A/N: Hey, everyone. I apologize for not updating sooner. I've been writing but I just haven't been in the mood to update lately, I don't know why. Thanks for being patient with me. I've got a pretty heavy load for the next four-ish months but I'm going to try to make time every day to write and I think I'm going to aim to have an update about every four or five weeks. It might end up being longer (as it so frequently does), but I'll do my best. School always comes first for me, though.
I hope you're all well. Enjoy!
And our hearts did beat
Oh they pounded loudly
But we didn't speak
We just stared
Not a word, just silence struck upon our tongues
And heaven heaved a sigh out from its lungs
-And Our Hearts Did Beat, There Will Be Fireworks
Two weeks. Two whole, entire, fucking weeks Hermione had avoided her. She was gone every morning when Bellatrix woke up, and when she had tried to wake up earlier, Hermione would still be gone. She was never in the Common Room or the Great Hall, not that she could ever see, anyway. In classes, she would sit with someone else and would leave before Bellatrix had the chance to stop her. She checked the clock tower, the library, and the Room of Requirement dozens of times during the first few days but it became clear Hermione wasn't spending her time there. Truthfully, Bellatrix had no idea where else Hermione would go.
Her sisters hadn't been very helpful either, and her temper was much shorter than normal. She had nearly made two first-year Ravenclaws cry when she caught them trying to sneak into the library after curfew. She hadn't apologized, but she did catch herself as she was scolding them and let them off with a warning instead of docking house points. It was definitely getting to the point where she was always in a foul mood and even Rodolphus had avoided her after she screamed at him that she would go to the stupid Christmas dance with him if he would just shut the fuck up and leave her alone. It wasn't her best moment, and she was actually glad Hermione hadn't witnessed it, but there was no doubt she had heard about it.
Bellatrix was getting tired of Hermione avoiding her, but it had been difficult to catch her so they could talk. The brunette witch had memorized her Prefect schedule and she hadn't been able to change it so she could take her by surprise. Now it was five minutes before the Christmas party that she didn't even really want to go to and she was waiting for Hermione. She had told Rodolphus she wanted to be fashionably late and to put in a little extra effort on his appearance. She honestly didn't care what he looked like, it was just an excuse to wait for Hermione to show up so they could finally talk. She had been waiting all day, and she thought it was strange that Hermione hadn't come back to get ready, but she knew the Carrows usually arrived after the party was in full swing so she didn't pay it any mind.
Hermione was surprised to find Bellatrix waiting for her with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face when she walked into their room. She was certain the party had started already and she hadn't seen Rodolphus waiting in the Common Room, so she thought they already left. Before she could even turn to walk out the door, Bellatrix was in front of her, leaning her weight against the door and forcing it shut.
"Why are you avoiding me?" she demanded, her eyes swirling with emotions.
"I've been busy," she answered with a shrug, narrowing her eyes at Bellatrix.
She scoffed. "Busy avoiding me for two weeks."
"I'm not allowed to have other friends?" Hermione asked, bringing herself to her full height, "You hang out with Rodolphus."
"Because I have to!" she shouted angrily, meeting her gaze. She saw a look of jealousy pass through Hermione's eyes, and she knew she hadn't imagined it. "Are you jealous of me?"
"No!" Hermione shouted, stomping over to her bed.
"You are!" Bellatrix accused.
Hermione turned to look at her, her eyes brimming with anger. "I am not jealous of you, Bellatrix."
"Then why have you been avoiding me?" she asked, unable to keep her voice from cracking.
The brunette turned away from her, and Bellatrix looked at the floor, willing herself to breathe normally. She placed her hand on the knob of the door, ready to turn it.
"I'm not jealous of you, Bells. I'm jealous of him," Hermione admitted softly, "I haven't been able to picture anything but you dancing with him when I want you to be dancing with me."
