Hermione stumbled as gracefully as she could've out of the fireplace at Malfoy Manor. Her girlfriend was standing there slightly laughing as she came through.
"Ugh. I'll never get used to floo travel." She noticed her girlfriend laughing. "What's so funny?"
Bellatrix approached her girlfriend looking her up and down. "Nothing love. You have some soot on your nose... and forehead..." Bella said brushing her nose and forehead while walking around the young witch. "And some on your lovely little behind." Bella said swatting her girlfriend on the butt.
"Hands Bella!" Hermione squeaked then glared as Bellatrix cackled. "Your sister has seen enough of me and our extracurricular activities to last a lifetime. The last thing I want her to come in here and see is you grabbing my bum."
"Sweetheart. I wasn't grabbing your ass. I was merely dusting you off. If I was meant to be grabbing you ass, it would feel like this," Bella said grabbing a handful of Hermione's ass in her palm making the younger witch squeak out again and jump away.
"Bella, leave Ms. Granger alone..." Narcissa said entering the room. "Hasn't she had enough embarrassment for one night?" Narcissa said winking at the brunette. Hermione was turning a bright shade of red and hid her face in Bella's neck.
"Merlin. It's official. I'm going to die. Cause of death... death by embarrassment at the hands of the Sisters Black." Hermione sighed.
Bella chuckled. "Oh wait until Andy gets in on this. You won't stand a chance." Narcissa cleared her throat. "Ahh yes. I suppose we should get on with why we are here. Where is she Cissy?"
"In the library, come." Narcissa turned and walked out the door. Bella held her hand out which Hermione immediately latched onto while lacing their fingers together. No words were spoken between the pair but Bella heard the unspoken words of encouragement from her girlfriend.
Narcissa lead them down the long white hallway and up the stairs to the second floor. Down another long white hallway, there was a big ornate dark wooden door. She opened the doors and went inside expecting the women to follow. Bella stopped bringing Hermione to a stop with her.
"I don't if I can do this," Bella whispered turning slightly towards Hermione. Sensing the worry pouring out of her lover, Hermione placed a calming hand on Bella's shoulder and squeezed. She leaned into her ear and whispered, "it's going to be fine. I'll be right here with you. I love you, Bella."
Bella exhaled a long, deep breath. "I love you too. Okay let's do this." Bellatrix squeezed Hermione's hand and pulled her along through the doorway. She heard a small gasp come from her girlfriend and looked over to see Hermione's eyes drinking in a vast library of the Malfoy's.
"It's gorgeous." Hermione said quietly to Bellatrix. The older witch just smiled and pulled her along to where her sister's were sitting facing a roaring fire.
Bella and Hermione took loveseat perpendicular to the couch the sister's were occupying. Silence fell over the group. Bellatrix was staring into the fire and Hermione was nervously playing with her hands that were sat on her lap. Bellatrix reached down and placed her hand atop Hermione's to settle the nervous behavior.
Twiggy popped into the room looking nervously at Narcissa before speaking to the ladies on the loveseat. "Would the misses care for some tea, fire whiskey or anything else? Twiggy is happy to get you whatever you wish."
"I'd love a glass of water please," Hermione responded in a soft tone. "What about you Bella?"
"Fire whiskey please, Twiggy." Bellatrix looked over towards her estranged sister. "Better make it a double." Twiggy left and was back within seconds with the two drinks. "Anything else just let Twiggy know."
"Thank you, Twiggy. You may go." Narcissa said and Twiggy took her leave from the room.
Another fifteen minutes of silence fell upon the group before Narcissa seemed to have had enough of it and loudly placed her whiskey tumbler down in the table. "For Morgana's sake, can't four grown and intelligent women think of anything that we might want to discuss?"
Nobody answered so Narcissa dramatically rolled her eye, "well? Anyone?"
"You have a very lovely library, Madam Malfoy." Hermione spoke up. Bellatrix chuckled beside her. "I don't wish to speak out of turn but I do need to apologize to you Mrs. Tonks for my behavior earlier today. It was uncalled for and out of line to speak to you in that manner. I'm sorry I raised my voice at you." Bellatrix looked up at that moment to see if Andy would acknowledge the younger girl's apology.
Andromeda looked at the young woman as if considering her apology but making no moves to say anything in return.
"Well... it would seem that the 20 year old among us is the most mature person here tonight." Narcissa said rolling her eyes.
Bellatrix sighed dramatically. "Well Cissy, from what I saw... it doesn't seem as if Hermione owed anyone an apology or explanation. She was just acting defensive out of a natural instinct to protect what is hers."
