January rolled into February and the body count of girls that the DMLE was investigating rose to four which meant they were dealing with a very capable and dangerous serial killer. Bella never admitted defeat but the aurors had made no progress on their end either and Bella was beginning to think that her little crew was in over their heads. Daily debriefs with Harry were happening to make sure every step had been covered. The bodies were all found the same, naked, bruised, strangled and sexually assaulted. This was quickly turning into a grim fucking nightmare of a case. Bella is no stranger to tragedy and she cause her fair share of them but the grisly murder of these young women was starting to get to her. They needed just a small break, anything to lead them down any road to investigate. Everyone in the office was getting frustrated and it was beginning to wear them all down. "I could always go undercover," Kate remarked one day during a round table meeting. Bella didn't know the specifics of what the muggle term uncover meant but she had watched a cop show or two with Jack and knew she wasn't ready to risk one of her officers yet to a plan that wasn't fully formed. They tabled that conversation and agreed to come back to the undercover idea if they weren't any closer to finding the perpetrator by the beginning of March.
Hermione had been spending much of her time coming up with ideas for her minister campaign and so far her best plan was implementing the wizard/muggle hospital collaboration that she had started thinking about after her accident. There was too big of a divide there and she was working closely with the director of St. Mungos and Dr. Hoffman to come up with an appropriate proposal. She was only slightly shocked when Dr. Hoffman agreed to give so much of her time to a cause that a muggle shouldn't be invested in. "Yes, Wizard/Muggles relations are going to be my selling point." Hermione said during dinner one night explaining her plan to Bella. "If Dolohov is going full pure blood then my goal is to reach everyone else in the community. Even the purebloods will benefit from joint healthcare." Andromeda was very excited about Hermione's hospital proposal. She had been saying that the wizarding hospital needed a reformation for years and she was actively involved in the planning stage with Hermione as both a hospital representative and grandmother of a half-blood. The minister candidate had welcomed all of Andy's help and kept an open mind when listening to everyone who stopped in her office to offer her words of advice, encouragement or to ask her questions. "I think people like me, Bella." She smiled brightly at her fiancé one afternoon when they were cuddling in her office. This wasn't news to the older witch. If anyone had what it took to win over the mass population it was her witch. She has the ideal candidate.
One particularly cold day early in February, Bella came home and found that Andy was out shopping with Teddy in Diagon looking for Valentine's Day presents for his teachers so it was just her and Hermione at home however Bella didn't see any signs of her lover downstairs. She knew the only other possible place would be the library. Bella walked into the library of Black Manor and saw her fiancé bent over the desk, quill in hand filling out the remainder of the wedding invitations. "We should've just eloped." Bella said laughing when Hermione looked up with ink smeared across her cheek. "All this work for one day seems a bit too pure for us, love." The dark-haired woman reached forward after licking her thumb and wiping the smear of ink from Hermione's face.
The younger witch wrinkled her nose at the soft gesture but smiled, "you are a pureblood, Bella. It wouldn't feel right for you to not get the wedding all purebloods deserve." Hermione said as she started melting the wax for the rest of the notes that needed to be sealed.
"Oh but I already had that unfortunately and it ended in his death and many, many, many, many unhappy guests when I refused to let that scumbag kiss the bride." Bella's usual dark brown eyes glistened with mischief as she recalled her wedding day to Rodolphus Lestrange. "Trust me, pet. If I could've skipped that day I would have." Marrying that joke of a man was one of the many things Bella regretted in her life but this was not a time for regrets, this was a time for celebration and moving forward with the love of her life. "We could get married in the alley behind the leaky cauldron and it'll still be a more romantic affair than my first marriage. It'll be perfect because it'll be with you." Bella leaned down and kissed Hermione on her neck, slowly adding more pressure until she felt Hermione shriver under her touch. Bella brought her hand up to clasp around her fiancé's neck to deepen the kiss before nipping at her pulse point. "You smell divine today, pet."
