Hope you enjoy x
The first thing he heard, was the light familiar snores of his nearby friend as he sat up in his bed and rubbed sleep from his eyes. It was the first time in months that Harry had awoken troubled. Since Sirius had been cleared of criminal charges paid reparations, he had begun a new and relaxed life in a cosy house with his Godfather, tentatively building the relatively young relationship. He had become blissfully used to a lack of impending demise, yet today his thoughts were suspicious and sinister. As he swung his legs out of bed and headed to the bathroom, he thought of the night before. He had grown worried for Hermione since the night she asked to look at his map and had asked Sirius about what Bellatrix might be capable of, from what Sirius knew of that half of his family, she could do a lot worse than a couple of hexes or spiteful rumours. In an attempt to protect Hermione he had followed the Slytherin witch under his father's cloak and listened, until the sound of small bumps and rustles pushed him to check if his friend was okay, and he was met with a very unexpected sight. With only one minor bump he made a hasty exit and had rushed straight to bed and laid thinking of what he was to do next. Was it real? Or is this a sick plan to hurt Hermione or manipulate her into doing something. Harry knew that his best friend was smart, but he also knew how trusting she could be and after everything had calmed down from last year, he had begun to notice how lonely she seemed sometimes. He and Ron had spoke about it and assumed it was about Krum, but Hermione assured them of her lack of interest and her desire for only platonic relationships with all her male friends. Ron had heard the message loud and clear and they all decided that Hermione's taste in partners was to be an untouched subject, that is until now, because he had to tell Ron if Hermione might be in trouble, right? Or should he just talk to Hermione? Or maybe just to Sirius for the time being? He wasn't at all sure, but as fellow Gryffindor's began to flood into the bathroom he realised he was late to the pre-game meet up.
The blaring band and screaming students filled the pitch with a vibe of adrenaline, Bellatrix drank it in as she strode alongside her team, ready to make quips at their opponents. Before long she was face to face with the Gryffindor team, her messy hair subdued into a bun and her hand grasped tightly around a beaters bat. She grazed across her possible victims, noting the lack of eye contact, that is until she landed on the scruffy seeker. Potter was staring back at her, seemingly with no intention of looking away, his face was stern and threatening but carried no obvious grimace. Slightly confused Bellatrix shifted away her gaze first, attempting to look as though she had barely noticed him at all.
Above the tension sat Hermione, staring hawk eyed at the tiny players below, her thigh bumping into Ron's as she speedily jigged her leg.
"'mione are you cold or has someone hexed your feet?"
"Sorry Ron, just nervous for them I guess"
"Ah yes it's because of your interest in Quidditch, how did I not think of that" Ron nudged at her playfully
"well, the amount you and Harry go on about it, some of that dedication must have rubbed off" She nudged lightly back with a smile.
Down on the pitch the players had mounted their brooms and flown to their positions, Bellatrix could feel Potters gaze still tracked on her and she grabbed her bat harder, she wasn't clear on what the problem was, but she was planning on giving him another one if he didn't stop staring. With that thought she painted a sinister smile onto her face a swirled her broom around to face him, just as the whistle blew she gave a wink and they both shot off in different directions.
The speed of the game immediately became intense due to the harsh rivalry, Bellatrix was skilfully weaving between players of both teams, looking for the bludgers and keeping an eye on where Potter was. Suddenly she heard the squeak of another player as a bludger narrowly missed their head and she manoeuvred herself into its erratic path, picking a red and gold target at random, she swung her bat with might as sent the bludger in a straight shot towards the tail of the other player's broom, knocking them into a spiral. Before they could even look to see their attacker, Bellatrix had moved. Players always expected her to wait and gloat and they had used that against her before, so she had learnt to always keep moving as to never be caught off guard. Suddenly she saw a mass flying towards her side at speed and she dipped her broom, so it passed over her. Scowling she looked above her to see Potter, pretending he had noticed nothing.