Oh. Oh. Now things made more sense. Bellatrix realized that she had correctly identified what Hermione was feeling, but she had it directed to the wrong person. She knew about Ron, and Viktor, and Cormac, and she hadn't wanted to let herself hope that Hermione might want her that way so she assumed she liked Rodolphus. He was really too stupid for her, and she couldn't fathom why she might like him but she seemed to have a thing for stupid boys. Or she thought she had.
"Then why are you going with the Carrows?" She asked softly, staring at the doorknob and trying to blink away the tears in her eyes.
"If you had stuck around to hear my answer, you'd know that I'm not," she spat, perhaps a little harshly. Still, she hadn't wanted to admit her feelings to Bellatrix in this way and she was upset over Bellatrix's accusations, so it was difficult to stop herself.
Bellatrix inwardly winced. "I just thought you said you didn't want to go because no one had asked you."
"I have a lot of reasons for not wanting to go," Hermione said.
She shouldered past Bellatrix, throwing open the door and stomping down the stairs. That was absolutely not how she wanted that to go. When she heard Bellatrix was going with Rodolphus, she had planned to wait until sometime after the dance to admit how she felt so that Bellatrix didn't have to think about it when she was supposed to be enjoying herself. Not that she thought Bellatrix would have a particularly good time with him, but she knew it would be harder for Bellatrix to do what she had to do if she was thinking about other things. She definitely hadn't wanted to admit it while she was angry, either.
Hermione shook her head as she leaned against the wall of an empty corridor. She let her head hit the cold stone, leeching the white-hot anger from her. She didn't know if Bellatrix would look for her, but she didn't want to be found. Bellatrix hadn't said anything about feeling the same way, and Hermione couldn't help but feel a little silly for even letting herself hope that she did. Hermione shook her head again, hoping it would force away her tears as she pushed away from the wall. She wanted to be as far from the Great Hall as she could get.
Bellatrix stood frozen in stunned silence long after Hermione had stormed out. She had never felt so foolish in her entire life. Hermione liked her, and she hadn't even told her that she felt the same. She had been so focused on convincing herself it wasn't true and she ended up driving her away. She struck the door with her fist, refusing to let her tears fall. She wanted to go after Hermione but she knew she shouldn't, and she couldn't, anyway. Her father would be livid if he found out she had skipped the party, so she had to make an appearance for at least a little while. Maybe she could use that time to think of how in the fuck she was going to fix this.
She collected herself, fixing her hair and touching up her makeup. Rodolphus was bound to be waiting for her in the Common Room by now. With a deep breath, she squeezed her eyes shut, praying to every deity she could think of that she would be able to make things right with Hermione. She opened the door and descended the stairs, finding that Rodolphus was, in fact, waiting for her. He shot her a brilliant smile as he offered her his arm and she forced herself to return it as she rested her fingertips on his bicep. Thankfully, he didn't try to talk to her as they walked to the Great Hall.
It felt silly, but she found herself scanning the crowd for Hermione. She spotted her sisters easily, returning their small waves halfheartedly. Hermione wasn't there, but the Carrows were, lingering on the fringes of the crowd like vultures. Another pang of guilt washed over her, hidden behind a forced smile. Rodolphus looked down at her, pulling her onto the dance floor. Her skin crawled but she didn't let it show, placing one hand in his and the other on his shoulder.
His hand was large and clammy where Hermione's were slender and soft. The hand on her waist was too warm and she fought against the urge to pull away. She danced on autopilot, following his lead out of necessity. It was forced, not like her dances with Hermione. They were liquid when they danced, ebbing and flowing around each other and the room. The silence was oppressing, not comfortable, but she immediately realized she preferred the silence when Rodolphus began talking to her. She responded half-heartedly every time, all while thinking about an excuse to leave.
"Look, Bellatrix, I know I'm not the smartest, but even I can tell something is bothering you," he said once they resumed dancing after a short break, "You didn't want to come with me, did you?"
She inwardly groaned as she responded, "You know as well as I that what I want doesn't matter."
