A longer chapter than usual but I didn't find a better place to stop soo:) Hope you like it.
Revelation
A couple of days after her impromptu kiss with Bella Hermione was sitting at the Gryffindor table having breakfast with Ron when a brown ball of feathers landed on her plate.
"Erol!" Ron groaned. "Sorry, Mione" he said scooping up his old family owl.
"That's fine, is he alright?"
"Yeah, after everything he's been through, I don't think he even registers bumping anywhere."
"Ron!"
Grinning at her apologetically he untied the scroll of parchment that hung from Erol's leg.
"It's the usual letter from Mum inviting you and Harry over for Christmas dinner. Says we're going to be in Grimmauld Place since it can house more people. Guess I should ask Harry if that's alright. It's his property now."
"If you manage to get him to keep his hands off your sister so you can have that conversation" Hermione smirked. Ron spluttered.
"Mione!"
"What do you think they're doing now?" she asked trying, and failing, to keep a straight face.
"You're an evil person, Hermione Granger."
They flashed each other a smile and finished their breakfast in companionable silence. As Hermione sipped her coffee, she looked at Ron and wondered how she had gone from being attracted to him to being attracted to someone like Bella. There was the gender of course. She hadn't thought about women this way before, had she? Had she? And since when did she like crazy murderous people? Sure, Bella Black as she had come to know her was nothing like Bellatrix Lestrange but still. She may not be insane but there was definitely something… crazy about her that Hermione seemed to be attracted to. When had she decided she was attracted to her friend anyway? Her friend that was more than twice her age. This was all too much right now. Bella had said nothing would come out of it anyway… so why couldn't Hermione get that kiss out of her mind… and why was Ron waving his hand in front of her face?
"Hermione? Hermione!"
"Yes?" she jumped slightly when she registered him saying her name loudly.
"You looked like you were spacing out there for a second. We're going to be late for class."
"Oh, right" Hermione stood up. "We better get going then. God forbid we go in after Harry and Ginny do."
The joke eased Ron back into his normal self and he seemed to forget about her strange behavior. The brunette breathed a sigh of relief and followed him out of the Great Hall.
Their last days in the castle before the Christmas holidays passed smoothly. Some teachers even let them practice old spells or play games at their leisure. On their last day Harry, Ron and Hermione took their time preparing their luggage since they weren't taking the train back to King's Cross. Ginny hadn't been happy to hear this.
"We're Apparating, Gin"
"You're too important to take the train now, are you?"
"It takes less time, love."
"Oh, shut up" the redhead had huffed and turned back to turning her guinea pig into a cushion.
"Do you want me to side-along you?" Harry had tried but his question was met with silence.
Now they stood at the castle gates looking in the direction of Hogsmeade station.
"Is she still angry?" Ron asked.
"I did get a goodbye kiss. An angry one."
The ginger clapped his best friend on the back.
"You'll figure it out, mate. Are we ready to go?"
Hermione was just about to say yes when she saw a familiar streak of black hide behind a clump of bushes just off the side of the road.
"You two go ahead. I need to check if I forgot something" she said instead.
"We're coming back here in two weeks" Harry raised his eyebrows.
"It's important" Hermione argued.
"We can go wait for you in the Three Broomsticks" Ron suggested.
"Good idea" Hermione smiled at him.
"Just don't take long" Harry turned to her. "I've got to pick a good present for Ginny."
"We'll help you pick the best" Hermione assured him and sent them off towards the village. Finally alone, she turned towards the bushes she had seen the raven disappear in. Had Bella wanted to send her a letter before the holidays began officially? As she moved closer the brunette saw a black beak sticking out of the raven's hiding place. A few more steps forward and-
"There you are" Hermione whispered so she wouldn't scare it away. But the raven simply raised its head and locked eyes with her in such a challenging way she almost called Bella's name. But this was just a bird, no matter how much Hermione wished Bella would come see her in person. Reaching out to stroke its feathers, she marveled at how soft they were.
"Now, where has your wicked mistress tied that letter?" the young woman wondered aloud when she didn't see a scroll of parchment tied to either of the bird's legs. That's when the large raven began transforming making her jump away in fear, much to the amusement of the raven-haired witch that now stood in front of her.
"Letters are such an old-fashioned way to communicate, don't you think?" she smirked.
"Well, it seems that you think manners are old-fashioned too" Hermione said, composing herself.
"What better way to announce my presence than standing before you?"
"Try giving me a sign next time."
"And where's the fun in that?" Bella mocked a scandalized expression.
"And why haven't you told me you're an Animagus!" Hermione gasped as though she was just now catching up with events.
"Because I figured it would be funnier to surprise you. And I was right" the older witch grinned like a child.
"You are incorrigible."
"Try harder" Bella winked. "Anyways, I wanted to see you since I finally got an official letter from the Ministry this morning. My trial is set for January 9th."
"Really? That's fantastic!" Hermione pulled Bella into her arms. "Keep believing, we're almost there."
She felt the other woman relax in her arms, then push her away.
"I thought I'd ask you to come. But maybe you'd prefer not to get in the spotlight. You've managed to get a break since you're at Hogwarts."
"Don't be ridiculous, of course I'll be there" Hermione cut her off. This time it was Bellatrix who threw her arms around her.
