A/N: Hello! I bring to you today a chapter from Bellatrix's perspective because I haven't really given an entire chapter of her perspective, just little pieces here and there. Anyway, I'm really excited about finally being able to post this chapter. I had a hard time getting my muse to cooperate, but once I got it started, I was able to write pretty decent chunks at a time. So, I hope that you all (my wonderful audience) are excited as I am. I appreciate you so much that I can't even describe it, your support and encouragement truly make the story worth writing.

I hope you're well and please enjoy!

Mercury rising

In the dead of night

When I look at you, yeah, I believe I come alive

Now something is different

I see it in your eyes

You keep it undercover

-Mercury in Retrograde, Young Guns

When Bellatrix woke up the next morning, she could feel Hermione's absence. She couldn't tell how long the brunette had been gone, but she looked at the spot she had been laying, dragging her fingertips over the sheets. She missed her, she realized with a slight frown. Bellatrix grabbed Hermione's pillow, hugging it to her and inhaling deeply. She couldn't place anything in particular, it just smelled like Hermione. Burying her face in Hermione's pillow, Bellatrix let out a content sigh, her entire body relaxing.

Narcissa entered the room so quietly that Bellatrix didn't hear her until she said with an amused look on her face, "That's not creepy at all."

"Cissa!" Bellatrix said, practically throwing the pillow back to its spot on the bed, "I was just-"

The blonde raised an eyebrow at her sister as she floundered for words.

"Never mind," she grumbled, her cheeks red.

"Have you told her?" Narcissa asked, helping her sit up.

Bellatrix shook her head. "How can I, Cissa?"

"She needs you, Bella," she whispered, resting a hand on her sister's shoulder.

"Not like that," Bellatrix mumbled, looking down at her hands, "I'll never be to her what she is to me."

Narcissa sighed, sliding her arm around Bellatrix's shoulders and pulling her close. "You can't know that for sure, Bella. What if something happens? Do you really want to lose her without telling her how you feel?"

"No." Her answer was so quiet, Narcissa almost didn't hear it.

"Do it on your own time, but don't put it off forever. You might even be surprised." Narcissa brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Do you know something I don't?" Bellatrix asked, looking up at her.

Narcissa shook her head apologetically. Bellatrix sighed, leaning into her side. They were quiet for a few minutes, soaking up the other's presence.

"Cissy, do you think I could try eating today?"

She was surprised by her sister's request, but she had a feeling she knew why Bellatrix was suddenly showing an interest in trying to eat again. Narcissa smiled slightly. She had been hoping her sister would try to eat something, but she had been more than fine with potions, much to Narcissa and Andromeda's dismay. They both suspected that once she started eating again, her strength would return to her faster. It would take time, and it wouldn't be easy, but they were both on the same page and would be there for Bellatrix through it all.

"You have to promise to take it slow. Maybe just a bite to see how you react, but you'll still be taking potions for a while," she answered.

"Even with magic all of this is so slow," Bellatrix sighed. Had she been anything like who she was when she was fresh out of Azkaban, she wouldn't have the patience to wait for her recovery. She knew that it would take a long time to get back to where she was, and she might still be unable to do certain things as well as she used to.

"How about I have a house-elf take you outside after?" Narcissa offered. She understood her sister's frustration, she was frustrated, too, but she did her best to hide it.

She nodded. "That sounds nice."

Narcissa smiled at her sister, calling for a house-elf to bring her a slice of bread. She tore off a piece, handing it to her sister and watching as she ate it. Bellatrix immediately felt the urge to gag, spitting it out before she could swallow it. She heaved a few times, wondering if anything would come out.

Narcissa looked at her sadly, placing a potion bottle in her hands once she recovered. Bellatrix dutifully drank it, swallowing her cough at the taste. She did this three more times before she drank a glass of water, washing all the tastes out of her mouth. In the early days of waking up and being unable to move, Narcissa had allowed her to experiment with the order in which she drank everything. It had taken her many grueling days, but she finally discovered the best way to drink them all was back-to-back to just get it over with, and follow it with a glass of water. It still wasn't great, though.

Once she was comfortably outside, Bellatrix felt like some of her freedom had returned. The trees were in the process of changing colors, exhibiting bright colors that she welcomed. It was a bit windy but otherwise nice, and she was comfortably seated in a chair near the house. She had missed being outside, and she was glad she had the chance to experience it again. Over the course of her trial, she had been held at Azkaban, a place she never wanted to return to. She always said she would rather die than go back, but it hadn't been true. She had hoped to be allowed to live, even though she had committed dozens of crimes.