The game played on for another few hours, Harry growing frustrated at having not yet seen the snitch and even more frustrated at having watched Bellatrix knock Fred off his broom while managing to kick the quaffle to her team mate at the same time, an impressive move that had the entirety of Slytherin roaring. He allowed his eyes to scan the crowd until her found his friends, Ron was watching red faced and beside him was Hermione, tracing her line of sight he found her to be following all of Bellatrix's movements, her eyebrows raised and completely focused. He looked down at Bellatrix herself, weaving through the players like air before swinging her beater with a force her slender frame looked incapable of. The sight of her made him angry, thinking of the horrible things she was planning to do to Hermione, embarrass her, blackmail her or try and break her heart out of strange spite. And that's when he saw it, a flicker of gold near the Slytherin witch's foot, with a smirk he tipped his broom forward and began his descent towards it. By the time he was by Bellatrix the snitch had begun to make large jerky circles around her, and so he followed suite, circling with speed as the dark haired girl in his way grew more and more angry. As he closed in he saw almost in slow motion as a bat flung and sent the snitch flying away, he shot after it as Bellatrix went the other way, but the golden ball slowed and then pinged back as though on a rubber string and went soaring back towards the Slytherin girl with Harry in tow.
Bellatrix saw the snitch and Potter both trailing closely and upon instinct she darted away, dodging through people to try and shake off the stupid little ball. She began to fly lower and lower, getting angrier with every breathe she heaved in, until finally she had enough and flew towards a stand post, deciding to cut up at the last second regardless of what happened to the boy and the abnormal snitch. As she grew dangerously close she cut up, only to find Potter flying above her and with a swift but slight kick to the tip of her broom he stopped her ascent and Bellatrix crashed through the thin cover of the stand and into something hard.
When Bellatrix woke it was dark, and her whole body felt like it had been stood on by a troll, she took a deep breath in and winced as several ribs screamed in protest. Despite the pain she sat up and looked around into the ashy dark, beside her was a couple of cards from friends and an empty potion bottle. She thought back to the match earlier, to the scruffy Gryffindor kicking her broom, if it weren't for the pain she would have happily gone to choke him in his sleep. She thought about trying to stand but at the look of early morning approaching she decided against it and slumped lower in her bed, turning her head back towards the night stand with a huff. From the new angle she saw an untouched envelope laying beneath the potion bottle and shifted back up to grab it. The blank cover gave her a hint at its sender, she popped the wax seal and slid out a small, neat note.
Bellatrix,
I Hope when you read this you are not in too much pain, I overheard that you broke quite a few bones. I know you're probably ready to kill Harry, but if it helps he's already had an impressive lecturing, which you may know is also quite painful (that is a joke). I never knew how good you were at quidditch, it almost made the game interesting (another joke).
Maybe when you feel a bit better I could come and visit?
Get well soon,
H
The dark haired girl fiddled with the edges of the paper as she read a second time, smiling a little at Hermione declaring her own jokes, she could imagine her writing it and getting flustered at the thought of Bellatrix thinking she was being serious. As she placed the letter under her pillow her mind bounced between seeing Hermione and getting revenge on the Potter boy. They had played against one another before, but never before had he tried anything, even after her father had been involved with the whole Triwizard cup thing. Clearly the boy had a new hatred, which could only mean that somehow, he knew about Bellatrix and Hermione, right? And why else would Potter attempt to maim her unless he was jealous. If that was the case then Bellatrix needn't plan revenge any at all, she smiled slightly to herself.
A couple of days had gone by and Hermione was yet to see Bellatrix, visiting would look extremely strange but she was hoping Bellatrix might contact her with a time she wouldn't be spotted. She had overheard Slytherins talking about her multiple breakages and assumed it would be a few days before she was allowed back out of the hospital wing. She had sent a letter via friendly house elf but that's as close as she had come. Despite a slight feeling of confusion and shame still, she couldn't deny that she missed seeing Bellatrix. She didn't know her all that well yet but, she missed the electric feeling of just being around her, the smell of her perfume and the curls in her hair. Even when focusing on school work, her mind would always come back to her, and worryingly she had an inkling of what they may mean. Lost in her own thoughts Hermione didn't notice a small dark owl sitting on the window sill of a nearby library window and so jumped when it pecked its little beak against the glass. She looked swiftly around and saw what she already knew, that she was alone, and so went and let the fluffy bird in. Within its beak it held a small rolled up piece of parchment, it dropped it in front of the young witch and departed back out through the window and into the sky. Sparing no time Hermione unrolled the parchment.
Hermione,
If I've guessed correctly then you're in the library and have received this note. Meet me tonight at 10pm outside the hospital wing, I'll be waiting.
B
Hermione's heart leapt with excitement as she read the little note, there was no hinting to what might happen or what mood Bellatrix might be in, but over the past few weeks she had come to the conclusion that knowing was better than not knowing. So, when 9:45 came she checked herself one more time in the mirror, having made an effort to reduce the frizz in her hair, and left for the hospital wing.
