It had taken a couple of long and painful hours but eventually the older woman finally finished her piece of art of Hermione's thigh. She took a deep breath and sat back, examining her work. She washed it off with the cleanser, wiped it with a fresh piece of kitchen roll and put a thin layer of ointment on the sensitive flesh. "All done, love." Bella looked at her expectantly, "are you excited?"

"I'm so ready to see it. I tried to get a feeling of what you might be drawing from the way you moved the machine around but I got nothing," Hermione shrugged as Bella laughed. "Can I stand up?"

"Yeah," Bella held out her hand, "but go slow. That was a lot of trauma to your leg and you might be light headed. Here," she guided her to swing her legs around the side of the table and helped her to sit up. "All right. Are you okay?" Hermione nodded and loved the extra care her girlfriend was giving to her. If she saw Bella give this much attention to any of her other clients she would kill them instantly. "Come on, let's walk to the mirror." Bella guided Hermione over to the mirror with her hand covering the brunette's eyes. "Okay, I hope you love it." She removed her hand from her eyes, "well?" She asked expectantly as she saw Hermione take in the first sight of her new tattoo.

Hermione stared at the tattoo in the mirror and swallowed, "Bella…"

The younger woman stood in front of the full length mirror staring at her new tattoo. She looked up through the mirror, finding her girlfriend's eyes. Bella had a nervous smile on her face but raised her eyebrows hopefully waiting for the verdict "well, love? What do you think?" She squatted down to be face level with the fresh tattoo, scrutinizing her work closely. She looked back at the piece of art on her thigh. It was a beautiful black and grey lighthouse with a crumbled portion on the bottom, wrapped in vines with a bright white light emitting from the peak of the house. "Lighthouses have a lot of symbolism and I know it's cheesy right?" Bella chuckled nervously and scratched behind her ear, "but they've long symbolized strength, support and hope for those lost at sea." Bella stood in front of Hermione so she could look into her eyes, "I was lost, drifting out to sea then you came waltzing into my life. This bright shining light that never seems to dull. Never diminish. You, Hermione, are my constant. You are my…"

"Hope," Hermione whispered back, leaning down brushing her nose against Bella's and capturing the shorter woman in a soft kiss.

The older woman caressed her girlfriend's cheek, sighing into the kiss and letting out a tiny noise of content before pulling away and resting their forehead together. "You are my hope. You've saved me, Hermione. No matter how far I get pulled out to sea, no matter how big the waves, I'll find my way back to you. You are my lighthouse." Hermione surged forward and kissed her with hunger. She pulled on Bella's lower lip, and moaned into her mouth when she felt her girlfriend's tongue glide across her own. The kiss was full of need but it was backed by a strong display of emotions. Hermione leaned more into her girlfriend and slightly grunted, trying to remove pressure off her leg. "Mm, pet." Bella said against her lips, "you need to sit down." Pulling away slightly to see Hermione standing on one leg, "that's going to hurt like a bitch for a couple of days especially when you are standing. Lots of blood rushing to the area to heal it." She gave her girlfriend an apologetic look, "as much as I want to take you upstairs and have my way with you, it would be irresponsible of me as your tattoo artist to cause any more trauma to your leg." Disappointment crossed her lover's face and she let out a little sigh, "soon," she kissed the shell of Hermione's ear, "it'll heal soon and hopefully everything else will be behind us. I'm taking you on holiday. Just you and me. I've been dying to see you in your swimming costume."

"You said a couple of days?" Hermione whimpered and pressed more of her weight into the other woman. She chuckled at the brunette and nodded. Hermione looked back down at her tattoo and smiled, "it's worth it then, this is absolutely beautiful, Bella. Thank you," she kissed her girlfriend on the cheek. "We should go up and get ready for tomorrow. I texted Harry the address. He said he'd be there in the afternoon." Bella nodded in confirmation. "I'm scared."

"I'm scared, too." She whispered back.

————————

"When is this bloke going to show up?" Tonks asked from the kitchen while she was making herself a sandwich. "Seems a bit rude to keep us all waiting."

Andy walked over to her daughter, taking a bite from her sandwich, "give him some time honey. This place can be hard to find the first time."

"Plus it's only a little after noon." Hermione spoke up in defense of her friend, "he said he'd be here in the afternoon. That doesn't mean noon on the dot. Should I text him?"