She had heard that Hermione had been fighting to testify in her trial, and even though she knew they would never let her, she had to give her credit. Fighting with the Wizengamot was a difficult task, and Hermione had done it up until the point her sentence was carried out. She had been afraid, at first, of the dementors descending on her in droves. It had been instinct to fight, to bury herself as deep as she could possibly go. She never thought it would work, or that she would ever experience consciousness again.

Bellatrix thought back to the first time Hermione had stepped into her room. It reminded her what hope felt like. She had warned herself not to hope too much, but then she just kept coming back and talking to her as if she was really there and not buried under layers of consciousness. As time passed, she stopped falling so deep into her mind when Hermione left, fighting with all her might to hold herself there until she grew tired, but it had grown easier every time.

When Hermione had told her someone was trying to kill her, it felt like someone poured ice water over her. It had been the shock she needed to push through every layer until she was back in her body, for good this time. Hermione's admission had scared her, being back in her body had scared her, and she hadn't meant to pull Hermione so forcefully into her head. It happened before she even realized she had done it, and in the process, she had forged a permanent bond between them.

She wasn't sure if she regretted it. It gave her another chance when she had desperately wanted one, but Hermione still had a large part of her life ahead of her that she would spend bound to her. It would disrupt her relationships, and Bellatrix didn't want to do that to her. Hermione hadn't seemed to mind so far, but she spent so much time working that she didn't really pursue relationships. Well, Bellatrix didn't think she did.

A strong gust of wind blew by, its chill seeping into her bones. Her body shivered, and she pulled the blanket around her shoulders tighter to keep herself warm. It was dangerous for her to sit outside for too long because she couldn't feel how cold she actually was. She examined her fingertips, deciding it was best if she went in now. If she waited, she might not check her fingers frequently enough to gauge how the cold was affecting her, but she did enjoy the peace and feeling of autonomy for a little while.

A house-elf brought her inside to the library, which was empty for the time being. It was almost as nice as the one in her childhood home, but it lacked the atmosphere she associated with pureblood libraries. It was even different from how she remembered it. More light filtered into the room, and the furniture was more comfortable than she remembered. From her spot in one of the chairs, Bellatrix could see a book that was in the process of being read. She tried to summon it to her, but the book didn't budge, and she wondered if she was capable of magic to the extent that she had been prior to receiving the dementor's kiss.

She sighed, sinking into the chair. The room definitely had hints of Hermione's presence. The extra bit of light coming in through the windows because reading was always best when done by natural light, the comfier chairs for getting lost in pages, even the little stacks of books throughout the room, categorized by a system only the chooser would understand. Bellatrix recognized all the signs of a library frequented by a bookworm but she wasn't even sure when Hermione found time to read. As far as she knew, Hermione went to work and stayed well beyond the time any normal person would then came right to bed only to do the same thing again when she woke up.

"Aunt Bella?" Draco asked, tearing her from her thoughts. She hadn't even noticed him enter the library.

"Hi, Draco," she said.

"What are you doing here?" He sat down opposite her, glancing at the book on the table and scrunching his nose.

"Can you hand me that?" she asked, holding out her hand and continuing, "I was sitting outside for a bit but it was getting time to come in and I thought a change of scenery would be nice. What about you?"

He passed her the book, answering with, "I'm a little bored. Hermione is visiting Ginny and I finished the last book Luna gave me about an hour ago. I figured I would take a look through the books to see if anything caught my eye, but I didn't expect for you to be out of bed."

"It feels nice, almost like I'm normal." Bellatrix observed the book in her hands, running her fingers over the cover.

In gold, it said: Spellweaving: The Art of Subtlety in Dueling. It seemed like the type of book she would enjoy, and she had to give Hermione credit for her taste. Perhaps she would read it, and maybe she could discuss its contents with Hermione. From what she could tell, the brunette was about halfway through. Suddenly, a wave of tiredness washed over her, and she inwardly lamented. It had been several hours since she woke up, but she had been hoping to make it through the day without needing to sleep.

She hid her yawn behind her hand, opening the book anyway. As she read through the first few pages, she realized it was a technique she had developed on her own without coming across anything like it. She had still been perfecting it and only discovered it by accident. This book would've been a great guide to which spells were most compatible with each other. Even though she often used more advanced spells, it would've been a great foundation. It had been time-consuming to figure out which spells she could weave together, hiding the effects of one within another. Trial-and-error had been her best friend, and she often ended up sporting a few injuries that Narcissa had patched up.

Bellatrix felt herself nodding off in the chair, so she rested the book on her lap and leaned her head back a little. Draco noticed but didn't say anything, turning back to his book and staying as silent as he could while his aunt napped. Most of the time, Bellatrix didn't dream, or if she did, she never remembered it. This nap was different, and when she woke up a few hours later, her mind was chasing fragments of a scene she didn't have the words to describe. Draco was gone, and the light had faded, coloring clouds purple.

