TW: verbal abuse to children
Bellatrix stood at the top of the stairs that lead down to the ground floor. Below students were running around trying to get themselves sorted and saying their goodbyes to one another. The train was leaving this morning and it always created a buzz. She was waiting for Hermione, they agreed to meet there and then find somewhere private to go for a final goodbye. Hopefully, Hermione wouldn't notice how on edge Bellatrix looked. When she'd got dressed that morning, she had spent a bit of time trying to conceal the bags under her eyes from the sleepless nights. It might be wise to get used to those, she thought, unless she found some magic cure for guilt. Just as she shook away the thought, she felt a presence close behind her and the brush of fingers at her hip. There was only one person who would dare touch her like that, she smiled and turned to find Hermione looking around them for prying eyes. Upon seeing that it was clear, Hermione took Bellatrix's hand and led her to a deserted hallway and though a rather small looking door that stood behind a torn tapestry. The door led to an even more deserted hallway that was far narrower than the main ones intended for students.
Bellatrix glanced around them "you know I have never seen this hallway before"
Hermione smirked, glad to know something that Bellatrix didn't "ah well I know a lot of secret passageways"
"oh really, never taken you for the rebellious type Granger" Bellatrix liked when Hermione pulled that look of self-satisfaction, it was very cute.
"well, I know where they are…doesn't mean I take them" Hermione chuckled and smiled when Bellatrix did too. "so, I suppose this is our last secret date for a while".
"Just for a little while" Bellatrix thought to herself for a moment "maybe things don't have to be as secret when you come back".
Hermione turned and looked at Bellatrix full on "what do you mean" she raised a brow, why would the new year change the circumstances.
"I just mean, this uh… us it's you know" Bellatrix could feel her face starting to burn "I think it could be a long-term thing and its only matter of time before people really catch on. If they haven't already that is"
Hermione moved closer to Bellatrix and put a hand upon her hip "what about your family and friends, what about your life" she said with a calm sympathetic face.
Bellatrix stared back into Hermione' hazel eyes "They're not really my friends, and as family goes, I can't say I've been close to anyone in a long time. Not after what I did to Andromeda"
Hermione stayed silent, hoping Bellatrix would elaborate.
"I told you that she left but, she was made to leave. She, I." Bellatrix shifted her weight uncomfortably "There was a boy, he's her husband now I believe, they met at Hogwarts and he was muggle born. My sisters and I were all quite close but… I was younger than them both. I don't think they trusted me with it, didn't think I would understand. I guess they were right after all" Bellatrix didn't know why she was telling Hermione this now, but it felt right. "I found a letter from the muggle born boy, Tonks. It was hidden in a book we used to use for secret messaged to one another. It was a love letter and he spoke about things… uh... you know, going home to his muggle parents for the summer and how being with Andromeda was all he thought about. At the time I thought that muggles were some sort of, well you know what my father's people are like. I thought she was in danger, that she'd be in trouble, but she'd be safer if I told my father. So, I did."
Hermione rubbed at Bellatrix's arm gently, waiting as she paused.
"he almost killed her" she whispered "If Narcissa hadn't of stepped in long enough to let her run then he would have. Narcissa spent days in bed, shifting in and out of consciousness" Bellatrix looked down at her shoes, ashamed of herself. "She wasn't the same after that, she became like any other adult in the family. Cold, dismissive. I was left to fester with the knowledge that my parents were horrible and my sisters were lost to me." She took a deep breathe in "so the point of what im saying is that. Well, there's nothing I could possibly lose now, that would be worth more than being with you" Bellatrix looked up again at Hermione, her face sad and serious.
Hermione brushed a stray curl out of Bellatrix's and then rested her fingers around the nape of her neck. She looked at her for a moment and then leaned in to kiss her. They kissed slowly, before Hermione pulled away to look at her again. "I love you" she whispered and smiled gently.
"I…" Bellatrix's couldn't form any words.
Hermione maintained her smile "It's okay, you don't have to say it back" She kissed her again. "The trains going to be leaving soon, I better get my things ready".
"I suppose we better get going then" Bellatrix breathed deeply and stepped back, breaking the thick tension. She felt giddy and overwhelmed, like her heart was beating so hard it might become audible to Hermione.
They left the hallway after making sure that Bellatrix had Hermione's address so she could write, then Hermione went back to the Gryffindor common room. Bellatrix felt her last chance to come clean slip away as the usual sick feeling settled back in her stomach. She gripped her fist and went back to her own dorm. Deep in her trunk she found a quarter bottle of fire whiskey she kept handy. Her dorm was empty at this point, most of the Slytherin girls in her dorm room were also the daughters in old pure blood families, they had a strict schedule at Christmas. If she didn't feel so rotten inside, she might have pitied them she thought as she took a deep sip and sat on the edge of her bed, hoping she might sleep the Christmas holidays away.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked through the train till they found an empty carriage and pilled in to sit down. Ron and Hermione on one side and Harry on the other. Ron has shuffled in such a way that Harry and Hermione sat opposite each other and Harry felt he had done it on purpose. This was confirmed after roughly an hour of the journey when Ron caught Harry's eye during a causal conversation about what Sirius was up to. Ron looked right into his eyes and raised his eyebrows.