"Probably not," Bella shook her head, "the less texts floating around the better." She sat down on the couch next to Hermione, leaning against the arm rest and pulling her girlfriend down to snuggle up against her. "He'll be here soon and if not, I'm sure we are more than perfectly capable of coming up with a plan." Tonks opened her mouth but was cut off by Bella's middle finger in the air, "Dora I swear to god if the phrase 'shoot the mother fucker' comes out of your mouth I will have to hurt you."

Cissy emerged from the bathroom, rubbing her hands dry on a piece of kitchen roll. "What did I miss?"

"Just Bella threatening my daughter," Andy laughed as she and her daughter came to sit on the loveseat on the other side of the living room

"So nothing new then," Cissy went into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of wine, "anyone else?" When nobody accepted the offer she shrugged, "more for me then."

"My crack team of plotters," Bella whispered to Hermione, kissing her on top of her head, "how's the leg today, pet?"

"So sore," she whined a little. "Sitting feels good."

"I'm so happy with the way it turned out." Bella smiled down at her girlfriend, "I have a few other ideas if you'd let me tattoo you again."

"Already planning on it," she looked up and smiled at her girlfriend.

"What are you two whispering about over there?" Andy asked with her eyebrow raised.

"Saw Hermione limping around, so they either had a go last night or Bella finally tatted Hermione," Dora smirked, "honestly either are possible."

"I'm going to guess the tattoo," Andy laughed. "I'm sure Bella's good in bed but she's probably not that good."

Bella sneered at her younger sister, "Hermione has no complaints about my performance. Even discovered a special little gift of hers a few weeks back," she winked at her sister when she fake gagged, "isn't that right Hermione."

"Is it too late to leave?"

"I'm afraid so, pet." Bella laughed, "you are stuck with me now." She pulled her tighter into her side.

"I got my tattoo last night," Hemrione looked at the other women. "I'm completely and utterly in love with it."

"Can we see?" Tonks asked, sitting up.

"Absolutely not," Bella responded, "it's hardly healed and I don't want you to see it until you can appreciate it in its full glory."

"See," Andy whispered to her daughter, "told you it wasn't sex."

Bella growled and was just about to say something nasty when there was a knock at the door. "Must be your friend, pet." Her girlfriend shifted and stood up, wincing at the pressure hitting her tattoo. "Careful," she warned, "it has to be tender."

"If Aunt Bella was this attentive to all her clients, Hermione would be in jail for murder," Tonks laughed.

"That's what Hermione said last night," Bella joined in the laughter with her niece.

"I need to meet this version of Hermione," Andy started laughing.

"I think I'm content never meeting scary Hermione," Cissy added from behind her wine glass.

"Oh no Aunty, she's a treat."

"Oh shush," Hermione said as she reached the door. She took a deep breath after looking through the peephole and seeing Harry standing there looking around, "Harry!" She exclaimed as she opened the door and through her arms around his neck. The man at the door stumbled backwards a few steps and caught the brunette in his arms saying hello as he did so.

The display of affection was enough to get Bella off her ass and moving towards the door. Her niece laughed and Bella flicked her off as she made it just in time for the hug to break apart and casually slide her arm around her girlfriend's waist possessively. "You must be Garry," she held out her free hand to shake his hand.

"It's Harry actually," he corrected her as he grasped her hand.

"Semantics," she broke the shake and waved him off, "did you find the place okay?" She asked as she pulled Hermione to the side letting him enter the cabin.

Harry walked into the cabin and saw the three other women staring at him. "This is the guy meant to save the day?" Tonks asked dripping with sarcasm.

"Hi, I'm Harry." He made his introductions to the other women before he took a seat next to Hermione on the couch. "So," he wiped his palms on his jeans, "why are we hiding out in this cabin?"

"Have you ever heard of Tom Riddle?" Bella asked as she played with Hermione's fingers.

The color in Harry's face drained and he cleared his throat, "yeah. I have heard of him."

"My name is Bellatrix Black," she added, "have you heard of me?" Harry nodded. "Okay good so the backstory isn't necessary." She looked over and saw her girlfriend chewing on her lower lip. She squeezed her fingers a little before rubbing them. "So Tom left this in our back door the other day," she handed Harry the letter and pictures. "I want to go back into the ring and somehow get Tom arrested for good this time but apparently my safety is a concern with these jokers so that's why you are here. What do you suggest, detective?"

