had this person done any research they would know that I hate the ministry and I would never give a dime of my money or estate to this establishment." She crumpled up the paper and threw it back at Luna who tried to smooth out the wrinkles. "We knew this was going to happen. Don't worry. I have plenty of horror stories we can run against Dolohov." Bella smirked.

"That's not how I want to win. I want to win by being the best candidate and most competent person for the job."

"The new Dark Lord," Bella cackled, "who knows. The year is young."

Hermione glared at her fiancé which just made her laugh harder. "Calm down pet. Mr. Lovegood brought it to your attention so hopefully this article won't see the light of day. At least you are saved from this particular load of rubbish. Though, I'm sure there will be more. Politics are nobody's friend, love. It's best to develop a thick skin early before things start to get more personal. Wait until they find out the wedding is right after the candidate is picked. The newspapers will love that."

"This year is going to suck," Hermione said, pouting her bottom lip out only slightly. "Maybe I should back out while I'm still ahead."

Bella took the opportunity to tap her lip, "put that away love. You are going to win. We both know it. We will deal with the shit campaign and if you allow me I'll take the brunt of it. I'm used to the shit talking. I can handle it." Hermione smiled and rested her head on Bella's shoulder. Luna had successfully unwrinkled the paper and put it back in the folder. "Besides, come summer… you'll be married to the new Dark Lord."