"I told you we could've worked something out," he whispered, "I may want you, but I know you don't want me and maybe never will. If you see other guys, that's okay as long as we get married and have children."
"I don't want any of that," she frowned, "And we couldn't have worked something out. The person I would've liked to be here with isn't another guy, Rodolphus, and we had an argument like an hour ago."
He pulled her to a stop off the dance floor, fixing her with a disappointed smile. "You should go fix that."
"Thank you, Rod," she whispered, looking around for her sisters.
She met Andromeda's eyes and sent her a look. Her sister conveyed the unspoken message to Narcissa as she left with Rodolphus. He wished her luck but she could see his disappointment and slight jealousy before he returned to the party. She paced a small portion of the corridor, pulled to a stop by Narcissa.
"What happened?" Narcissa asked in a whisper.
"I messed up," she whispered to them, gesturing with her head in the direction of their Common Room.
They followed her quickly through the empty corridors, sharing concerned looks the entire way. It wasn't until they were in the privacy of their Common Room that Bellatrix began explaining what had happened right before the party. Andromeda and Narcissa exchanged several looks as they listened while Bellatrix paced the room. She stood anxiously in front of her sisters when she finished, chewing her lip and looking at them expectantly. Andromeda reached out and smacked her upside the head.
"Are you stupid?" she asked, "Why would you do that?"
"I don't know!" Bellatrix shouted, pulling at her hair, "I wasn't thinking!"
"Clearly," Narcissa mumbled, "But we'll help you."
Andromeda nodded. "It won't be easy."
"I'll do anything," Bellatrix said, immensely grateful for her sisters.
Narcissa and Andromeda shared a nod.
"I'll try to find her," Andromeda said.
"And I'll help you, Bella," Narcissa finished.
"Thank you," Bellatrix breathed, "Andy, when you find her can you try to get her to the Room of Requirement?"
Her near-twin nodded and left in search of Hermione. She wasn't sure where to start looking, but she knew not to bother with her usual places. Hermione had been elusive all week. She tried to think of where she would go to get away from everyone at the dance. Andromeda quickened her pace, heading in the opposite direction as the Great Hall. If Hermione didn't want to be disturbed, it made sense that she would get as far away as she could. She hoped the brunette hadn't gone outside because she was not dressed for the cold and a warming charm wouldn't do her much good for very long.
It was when Andromeda reached the bell towers that she paused. Hermione might have gone as far as the greenhouses, but she also might've gone up to the top. She took a chance on going up the stairs, reasoning that if Hermione liked to be at the top of the clock tower, she would probably be at the top of one of the bell towers. As she ascended, she hoped that she had chosen the right tower, even if the activity was keeping her warm. She was panting by the time she reached the top, her shoes dangling from her fingertips after she had decided it would be easier to climb the stairs barefoot.
"Hermione," she said gently, relieved that she wasn't in the other one, "Can I join you?"
The brunette was still for a moment before nodding. "I guess."
"Are you okay?" Andromeda asked, shivering slightly as she sat next to her.
"I told your sister," she mumbled.
Andromeda could see the dried tear tracks on Hermione's cheeks and she chewed her lip as she said, "I know."
"She told you, then?" Hermione asked, blinking back more tears and keeping her head stubbornly facing forward.
"Yeah," she whispered, folding in on herself to preserve her warmth, "Do you mind if we go inside and talk? It's freezing."
Hermione looked over at her then, noticing Andromeda's bare shoulders and legs. "Okay."
"How are you not freezing?" Andromeda asked as they made their way down the stairs, feeling some warmth return to her body at the action.
"I've got a warming charm," she said, shrugging, "And I'm not in a dress."
Andromeda felt her chances of success improving at Hermione's attempt at humor. "Fair point."
"So, why did you come looking for me?" she asked, letting Andromeda inside the warm corridor first.
"To bring you to the Room of Requirement."
Hermione stopped dead in her tracks, crossing her arms and glaring at Andromeda. "Is Bellatrix in there?"
