Another five days had passed since Bella sent that ominous text to Hermione. Hermione had thought it best to wait until Bell was ready to contact her but gave up hope when the fifth day had come to an end without so much as an acknowledgement that she had actually seen her message.
"I'm just going to go to her apartment." Hermione was unsure of herself when she emerged from her bedroom wearing light wash jeans, a navy blue button up and her black pea coat. She had on a white scarf and beanie hat.
"Do you think that's the wisest decision?" Luna asked. "It's almost midnight. She might be sleeping. I find that most people don't like to be woken up to have their angry girlfriends come over to talk."
"No, probably not." Hermione sighed. "She said we needed to talk and I responded to let me know when and she's left me on read for five days." She threw her hands up exasperated. "I know she's pissed off at me but she's the one who asked to speak to me. Not the other way around. Why is it that I always seem to be chasing after people?"
"Hermione, I love you but you have no right to be indignant here. You broke her trust, not the other way around." Ginny spoke up from her spot on the couch.
"Oh shut it, Ginerva. I need to see where we stand. If it's over, it's over but I need to know. I need to apologize."
"And you need to find out what happened to Lily." Ginny chimed in again.
"Well that too…" Hermione trailed off to the newspaper clippings she found in Bella's desk. There was just no way this woman she came to care for so deeply could've been involved in this girl's murder. She had to find out what happened even if she was scared of what the answers might be. "I need to go see her."
"Keep your phone on and text us if you need us." Luna spoke with a motherly tone.
"Thanks, Luna." Hermione said as she exited the flat and walked downtown the walkway. She pulled her scarf a little tighter around her neck. The air was cooler as they were headed into the holiday season. The town was sparkling with fairy lights as people began decorating for the Christmas season. Hermione wasn't feeling too jolly at the moment and she believed it to be entirely her fault. She wanted to go back and stay that night just to talk it through with Bella instead of jumping to her own conclusions and putting the uncomfortable wedge in between the pair. Her eyes were stinging with tears that weren't due to the cold, crisp air. She hurried to wipe the tear away with the thumb. She knew it was stupid to go to the studio but she was determined to fix this. She couldn't bear to wait another night.
"You can do this, Hermione," the internal monologue grew stronger the closer Hermione got to the Dark Mark. The snowstorm had just started to pick up on strength as Hermione picked up her pace. "If she didn't want to see me, she wouldn't have texted. Right?" Hermione was hurt and confused though she knew she had no right to feel everything she was feeling right now. Mostly, she felt empty because she missed her girlfriend. She was determined not to leave that studio until things were sorted. Hermione stopped at the bottom of the steps that lead up to Bella's kitchen. "Okay. You got this. Be confident and apologetic. And don't look at her like she's a murder." She ascended the stairs and stopped. The lights in the studio were out and she could see her reflection through the door window. Her cheeks were red and she had snowflakes throughout her honey brown waves. "Shoot. She's probably asleep. No, I will not back out now. I've made it this far." Hermione took a deep breath and knocked loudly on the back door. She had waited a minute before she knocked again, a little louder this time.
Just as she was about to give up and leave, a light turned on from the direction of the bedroom. Hermione heard Bella shouting, "I swear to God if that's you Andromeda, I will kill you with my bare hands." The kitchen door swung open and Bella saw Hermione standing there staring awkwardly. Bella clearly had been woken up from sleep. She stood in the door frame wearing nothing but a ribbed black tank top and short grey sleep shorts. Her hair was messed up from her pillow and she had a sleepy annoyed look on her face. Her facial features tightened at the sight of the younger woman in front of her. "Oh, it's you," was the only greeting she offered the other woman.
Well that greeting certainly wasn't reassuring to the younger woman. "Erm… hello," was the eloquent greeting that Hermione offered her girlfriend. "Can I come in?"