Hermione let out a little whimper. They had made an agreement to wait until they were married to sleep with each other and Bella wasn't the only one struggling with this idea. It was a pureblood culture thing that Bella's baby sister guilted her into. So they were waiting. "Bella…" Hermione said but it came out high pitched and breathy.
"Yes, pet…" she hummed back against her neck, sending vibrations straight to her core.
"We need…we can't…" Hermione was struggling to find her words when all she wanted was for Bella to take her against the bookshelf, "you have to stop." She felt Bella chuckle and pull away. "I'm having very indecent thoughts right now and you aren't helping the matter."
"My, my, my… who would've thought that I could crack you so soon." Bella's voice was thick and sultry. "You'll be ending this silly no sex thing soon enough."
"Oh no," Hermione said, putting her stern voice on. "This was all your idea. You leave me one afternoon for lunch with your sister and come back announcing we wouldn't be having sex until after the wedding. Plus I think it's good for us. We've had more opportunities to talk, get to know each other and go on dates. It's been fun."
Bella smirked, "you know what else is fun."
"No." Came the short reply from her fiancé and Bella knew the sex conversation was stalled for the time being. "So that's all of them?" Bella said, pointing to the invitations.
"Yes, finally. All of them. Though you really didn't want to invite too many people. Are you sure about that?"
"Besides you, my family and Minerva… who else do I need to invite? It's not like I've made lifelong friends…" Bella laughed but then noticed one sad little envelope sitting off to the side. She reached over and picked it up, holding it in her hands. There was no name on the invitation which made Bella feel a little suspicious. "Who is this for, pet?"
Hermione quickly snatched the invitation before biting her lower lip between her teeth. "Well, that's actually something I wanted to talk to you about." Hermione cleared her throat looking up at the dark witch who was giving her a nod and pulling up a seat to sit next to her fiance.
"Who is that one for? I'm almost afraid to ask." Hermione's brow furrowed. "It better not be for who I think it's for." Hermione looked up at Bella with big eyes. "Absolutely not. Inferior Weasley will not be attending my wedding."
"Our wedding," Hermione corrected her.
"Semantics, love. How can you expect me to have a happy and joyous day when there is someone there who has been pining after you for all these years sitting and watching and waiting for his opportunity to come knocking. No." Bella stood and started pacing, speaking in a voice that almost convinced Hermione to drop the subject.
"He has a girlfriend now."
"I don't care if he's married with six children. You aren't easy to get over, pet." Bella crossed her arms.
"Look, Bella. His whole family is invited. Ginny is one of my best friends and you've grown quite fond of George. Don't you think it would be weird to invite the whole family and not Ron?" Hermione said standing and walking over to stand in front of Bella, wrapping her arms around her waist. "I would really like to try to be friends with him again someday and I think this will be a good start to rebuilding the friendship. We've already sort of made amends at Harry's wedding but that was two months ago and aside from an owl or two, I haven't heard much from him. I think he's terrified of you."
"As he should be, pet. One wrong move and he's done for." Bella sighed and took Hermione's hand in her own. "You know I hate when you argue with reason and logic," Bella said, kissing Hermione on the tip of her nose. "If he so much as looks at you for a second too long, I will curse his ass right out of the ceremony." Hermione smiled. "But there's one more thing."
"I'm almost afraid to ask." She threw her words back at her fiancé.
"He can only come if I get to hand deliver his invitation to him. It's been far to long since he and I had a little chat."
"Are you going to threaten him?" Hermione asked, already knowing the answer.
"I'm not quite sure, I'll decide when I get there." Bella kissed Hermione softly on the lips before plucking the invitation out of her hands. "Best be off. I'll drop these off at the owl post when I'm in Diagon visiting a certain ginger prat."
Bella cackled leaving the library and Hermione slumped down into her chair, shaking her head. She spoke aloud to herself, "you knew what you were signing up for, Hermione."
"You sure did!" Bella shouted back from the hallway. "Forever then."
"Forever then," Hermione responded before opening her book she was saving until after all the invitations were in the mail. She snapped her head back up, "Bella wait!" Bella came back to the library looking confused, "those don't have to be in the post until the weekend. We can go to Diagon on Saturday." It looked as if the older witch was going to protest, "you can still threaten Ron then."