She closed the book on her lap, realizing the only way she would be able to get it onto the table was by throwing it. She looked at the book, then the table, and gently tossed it. It missed, hitting the floor with a thud, and she scowled at it.

"Morgana's tits," she grumbled, startling when the door opened.

"Oh, I didn't realize you were in here," Andromeda said, "Sorry to startle you."

Bellatrix sighed. "Hi, Andy."

"Go find Draco," she said to Teddy, shooing him out the door before turning to her sister and asking, "Are you okay?"

She regarded Andromeda as she sat down, studying her sister in silence. Being alone with Andy was still...awkward for both of them. They hadn't talked about what happened, they tried to pretend it had never even happened. She wasn't sure if she had built up enough trust with Andromeda to talk about what was on her mind. She didn't even like to talk about it with Narcissa. Still, Andromeda might be able to help her more than Narcissa, who was still grappling with her disillusionment of what they had been taught. Andromeda had been through it already and might be able to offer a different perspective.

"I've been...thinking...a lot lately," Bellatrix finally began, struggling to find the words she wanted to say, "If you don't mind, can I ask you about Ted?"

"I'll do my best, Bellatrix," Andromeda answered, feeling a weight settle in her stomach.

Bellatrix looked into her eyes, and Andromeda was surprised by the vulnerability within. "How did you tell him?"

"Tell him what?" Andromeda wasn't sure where her sister was going with this line of questioning, and she was trying to decipher what she was thinking.

"How you felt," she mumbled, looking down at her hands and fidgeting with them.

It clicked in her head why her sister was asking these types of questions, and as gently as she could, she asked, "Is this about Hermione?"

The question itself was silly. Andromeda knew that, but she had done it for her sister's benefit. Hermione was the only possible person this could be about. She didn't need to hear Bellatrix's response, but she waited for it anyway. It was important that this be done on Bellatrix's terms, so she sat patiently as Bellatrix clenched and unclenched her jaw, clearly struggling with admitting it to her.

"Yes," she whispered, "I've developed feelings for her, but I'm afraid. I'm...I'm afraid she won't have the same type of feelings for me."

Andromeda could see the way Bellatrix was holding back tears. Her voice had been thick with emotion and more vulnerable than she had ever heard it before. She always suspected that Bellatrix felt she could never be loved, could never love anyone. Not to mention the lies they had bought into as children, only to have them stripped away in a flash. For her, it had been Ted, and she jumped at the chance to escape her hateful home, leaving her sisters behind. She knew it was selfish, but she couldn't stay because she was afraid they wouldn't believe her.

"Bella," she whispered, crouching in front of her, "When I knew I liked Ted, I wrote him a note and slipped it into his bag. I never told him in person, I was too afraid he wouldn't feel the same way. But he did, and if I hadn't told him how I felt through that note, we might not have ever been together. It doesn't matter how you go about telling her, so long as you tell her."

Bellatrix looked away, chewing on her lip. So many thoughts rushed through her head she had trouble keeping track of them all.

"It's okay to be afraid. It isn't easy. Take your time with it, maybe try writing it down. Even if you don't tell her in a note, it'll help you get your thoughts together. When you're ready to tell Hermione, do it on your terms," she said, grabbing her hand.

"Thanks, Andy," she whispered, squeezing her hand.

Andromeda smiled, moving back to her chair, picking up the book on the floor, and placing it back on the table. She sat with Bellatrix as she processed her thoughts, hoping her presence was reassuring and not intrusive. It felt like a huge step forward in their relationship. They still needed to discuss some things before they were back to the way they were as children, but they were getting closer every time. Andromeda had forgotten what it felt like for her sisters to be in her life, to support her, to support them. They partially filled the void left by Ted and Nymphadora's deaths, and she had never realized how much she had missed them until she thought it was too late. In many ways, Hermione was the only reason she had gotten them back.

"There you two are," Ginny said, poking her head into the library, "Dinner is almost ready."

As she was about to leave, Andromeda said, "Wait, Ginny. I think you might be able to help us with something."

Bellatrix shot her a glare, which she promptly ignored.

Ginny entered the library, closing the door. "Oh, don't tell me, I want to guess."

She studied their faces carefully as she approached the couch, placing her elbows on her knees and leaning forward. "It's about Hermione."

The sisters exchanged a look, Andromeda shrugging at her older sister.

"Impressive," Bellatrix said, narrowing her eyes.

Ginny shrugged, a slight smirk on her face. "Can't take all the credit, I spend a lot of time around Hermione. I'd be a pretty shite second if I didn't pick up a few things. What's she done now?"