"I think you should hear her out," Andromeda said carefully.
"Why should I?" Hermione asked, her throat tightening.
"Please trust me, Hermione," she whispered, taking Hermione's hands in hers, "I would not send you into this unless I knew for certain that you wouldn't get hurt. Bella is...well, I'm sure you know better than almost anyone everything she is. Just give her a chance."
"I did give her a chance," Hermione hissed, pulling her hands out of Andromeda's grasp.
"Did you?" she asked knowingly.
Hermione chewed her lip, averting her gaze so it was on the floor. "No, not really. The whole thing just went sideways, I didn't even want to tell her until after the dance so she could focus on what she had to do."
"So give her one. She's waiting for you," Andromeda whispered.
The brunette sighed, nodding slowly. "Walk with me? So I don't run away."
"And here I thought you were a Gryffindor," Andromeda teased with a smile.
"It never came naturally to me. I always wondered why the hat put me there, I thought for sure I was going to be a Ravenclaw," Hermione admitted with a chuckle.
"I can see why. Most people wouldn't do the things that you do," Andromeda said, "And you say it as if the choice were obvious, but I don't know anyone that would willingly do the things you've done to protect the people you care about."
Hermione couldn't think of a response, so she just nodded. Andromeda didn't say anything else, just kept her company on the walk to the Room of Requirement. There were a few times where she thought Hermione would turn around, but one glance at her and the brunette seemed to think better of it. Andromeda was happy to be walking with her, the action warming her up. Narcissa was waiting outside the door to the Room of Requirement, giving Hermione a gentle nudge toward it.
When she hesitated with her hand on the door, Narcissa said, "Oh for Merlin's sake, Hermione! Just go in!"
Hermione gathered her courage as she took a breath, opening the door, and stepping inside. As soon as it closed, Andromeda and Narcissa smiled to each other, heading back to their Common Room.
Bellatrix stood nervously in the center of the room, fidgeting as the door shut behind Hermione. She smiled sheepishly at the brunette who waited by the door expectantly. Even as far away as she was, Bellatrix could tell that the other witch had been crying.
"Hermione," she breathed, "I know that an apology isn't good enough. But I'm sorry for making assumptions that weren't true."
Bellatrix stepped forward cautiously, approaching Hermione slowly as she continued, "I-I didn't want to admit anything because I didn't want anything to happen to our friendship. But in the process, I've been pushing you away."
She stopped in front of Hermione, taking a deep breath. "I didn't want to let myself hope that you liked me. All the signs I saw, I put them onto someone else. I put them on Rodolphus because I didn't think you would feel anything but friendship for me. And when you told me how you felt, I should've been honest with you, too."
Hermione hadn't moved as Bellatrix approached, and the dark-haired witch reached out to gently take her hands. "I shouldn't have assumed you would go just because the Carrows asked you. I-I should've asked you. I wanted to go with you, but I was afraid."
Bellatrix looked at the ground, chewing her lip and looking back up. "I'm sorry."
"You aren't the only one to blame," Hermione murmured, keeping her gaze locked on their hands, "I should've said something earlier, but I know it would've made going to the dance with Rodolphus harder, even if you didn't feel the same way, so I was going to wait until after and I...I couldn't bear to have to hold it in and I thought if I was around you I would just blurt it out. I'm sorry, too."
"I don't ever want to fight with you like that, Hermione," Bellatrix whispered, caressing her cheek, "Can you forgive me?"
Hermione felt her heart flutter in her chest at Bellatrix's soft touch. "If you can forgive me, too."
Bellatrix leaned her forehead against Hermione's with a small laugh, nodding. "Could I...Have this dance?"