Bella nodded and threw the invitations on the table, "thank Merlin. I'm too tired to threaten properly today." She pulled her fiancé over to the couch and sat her down. She laid on the couch with her head resting in Hermione's lap, "read to me?" She asked politely.
Hermione was a sucker for reading aloud and Bella knew there was no way she would deny her the pleasure, "oh all right," she said, opening her book and beginning to read the start of the next chapter.
"We are going to revisit this no sex thing again soon, love. Valentine's Day is coming up and that's our sexaverasry. It's a very important holiday that I intend to celebrate to the fullest." She smirked.
"Well," the brunette put her finger in the book to hold her spot, "maybe we can start that in March."
Bella cackled, "that's the spirit pet, nothing like a good bit a fucking to prepare for not being able to fuck." Hermione smacked Bella on the shoulder, shushing her before she shook her head and started to read again.
—
The girls made their way to Diagon Alley that Saturday with Teddy in toe. There was no way that they would go without him. It had been far too long since they had their usual Florean Fortescue ice cream date and Bella was itching to spoil her little guy at the joke shop. The three were sitting on a bench outside of the ice cream store surrounded by warming charms to escape the cold winter's air, "you know we are going to have to start deciding on color schemes and outfits for the wedding," the brunette spoke up. They had gone in for their ice cream after stopping at the owl post to drop off all of the wedding invitations. Well, all of them except the one Bella was holding hostage.
"Color schemes? Not my area of interest, pet. And I told you what I wanted to wear." Bella looked over and saw an angry glaring look on Hermione's face. "I'll wear whatever you want. A dress… a tux… whatever I don't care as long as I get to marry you. Colors also don't matter as long as it's not maroon and gold." Teddy laughed at his aunt. "See, he agrees," she ruffled his hair. "Have you asked Cissy? She was supposed to be helping with all
of this shit."
"She's been preoccupied. I haven't been able to really talk with her about it," Hermione almost whined.
"What is up with her lately? She's been absent from everything. It's unacceptable really." Her eyes widen and she put her hands over Teddy's ears, "she must be fucking someone new. Not an excuse. No man is more important that her eldest sister's wedding. If she wants to be included in this wedding, she needs to bring her ass over and get involved." She removed her hands and smiled at Teddy who was happily eating his peanut butter and strawberry ice cream cone.
"Maybe you should call her soon and let her know. Andy is getting very serious about the maid of honor stuff. You are going to have to pick that soon as well," Hermione grinned at her fiancé.
"Is it too late to elope?" Bella gave her a desperate look.
"I'm afraid so." Hermione laughed.
"I'm going to be in the wedding right?" Teddy looked between his two aunts.
"Of course you are, little man." Bella leaned down and kissed his forehead. "We couldn't have the wedding without you." She was nearing the end of her bowl of chocolate chili ice cream, "now," she started, "eat up so we can go to the joke shop."
"I'm going to pop in to see the new used books if that's all right," Hermione pointed to the second hand bookstore, "and maybe go get some new quills and parchment from Scibbulus."
"Take you time, pet. We'll come find you after Teddy gets what he wants and I deliver this invitation to inferior Weasley." She winked at her fiancé before leaning over Teddy and kissing her on the lips. "Please try not to get stalked this time around."
Hermione suppressed a small laugh, "I'll try my best. I'll text you if I see any creepy hooded figures. Promise." She rolled her eyes, kissed Teddy on the cheek and set off for the bookshop first.