"Nothing. Well, nothing bad. It's definitely not bad, it's good, really, really good." Bellatrix clamped her mouth shut, cursing herself for rambling and being obvious about how she felt.

Realization dawned on Ginny's face, and Bellatrix braced herself to hear something she didn't want to. Even Andromeda looked a little nervous as Ginny debated what to say. It would be a breach of trust if she told the two witches how Hermione felt about Bellatrix, and she wouldn't be telling Hermione about Bellatrix's unintentional confession. She could, however, put one of them on the right path to admitting it to the other. Hermione was consumed with work, and even though they had a productive discussion about her feelings for the former Death Eater, she was nowhere near ready to admit it. Bellatrix seemed closer to it, maybe because she had less to distract herself.

Before she could answer, Teddy burst into the room laughing. Footsteps could be heard down the corridor, and he looked around for a place to hide, laughing breathlessly. Ginny pointed behind the couch, hurrying him over and pressing a finger to her lips, which she directed at Andromeda and Bellatrix.

Hermione entered the room, greeting them with, "Where's Teddy?"

Ginny shrugged, trying to fight the smile that was threatening to give him away. Bellatrix and Andromeda looked at her with faux clueless expressions. She smiled softly at Bellatrix before remembering what she was doing in the first place. She tiptoed behind their chairs, peering behind them in an attempt to catch him.

Teddy, at Ginny's direction, crept behind her, waiting until she was looking behind his granny's chair to jump on her back. Amused smiles were on the three other witches' faces and he giggled as Hermione straightened, reaching her arms back so he didn't fall.

"Got you, Hermione!" he giggled, holding tightly to her shoulders.

She sent a playful, betrayed look at Ginny, Andromeda, and Bellatrix as she said, "You were so quiet I didn't even hear you behind me."

"Now you have to teach me that spell! You promised!" he said, loosening his grip so he could slide down to the ground.

Andromeda fixed her with a stern look.

"Erm, it's nothing bad, Andy. It's a harmless one, and really simple. You know I wouldn't teach him anything that might hurt someone," she rambled, feeling her cheeks flush.

Ginny and Bellatrix shared an amused look as Andromeda continued to stare Hermione down.

"It's just a flowering spell, Andy," she insisted, steadying herself on the back of Bellatrix's chair as Teddy wrapped his arms around her legs.

"After dinner," was all she said, and Hermione sighed in relief.

"Narcissa is gonna be so mad it took so long, Hermione mumbled.

Bellatrix was the only one who heard and she laughed, turning her face up to the brunette and saying, "I think she'll be happy to have us all there."

"You're having dinner with us?" Hermione asked in surprise.

"I will be present, but I won't be eating, yet. Although I'm going to need some help getting there."

"Hermione and I can carry you," Ginny offered, standing and ruffling Teddy's hair as she passed him.

Ginny ignored the look Hermione directed at her. It went unnoticed by everyone else, and she crouched next to Bellatrix's chair for the witch to throw her arm over her shoulders. Hermione did the same, looking at Ginny so they could coordinate their efforts. They both looped an arm around one of Bellatrix's legs, nodding to each other and lifting. Bellatrix tightened her grip on them, terrified for a moment that they would drop her on her arse.

"Doors, please," Hermione muttered to Andromeda and Teddy, as they exited the library, its doors still open.

Andromeda closed the doors behind them while Teddy rushed ahead, leaving open doors in his wake. Bellatrix was amazed by the coordination between Hermione and Ginny without either of them speaking a word to each other. Once, she had been like that with both of her sisters, but that had faded given their history and the only person she felt that connected to was Hermione. Not that it mattered, because she couldn't really move. She would someday, though.

"Thanks," she said once she was settled in a chair at the table.

"She needs a bit more time before you tell her," Ginny clandestinely whispered to her, sitting next to her.

Bellatrix felt her heart clench in her chest. She wasn't sure if that meant Hermione was dealing with her own feelings, or if she returned them, or if it was just because so much else was going on, but she took it as a good sign. Ginny and Hermione were close, and she clearly wanted what was best for Hermione. Bellatrix had been right to think that it wasn't a good time to tell her, and she wasn't ready, yet, anyway. In time, both of them would be ready for the confession, and Ginny seemed to think it was in Hermione's best interest to hear it.