The question was asked with such sincerity and uncertainty that Hermione found herself placing her free hand on Bellatrix's waist. The other witch's dark eyes widened in surprise as Hermione began leading, following the music that she had only just noticed. Bellatrix smiled, resting her cheek on Hermione's shoulder. She usually didn't enjoy when someone else led, but Hermione's hand on her waist had made her think it maybe wouldn't be so bad to be at her whim. Hermione was a talented dancer, Bellatrix noted, following the music gracefully. Never mind the fact that her hands felt they belonged on her.
Hermione grew more confident as Bellatrix allowed her to lead. With their feelings out in the open, the only thing stopping Hermione from kissing Bellatrix was herself. Knowing that Bellatrix had feelings for her emboldened her, so she pulled them to a stop. When Bellatrix pulled her head off Hermione's shoulder, the brunette cupped her cheek, stepping the last little bit closer and pressing their lips together. Hands immediately wound into her hair as Bellatrix's lips parted. Hermione pulled her closer by the hand on her waist, sliding her other hand to the curls at the nape of Bellatrix's neck.
A small noise wormed its way out of Bellatrix's throat, but she didn't care. She was so close to Hermione, acutely aware of the hand on her waist, the back of her neck, everywhere they were touching. The tightening of her lungs was nothing compared to how filled with life she felt and she ignored it until she began to grow dizzy.
They pulled away at the same time, breathless and flushed, with swollen lips and pounding hearts. A relieved laugh left Bellatrix, and she leaned her forehead against Hermione's. Hermione pulled her into a hug, fully embracing Bellatrix.
"I've wanted to do that since the first time we danced," she admitted with a laugh.
Bellatrix felt her face flush as she said, "I wouldn't have minded."
"I suppose we should be getting back," Hermione said, pulling away but shifting her grip to Bellatrix's hands.
She nodded. "Probably. Wouldn't be setting a very good example, would I?"
"Not at all," the brunette witch said with a laugh, "And I'm sure you'll want a good night of sleep before you leave for the holiday."
"Oh, fuck," Bellatrix mumbled, her mood lowering drastically.
Hermione cupped her cheek. "It's only a few weeks."
"I wish I could stay," she whispered.
"Another time," she promised, not quite sure if she believed herself.
Bellatrix nodded, tugging Hermione's hand. It wasn't until they were closer to the Common Room that they let go of each other's hands. Almost like their moment in the Room of Requirement had never happened, they continued to their shared room in silence, preparing for bed as they always did.
"Goodnight, Bells," Hermione whispered as she pulled her blanket around her.
"Night, Hermione," came the faint reply from Bellatrix, already settled in bed.
Bellatrix didn't want to get up. Getting up meant that she and her sisters would leave, and she knew Hermione would miss their company. Bellatrix just didn't want to go home for the holiday. She would miss Hermione, sure, but she also didn't want to spend her break pretending to be okay with marrying Rodolphus and hiding how she really felt. Home wasn't home, it was misery; Hogwarts was her home, with more books than she could read in seven years, with Hermione, away from her father. She didn't have much freedom left, the school year was almost over and after that, she would only have one more year before she would be married.
She closed her trunk silently, glancing over at the still sleeping brunette. Bellatrix wasn't sure how she had been getting any sleep at all over the past two weeks because she had barely seen her. She tiptoed over to her bed, taking in the slightly scrunched face Hermione was making. It looked adorable and Bellatrix could feel her heart melting at the sight. She reached out, stroking soft hair and marveling at it. Hermione moved over slightly and Bellatrix wasn't sure if the other witch was actually asleep or just pretending.
Her suspicions were confirmed when Hermione sleepily grumbled, "Are you going to get in or not?"
Oh. It had been an invitation. Bellatrix felt her cheeks redden as she pulled back the blanket and slid into Hermione's bed, so close their noses were touching. Hermione immediately wrapped an arm around her waist and buried her face in her neck. Bellatrix felt her blush intensify, burying her hand in Hermione's soft curls and using her other arm as a pillow.
"I regret avoiding you for two weeks. I should've been grateful to have the opportunity to spend time with you and instead I was busy being kind of an arse," Hermione admitted softly, her breaths tickling Bellatrix's neck.
