*Author's note: Welcome to the second arch of this story! This will be mainly about Bella trying to reconcile with Andi and working towards fulfilling her debt to the ministry as well as cultivating her relationship with Hermione. There are 7 chapter left including this one. Enjoy!**
Bellatrix sat in the winged back chair in her sister's library nursing the cup of tea that their childhood house elf had delivered. After all these years, the elf was still able to produce the perfect cup of tea specific to Bella's liking. "Twigg does make a good cup of tea, doesn't she?" Narcissa hummed in response as she drank from her own cup.
"So Bella, how has everything been since your quick departure at Christmas?" Narcissa asked putting down her tea cup and folding her hands on her lap.
"It's only been a little over a month, Cissy. It's hardly like I abandoned you and Draco." Bellatrix responded rolling her eyes dramatically.
"Where is it you went again?" The blonde witch smirked at Bella as only a Black could.
"Minerva asked me to help a student return memories to her parents. We had to go to Australia to locate them and not that you asked but it was a success."
"Who was the student? Draco didn't mention anything about students in need to your specific skills."
"Just a special project from Minerva. Nothing of concern or interest to you and that I'm sure of." Bella said soundly trying to end the conversation.
Narcissa of course noticed the slight shift Bella made in her seat and the small almost unnoticeable blush on her sister's cheeks. "Bella…"
"Cissy…"
"This wouldn't have anything to do with certain muggle-born who I was told had recently come back to Hogwarts to teach and study would it?"
"What makes you think that?"
"Well Bella, you are wearing your emotions on her sleeve and if you have forgot… you aren't the only master Legilimens in the family." Bella look at her sister as if offended. "Oh relax Bella, I didn't need to look into your mind to see your eyes light up with the mere mention of the Muggle-born. Granger is her name right?"
"Hermione and yes. I helped her with her parents and we've grown quite close over the past few months. I wasn't looking for anything other than friendship with her and honestly after the torture I put her through here in this very mansion, I wasn't even expecting her to allow me to help her with her parents let alone become her friend."
"Bella, the way you help others and speak of this girl who just a few years ago wouldn't have cared whether she lived or died, shows how much you have changed."
"I don't know about all that Cissy but I am trying and everyday it's a struggle. In here." Bellatrix said pointing to her head.
"You know, I'm always here if you ever wish to talk about anything Bella. I may not have always been the warmest person growing up but without Lucius around, I have been spending a lot of time with Andi and Draco when he is home and it's helped me to realize that all the ideals we grew up with haven't done us any favors."
"No, I suppose they haven't. I spent a lot of time doing stupid and foolish shit. Spent 14 years in prison for a crime I didn't commit for fucking nothing."
"And now you have feelings for a 20 year old muggle born."
"So it seems, Cissy. I do indeed." Bellatrix said smiling behind her tea cup.
"Wait until I tell Andi. She's going to call you a hypocrite." Narcissa said with a chuckle.
"No, you can't tell her Cissy. She won't understand."
"She won't understand falling for a muggle born? That's exactly what happened with her.'
"Obviously I know that." Bella said with an annoyed bite to her tone. "What she won't understand is how I basically exiled her for it and didn't speak to her for over 20 years. She won't be able to just forget and forgive what I have done, what I was a part of. The people who killed her daughter and her husband." Bella sighed and looked away from the blonde witch.
"Andi isn't like that Bella. She's not a cold and unforgiving person. She somehow was fortunate to escape the curse of the Black blood like we had all those years. She found happiness and yes Nymphadora and Ted are gone but she has found happiness with her grandson Teddy. He is quite enjoyable and a little spit fire. You would like him. He causes all sorts of trouble. Maybe one day you will meet him."
"One day…"
"Yes if you put all your internal bullshit behind you and reach out to your sister. She's waiting for you to make the first move."
Bellatrix rolled her eyes and sighed, "well Cissy, we both know that she could be waiting forever for my stubborn ass to make the first move."
"And what has Granger said about this situation with Andi. She was friends with Nymphadora and spent some time with Andi and met Teddy. Maybe you could confide in her."