"What are you doing here, Hermione?" Bella crossed her arms over her chest in a poor attempt to cover her nipples from the cold air. She did not move aside to let Hermione in. Hermione stared back at her with sad eyes. Bella had prepared herself for this exact moment. She was determined not to show weakness. The brunette was in the wrong, not the other way around. "I'll ask once more, what are you doing here, Hermione?"
Hermione was shuffling back and forth between her feet. She visibly gulped, nervous. "I just wanted to see you."
"Bullshit," Bella bit out harshly. "You aren't here to see me. If you were concerned you could've sent a text message."
"You left me on read for five days, Bella. What was I meant to do?"
"Not show up at my house at midnight in the middle of a snow storm." Bella held steady at the door.
"Please, can I come in?" Hermione was on the verge of begging. "I'm not leaving until we have a chance to talk this through."
Bella growled slowly then moved aside to let Hermione in through the door. "Then by all means, come on in." Bella spat out distaste clearly visible on her face. "Well here we are…" Bella said, not sifting her tone. "What is it that you want?"
"I came here to say that I'm sorry." Hermione started slowly.
"Oh for what?" Bella said unamused.
"For many things actually."
"Go on…"
"I shouldn't have taken off that night. I really am sorry for that. But… first I need to know…Did you kill that girl?" As soon as the words escaped her mouth, Hermione regretted them.
In an instant Bella had Hermione pushed up against the wall, pinning her there, one hand holding her hip and the other resting around her throat squeezing slightly. "Do I scare you, pet?" Bella could feel Hermione gulp under her grip. "You came all the way over here in the middle of the night to ask me if I'm a murderer?" Bella moved in closer, feeling every inch of Hermione's body tense with each word, each counter move. "Are you afraid that I'm going to hurt you, torture you, murder you?" Bella clenched her teeth, "sorry to disappoint you, pet. But I. Didn't. Do. It." She ground out each word slowly and deliberately. Bella let go of Hermione and walked away. "If that's all you wanted to know, the door is over there. See yourself out."
"Wait!" Hermione shouted. "Wait. I'm sorry. That was fucked. I shouldn't have started this way." Hermione wiped another tear from her cheek before Bella had the chance to turn around and see it. "I fucked up and I keep fucking up. My brain hasn't been working properly for a while now and that's not an excuse." Hermione took a deep breath before she continued. "I didn't mean to come here in the middle of the night and accuse of murder. I meant to come here and talk to you." Bella crossed her arms and turned her head, refusing to meet Hermione's gaze. "I wanted to apologize for being a complete arse. I had no right to do what I did. That was private information and I had no right to go through your things." Bella's stance softened but she still wouldn't look at the younger woman. "I'm also sorry for lying to you not once but twice. You were so sweet to come over to make me soup and I was the asshole. I am truly, truly sorry and if I could take it back I would but unfortunately I have no magic so I can only hope to be able to make it up to you from here." Hermione sighed at the end of her apology like a weight she didn't know she was carrying around had been lifted off her shoulders.
Bella didn't move, didn't speak. She just stood there thinking. Hermione noticed a softening of her muscles and continued. "I am so, so sorry. I wish I could take it back. I should've come to you, told you what I had seen and apologized immediately." Hermione sighed, wiping more tears from her eyes. "That's all I can say." Bella still hadn't moved. "I'll just see myself out. If you want to talk, I'll be waiting."
Hermione moved in the direction of the door. As she was reaching out to turn the knob she heard a small voice behind her, "Lily's death was an accident." Hermione turned around to see Bella facing away from her. She remained in the spot by the door but dropped her hand from the knob silently begging the older woman to continue speaking. "She was never meant to die but it was all my fault." Bella sighed, dropped the tension from her shoulders and rubbed a hand down her face. "I guess we are doing this now at 12am during the snowstorm. Well come back in, we apparently have things to discuss."
"Does that mean…" Hermione started to question when she was cut off by Bella's hand.
"I don't forgive you. At least not yet. I wish you would've come to me, Hermione. I know I'm not the easiest person to get on with but I wouldn't have hurt you if you came to me directly instead of lying."