Repressing a shiver, she mumbled, "Suppose I was a bit of an arse, too. I'm going to miss you."
Hermione could see Bellatrix's pulse point throbbing quickly, and she had the sudden urge to claim it with her mouth. "I'll miss you, too."
"Will you?" Bellatrix asked idly, running Hermione's hair through her hands.
"Yes," she answered, pulling her head out of the crook of Bellatrix's neck to look up at her, "I will."
Bellatrix's cheeks reddened at her admission, and Hermione couldn't help but think how beautiful she was.
"You're gorgeous, you know?" she whispered, causing Bellatrix's blush to deepen.
"Erm," she stammered, caught off guard by the sudden statement.
Hermione pressed her lips softly against Bellatrix's, pulling back before either of them had a chance to deepen it. "I mean it."
"I don't want to leave," Bellatrix groaned, leaning her forehead against Hermione's. She was in awe of the chuckle it drew from Hermione, swallowing hard as her gaze lingered on her mouth.
"Trust me when I tell you I would do anything if it meant you could stay with me forever," she whispered, brushing their noses together.
Bellatrix forced her gaze up, a playful smirk on her face as she asked, "Even if it meant sleeping with Rodolphus?"
A disgusted look crossed Hermione's face but she still said, "Yes. A few moments of misery with him is worth an eternity of bliss with you."
Her jaw dropped, drawing a chuckle from Hermione. She tried to come up with a response, but her brain refused to cooperate with her, especially when Hermione leaned forward and nipped her bottom lip. Bellatrix felt her breath catch, tightening her grip on Hermione's hair.
"I suppose I could just make you miss the train," she husked, drawing a shiver from Bellatrix.
Bellatrix cleared her throat, retorting, "And how do you intend to do that?"
Hermione smirked at her and she felt her heart flip as the brunette squeezed her waist, leaning forward and sucking her bottom lip into her mouth. Bellatrix sucked in a breath through her nose, her hands bunching in Hermione's hair as a needy whimper escaped her throat. In retaliation, she slid her leg between Hermione's, rolling so the witch was beneath her. Hermione's other hand went to her hip, her nails brushing the skin just under the hem of Bellatrix's shirt.
"Make me stay," Bellatrix pleaded in a whisper, sounding weaker than she had intended.
A conflicted expression formed on Hermione's face as she released Bellatrix's lip. She knew she shouldn't, but she wanted to. She wanted to whisk Bellatrix away from her family, freeing her from the shackles of her responsibility. Bellatrix wanted her to, that much was clear by the way she had exposed so much vulnerability. Hermione wasn't sure if it was a life Bellatrix really wanted. She wasn't sure if the dark-haired witch understood just what she was asking. If she knew, would she still want it?
Bellatrix's face fell at Hermione's lack of response. Did she not want her to stay? She sat up, swallowing hard to banish her tears. As she moved to get off of Hermione, the brunette's hands tightened on her hips, one arm snaking up her back as the other moved to push herself up. Her eyes widened as Hermione pulled her into a fierce hug, holding her close and Bellatrix melted into her embrace.
"I want you to stay," Hermione whispered in her ear, "But I'm not sure if you know what you're asking for."
"Of course I do," she whispered back, burying her face in Hermione's neck.
She ran a hand through dark curls. "Bells, if I were to make you stay right now, it would mean leaving behind your sisters. Wouldn't you rather all leave together?"
"Yes," she mumbled, barely audible.
"If a year from now you want me to make you stay, I will," Hermione whispered.
Bellatrix pulled her head back so she could look at Hermione. "Promise?"
Soft brown eyes held her vulnerable gaze reassuringly. "I promise."
Bellatrix nodded, her gaze dropping to Hermione's mouth as she muttered, "I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that these types of promises are sealed with a kiss."
Her eyes flicked back to Hermione's, her heart fluttering at the brightness within them.