"We haven't actually talked a lot about my family. We were kind of focused on bringing back her parents' memories. We've spent a lot of time preparing for classes and I've helped her study for her NEWTS. She's bloody brilliant and doesn't need my help but pretends she does so we can spend more time together. We've also spent a lot of time doing muggle things." Bellatrix looked over at her sister whose eyes were wider than she can ever recall. Bellatrix chuckled, "did you know they have television shows for all sorts of topics. Muggles just sit around watching other people pretend about their lives. It's fascinating. But no, we haven't talked a lot about my family and my past. However while we were in Australia, Hermione showed interested in viewing some of my memories so I assume that the shit show of my childhood will come up eventually. I just hope it doesn't scare her way."
"Bella, just by the way you speak of her, I can tell how much you care for this girl. You've even taken to Muggle entertainment for her. I have no doubt that she's just as infatuated with you. You are a rather captivating individual. I'm sure if you ask her for help, she would drop everything to do whatever she could."
"She really would." Bellatrix said in barely a whisper.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Narcissa asked "So… tell me Bella. How was meeting her parents?"
"It could've went better…"
Mrs. Granger had insisted that the girls stay with them for the remainder of the time they were in Australia. Hermione and Bellatrix were scheduled to floo back to Hogwarts in three days time and the Grangers' were set to fly back to London by the middle of January. That gave them enough time to sell their house and get their practice handed over to another dentist. They also needed to get their affairs together in London. Thankfully Hermione had kept their house in shape for them so that wasn't an issue.
Bellatrix found the interactions between her and Hermione's parents rather innocuous. They got on fine and thankfully, Hermione had the awkward conversation about the two of them dating privately while Bellatrix was setting up the floo network to the Granger's fireplace. Bellatrix was surprised at the fact that the Grangers' didn't seem to mind that she was twice their daughter's age or a woman. It was refreshing to see that Hermione's parents loved her unconditionally which was concept lost on Bella. She never experienced that kind of love and acceptance from her own parents.
The Grangers spent two days showing the girls around the town where they lived and took them to the beach. Jack found it especially amusing when Bellatrix would question anything she found odd in the muggle world. Bellatrix was forthcoming with her questions and thankfully Jack and Katherine found her lack of a filter endearing.
On the third morning prior to the girls leaving, Hermione was downstairs making breakfast for everyone while her parents had a lie in. Bellatrix walked into the kitchen and saw Hermione in front of the sink looking out of the window. She came up behind her and wrapped her arms around the younger witch. She tucked her head into Hermione's neck and inhaled deeply. It was a wonderful moment. Bellatrix felt warm inside being wrapped around her witch. The moment was brief as a loud noise scared Bellatrix and she instinctively pulled out her wand and sent a curse flying at the offensive noise.
"Bella!" Hermione huffed. "You can't just wipe your wand out and curse anything that doesn't make sense to you."
"Stop the noise though. Didn't I?" Bella responded with a petulant tone.
"Yes, Bella. You stopped the oven from viciously warming our bread pudding."
"Well shit." Bellatrix responded looking at the dark hole that was now where the oven used to be. "Fuck. I didn't mean to blow it away. Let me fix it." Bellatrix was scrambling around Hermione as Mrs. Granger rounded the corner and gasped. Bellatrix hid her wand behind her back and gave the woman a goofy smile. "Breakfast isn't ready yet." Bellatrix lamely stated to a shocked looking Katherine.
"You blew up their oven?" Narcissa asked with a slight chuckle.
"Well in my defense. I didn't know that ovens were so loud. It's not like I ever really cooked. Muggles don't have house elves you know. And it's not like the Grangers didn't have an oven here in London. They just needed to get that hole repaired before they sold their house. I did offer to fix it but Katherine said not to worry about it. So I didn't." Bellatrix said and quietly added. "Plus Hermione took my wand after that."
"You let someone else take your wand from you?"
"And what of it?"
"Either you love this girl or you really have changed Bella." Cissy said reaching out to put her hand on Bella's knee.
"I can't wait to be done with this stupid repayment program so I can get that dagger back and my wand."
"Why on earth do you want that dagger back?"
Bella fixed Narcissa with a hard stare and the blonde nodded. "Oh I see."
"I will make things right with her."
"Bella, from what you've expressed in our time together today, it doesn't see as Ms. Granger… er Hermione," she corrected herself to use the younger witch's first name "seems to mind all that much about her scar. At least not enough to negate whatever it is she feels for you now."
"Perhaps. That doesn't take away the guilt I feel every time I get a glimpse of it."
"And you will fix it. One day but I believe Albus Dumbledore said it best. 'It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.'"