She was mostly consumed by her thoughts as everyone ate, but she did occasionally join in on the conversation if she heard something that caught her attention. She tried to keep her glances toward Hermione to a minimum, but she hadn't seen her interact with everyone before, and it only made her more amazing in Bellatrix's eyes. She got along so well with everyone, diffusing any tension that happened to form easily. Hermione was the bridge that brought them all together, and despite the fact that they had torn apart by the war, they were slowly healing under her care. Bellatrix figured that Hermione didn't even realize what she was doing, but as the meal came to a close, she noticed how much more right everything felt. As if some event long ago had derailed them and they were finally back on the right track.

Hermione's hand on her shoulder snapped her out of her thoughts, and she looked over at the brunette, realizing she had been trying to get her attention for some time. "What did you say?"

"Do you want to join us in the library or do you want to go upstairs?" she repeated softly.

Bellatrix looked around, realizing they were alone in the Dining Room. "I'd like to join you, but you don't have to carry me, I can ask a house-elf."

"They're busy cleaning up from dinner, it'll be easier if I just take you. It's not that far," Hermione said, hoping it didn't sound like a lame excuse to hold Bellatrix in her arms.

She nodded, muttering, "Okay."

As Hermione scooped her up, she wondered if there was more to her reasoning than she let on. It seemed almost like she wanted to carry her, but she couldn't be sure. That didn't stop her from resting her head on Hermione's shoulder, awed by the muscles moving under her skin. She could remember when she had toned muscles like Hermione had, being a Death Eater for as long as she had come with physical benefits, for sure. There were plenty of drawbacks, though. Actually, the more she thought about it, the more she was sure the drawbacks outweighed the benefits. She wondered what possessed her to think it would be a good idea, but at the time, it was the only way she could be sure her sisters were safe. Even Andy.

She was brought back to reality when Hermione positioned her in a chair, taking care to make sure she was comfortable. She watched Teddy bounce up and down even as he was seated in front of the couch while Hermione got comfortable on the floor next to him. Narcissa, Ginny, and Andromeda were on the couch, and Draco was in the other chair. Ginny was recounting some of her adventures with Hermione after they were working together in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and Bellatrix listened in as she watched Hermione and Teddy.

"Do you remember how I did it, or do you want me to show you again?" she asked him, pulling her wand from her sleeve.

He thought for a moment, excited to do the spell now, but he also liked watching Hermione do magic for him. "Can you show me again?"

"Come here," she said, patting her lap.

He clambered onto her lap, turning his head so he could look up at her. She placed the wand in his hand, wrapping hers around his gently.

"This is the motion you need to do," she instructed, moving the wand slowly as he held onto it, "It's very important to make sure you master the movement when you're using a wand, okay?"

"Okay," he said with a nod, practicing a few times, his tongue poking out of the corner of his mouth, "Like that?"

"Mhm, so now do it a little faster, like this," Hermione said, demonstrating the speed.

He copied her a few times to get used to it. She kept hold of her wand as he did, keeping her arm loose so he was in control but so she could feel that the motion was right. Bellatrix watched with a smile as she smiled fondly down at Teddy. It reminded her of when she would play with Draco before she was sent to Azkaban, but of course, he was much younger than Teddy was now. Still, Hermione was very patient with him and he was patient in return, learning eagerly from the brunette witch he so clearly adored.

"Very good," she praised, "Now when you're ready, you put the motion with the word. Do you remember it?"

He nodded excitedly, careful not to move his body too much so he didn't hurt Hermione. With a smile, he looked up at her and said, "It's Floris."

Bellatrix's smile broadened at his pronunciation. He was still at the age where his 'L' sounded like a 'W' but it wouldn't affect the spell as long as the motion and intention were there.

"How come you say it different?" he asked before Hermione could demonstrate.

"Everyone pronounces things a little differently, but it'll still work. What's most important for any type of magic is what you want it to do. And if you're using a wand, you need to get the motion right, but the word itself is more like a representation of what you want. It helps you focus, just like a wand does, but you don't need words or a wand to do magic," she explained.

"Will you show me?" he asked.

"I will, but I won't teach you until you're a little older. Let's focus on this for now. Picture the flower you want and put it all together, like this," Hermione made sure his attention was on the motion of the wand as she cast, "Floris."

Bellatrix watched as a purplish peony sprung from the tip of her wand. It was a flower she knew Narcissa had in the garden, having seen them many times over the years. It was one of her favorites out of all the ones in the garden, and she wished she could walk through the garden and smell them again. Hermione must've felt her eyes lingering because she glanced up, smiling uncertainly at her. She returned the smile as she always did, well aware of the glances from her family and Ginny. Hermione didn't seem to notice, and she turned her attention back to Teddy.

"Whenever you're ready, Teddy," she encouraged, letting go of her wand.