Harry took a moment to read over the letter and look at the Polaroids. "Hmm," he thought, "well it's not going to be easy and I know my police force has been approached by Tom and his people in the past but turned down the offers he made so that's a plus."

Bella shrugged one shoulder, not impressed. "He has his ways of working into institutions that don't want him. I don't want this getting back to everyone at your station. Is there anyone you work with who is by the book who wouldn't fuck this up and who you trust not to be working with Tom?"

"My uncle," Harry nodded, "he wouldn't ever want to have anything to do with Tom. He's spoken out against him for years."

"Brilliant," Dora said, raising her eyebrows, "who's your uncle?"

"Well you actually know him." He scratched behind his ear, nervously.

"I don't like the sound of that insecurity in your voice," Bella said suspiciously.

"What did you say your last name was?" Andy questioned.

"I didn't."

"Well," Narcissa leaned forward in her chair, "illuminate us then."

"Potter."

The three Black sisters and Dora sat looking at the young man in disbelief while Hermione looked confused. "What does his uncle have anything to do with this?" She looked at her girlfriend and tapped on her lower lip, the older woman shut her mouth. "And why does Harry's uncle have the four of you looking like you are going to catch bird shit?"

"You are Sirius's nephew?" Cissy asked, getting up and heading back in for a wine refill. Bella and Andy both asked for glasses of bourbon.

"Well nephew yes but not by blood, he sort of took me in," Harry chuckled nervously. "It's a long story and not really a story for today though. But the answer to your question is yes, Sirius is my uncle and I know that he would help in any way he could."

When Harry stopped speaking Narcissa added, "well this just got interesting."

"More interesting than the possible murder of my girlfriend?" Hermione asked, still confused.

"So much more interesting than Aunt Bella's potential murder." Tonks smirked.

"We don't talk to Sirius," Andy simply explained with a shrug of her shoulder.

"Well, ladies," Bella stretched out, bringing the hand she was holding up to her lips, placing a soft kiss on it, "I guess it's time for a family reunion."

"You are for real?" Cissy asked, returning with the drinks. "It's been quite awhile since any of us have spoken to him."

"Sirius thought that Bella killed Lily. They were all friends when it happened. And well we know how that all ended," Andy filled in some of the blanks for Hermione who's face softened when Bella nodded in confirmation of Andy's story.

"Well surely he knows by now that you didn't do it," the brunette sounded defensive. "Right Harry?"

"We haven't really talked about it. He's told me of his family and really that's about it. He's grown up a lot from how you've just described him so I don't think he would be opposed to helping." Harry offered a small smile.

"Fuck it," Bella stood up and shot her bourbon in one go, "text Siri but don't give him any details. Just tell him the address and ask him to meet you here. He'll know the way. I'm sure he's a smart man and will put two and two together as he gets closer. We should all wait elsewhere though until you've had a chance to fill him in."

Harry nodded and texted his uncle. "Do you think he will help?" Cissy asked. "It's been years since he's wanted anything to do with any of us."

"I don't know but it's the best plan we have right now and it's not even a plan." The oldest sister shrugged, "we don't have much to lose at this point." She walked out of the room and down the hall, disappearing behind one of the closed doors.

Tonks, Andy and Narcissa headed down the other hallway into the library leaving Harry and Hermione in the living room to catch up. "It's been a minute," Hermione chuckled.

"I'd say. How did you get messed up in this situation?" He asked, putting his phone away after texting his uncle the address.

"It's a long story but to make it brief, I entered a tattoo shop for a job and fell in love." She gave him a half smile. "I love Bella more than I ever thought possible. I just found her and I can't let this man kill her or any of her family. They have been such an important part of my life this past year."

He reached out and wiped a tear away that was rolling down her cheek, "hey Mione. I get it. I am here to help in any way I can."

"I just want this to be over. I think she might have proposed to me." She admitted quietly.

"You think?"

"Well she was kind of falling asleep," a sheepish smile formed under the blush of her cheeks. "I really want a chance at a future with this woman. Bella's been through so much in her life. She deserves happiness and freedom without the fear of Tom or anyone else driving by and shooting her or someone she loves."