Bella rolled her eyes and playfully reached over to shove her sister's shoulder. "Don't start quoting Dumbledore to me. Hermione and I will be fine. I'm not fixating on her scar because I'm confident that I will amend my actions one day. Now I am focused on properly courting her now that we have her parents all sorted."
"Properly courting? Did she make fun of you already for sounding pureblood."
"As a matter of fact, she has." The sisters laughed properly for the first time in what seemed like ages. "I don't know how to date. I've never had to take someone out or plan anything. I don't know the first thing about what to do on a date or what happens after the date."
"You aren't a virgin Bella. The after the date part shouldn't be hard for you." Narcissa joked.
"I'm not but Hermione is and I don't want to rush her or mess anything up. I think I'm going to take her out for Valentine's day. That's still a few weeks away. I can come up with some sort of date by then. Maybe I can convince Minerva that we need to spend a night away from the castle or just sneak her out."
"Speaking of the headmistress… how did she take the news of your intentions with Hermione?" Bella averted her gaze from her sister. "Bella…"
"Well. I haven't had the chance to talk to Minerva about it yet, have i? I've been busy with the Grangers then preparing for the next semester and it just sort of slipped by the wayside. I don't want to sneak around so I plan to discuss things with Minerva as soon as possible. And if she has a problem with our relationship, I'm still sneaking Hermione out for Valentine's day then after that if we must, I suppose we can wait until Hermione is done with school. We haven't talked much about it. We've both been busy with our lesson plans and Hermione had course work to catch up on."
"If the Headmistress gives you her blessing, might I suggest taking Hermione to Black Manor. I removed a bunch of the old portraits of the more aggressive Blacks. It's muggle born friendly there. Plus, it might be nice to show Hermione where you learned to ride a broom and our library. If what Draco has told me about the girl is true, she won't want to leave our Library."
"And that's a proper date? To take her to our old house?" Bella asked incredulously.
"Well accompanied by a proper romantic dinner with candle light or a picnic in the garden and of course some gift you might think she will find special."
"So absolutely no pressure on my part to make it perfect." Bella rolled her eyes.
"If anyone can make a young lady feel special, it's you Bella. You'll be fine. Hermione will love anything you plan. Just make sure you talk to McGonagall first."
"Yeah yeah…". Bellatrix responded dismissively.
—-
Bellatrix flooed back into her room that night after spending time catching up with her sister. She found herself outside of Hermione's chamber pacing back and forth. She can't recall how long she had been out there but the candles lining the hall were progressively diminishing.
She might already be asleep. She does have classes tomorrow. No she's awake. Don't be a pussy. Just knock on her door and ask her to go out for Valentine's day. She's already your girlfriend. It's not like she'll say no. I need to talk to Minerva. Fuck it. Just knock.
Bellatrix turned her inner monologue off and walked up to and quietly knocked on Hermione's door. Bellatrix didn't hear any sounds coming from inside and she knocked again with a little more force. Just when Bella was turning to walk back to her room, she heard the shuffling of the door being cracked open.
"Bella?" Hermione asked with an air of sleepiness to her voice. "What are you doing out here so late?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were sleeping." Bella said reaching out too gently stroke Hermione's cheek. "I didn't mean to wake you. I just wanted to ask you something and it couldn't wait until tomorrow."
"Bella you are scaring me. Is everything okay? Did something happen at your sister's house?" Hermione queried furrowing her eyebrows and opening the door fully to stand directly in front of the older witch.
"No. I'm fine. Cissy's fine. It's nothing like that." Bellatrix said looking down and nervously scratching behind her ear.
"What is it?" Hermione asked with a calm tone reaching out to hold both of her hands.
"Well. I was wondering…". Bella said looking down kicking her shoe off the ground. Hermione noted the pink tinge in Bella's cheeks. "I was just wondering if you'd like to go out on a date with me. Two Fridays from now."
"Two Friday's from now? Why wait until then?" Hermione asked smiling at the older witch.
"Well…"
Hermione leaned in because Bellatrix mumbled the last part of her sentence and she couldn't hear. Hermione was well aware of what was on Friday in two weeks time but she wanted to hear Bellatrix say it because nervous Bellatrix was absolutely adorable to her.
"What was that? I didn't quite hear you."
Bellatrix met the challenge in the brunette's eyes and stood up straight. Looking directly into the younger witch's eyes she said "Hermione, will you do the honor of being my date this Valentine's day? I would love nothing more than to take you out and show you exactly how much you mean to me."