He held it tightly in his small hand, and the determined expression on his face made him even cuter. Hermione was great with kids, and a great teacher, taking the time to ease every doubt that was verbalized. It was a wonder she wasn't working at Hogwarts and was spending her days at the ministry. She didn't doubt that Hermione liked her job, but she didn't seem as happy as she wanted to.

"Floris!" Teddy cast, delighting when small blue flowers bloomed at the tip of the wand.

He looked up at Hermione, who congratulated him and whispered something in his ear. Everyone congratulated him, and he smiled as he carefully gathered the flowers in a bundle with his hands. He pulled them free of the wand and Hermione slid it back up her sleeve as he waddled over to Bellatrix, holding the flowers out to her.

"For you," he said shyly, hiding behind the flowers.

"Thank you. They're beautiful," she breathed, taking them from his tiny hands.

He ran back over to Hermione, whispering something in her ear. She met Bellatrix's eyes as she listened to him, almost getting distracted. When he pulled away from her ear, she opened her mouth as if to say something back to him, but nodded instead. No one had any idea what their exchange had been about, and Teddy pinched his thumb and index finger together, drawing them across his lips. Even the normally terrible secret keeper wouldn't say a word about it when they playfully asked him, and they had even tried bribing him with sweets.

He settled in Hermione's lap again, still denying every offer of late-night treats Draco and Ginny offered him. They had tried to ask Hermione, but she had just shaken her head, refusing to open her mouth. Eventually, they gave up asking. Bellatrix had the sneaking suspicion that Hermione had told him to give her the flowers, but she had been the only one to witness that part of the exchange. She wasn't sure what the second part had been about, but she was burning with curiosity. She wouldn't pry, though.

"Will you show me now?" Teddy asked, stifling a yawn.

Hermione looked up at Andromeda, who was captivated by the story Ginny was telling. "Just a little bit. It's almost bedtime and I don't want us to get in trouble."

He nodded, glancing up at his granny before looking expectantly up at Hermione. She gestured with her head to her hands, and Bellatrix watched as she summoned ice in the palm of her hand. She made it float above her palm, her other hand moving to hover over it. Bellatrix watched, enraptured by Hermione's skill. She had never met anyone so amazing. She molded the ice into shapes without a single word, glancing up at Andromeda every now and then. Teddy soon fell asleep in her lap, but she continued to make shapes out of the ice, looking up at Bellatrix with a smirk, whom she had caught staring.

Bellatrix felt her heart hit her ribcage a little harder than it usually did at the sight. Hermione, recognizing that the story Ginny was telling was coming to a close, let the ice in her hands melt until it turned into steam, pushing it up with her hands. She smoothed Teddy's hair, smiling down at him softly. Bellatrix's heart melted at the sight, and she briefly wondered what it would be like to have children with Hermione before she quickly banished the thought. Those were thoughts she absolutely should not entertain.

"Andy," Hermione whispered once Ginny was telling her story, gesturing her head to Teddy, "He knocked out a while ago."

"I guess we should be going," Andromeda said, leaning down and scooping Teddy into her arms.

"Don't be silly, Andy, it's much too late. Just stay here. You, too, Ginny. I insist," Narcissa said, leaving no room for argument.

Draco stood up, offering to carry Teddy. "I'll show you to a room."

Narcissa and Ginny shared a look, both of them bidding the other two witches goodnight. Hermione stayed on the floor across from Bellatrix's chair, leaning back against the couch. A soft expression was on her face, one Bellatrix had seldom seen from her. She looked relaxed and at peace, and Bellatrix found her to be even more beautiful when she wasn't occupied by her worries.

"Do you want to go upstairs?" Hermione asked.

Bellatrix shrugged, unable to keep her eyes from wandering over Hermione. "It's nice being out of bed, but I've had a busier day than normal so I probably should lie down."

"Great, I'm starting to feel a little tired," Hermione said, using the couch to push herself up.

She scooped Bellatrix into her arms effortlessly, though Bellatrix could see the signs of sleepiness on her face. Her eyes were a tad bloodshot, and she still had dark circles under her eyes. Bellatrix knew Hermione hadn't been sleeping much lately, not that she blamed her. Maybe she could convince Hermione to spend the day in bed tomorrow.

"Thank you for the flowers," Bellatrix whispered into her ear as Hermione ascended the stairs. She felt Hermione pause for a second longer than she normally did.

"How'd you know?" she asked, caught red-handed.

Bellatrix chuckled, rolling her eyes and saying, "Do I look like I was born yesterday? I'm immobile, not stupid."

Hermione stifled her laughter, not wanting to disturb the other occupants of the wing, but Bellatrix could feel her shoulders shake.

"You're welcome," she whispered, almost sounding nervous.