"Oh that's rich." Andy scoffed.
"Something to add, sis?" Bellatrix narrowed her eyes at her younger sister.
"Protecting what's hers. Please we all know that this is just some elaborate act you've concocted to pull the wool over Kingley's eyes."
"Andy, please..." Narcissa tried to interject.
"Don't worry, Cissy. I'm not fragile. I can't take whatever Andy dishes out. I'm Bellatrix after all. Oldest child. I was born to take whatever blows come my way." Bellatrix said with an unreadable tone staring at Andy. Hermione knew her girlfriend was tense by the slight squeeze she was feeling on her hand. "Did you at least watch the memory that I sent back with Cissy? If you haven't then this all seems pointless."
"I watched it. Yes."
"If you watch it then how can you still be attacking your sister that way?" Hermione spoke up.
"I watched Bellatrix engaging in battle with another death eater. She was so focused on what she was doing that she didn't see Rab sneaking up behind Dora. It looked as if she was trying to warn Dora but it was too late. Rab had hit her from behind." Andromeda recalled, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Andy..." Bella spoke softly. "No matter what was happening between us, I never would've killed my niece. I tried to save her but I couldn't. Seeing your daughter die was and still is a horrible moment that I wish I could change. My soul healer told me long ago that I had to forgive myself for it but I don't think I ever will."
"Dora shouldn't even have been there that night. She was meant to be at home with Teddy. She dropped Teddy off at my house and said that she had to go and be with her husband. Had I known that would've been the last time I spoke with her, I would've tried harder to stop her." Andy said quietly. She turned her gaze to her older sister. "Prior to seeing the memory it was always easy just to think that you had killed her and to place all the blame on you. Now though, I have no one to one else to blame for her death other than myself. I shouldn't have let her leave."
"Andy. You know Nymphadora wouldn't have stayed behind. She was born to fight. She had a fiery soul." Hermione said wiping tears from her cheeks. "It wasn't your fault any more than Bella's. The fault lies with Rabastan and he is gone."
"Seems like maybe Bella's soul healer is right and everybody needs to accept that internal forgiveness needs to happen prior to anyone moving on." Narcissa added smiling at Hermione.
With a silent nod Narcissa entered Hermione's mind. "Ms. Granger. I'm sorry for not stepping up the night the snatchers brought you here. You were an innocent child and I apologize for not having the nerve to do anything about it." Narcissa pulled out of her mind and Hermione just offered her a slight smile and a gentle nod.
"I'm sorry for what happened to your daughter, Andy. She didn't deserve to die at all let alone at the hands of Rabastan. He got what he deserved in the end." Bellatrix said squeezing Hermione's hand for support.
"I guess I can see in some small way that you've made changes. The Bellatrix I knew would rather be tortured for hours instead of apologizing to anyone." Andy said offering her older sister a small smile.
"It would seem that Minerva, my soul healer and Hermione here have taken me down many pegs. It would appear that I am no different or better than any other witch or wizard. If you asked me that three years ago, I'm sure I'd have had a different response and any one who had suggested that notion surely would've been crucioed." She chuckled.
"So it's true?" Andy asked.
"What?" Bella asked confused.
Andy was looking at Bella's hand which was grasping Hermione's. Hermione was gently grazing her thumb over the back of Bella's hand offering comfort.
"You are in love with a muggle born?"
"It would appear so." Bellatrix said giving Hermione a soft smile. She extended her arm and put it around Hermione's shoulder bringing the younger witch into her side. Bella placed a kiss on the side of her forehead. "Cygnus is probably rolling over in his grave."
"After all the trouble you gave me about Ted in school..." Andy started but Bella cut her off with a wave of her hand.
"I acted in the way that was expected of the eldest child of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black in that circumstance."
"Is that your best excuse, really Bella?" Andy shot back at her, eyes narrowed. "You treated Ted like crap in school and you never once tried to contact me after I was blasted off that portrait."
"I didn't hate Ted." Bella said wrinkling her nose at the sentiment. "If I even tried to contact you, you know father would've taken it out on Cissy. I was used to being his punching bag but I couldn't let the same happen to her." Bella said looking at her youngest sister. "I apologize for not being there for you but you had Ted. Cissy only had me." The feelings of this conversations were starting to overwhelm Bella. She wasn't used to this level of emotion outside of her soul healer meetings. Without thinking, she got up and walked over to the window to stare at the gardens below.
Hermione started to get up when Andy shook her head and rose from her seat. "Bella..." Andy began to say when a loud crack disrupted the room.