"It must be true, then," she teased, leaning forward and brushing her lips against Bellatrix's.
She leaned forward to deepen it, sending them falling onto the mattress as Hermione's arm gave out. They held tightly to each other, narrowly avoiding knocking their heads together as they bounced slightly. Bellatrix pushed herself up so she was hovering over Hermione as a laugh bubbled out of the brunette's chest, seconded by one from Bellatrix.
"Did I hurt you?" she asked once her laughter died down.
Hermione shook her head with a smile, her face alight with joy. Bellatrix stroked her cheek with slightly shaking fingers, an awed smile pulling her lips upward.
"I never knew anyone could be as beautiful as you are right now," she breathed.
She watched as Hermione's cheeks turned slightly pink, marveling at how such a simple truth could elicit such a reaction. Bellatrix had no idea how long she had spent just observing Hermione's face, committing every feature to her memory. She knew Hermione was doing the same. There was so much more of Hermione she wanted to memorize. She wanted to take her time and learn everything she could about her and her reactions.
A knock on their door interrupted their moment, both of them groaning. Bellatrix leaned her forehead against Hermione's, squeezing her eyes shut. With a sigh, she rolled off the brunette, placing her feet on the floor and getting up. When she was halfway to the door, Hermione came up behind her, her arms circling her waist and pulling her until her back was flush against her front.
"Sorry for making you miss breakfast," she mumbled against her cheek.
"Bell-la" Narcissa called through the door, knocking again, "We have to go!"
She rolled her eyes, shouting, "Just a minute, Cissy!"
She heard Andromeda mutter something through the door and she tossed her shoe at it, eliciting laughter from the two girls waiting for her.
"Bells," Hermione chided, "Be nice."
"They started it," she pouted, reaching for Hermione when she pulled away.
Hermione grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze before dropping it. "I need to get dressed."
Bellatrix sighed in compliance, straightening her skirt and shirt before pulling on her outer robes. She turned around, finding Hermione dressed and wrapping a scarf around her neck. She smiled at Bellatrix before walking over and tilting her head slightly down to kiss her softly. Bellatrix grabbed her scarf, pulling her in for another kiss and clutching it as if she would never see her again.
"Time to go," she mumbled sadly, letting go of Hermione's scarf and smoothing it.
Hermione caressed her cheek, prodding her to the door. Bellatrix reluctantly complied, fixing her sisters with a playful glare. They smirked at the two older witches, stifling giggles.
"Oh, knock it off," Bellatrix grumbled, rolling her eyes.
"Are you ready?" Narcissa whined, "If we miss the train father will be livid."
Hermione elbowed Bellatrix when she opened her mouth to speak, saying, "You won't miss the train. We have plenty of time to get the three of you there."
Andromeda made a motion with her hand that spurred them into action. Once they were in the corridor, they walked side-by-side, with Hermione between Andromeda and Narcissa and Bellatrix on the other side of her youngest sister.
"Are you sure you'll be okay all by yourself?" Narcissa asked, tilting her head to look up at her. Lokke was tucked into the crook of her elbow, his arms and legs bouncing as she walked.
"I'll be fine," Hermione assured with a gentle smile, "I might get a little lonely, but I'm sure Dumbledore has plenty planned to keep us occupied."
"I wish we could stay here," Andromeda grumbled sourly.
Bellatrix and Hermione exchanged a look, unnoticed by their companions.
"Maybe next year," Hermione said cryptically.
She caught Bellatrix's smile from the corner of her eye, looking down and smiling.
"Merlin, it's cold," the oldest sister muttered, pulling her robes tighter around her as they stepped outside.
"A bit," Hermione agreed, offering Narcissa her scarf when she shivered violently. The blonde witch gratefully accepted it, releasing a sigh as she bundled it around her neck.
"Just a bit," Andromeda teased with a smile, almost slipping when Hermione gave her a light shove. Her arms windmilled as she regained her balance, sending all of them into a fit of laughter.