When they reached the door, Bellatrix reached out to turn the knob, pushing it open for Hermione. She smiled gratefully, kicking the door gently closed behind her. Bellatrix wasn't sure how she felt about returning to bed. It had been such a nice day out of it, especially after being stuck in it for so long, but once Hermione had helped her get comfortable, she realized just how long it had been, and how tired she was. She yawned as Hermione crawled into bed with her, immediately pressing close and winding her arms around her. Warmth spread through Bellatrix as Hermione buried her face in her neck, tightening her grip on her. She draped her own arms over Hermione, resting them on her lower back.

"I missed you today," she confessed softly, almost as if she were afraid to tell her.

Bellatrix blinked in surprise. "I missed you, too. It was nice seeing you with my family."

"It was nice to have you there. I've thought about suggesting it before, but I didn't want you to feel pressured into anything," Hermione mumbled, tilting her head up slightly.

Her breaths hit Bellatrix's jaw, and she had to fight the shudder that threatened to work its way through her body. "I tried to eat today. I haven't had food in so long that I ended up spitting it out before I finished chewing."

"I'm proud of you for trying," she whispered.

Hermione had no idea how much that meant to Bellatrix, and she swallowed hard. She couldn't remember the last time anyone was genuinely proud of her, especially for something that seemed so simple. It wasn't simple, but Bellatrix knew just those words would keep her motivated to keep trying. She squeezed Hermione, trying to convey how much she appreciated it without saying anything.

"Hermione," she whispered, on the verge of sleep.

"Hmm?"

"I wanna talk about being bonded tomorrow," she muttered.

She felt Hermione nod hesitantly, squeezing her waist reassuringly. Bellatrix wasn't sure how much Hermione knew about it already, but she wanted to tell her about it, anyway. And it would give her an opportunity to gauge how she felt about it. She yawned, clearing her thoughts so she could sleep.

Hermione was still in her arms when she woke the next morning, something she wasn't used to but could definitely get used to. She couldn't tell if the brunette was awake yet, but she didn't want to disturb her in case she was still asleep so she stayed quiet. Hermione was usually an early riser- by Bellatrix's standards, anyway- but she wasn't sure if it was habit or if Hermione usually set an alarm to wake up. She couldn't tell what time it was, unable to turn over to see the window, which had the curtains drawn so it wouldn't have mattered. She could make out parts of the room, which meant the sun must at least be partially up.

Bellatrix wasn't sure how much time had passed before Hermione began to stir in her arms but as she did, her face brushed against her chest and she had to remind herself to breathe normally. Hermione didn't seem to notice, not fully awake yet. She waited until Hermione pulled away enough to tilt her head up, smiling sleepily at her.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," Bellatrix whispered, smiling back at her.

"What time is it?" she slurred, her brain still foggy with sleep.

Bellatrix shrugged. "It doesn't matter. It's Sunday, which means no working, just resting."

"Bella," she protested weakly.

"No. You and I have other things to talk about," she said firmly.

Hermione pressed her head into her pillow, talking into it but her words were so muffled that Bellatrix couldn't make them out. Bellatrix waited with a raised brow until Hermione turned her face out of her pillow, pouting up at her.

"You and Ginny are gonna be the death of me," she repeated childishly.

"I think we're the ones keeping you from working yourself to death, cub," Bellatrix corrected, reaching out to brush the back of her hand across Hermione's cheek.

She marveled at the way Hermione sighed, pushing into her hand. Her skin was smooth and she couldn't help but be distracted by it for a minute or two.

"I just want this to be over with, Bella," she whispered, closing her eyes so Bellatrix couldn't see the emotions swirling in them.

"Forcing yourself to solve this is like if I tried to force myself to walk," Bellatrix whispered to her, "It won't speed up the process, just frustrate you."

Her breath caught when Hermione's eyelids fluttered open, revealing honey-brown eyes looking up at her. "That sounds like something I'd tell you. Okay, I will do my best not to think about it today."

"Promise?" she asked, running her thumb along Hermione's cheekbone absently.

"I promise."

The words that left Hermione's mouth were soft and quiet, and vulnerable in a way Hermione had never expressed to her before. Bellatrix had, of course, seen Hermione lose her composure and break down under the weight she carried, but hearing her promise to try not to think about work left Hermione without her main shield. It forced her to come to terms with what she was feeling, and Bellatrix was honored that Hermione trusted her enough to willingly drop her shield and keep it down while they talked.

"What do you know about being bonded?" she asked, pulling Hermione into her arms in an attempt to make her feel safe.

"Just what Andy and Cissa explained. I haven't had time to look into it," Hermione whispered, pressing her forehead to Bellatrix's shoulder.