Harry sighed quietly "Speaking of Sirius, he sent me a letter the other day about uh…you, Hermione" He grasped his hands, nervous that Hermione would be mad. "He asked if he would be able to speak to you, privately, before we get to the Burrow".
Hermione looked confused for a moment and then her face settled into slight disappointment. "I think I can guess what it's about, where would he like to talk then?"
"I was thinking if you didn't mind meeting him at the station before meeting your parents" Harry blurted it out fast, wanting this to be over.
Hermione thought about it for a moment, Sirius had always been someone she respected a lot. Ever since he had taken custody of Harry, he'd seemed to change. He was calmer, happier and had even started talking about his past. She wondered if he would try to convince her to steer clear of Bella. Either way, she knew she had to find out. Even if it was just so it wasn't tense at the Burrow. "okay, I'll hear what he wants to say to me". Hermione said softly.
After that, their conversation died down as the day passed outside the window. The train always left in the morning and arrived in the evening. It was a long journey, but it was a wonderful sight to watch the day mature outside the window. They sat leaning, tired from doing nothing and eager to get home and sleep. Eventually they arrived at Kings cross, Hermione had almost forgotten that she was meeting Sirius and she grew a little bit nervous. The three teens walked out of the train and down the platform until they got close to the exit of 9 and ¾. They slowed and Ron said he'd see them soon and to make sure they brought room in their cases for a new jumper when they came to the Burrow. Harry and Hermione both chuckled and waved as they went to leave the platform, on the other side they walked steadily towards the East exit of Kings cross to see Sirius.
"Thank you for doing this Hermione, just know that whatever he says, he's only saying it because he cares about you" Harry turned his head slightly towards her with an understanding expression.
Hermione nodded and smiled "of course" her stomach churned with nerves.
As they grew closer, Harry noticed how empty this side of the station seemed, and those who were there appeared to pace at an oddly fast speed. Despite this, their faces seemed relaxed, as though only their legs knew they were late. He shrugged it off, perhaps they'd all come from the same office and were all stuck in the same meeting. Harry had always been a fan of people watching and he scanned people one by one lazily as they walked, then something caught his eye. Sat on a bench nearby was a small boy, in front of him stood a man who looked to be the definition of burly. He had a great bushy moustache and his build was straining the seams of his worn out suit.
"YOU STUPID WASTE OF A BOY, LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE NOW" The man's thick finger pointed at a trunk on the ground, that looked to have fallen off of the boy's trolley. "YOU GET THAT THING ON A TROLLEY AND MEET ME OUTSIDE IN 10 MINUTES OR YOU CAN SLEEP ON THAT BENCH TILL YOU GO BACK TO YOUR LITTLE FREAK SCHOOL" He marched off towards the exit.
The boy on the bench was now snivelling to himself and balling his fists into his eyes. His uniform matched his father's suit and hugged him too snuggly. Harry assumed they were badly fitting hand me downs. He began to walk over to the boy on instinct. When he was finally in front of him, Harry put his hand lightly on the boy's shoulder, and felt a flinch in return.
"Oh, sorry, I'm sorry" The boy muttered, his eyes red and his nose running so hard that he had to wipe it on his sleeve.
"It's okay" Harry said with a smile "would you like a hand with your trunk?"
"Uh oh yes please" The boy brushed his floppy dark hair out of his blue eyes. "oh my gosh, you're Harry Potter"
"Yeah that's me" He said with a chuckle "and this is my friend Hermione" Harry looked at Hermione, who now stood by his side.
The boys face flashed with an unreadable expression for such a brief time that Hermione assumed she had imagined it, then he smiled widely.
"hello" Hermione said returning the grin "shall we get you on your way then?" she had moved her trolley to the side with Harrys and now stood at one end of the trunk.
"uhhh" the boy glanced at a large clock on the wall of the station "um yes on this trolley here if that's okay" he pulled his trolley closer "and uh its heavy, sorry about that, lots of books and such you know"
Harry stood at the other end of the trunk and looked at Hermione, she stared back and widened her eyes at him. This boy was a little strange, but it didn't hurt to help him after all. She bent down and took a trunk handle in unison with Harry and started to lift. The thing weighed as though it was filled to the brim with only books. She looked back up at Harry to see his red strained face, then she looked down at the boy. The boy was staring as Harry, his tears and polite smile was gone, and he stood watching every movement in Harry's face calmly as he placed his own hand on the trunk. A sick feeling washed over Hermione as she realised that something was very wrong. She opened her mouth to shout to Harry, but before the words were formed the floor had dropped from beneath her feet and the trunk had begun to spin. Harry's shocked face met hers and she let out a scream as a large dark figure came behind Harry and dragged him backwards. Suddenly she felt a pressure on the back of her head and her vision blurred into darkness.