The good mood lasted until they reached the train station in Hogsmeade. Silence descended over the quartet as they looked up at the engine with despair. The way they felt now was nothing compared to how it would feel to leave for the summer and they all knew it. There were scattered goodbyes as the other students around them bid farewell to each other before boarding, driving the reality home further.
"Have a good Christmas, Hermione," Narcissa wished her, wrapping her small arms around her in a chaste hug before handing her scarf back.
"You, too, Cissa. Before you go," Hermione leaned down to whisper something in Lokke's ear, sending Narcissa a conspiratory wink, "Just in case."
Narcissa grinned up at her, stepping back and making room for Andromeda, who was poking her side.
"See you soon, if we survive," she said dramatically, hugging Hermione tightly.
The brunette rolled her eyes with a chuckle. "I'm sure you will. You have each other."
"True," she shrugged, grabbing Narcissa's hand, "Come on, Cissy, let's find a compartment before they're all gone."
That left Bellatrix. She was standing in front of Hermione quietly, her face full of sorrow. They had already expressed it in the privacy of their room, but Bellatrix's expression told her everything she needed to know. Hermione's expression did the same for Bellatrix. It was a moment of unspoken understanding that they both needed.
Hermione threw her arms around Bellatrix, squeezing her as she whispered, "Take care of yourself."
"You, too," she responded, her throat tight as she tried to keep her emotions private.
"I'll be here when you get back," the brunette mumbled, ending the embrace before it went on for too long.
Bellatrix met her eyes, mumbling, "Promise?"
Hermione smiled, pressing a piece of parchment into her hand with a smile. "Promise."
The curly-haired witch nodded shallowly, taking a step back and turning to the train. Her hand was closed around the parchment in her hand, her tether to Hermione as she boarded the train that would take her home. With one foot on the train, she looked back to make sure Hermione was still there. At her encouraging nod, she stepped fully onto the train, searching for her sisters.
By some miracle, they had managed to find an empty compartment, but it was on the side away from the platform. Andromeda and Narcissa sat on one bench, leaving the other empty for her. They took turns sharing a bench to make it fair, and it was supposed to be Andromeda's turn, but her sisters had agreed to let her have it this time.
"Thanks," she said, plopping down onto the bench.
"Sorry it isn't on the other side," Andromeda whispered.
She shrugged, trying not to seem too bothered by it. At least they didn't have to share with anyone else. Her sisters saw through her facade but let it be when the whistle signaling their departure sounded. As they pulled out of the station, her sisters immersed themselves in a conversation that Bellatrix didn't care to be part of. She opened her hand, unfolding the parchment Hermione had placed there.
Promise, it read, with a pink kiss pressed to it.
Bellatrix smiled down at it, brushing her thumb over the print of Hermione's lips. She knew her so well, even though she wasn't entirely sure where the brunette witch had found time to do it because she hadn't even noticed. With a smile still on her face, she stowed the note in her sleeve, looking out the window.
Hermione stood at the platform until the train was out of sight. She wasn't sure if Bellatrix could even see her, but she wanted to be there just in case and it wasn't as if she had anything better to do. The brunette witch shoved her hands into her pockets, turning back towards the school. Snow crunched under her feet as she trudged through it, the small smile on her face lingering the entire time.
It was when she reached the empty Common Room that her smile dropped from her face. Upon seeing how empty it was, the realization of how alone she would be struck her hard. Hermione sank onto the couch, staring into the kelp forest of the Black Lake. Every now and then, a merperson swam by, paying her no attention. She wondered how the lake always seemed to give off a greenish-glow even when it was completely dark, or maybe the glass was enchanted. Even standing as close as possible to the glass and looking up, the surface was out of sight.
A sigh left her lungs as she slouched into the couch. She could go to the library and search the shelves for a book now that she had the free time to read for pleasure. It was an appealing idea, so she pushed herself up, leaving her scarf lying on the couch.