After Hermione had walked into the store, Bella did a quick visual inspection of the store and the surrounding area looking for anyone who seemed out of place. When she was satisfied that nobody was after her fiancé, she took Teddy's hand, threw away her ice cream cup and they walked the short distance to the Weasley shop. Looking in the window she was expecting to see that girl Caitlyn behind the counter but an evil grin spread across her face when she saw who was behind the counter, "oh this is already going to be fun." She said to her nephew as she opened the door, "ah look who it is Teddy." She announced their arrival, causing the red head behind the counter to look up, "it's our old friend, the Weasel." Teddy gave a half hearted smile already looking at his aunt desperately, "yes yes. Go on. Whatever you want," Teddy started to walk away when Bella grabbed him lightly by the shoulder, "here take this basket and remember no stink bombs." He nodded happily and ran off into the adjoining room. "Now, where were we?" She sauntered up to the counter, swaying her hips with each step, "oh yes. I have something for you."
Ron cleared his throat nervously, "you have something for me?" Bella raised an eyebrow smirking at his tone, "what is it then?"
"It appears that my fiancé," Bella over exaggerated Hermione's title, "wanted you to have this." She took the envelope out of her cloak pocket. "Honestly I'm not sure why she insists that you are her friend. You abandoned her when she needed you the most because she didn't want to be with you. You couldn't handle the rejection," Bella smirked, "but we've been over all of this during my last visit." She slammed the letter on the counter, "she wants to invite you to our wedding. I'm gobsmacked as to why but she's insistent that she wants to be your friend." She slid the letter across towards him. "Now, there are a few conditions."
Ron sighed, "and what are they, Bella?"
"Bella?" She cackled. "Oh weasel… we will never be at the stage where it will ever be acceptable for you to call me Bella. Madam Black will do just fine." She took a moment to look at her nails before continuing, "you will never develop feelings for my fiancé again."
"I have a girlfriend," Ron said defensively.
"A pure blood with no manners… I guess we need to start the lecture over with the simple fact that you will not interrupt me." Ron crossed his arms and rolled his eyes but didn't speak, "you will not be unappreciative of Hermione's forgiveness. You will respect our boundaries. You won't check her out. You will not hug her unless she specifically initiates it and it won't last more than five seconds. You won't smell her hair. You have no say in our relationship. You won't talk to her if we've been fighting. She won't seek comfort from you."
"Has Hermione gotten this same lecture?" Ron asked.
"No." Bella looked into his eyes. "I trust my soon to be wife. I don't trust you anymore than I trust a niffler in my vault at Gringotts. Don't overstep. You don't want to have to answer to me." He continued to stare at her, "I'm not as forgiving as Hermione. I would just kill you if given an opportunity." He gulped, "do I make myself clear?"
"Yes," he whispered.
"Perfect," her demeanor changed when she saw her nephew come running back in with a full basket of goodies. "Can't wait to see you at the wedding, mate." She reached down and grabbed the basket, hoisting it into the counter, "this will be all." She smiled down at her nephew.
"Hi Ron," Teddy said as he watched him ring up all of his new toys. "Are you coming to see me in the wedding?"
Ron looked at Bella before looking at the young boy, "I wouldn't miss it."
"Good," Teddy nodded and grabbed his bag and Bella handed over a pile of coins, "I can't wait for Aunt Bella to get married. I'm ready to have an Aunt Mione." He beamed at the red head before turning to grab his aunt's hand.
"Couldn't have said it better myself," she winked at Ron. "See you at the wedding Weasel. Come on, let's go find your Aunt Hermione." She laughed as her nephew pulled her through the door.
When they got out into the semi-busy street, Teddy asked, "can we go look at the brooms?"
"Sure kid," Bella smiled. There was no way she'd tell him no. "But first we should go find Hermione and maybe look for a couple of books for you. That way we can rationalize to your mom why you deserved all of the pranks."
"I like books just like Mione," Teddy smiled. "She's helping me get better at reading so I can make my teachers happy."
"Of course she would. She probably wants you to be head of grade one." Bella sighed, "you learn at whatever speed you are comfortable with kid."
Teddy just shrugged, "I like reading. I know some
big words now. Mione and I started reading chapter books before bed."
"She's going to make a fine mum one day won't she?" Bella laughed.
"You are going to be a mummy too?" Teddy asked. "Grandma said that you and Mione can have a baby. I'd like to have a cousin. Someone I can teach to read one day or to play quidditch if they are really cool like me."