"I can't stress how sorry I am for that." Hermione bit her lip and followed her girlfriend into the living room. She removed her hat, scarf and coat and left them on a nearby chair.
"Sit," Bella pointed to the couch and Hermione sat regarding the older woman who began pacing back and forth in front of her. "I get it. You are young but that's no excuse. Next time, just ask the questions you want to ask and we move on from there. I won't tolerate more lies from you."
"Okay," Hermione spoke softly.
"I assume that you know who Minerva McGonagall is based on your school." She paused and saw the other woman nod. "Then you should've known that she was hired to help prove my innocence. That uni of yours must not be too extensive. Anyway, after everything, Dr. McGonagall and I became relatively close so we still meet every week for counseling, for tea or just to bullshit. That's where I am on Wednesdays."
"Okay," she repeated.
"Ask it." Bella said through clenched teeth. "Ask the question, Hermione."
Hermione's heart was thundering in her ears. She wasn't even sure she wanted to know the answer anymore but figured it was now or never, "what happened to Lily?"
"Let me start by saying that I don't want your pity. I might not have shot Lily but I wasn't a saint. I spent 10 years in prison and have grown a lot in the past 12 years. I was involved in a high profile drug ring, the second in command and had all the power and money a person could ask for. While I didn't physically kill anyone, I committed many crimes during my time in the ring. The only reason I got out was because of prison. Minerva helped me clear my name but at the cost of turning in the other high profile members. I am no safer now than I was back then. The difference is 12 years of learning from my stupid mistakes. Dark Mark had a different name back then so let's go back 12 years to the worst night of my life…"
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12 years prior.
25 year old Bella was sitting on the corner at the crossroads where the Alter Ego tattoo shop was located. Bella was waiting for the next drop to be delivered so she could get it to her runners before the weekend rush. It was quiet, lonely and Bella thrived in the silence of the night. Bella had been involved in one of the biggest drug rings of central London and she saw no way out. At this point in her life, she didn't want out. She had an amazing paycheck, a beautiful girlfriend whom she loved and a boss who let her run the show. Little did she know that her whole world was moments from crashing down around her. She saw the lights turn on in her girlfriend's tattoo shop. "What the hell is Lily doing?" Bella grumbled as she got up and walked towards the front door.
"Bella?" Lily asked. "What are you doing here?"
"You know why I'm here. Don't make me say it. You are meant to be sleeping." Bella sighed. "This stuff stays out of our relationship."
Lily sighed and moved in to pull Bella into a hug. "I just worry so much, my love. I don't want anything to happen to you."
Bella lowered her head slightly so their foreheads were touching. "Everything will be fine, baby. Trust me. I have everything under control. Nothing is going to happen to me." She kissed Lily on her forehead and brought her in for a tight embrace.
"I love you, Bella." Lily sank into the older woman.
Bella saw headlights coming down the street. Oddly, it wasn't the car she was waiting for. In an instant, she saw the car slow slightly, and a gun sticking out of the window. "Quick love, get inside." Bella pushed Lily out of the way towards the door of the tattoo shop.
The next minute was the longest and quickest of Bella's life. A shot was fired, "no!" Lily shouted, throwing herself in front of Bella. The car sped away as Bella watched Lily's body land on the ground at her feet. Bella crumpled to the ground on top of her girlfriend. Blood was pouring out of the wound in Lily's abdomen. She was losing blood too fast. "My love," Bella cried trying to put pressure on Lily's wound. She knew it wouldn't help. "I am so sorry." Tears streamed down Bella's face. "I am so sorry…" she whispered.
"Bella…" Lilly gasped out. "I love you."
"I love you, too." Bella whispered as the light left her girlfriend's eyes. Bella broke down, sobbing and held her lover for the final time.
She pulled out her cell phone and dialed 999.
"999 are you in a safe location?" The operator said in a business as usual tone.
"There's been a murder. Outside Alter Ego tattoo shop. Come quick." Bella let the phone fall from her ear and held her girlfriend, stroking her hair, placing kisses on the top of her head, and cried.