"We will stop him, Hermione." Harry said with certainty.

"How can you be so sure?"

"I feel it," he shrugged and his phone vibrated. "He's coming. It's going to take him a while to get here but he's on his way."

"I'll go tell Bella." She started to get up and she added, "thank you Harry. This really means a lot to me. Make yourself at home, there's food and drinks in the kitchen. The tv works and Tonks is pretty enjoyable to talk to most of the time." She winked as she saw the pink haired woman going out the back door to smoke a cigarette. He nodded as she walked down the hallway that Bella had a few moments ago. When she got to the closed door she knocked gently and heard a small 'come in' from the other side. "It's me," she said quietly as she opened the door and saw Bella standing, looking out the window. She walked over and wrapped her arms around the shorter woman's waist. Hermione rested her chin on Bella's shoulder, angling her face in so her nose was in her neck. She inhaled the intoxicating earthy smell of her girlfriend's shampoo and hummed in appreciation. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," she answered quietly.

"Not the customer service answer, Bella."

"Then no," she let out a long breath. "I'm not okay at all. In all of the possible scenarios running through my head, a family reunion was not a part of stopping Tom and his drug ring."

"What happened between you and your cousin?" She asked, kissing Bella's shoulder.

The older woman turned in her arms to look her in the eyes, "it's a long story."

"We have time. Sirius is coming but it's going to take him a while to get here." She looked over at the bed. "We can snuggle and you can unload it all onto me. I'm here to carry some of the load, Bella. I want to help carry the burden. It's not all on you anymore. Let me help you."

"You make it sound so easy," Bella finally let a small smile ghost her lips. She looked over at the bed and rolled her eyes, "well I'm not going to pass up on a round of well needed snuggles." She grabbed her girlfriend's hand and led her to the bed. Hermione plopped down and sat with her back against the headboard. She patted her lap and Bella chuckled, jumping on the bed, landing next to Hermione. She wrapped her arms around her legs, careful not to press on her new tattoo and laid her head in the brunette's lap. She closed her eyes when she felt skilled fingers running through dark curls. "Maybe we should just take a nap instead."

"No," Hermione laughed, "I'll only rub your head if you start talking. These scalp scratches come at a price."

Bella dramatically sighed, "it's not all that thrilling of a story, pet. We were all really close growing up. Sirius actually introduced me to Lily. We were all just friends. He was my dad's sister's kid and we had a shared passion of hating our parents. It worked as far as families go. He was annoying as fuck most of the time but we got on well enough. I guess he was closer to Lily and her friends than I had thought because when Lily died and he found out that I was involved with Tom, he turned on me faster than I ever thought possible."

"What did he do?"

"Well," Bella burrowed deeper into Bella's lap, "I can't say I blame him for being upset from her death. I am still pissed about how everything went down. But Sirius." She sighed, "He took it hard. He testified against me at my trial. He said a load of nasty shit about me on the stands. And I honestly believe some of his testimony is what landed me behind bars. I don't hold it against him though. If the positions were reversed, I probably would've done the same thing."

"What about Harry?"

Bella thought for a moment, "I honestly don't know much about him. He was adopted as a baby before I ever got involved with any of Sirius's friends and only found Sirius within the years I was in prison. I didn't recognize him when I saw him. I never met him until today. I guess you'll have to find out the sorted details from your mate."

"What happened between Sirius and your sisters?"

"They both testified in my defense at the trial because they were two of the only people who believed that I wasn't capable of murdering someone I cared deeply for." Bella kissed Hermione's leg and the brunette started scratching her scalp again, "he was pissed. He thought they were wrong. I guess after the trial he confronted them and told them how sickening he thought it was that they defended me and he hoped that I rotted in prison." She heard Hermione's breath hitch. "Again, I can't say I blame him." She shiver ran through her body when Hermione scratched at the base of her scalp. She wanted to squeeze her tighter but was afraid of hurting her tattoo so she scooted herself up and wrapped her arms around Hermione's stomach. "I just want to be done with Tom. I was such a stupid kid when I got involved in that shit and all these years later and it's still haunting my entire life."

"It's going to be over soon," Hermione sounded so sure of that fact.

"I wish your confidence was contagious," she let out a small laugh. "If anything happens to you, I'll never forgive myself. You are my hope for a future and I'll be damned if anyone or anything gets in the way."