A few hours later, finally done with their Christmas shopping, Hermione, Ron, and Harry Apparated just outside of Grimmauld Place, simply out of habit. Going inside, they greeted everyone and joined the Weasley family for dinner.
"Have some salad, Hermione dear" Mrs. Weasley hurried to say before the young woman had even sat down.
"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley, I will" she smiled at the woman.
"So how are you, Hermione?"
"Good. School's been a nice break from everything. What about you?"
"Oh, I'm fine, I'm fine."
But as the conversation flowed around the room, Mrs. Weasley seemed to be adamant to make sure Hermione was alright at least twice every five minutes. When she saw her best friend sigh after the latest variety of the same question, Ginny whispered to her.
"That's just the beginning."
"What do you mean?" Hermione whispered back when Mrs. Weasley turned the other way to answer George's question.
"She's been going crazy over Lestrange's appearance."
"Well, naturally. She was the one who had presumably killed her."
"Just make sure she doesn't find out you two are kind of best friends right now" Ginny warned her and focused on her mashed potatoes once again.
"As to that, I think I can show you something that will change your mind about Bella."
Ginny looked sideways at her skeptically.
"Just pop into our room when everyone else has gone to bed."
"You know I haven't passed-" Ginny stopped abruptly midsentence and stared at Hermione murderously.
"On second thought, we'll pop by yours."
The brunette snickered and resumed eating, but her happiness was short-lived. The next moment Mrs. Weasley was facing her once more with that worried look in her eyes. Ginny seemed entirely too happy about this.
A few hours later when they were finally supposed to be sleeping and Mrs. Weasley had been restrained from going inside each room to tuck them in because "They're people of age, Molly, don't be ridiculous!", Hermione, Harry and Ron crept down the stairs towards Ginny's room. They knocked a few times, receiving no answer.
"Gin?"
"Ginny?"
"Ginny, come on."
"Love, we know you're not asleep."
"Don't be a prat, Ginny!" Ron hissed, and the door opened sharply.
"Get in here, you idiots, and be quiet. You'll wake Mum up."
"You know, Hermione could easily tell us whatever she wants to and keep you in the dark" Ron snapped.
"You're free to go back the way you came" Ginny huffed.
"Oh, stop it you two" Hermione cut in.
"Yeah, Hermione has something to tell us" Harry smiled at her encouragingly. "Go on, Mione."
"Thank you for being the only other adult in the room, Harry." Hermione smiled and took a deep breath. "Well showing it to you will be easier."
Ginny raised an eyebrow. Hermione tried to ignore the worry in the pit of her stomach and pulled up her sleeve. Three gasps echoed in the suddenly silent room.
"Bloody hell, Mione" Ron was the first to speak.
"How?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Bella healed it. Her memories from that night came back. She was really distraught – if you'd seen her, you'd know. And she just suggested to try and… well, there you have it."
"Wow," Ginny finally spoke, "now I know what you meant. This does convince me a bit, that Lestrange – oh, alright, Black – isn't lying."
"I could give her the benefit of the doubt" Harry said while Ron nodded his agreement.
"Mum would be a little harder to convince though. She barely agreed to have Narcissa Malfoy for Christmas dinner. It took a lot of convincing from Andy."
"Well at least Mum didn't try to kill Narcissa Malfoy" Ron grinned.
"Mrs. Malfoy is coming for the Christmas dinner?" Hermione raised her eyebrows at her friends.
"Yep. Apparently, the ferret isn't coming home for the holidays and Andy didn't want Narcissa to spend the day alone."
Hermione swallowed visibly.
"You're pals with Lestrange but get queasy when Narcissa Malfoy is mentioned?" Ron stared at her in disbelief.
"That's different."
"Yeah, she didn't torture you."
"Ron!" Ginny snapped.
"Way to go, mate" Harry sighed. "Why don't we go to our room now? We'll probably be up early tomorrow to help with decoration."
"Hermione should stay back anyway. I'd like to have some girl talk with her."
Harry paused in the middle of pushing Ron out of the room and turned to his girlfriend.
"Oh really?"
"Yep" the redhead said, giggling when he went over to whisper something in her ear. Hermione smiled and turned the other way to let them have their moment. Her eyes fell on Ron.
"Sorry about that little outburst" he smiled at her slightly. "I just don't get how you can forgive L-Black."
"I can't hold it against her. She did it unwillingly, Ron."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Sorry."
"It's alright" Hermione returned his smile.
"Hey, you two made up" Harry said. The brunette turned to look at him and saw him hugging Ginny close while she rested her head on his shoulder. Hermione wasn't prepared for the pang she felt.
"Yeah, now let's leave them to their girl talk" Ron huffed and this time he was the one pushing Harry out of the room. "Honestly, it's like you're forcefully kept ten meters apart."
"Prat" Ginny called after her brother making Hermione grin.
"What did you want to talk about, Gin?" she asked when the boys had closed the door.
"Well, the other bit of news I supposed you would share with us tonight."
"What?"
"I wasn't expecting that. I'm glad that awful scar's gone, but I thought you wanted to share something else entirely" Ginny explained.
"What did you think this was about?"
"About you liking girls."
"What?"
"Well, women really, considering-"
"Hang on there," Hermione was trying to comprehend the situation, "you thought this was about me liking girls."
"Women."
"What?"
"What?"
"Ginny, I told you it was something about Bellatrix."
"Well exactly."
It took her a moment to understand what her friend was telling her.