Bellatrix stroked her hair, eliciting a sigh so quiet she might've imagined it. "We are bonded by our magical cores. Almost like how Harry and Voldemort's wand cores were made from feathers from the same phoenix. You already know we can only recover fully when we're close to each other."

She paused, and Hermione tilted her head up to look at her as she thought about how she should proceed. She continued to stroke her hair absently, staring at a spot on the wall without really seeing it.

"The reason I can feel you, just you, Hermione," Bellatrix swallowed, "Is because we are bonded. And it isn't just...physically. We also share a mental connection, deeper than even the most advanced Legillemancy."

"How come I haven't felt you in my head?" Hermione asked.

"I would not invade your privacy like that," she quickly assured, looking back at the younger witch, "I've been keeping my mental walls up to keep our minds separate until you could decide if it's something you wanted. And your walls are pretty impressive."

She wondered if Hermione's cheeks actually turned pink or if it was a trick of the light.

"Thank you," Hermione whispered shyly.

Bellatrix nodded, cupping the brunette's cheek tenderly.

"Would you have been able to get past them if you tried?" she wondered aloud, her curiosity never ceasing to amaze Bellatrix.

She hesitated, wanting to be honest but not wanting to freak Hermione out. "Yes, I could if I tried. I was trained by Voldemort, who made sure I was masterful at every art of magic he knew. But even if I hadn't, the bond would let me through if I pushed hard enough."

"Can I...Can we...try it?" Hermione whispered, and Bellatrix sensed that she was nervous the answer would be no.

"I'm ready when you are," she answered reassuringly.

Hermione relaxed, relieved. "How does it work?"

"Do you trust me?" Bellatrix asked, stalling because she was nervous about entering Hermione's mind. Talk about vulnerability.

She didn't hesitate to nod. "Of course I do. Do you...trust me?"

"Why wouldn't I?" she whispered with a chuckle.

Hermione smiled, her cheeks turning pink again.

"I'll let you push me out if you feel like you need to, and you need to do the same for me. Just relax and reach out to me with your thoughts," Bellatrix instructed.

She watched Hermione close her eyes in concentration, her hand still cupping her cheek. Slowly, she let her mental barriers fall so their minds could connect, feeling Hermione's tentative presence at the boundary of her mind. She mentally reached out, brushing her mind against Hermione's. She pulled away slowly, not wanting to overwhelm her but hoping Hermione understood she was welcome to follow. Bellatrix waited for her, more patient than she had ever felt in her life. Hermione eased into her mind and Bellatrix could feel her anxiety as if it were her own. There were other emotions, too, but the anxiety was the strongest.

It's okay, she thought to Hermione. She heard a gasp escape Hermione and she wasn't sure if it was mental or verbal.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Emboldened by Bellatrix's reassurance, Hermione moved further.

Shyly, she thought, Hi.

Bellatrix's chuckle echoed through her mind. Are you nervous?

A little, she admitted.

You aren't intruding. This is a neutral space, you won't see anything if you stay here. You're welcome to be here whenever the connection is open. She sent calming waves to Hermione, wanting her to relax.

What makes it different from regular Legillimancy? she asked, pressing her face into Bellatrix's shoulder.

Bellatrix could feel some of Hermione's emotions inadvertently seeping out. Her anxiety was mostly gone, replaced by curiosity and what Bellatrix would describe as affection. She kept her emotional barriers up so Hermione could only feel what she let out, feeling her heart soar.

I can feel some of your emotions, Hermione, she informed her.

Panic surged through the connection and Hermione pulled out of the space Bellatrix had created for them. Bellatrix knew she was fighting the desire to run from the room, and she loosened her arms around the younger witch so she had the option. She hoped Hermione wouldn't run, and she almost wished she hadn't told her, but she wanted Hermione to be aware of it so she could keep things private if she needed to.

"How much did you feel?" Hermione asked quietly, keeping her head hidden in Bellatrix's shoulder.

"Curiosity, a little anxiety, and...affection." Bellatrix whispered the last word, almost afraid to say it out loud.

She felt Hermione nod, realizing how tense they both were. Bellatrix forced herself to relax, hoping it would put Hermione more at ease. Hermione looked up at her, opening her mouth, and Bellatrix suspected she knew what was about to leave the brunette's mouth.

"You don't have to apologize," she whispered, stroking her cheek tenderly.

Hermione's mouth snapped shut, and she gave a small nod.

"It's different from Legillimancy because we don't have to be nearby to enter each other's minds," she answered aloud.

"So, if I was at work?" Hermione began nervously.

Bellatrix nodded, "We'd still be able to chat."

"Would you?" she asked, looking up at her, then away, then back up.

"Only if it wouldn't be a distraction."