"Hope," Hermione smiled, shifting so they could see her lighthouse, "my hope is you." She leaned down and kissed the top of Bella's head. "Harry seems confident too that we will be able to work this all out."

The older woman sighed and pulled Hermione down into a prone position and fully splayed across her. She rested her nose into the warm neck presented before her. "This is nice," Bella mumbled. "I haven't been held like this in ages."

"I'll hold you every day of your life if you'd let me," Hermione whispered back.

A few moments of silence passed between the pair, just happy to be in each other's arms. "Hermione?" Bella whispered. The brunette hummed in response, "you know that thing I said the other night in bed?" She felt Hermione's body stiffen slightly, "I do want that. I want that with you so bad that it physically hurts. I'm just afraid if we make it real that something bad will happen to one of us." She rested on her arm so she could look at her girlfriend, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you but I don't intend to ask you consciously until after Tom is behind bars." She leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Hermione's lips.

"I want that, too," Hermione whispered back against Bella's lips.

Bella didn't remember falling asleep but she woke up to the sound of a soft knock on the door followed by Hermione stirring awake. She looked up and saw the sleepy smile of her girlfriend and her heart warmed. "Yeah?" She called out in her husky sleepy voice.

"Sirius just pulled up. Harry's going to talk to him. He said give him about ten minutes to get him up to speed." The voice of her youngest sister called from the other side of the door.

"You can come in," Bella said when the door never opened.

Cissy walked in the room and smiled at the sight of her sister snuggling against the younger woman. "We just wanted to make sure you weren't occupied with other activities," she said, almost embarrassed.

"Andy sent you to make sure we weren't having sex in a cabin full of family." Bella shrugged, "does sound like something I'd do."

"We fell asleep," Hermione said, her voice also thick with sleep. "She was telling me about Sirius. I'm sorry for everything that happened." She offered her weak apology.

"You have nothing to apologize for dear," the blond woman assured Hermione. "Plus it was years ago. It's about time we all acted like adults and got over all of this bad blood."

"Is it going to be weird?" She asked in a small voice.

"I suppose," Narcissa shrugged, "but we can't really do anything about that."

"Let's just hope Siri remembers how to be civil." Bella chuckled. "It's been years and I've been cleared of the crime he thought I committed. Honestly he probably feels like a jackass. I would've if it were me."

"I guess there's only one way to find out," Narcissa nodded her head towards the door.

"Five more minutes," the older woman said, turning to snuggle back down into her girlfriend.

"Fine," her sister rolled her eyes, "but if you aren't out in five minutes I'm sending in Dora."

The five minutes seemed like seconds to Bella. She felt Hermione shift below her, sitting up. "Ready?" She asked when the older witch finally consented and rolled off of her.

"No," she responded like a petulant child.

"Let's go," Hermione laughed. "The sooner we get this over with the sooner we can get back to the snuggles."

Bella sighed, "you know I hate when you argue with reason and logic," she rolled her eyes and stood, throwing her hair up into a top knot, straightening her shorts and tank top. "Fine. Let's go." She grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her towards the door. When she felt her girlfriend pull back stopping her she turned, "what? What is it?"

"I love you," she whispered.

Bella smiled a genuine smile for the first time all day, "I love you too, Hermione."

She pulled the younger woman behind her out of the room and saw her sisters and niece at the end of the other hallway, she nodded at them and they all took off towards the living room, meeting in the kitchen. They saw Sirius sitting on the couch with his nephew, their backs towards the kitchen. Bella motioned with her eyes for one of her sisters to speak up. Both of them shook their heads no. Dora rolled her eyes and cleared her throat loudly, causing the two men to turn and look towards the kitchen. Sirius stood with his mouth open slightly. His eyes were roaming quickly taking in the sight of his relatives that he hadn't seen in years. He had an unreadable expression on his face. It was better than screaming, Bella thought and smirked. He started to walk over towards them and stopped on the other side of the kitchen island.

Nobody had spoken. Everyone was just standing and staring. The uncomfortable silence was so thick it could have been cut with a knife. Bella, not one to shy away from the uncomfortable, took it upon herself as the oldest member of the family to speak the first words to her estranged cousin in over a decade, "Hello, Siri."