"Twiggy is sorry to interrupt the misses but Master Teddy was crying and wouldn't calm down for Twiggy or any of the elves." Twiggy said putting a wriggling Teddy down on the ground. With tear stained cheeks, Teddy ran over to his grandma and threw his arms around her legs.
"Up! Up!" Teddy said reaching for Andy to pick him up.
"Come here darling," Andy said reaching down and scooping up the toddler. She took out a handkerchief and wiped away Teddy's tears. "There all better. Thank you Twiggy. Teddy can stay with us. I don't think imminent wand fire is a cause for concern anymore."
Bella chuckled at her words while turning from the window. "All water under the bridge now?" Bella said rolling her eyes. "I'd have thought there'd be more yelling and duels. I thought I'd at least have to have Hermione kick your ass for me."
"Bella!" Hermione swatted her girlfriend's shoulder when she sat back down. "There are small ears in the room."
"Yeah. Teddy is like a sponge. He's been repeating everything."
"Ass..." Teddy giggled and looked over at Bella. His hair turned a bright shade of blue when he giggled.
"His hair?!" Bella exclaimed.
"I see he takes after his mom." Hermione reminisced fondly. "Tonks was a metamorphmagus. It seems to have been passed on to Teddy." Hermione smiled at her girlfriend.
"A metamorphmagus in the family... well fuck me." Bella said then widened her eyes when she remembered who was in the room.
"Fffffffffff me." Teddy tried to say.
"Sorry." Bella said her cheeks turning red. Teddy wriggled out of his Grandma's arms and toddled over to where Bella and Hermione sat. Teddy looking up at Bella reached out his arms.
"Up."
Bella leaned over and whispered to Hermione. "What does this small being want from me?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "He wants you to hold him." Hermione bent over, picked Teddy up and placed him on Bella's lap. Bella looked slightly uncomfortable. She placed a hand on his leg to hold him down and another behind his back. "Honestly Bella, haven't you been around a child before?"
"Yes Bella. You spent some time with Draco before everything..." Narcissa started to say before Bella cut her off.
"Well that was different. Draco was a baby. He just kind of sat around like a lump." Hermione repressed a snicker. "Hello, Teddy." Bella said reaching out and ruffling the young boy's hair. He giggled and his blue hair turned black and curly like Bella's. "Smart boy this one is." Bella said with a smile on her face.
"Bella. I'm not saying I can forgive and forget over night but I want to have my sisters in my life and I want Teddy to know his family."
"I'd like that too, Andy." Bella replied and stuck her tongue out at Teddy making him laugh.
"And Hermione. I'm sorry for the way I behaved earlier today. I was wrong and your response to me was justified and honestly, if you would've punched me it wouldn't have been out of line."
Hours had passed. The women spent the evening talking and having a lovely time with Teddy. The night was getting on and Hermione had class in the morning. Bella walked over and deposited a sleeping Teddy into Andy's arms and gave her a kiss on the forehead. She went back over and offered her hand out to help Hermione up. "Come now love, we have a big day tomorrow. Classes and studying await."
"Only a month left now?" Narcissa said walking behind them to see them to the floo.
"Yes. I'm ready to be done with Hogwarts. I'm ready to begin my life." Hermione responded squeezing Bella's hand.
"Draco said he's made progress with his patronus and he can't stop talking about seeing his Aunt Bella's on the last day of class."
"Well I better get going so I can start practicing." Bella said giving her sister a hug and walked into the floo.
"Goodbye Narcissa. Thank you for everything tonight." Hermione waved as she started to step into the fire.
"Hermione. I meant it earlier. I am sorry for what happened that day. I also wanted to let you know how happy I am that Bella has you in her life. Bella has never had an easy life and she's finally happy. Please don't break her heart."
"Never." Hermione said exiting the manor. Hermione stumbled out of the fireplace into Bella's chamber somewhat gracefully this time.
"Did my darling sister give you the run around?"
"No. She just said goodbye." Hermione said walking over to wrap her arms around her girlfriend. "I love you so much." She whispered in her ear.
"Not as much as I love you, Hermione." Bella let go of Hermione and started to change for bed.
Pulling the shirt over her head, Hermione looked over at her girlfriend. "By the way… what is your patronus?"
Bellatrix turned around and stared her girlfriend down. "Couldn't wait until after the NEWTS like everyone else?" She walked around and embarrassed her love. She pressed her nose up the length of Hermione's neck smelling deeply and stopped when she reached her ear to suck briefly on her ear lobe. Continuing her assault, she licked along the shell of Hermione's ear which made Hermione shudder in her arms.
"It was a wolf."