"Oh they will be cool," Bella smirked, "you'd make a fine cousin." She ruffled Teddy's hair as he spotted the brunette in the store window and ran ahead and entered the store. Bella saw him walk over to Hermione and give her a hug from behind. She felt her heart swell watching Hermione turn around and fully embrace her soon to be nephew. "I'm so lucky," she said as she shook her head and walked into the bookstore noticing the basket full of books Hermione had sat down beside her when Teddy had hugged her. "Found a book there, pet?"
"Yes. Come here," she reached over and grabbed Bella's hand bringing her over and pulling her to sit down and look at the books. Bella would normally complain about sitting on the floor in a shop like a commoner but she often found herself doing stuff like this for Hermione. The only woman who has ever had the capacity to challenge Bella's views on the world. Hermione went off on a long tangent showing her each book and explaining why they were an amazing find. "I love them all and they will make an amazing addition to the library, love." She leaned over and kissed her fiancé softly on the lips. She leaned back and smiled at the younger witch's eyes still closed and her soft smile. "I'm going to go get us all a bottle of butterbeer. Can you help Teddy pick out a couple of books so Andy doesn't kill me over all the pranks?"
"Yes, don't take too long. I miss you." She then lowered her voice to a whisper and leaned in so her lips were brushing Bella's ear, "and I think the whole no sex thing… we should hold off on that."
Bella let out a soft noise of approval, "be right back, pet." She got up and walked over to the children's section where she found her nephew surrounded by books, "already taking after Hermione." She laughed. "I'll be right back buddy. I'm going to get us some drinks. Be mindful of Hermione until I get back. Promise?"
"Of course," he smiled at his Aunt before she left the store, put her cloak hood up against the cold winter's air and walked over to The Leaky Cauldron and slipped inside without notice. Having once worked for the Dark Lord and now being a DMLE supervisor, she made sure to scan the area. She noted a few men sitting around the bar and a couple in the back of the restaurant eating some lunch. Satisfied with her quick visual of the establishment, she walked up to the cashier and ordered, "I'll take three bottles of butterbeer, please." She handed over her coins before adding, "fuck it. And a shot of fire whiskey. It's cold as fuck out there." The bartender started to prepare her order, first handing over the shot heading to the back for the bottles. She picked up the shot, turning around to look into the restaurant and downed her drink. She noticed the male and female had moved from the booth and were walking out of the back door but she sensed something was off. Part of her was thinking, "fuck it. It's fine. Just get the drinks and head back to the bookshop," but the other more nagging part was saying, "go after them. You know something seems off there. Don't risk it."
"Fuck it," Bella said quietly before slamming her shot glass down and shouting at the bartender, "I'll be back in a minute for my bottles." She heard a noncommittal grunt coming from the kitchen when she took off in the direction of the back door. She reached into her cloak and brandished her wand, holding in tightly in her grasp, "fuck my life," she whispered as she slowly and quietly opened the door. She walked as soundlessly as possible when she heard the sounds of struggling and the distinguishable sound of a woman gasping for air. Bella sprung into action, she came around the corner and saw the large man straddling the girl as she lay prone on the ground, struggling to remove his hands from her neck. Bella cast a silent flipendo, causing the man to fly off of the woman. He was only stunned for a second before getting up and running a short distance and disapparating. "Fuck, I really need to start working out," she said knowing even if she ran and grabbed his arm the chance of splinching would be too great. She walked quickly over to the girl still laying on the ground, sobbing. "Are you okay?" She quietly asked the girl who nodded her head no while trying to soothe the hand marks that were formed on her throat. "It'll be okay. We are going to get you some help. I'm a cop. I work for the DMLE. Are you okay?" The girl nodded, "good. My sisters work at St. Mungos so we will get you over there but we will probably need to collect your clothes for evidence then after you are cleared, I'm going to have to bring you back to the department for questioning." Bella sighed and pulled out her hello phone to text Narcissa. "Your day is kind of shot now but you fared better than the other girls who wound up dead." Bella thought she was being reassuring until the girl started sobbing harder. "Bedside manners aren't my specialty. Sorry."