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Present day
No tears fell from Bella's eyes this time around. 12 years, ten of which were spent in prison, had taken all of those tears from her. She spent years imagining how different scenarios would've changed Lily's fate and she hated herself for what happened to her girlfriend. She looked over at Hermione for the first time since she began speaking. She saw the pity and sadness dripping from the younger woman. "Don't." Hermione wiped her tears away. "You don't get to cry for Lily."
"I wasn't crying for Lily. I was crying for you."
"I don't need your pity. If I would've gotten out sooner, Lily wouldn't have died that night. That bullet was meant for me and I have to live with myself every fucking day of my life knowing a saint of a woman died for me, a no good, selfish, piece of shit drug dealer." Bella slammed her fists into the coffee table. "And I still have to wonder if there is someone out there who will come back for me or my family. I may be out of the business and out of jail but you are never out."
"What do you mean?"
"I fucked the boss over. I turned him and all his cronies into the FBI. Tom didn't get arrested. Of course that mother fucker wouldn't be charged. Mishandling of evidence. What a fucking joke. Everyone else in the ring is still in jail. And the guy who shot Lily… No idea who that mother fucker was. Some rival I'm sure." Bella had finally sat down on the couch next to Hermione keeping her distance from the younger woman. "I am scared to death everyday that they will send someone to finish the job." Hermione opened her mouth to say something but was cut off by Bella. "I'm not scared to die." Bella confessed, her eyes finally softening. "I am scared that something will happen to my sisters, Dora, or you." Bella finally met Hermione's gaze. "I'm already responsible for the death of one person. I would never come back from it if something happened to you." Hermione scooted a little closer to Bella on the couch. "I can't promise your safety, Hermione. I won't risk you being hurt. You should just quit working at the Dark Mark and pretend you never met me." Bella rested her head on the back of the couch, closing her eyes, a tear escaping beyond her control.
Hermione reached over and wiped the tear away, "I won't give up on you. On this." She pointed between them. "I can't walk away from you. I'm in this relationship and if I have to look over my shoulder, it's my decision to stay. I'm not going to let you decide when I'm done."
"Why?" Bella asked, turning to look at her girlfriend.
"Because I love you, Bella."
"Truly. After everything you've just heard?"
Hermione reached out to grab Bella's hand, stroking her thumb across her knuckles. "I do," Hermione confessed in a barely there whisper. "I'm sorry about the other week. I was stupid and I won't make that mistake again."
"I need you to promise me something." Bella said almost desperately. "I need you to promise me that if anything were to happen, you'd walk away. Don't be brave. Don't come running. Don't. Just stay away. I won't let another girlfriend die for me."
"I don't know if I can promise that…" Hermione whispered.
"I need you to promise. It's the only way I can carry on with this."
"I can't promise I'll walk away to let you die alone." Hermione shuddered at the thought. "I will promise not to do anything stupid." Bella nodded her head. It was a compromise she could live with for now. "Have you had any contact with any of them since leaving prison?"
"No, there were a few protections in place for awhile but I got tired of the body guard so I told him to fuck off about 8 months ago. Nobody has tried to contact me, nobody has been following me. Still doesn't mean they won't." Bella breathed in sharply through her nose. "I should've told you sooner. I shouldn't have let this go on without explaining who I was or the danger I was putting you in."
"I want to be with you, Bella. Should you have told me? Maybe. Does it matter now? No, because now I know and we can move on from here."
"We'll look at you being all wise," Bella grinned.
They sat in silence for a while staring at nothing in particular just holding hands. Hermione broke the silence, "you didn't say it back."
"Pardon?" Bella asked, confused.
"I told you I loved you and you didn't say it back."
"Oh that," Bella smirked. "Well…" she let the silence set in for a few moments before speaking again. "I love you too, you idiot."
Hermione threw herself into Bella's lap pulling her into a tight embrace. "You do?" Hermione asked even though the sentiment was clear on her lover's face.