10:05pm. Hermione looked at her watch again as she stood alert near a gap in the wall where a knight stood, ready to hide if she heard footsteps. She thought again of the note, I will be waiting, and grew a little more uncomfortable. What if Bellatrix wasn't coming, what if she was caught or too sick or suddenly hated her again. Suddenly she felt a soft tap on her shoulder and whipped round with speed, there stood the Slytherin witch. Bellatrix was fresh faced with her hair up in a messy bun, her normal rouge lips were paler but no less beautiful, and she was wearing a green Slytherin jumper over…pyjamas? Hermione's eyes dropped to the older girl's lower half, yes, pyjamas and slippers which made Hermione realise that Bellatrix was actually shorter than her.
"they won't let me have normal clothes until I can leave the hospital wing" Bellatrix stared at her slippers and willed her face not to flush
"so, you're wearing pjs and slippers" Hermione stated, still taken back by the vulnerable sight.
"so, I'm wearing pjs and slippers yes, 10 points to Gryffindor" Bellatrix threw it playfully, trying to hide her embarrassment. "well come on then we haven't got all night" she said as she put out her hand.
Hermione, still shell shocked, hesitated slightly before grabbing it.
Through the hours of the night they walked the castle and Bellatrix showed her all the secret passageways she knew, they exchanged facts about the castle and about themselves. Trivial things like the fact that Bellatrix's favourite colour was green and Hermione's blue. Hermione even pushed the boat out a little by explaining some muggle concepts, and to her surprise found Bellatrix to be quite interested in how things like TVs and kettles worked. By the time 2am arrived the Slytherin girl was growing increasing tired, her injuries aching at the strain of walking for so long, and it gave her a brilliant idea. She seized Hermione's hand and took whisked them away, keeping her evil plan secret until they arrived. Eventually they stood outside a large wooden door on the fifth floor, Bellatrix smirked and whispers something that caused the door to click open. She then motioned for Hermione to go first.
Before the younger witch was a swimming pool sized tub, made of stone, surrounded by beautiful glass windows. At the side of the pool was a number of different taps that, when Bellatrix flicked her wand at them, spewed multicoloured spouts of water. It dawned on her that she was in the prefect's bathroom, in front of a hastily running bath, with Bellatrix standing behind her and her mouth went very dry.
"uh… you fancied a bath?" Hermione spluttered going tomato red. "Do you want me to keep watch or something or um turn around" she nervously laughed.
"Of course not silly" Bellatrix waited for the look of relief to settle on Hermione's face "I want you to come in with me" Riding the wave of her confidence Bellatrix began to strip to her bra and underwear, black and lacy obviously as she refused to purchase anything less. When she was ready she walked into the bubbly hot water and felt as though she could moan at how it relieved the pain in her muscles. She then turned her attention to the bright red girl near the bath stair and waiting with a sultry smile on her face, "what are you waiting for Granger? The water's lovely"
The urge to run was present but the warm tingle that had ran through Hermione's body at the sight of Bellatrix in underwear had rooted her to the spot. She couldn't back down now, she had to rise to the challenge. So, with careful but fact movements she began to de-robe herself, wishing she had worn nicer underwear. When she was down to her plain pink underwear and horrifically unmatching purple bra, she quickly threw her hair up to save it from the water and sped walked down the steps and into the warm water. There with gracefully slow movements Bellatrix came towards her, and immediately put her hand on Hermione bare waist. The feel of her small but firm hands on her made her feel like she might die, the warmth of her hands under the water radiated through her body like a curse, but immediately the younger witch knew she wanted to reciprocate the contact. With all her courage she moved forward and placed her hands a little lower on Bellatrix's hips.
Both were rosy cheeked, and Bellatrix wondered if it was the heat or the boundaryless contact but Hermione looked very pretty, upon instinct Bellatrix moved forward and kissed Hermione. It was soft and slow and after the older witch opened her eyes and gave a looked that asked permission to continue. In reply Hermione kissed Bellatrix softly back and inched their bodies closer slightly, with each sensuous movement the kiss deepened with the experimental introduction of tongues. Bellatrix couldn't help but occasionally nipple on Hermione's lower lip and they stayed in their embrace.
When sun began to stream through the glass windows they both knew it was past time they were to leave and they quietly dried with magic and dressed themselves. They walked for a while towards the hospital wing, completely silent and with their hands intertwined. Around them the deep orange light of sunrise filled the silent corridors and awakened a fresh smell of a new morning. Too soon the time to separate came and they did so simply with a peck, with neither feeling the need to offer more than a peaceful smile as a goodbye.