Within minutes, Andy and her recovery team showed up at the site, Bella told her what happened and to be careful with her in transport because they would need her clothing for evidence. "We have clothes at the hospital for her. I'll put these in a collection bag for you." Bella nodded her approval. "Are you coming with us?"
"I'll meet you there. I have to call Potter and let him know I'll be bringing in a girl who isn't dead for a statement and he'll call the aurors." Andy sighed and looked back over to the scared girl, "but first I need to go take the butterbeers to Hermione and Teddy as they are waiting for me. They need to get home. I don't trust a single fucking person around here right now."
"Okay. We will have a write up ready for you," Andy confirmed, "oh tell Teddy his grandma loves him and give him this for me," she leaned over and gave Bella a sloppy kiss on her cheek.
"Yuck. Gross." Bella complained, wiping the kiss off, "get out of here." She shoved Andy back towards the girl and her team of transport medi witches. Bella stayed and watched as all the medi witches left with the girl before sweeping the area to look for any clues. Of course there was no physical evidence left behind because thankfully she got there before the perpetrator could finish the girl off. She made her way back inside and walked over to the table where they were seated and called the waitress over. "I'm with the DMLE. I need to bag up this cup and fork to take it back with me for evidence."
"Sure thing. Anything else you need?" The older woman asked.
"No, I just wanted to make you aware of what I was taking and to ask you if you got a good glimpse of the man who was sitting here?"
"No, sorry ma'am. I just started my shift. The other waitress already left for the evening." The witch shrugged and started to wipe down the table after Bellatrix put the fork and glass in an evidence bag.
"Thanks all the same," Bella walked back over to the counter, "so… my butterbeers?" The barkeep bent down and pulled the three bottles out of the fridge, "thanks, mate." She placed a generous tip onto the counter, grabbed the three bottles, put them in her extended cloak pocket and left the Leaky Cauldron. "What a fucking week this day has been," Bella said to nobody but she saw a young witch laugh and nod in agreement.
When she arrived back at Scribbulus, she walked through the door and quickly located her people in the children's section. Hermione was sitting on the floor with Teddy in her lap. She was reading to him as they sat surrounded by a sea of books. "So fucking cute," Bella said to herself, walking over to the pair.
Hermione looked up and smiled brightly at her fiancé, "there you are. I was just about to text you."
"No need, love," Bella said, coming over and pulling the butterbeers out of her pocket, "here you guys go." She took the cap off of Hermione and Teddy's drink but didn't sit down as the brunette had expected her to, "can we talk over there for a minute?" Bella said motioning behind her with her head. Hermione nodded and scooted Teddy off of her lap and he made a grunt of protest, "I'll bring her right back, little man. Promise. Pick out your favorites here so we can buy them."
They walked over to the area Bella had indicated and by the look on her face, Hermione knew something happened, "what's up? Bella? You are scaring me a little."
Bella reached out, put her arms around her waist and pulled her fiancé in close so their noses were touching. "I have to go. When I was in Leaky, I followed a man and woman out into the alley and he was on top of her strangling her. She's alive but at St. Mungos. I need to go collect her clothes and bring her in for a statement and character sketch. This might be our break to finally get that asshole." She leaned in and kissed Hermione's lips with a soft reverence, "you have to take Teddy home, love. I can't have the two of you here while this is happening. I'm not going to risk either of you again."
"All right," she simply responded, leaning back in for another soft kiss. "Please, be safe."
"Always, my love." She reached into her cloak and pulled out the third butterbeer, "here take this home to Twiggy. She deserves a little treat every once in a while and no, do not give me that look. She's perfectly capable of handling one butterbeer. I've tested her limits fully throughout the years." The dark witch chuckled softly before reaching up to cup Hermione's cheek and brushed their lips together, adding the slightest amount of pressure.
"The three of us will never have a simple trip to Diagon Alley, will we?" Hermione whispered when Bella broke the kiss.
She rested her forehead against her fiancé's, "no, I don't suppose we will."