"Of course I do," Bella smiled. "You drive me crazy. In many ways." They shared a chaste kiss. "I want to keep you around for a long time just to see how many ways you can drive me crazy." Bella felt a shiver run through her girlfriend. "You know the best part of fighting?"
"What's that?"
"The make up sex," Bella said bringing her mouth to the part of Hermione's jaw just under her ear. She sucked it into her mouth causing a small gasp to erupt from her girlfriend's mouth.
"Fuck, Bella."
"Yes, fuck Bella, indeed." Bella chuckled against her girlfriend's neck. "But first… I will fuck you. Many times. All over this studio, tell me love. How do you wish to be fucked first?" The words dripped with desire as they flowed from Bella's mouth. She pulled back and saw a full bodied blush encompassing her girlfriend. "Tell me, pet. What do you desire?"
"In the kitchen earlier, you had me pushed up against the wall, hand around my throat…" Hermione started talking, slightly embarrassed.
"You want angry, mean Bellatrix to fuck you up against the wall, pet?" Bella watched as the young woman's eyes darkened with desire. "Oh good. I've been dying to meet this side of you." Bella's smirk was filthy at best. "Hold on, love. This won't be gentle." Hermione wrapped her arms around Bella's neck and she stood up and carried her lover over to the closest wall, slamming Hermione against it. A picture frame was rattled from the shelf next to them, falling to the ground below. The wind was knocked from Hermione as Bella attacked her lips. She wasted no time before massaging their tongues together. Bella reached down and made sure Hermione's legs were wrapped around her waist. "Feeling the sinew of your neck, tightening and relaxing when you cum is going to be my new favorite way to have you." Bella said before reaching up to gently hold Hermione by the throat. Turning her head to the side, Bella started a fiery path of kisses down Hermione's throat and across the skin in her collarbone. "This won't work," Bella said, releasing Hermione's neck and reaching down to rip the front of Hermione's shirt open. Buttons flew in every direction causing the older woman to cackle. Hermione jerked her hips forward trying to relieve the growing pressure between her legs. "Needy little thing, aren't you?" Bella hissed, reaching up to grasp her breast. She squeezed her hardening nipple. "I don't believe I told you that you could move. Did I?"
Hermione couldn't respond. She was in her own cloud of desire, all she could do was focus on stopping her hips from moving. "I asked you a question," Bella said, pinching Hermione's nipple a little harder.
Hermione gasped from the mix of pleasure and pain. "No, I'm not permitted to move, mistress."
Bella's eyebrows shot up at Hermione's response but quickly schooled her features. "Good girl," she whispered into Hermione's ear and rewarded her by pressing her lower body more firmly into Hermione's center. The younger woman moaned out her approval.
"Yes, Bella. Please." Hermione was practically begging.
"Fucking tight jeans…" Bella growled out trying to work the button open. She looked down and saw Hermione had soaked through the rough fabric. "My, my, my…" Bella laughed. "Someone is wet and eager." She grabbed Hermione under her ass and pushed off from the wall, walking her into the bedroom and throwing her on the bed. "Take them off." Bella instructed and Hermione removed her jeans and underwear without hesitation. "Good girl." Bella removed her pajamas and walked over to her black box and pulled out her nipple clamps. "I think these will suit you nice tonight," Bella said crawling to straddle Hermione who was lying prone in the middle of the bed. Bella bent down and took Hermione's nipple into her mouth sucking it into a hardened peak. She released it from her mouth with an exaggerated pop, placing one clamp onto the bud and repeating the process on the other side. Hermione hissed when the clamps were in place and Bella tugged on the little chain. The pain was pleasure and Hermione felt a new surge of wetness between her thighs. Bella lowered her body on top of her lover, settling a leg in between Hermione's moaning slightly at the slickness she met. She ran her hand up from Hermione's abdomen and snaked it into her hair, grabbing a fist full and pulling slightly, exposing the expanse of her neck. Hermione hissed when Bella bit down on her collarbone. That was going to leave a mark in the morning.
Slowly and softly, Bella trailed her fingers down Hermione's body, stopping briefly to pull on the chain between the clamps. Hermione screamed out in pleasure, rubbing her center against Bella's leg. "Are you going to come from this alone, pet? My, my… what a sensitive little girl you are…" Bella said as she released the clamps and soothed Hermione's throbbing nipples with her tongue. "There you go, all better…" she whispered and she continued trailing her tongue down Hermione's body.
"Please, Bella. It won't take much. I'm so close already." Hermione was begging, chest heaving as Bella settled between her legs.
"You smell delicious," Bella said, lowering her mouth to wrap her lips around Hermione's clit. She sucked hard cause the younger woman to arch her back off the bed at the same time she roughly entered her with two fingers. Hermione screamed out again, "fuck yes. Don't stop." Bella's fingers were moving relentlessly inside of Hermione's walls. Bella growled against her clit sending a vibration through her girlfriend which caused another eruption of liquid to leak from her already sopping pussy. Hermione would've been embarrassed by the wet noises filling the room if she was turned on to the point of no return. "Fuck me harder, Bella." Hermione begging, locking eyes when Bella sat up never stopping her arm. She quickly moved her free arm and tightened her hand around Hermione's throat. Squeezing it in just the right spot to constrict air flow but not cause any damage.
Any semblance of control Hermione had left flew out the window as she started matching her hip thrusts in time with Bella's fingers. Bella knew Hermione was on the edge. Her walls were clamping around her fingers. She tightened her grip around her lover's throat and flicked her thumb across her clit twice. Hermione thundered over the edge and Bella let go of her neck, watching Hermione shout her name in ecstasy was the sexiest sight Bella had ever seen. Bella was still lightly stroking the length of Hermione's pussy as she lay there trembling, trying to catch her breath as she came down from her orgasm. "Holy fuck…" Hermione finally breathed out.
"We aren't done yet, love." Bella growled, reaching over to the box again and pulled out her strap on. She was already so wet from watching Hermione cum, the insert slipped into her pussy with little effort. She put some lube on the other end of it though she was certain Hermione wouldn't need it. "Oh your hands and knees love… I have plans for you." Hermione eagerly flipped herself over and presented her waiting cunt to Bella on her hands and knees. She shook her ass which caused Bella to chuckled and reach out to place a well timed open handed smack to her ass. Hermione moaned deeply at the sound of skin on skin contact. "Spanking, I'll add that to the list of your kinks, pet." Bella said, lining herself up with Hermione's entrance. "Now, be a good girl and scream for me." Bella said, thrusting herself into the hilt, both women moaning at the contact.
A few hours later, the pair laid in bed satisfied and pleasantly sore. Bella was on her back, arm tucked under her head while Hermione was pressed up against her side with her head resting on her chest. Hermione was tracing designs across Bella's stomach. "Hmm," Hermione hummed. "Is it possible to imbibe in make up sex without actually fighting?"
Bella chuckled at her girlfriend, "love, I will fuck you however you want, anytime you want. All you have to do is say the word." Their activities went on for a few more rounds each a little filthier than the last. Until the last one, where Bella looked Hermione in the eyes the entire time and whispered sweet words of encouragement and love bringing tears to the younger woman's eyes as she reached her final climax of the night. Bella had never made love to someone before but the tightening effect on her heart would be something she remembered forever. "Stay with me," Bella whispered.
"Of course. I don't think my legs could carry me home now even if I tried," Hermione laughed, stretching her muscles and relaxing back into Bella.
"No," Bella said softly. "I mean. Move in with me."
"Pardon?" Hermione asked leaning up on her arm to stare down at Bella.
"Well it would happen eventually right? I don't want to spend another night without you." Bella reached up and kissed Hermione slowly.
Hermione melted into the kiss. She never gave Bella an official answer that night but she did end up staying and over the course of the few weeks, all of her belongings slowly made their way to their studio apartment.
