When Bellatrix woke up, she was cold and she ached from sleeping on the floor, the space in front of her where Hermione had slept was now empty. She sat up and looked around, Hermione was sat in a nearby armchair reading another book.
"Hey" Bellatrix said as she ran her fingers through her hair and then a single finger around her lips to remove any stray lipstick.
"Good morning" Hermione said without looking up from her book.
Bellatrix felt a little bit uncomfortable at Hermione's lack of eye contact, but she knew it wouldn't be easy. "It's a sweet library" she said as she looked around again "are all your family big readers?"
Hermione closed her book slowly and looked down at Bellatrix "I know you're sorry, and I know you did what you did to your father for me. But I can't go back to the way things were."
Bellatrix stood and looked a Hermione "They won't be, we don't have to hide anymore"
Hermione sighed "you're happy to walk into the Slytherin dormitory with everyone knowing we're…you know"
It was funny to think that despite everything, they had never really looked to label what they had together, not strictly anyway. "They're not all bad and the ones that would be are either deluded or afraid. So why should I care" Bellatrix walked forward and reached out for Hermione's hand. "I know it won't be easy at first, and I know that the last thing you need is more stress, but we can do it together."
"what about everyone else, what do I tell my family and friends. That sure I got tortured but she's sorry and committed murder for me" Hermione's voice got a little heated. "I'm sorry" she said immediately "I never used to tell my parents anything about the wizarding world before all this, now they know, how do I defend this?"
Bellatrix felt a stab of hurt, even though she deserved Hermione's sharp words and more "I don't know how I will ever make your family and friends trust me, but I can at least try. Then… maybe one day they will understand."
Hermione looked down at her lap "I just don't know if I can do it" her eyes closed. She felt so tired, like even leaving this room would drain the last of her energy.
"If you're not ready to be open about us then that's okay" Bellatrix was soft with her words.
"I don't want to hide, it's too much work Bella, I just can't do it alone" Hermione's misty eyes looked up.
Bellatrix felt almost as though it was a plea, "You won't have to do anything alone anymore Hermione, I swear to you." She raised Hermione's hand to her lips and kissed it softly. "I love you."
Hermione gave a small smile, she hoped so much that Bellatrix would keep her word.
Over the next few weeks, Bellatrix and Hermione met when they could, sometimes it was in public around the lake or in the library. Sometimes it was in the privacy of the room of requirement for more intimacy. The talk around the castle was buzzing with curiosity, strangely and perhaps even naively, a lot of the talk surrounded their unlikely "friendship". Bellatrix had pointed this out to Hermione, and she had chuckled. They had expected people to jump straight to the point, but they weren't big on kissing in public simply because it never seemed necessary to them to do it in crowded hallways as some couples did, they preferred their privacy. So, it wasn't surprising once they thought about it, that some people didn't see the extent of their relationship. Their friends and families knew and that was all Hermione needed, even if they were cautious and openly sceptical. Her parents had even invited Bellatrix over to meet them properly over the summer holidays, which seemed both promising and terrifying. Whatever happened, Hermione felt more able to deal with it now that Bellatrix seemed to truly be sticking to her side, even if it had only been a few weeks. It was by no means perfect, some days she didn't want to roll out of bed, or she'd snap at Bellatrix or her friends. But she was on the mend she thought.
Bellatrix had grown content also, Hermione seemed much better in herself and her friends hadn't cursed her just yet. She was exchanging weekly letters with both of her sisters, finally getting to know them again and it felt almost scarily good. She was tentatively hopeful, and she was looking forward to spending time with her family in the future, especially her niece and nephew. Much to Hermione's surprise, Bellatrix had revealed she actually liked children quite a lot, especially the ones that couldn't talk yet. There was only one thing Bellatrix wanted to do now other than carry on the way things were going, and that was to show everyone what her and Hermione truly had together. So, she had hatched a little plan.
"Well hello there, Miss Granger" Bellatrix swung round the corner to where Hermione was sitting, in a window-sill nook at the far end of the library. She used to prefer a secluded desk in the middle of an empty section of the library, but the number of times she'd lose her train of thought by focusing on all the sounds around her was frequent, and the approach of a person would make jump out of her skin. So now Hermione would always be sat where she could see someone approaching her. This is why when Bellatrix approached, Hermione was not surprised.
"Hi there" Hermione said softly with a warm smile on her face.
"so" Bellatrix drew the word out slowly and she sat down next to Hermione's feet that she had up on the windowsill. "what are you up to next weekend?"
"Oh well you know me; I'll probably go do something active and exciting with my large ensemble of friends like I do every weekend" Hermione embellished her words with a smirk.
Bellatrix gave a chuckled and her cheeks felt a little bit warm.
Hermione gave a small chuckle too and rolled her eyes playfully "I have no concrete plans, why do you ask?"
Bellatrix didn't know why she was so nervous, probably because she was scared that Hermione would turn her down, said a small part of her brain. She shook it off, "Next weekend is the Valentine's day ball"
"oh" Hermione thought of the date today, "so it is…are you planning to attend?"
"Actually, I was thinking that we could go together, if you wanted." Bellatrix gave a nervous hopeful smile. "but we don't have to, if you don't fancy it, I know it's a bit… you know."
"a bit what?" Hermione asked with a smile growing on her face.
Bellatrix let out an embarrassed groan "it's a bit" She gestured her hands, unable to come up with the word.
Hermione let out a proper laugh now and patted Bella's arm "I will stop torturing you, sure let's go."
"yeah? Like dresses and such, just us too?" Bellatrix rose her eyebrows in surprised at Hermione's lack of hesitation.
"Well, I wasn't planning to go in my pyjamas" Hermione winked and laughed yet again.
Bellatrix laughed "so, it starts at 7 so shall I pick you up from the fat lady a little after then?"
Hermione smiled and furrowed her brow in false concern "And make us late?" She gasped
"fashionably" Bellatrix smirked back "since we'll be making somewhat of a scene anyway"
With that Bellatrix pull a miniaturised book from her pocket and sat by Hermione's feet, as she sat Hermione stretched her legs over and they sat for a while reading
The cold days of February pressed on rather repetitively as students tried to stay motivated. Their only focus for the time was the growing excitement for valentine's day. Some students were displaying elaborate ball invitations to their partners, other preferred to ask via notes. Regardless of the method, all were either excited or filled with dread at the lack of a match, and so the air around the castle was intense. Finally, after weeks of waiting, the day came. Students scurried around the castle tracking down skin care concoctions and shoes stolen by Peeves. By the time it was 6pm the castle was alive with lights and music, with sickly sweet décor strung across the castle leading to the ball room. In the ball room there were origami doves fluttering about a ceiling of candles shining soft pink and white. In the corner there was a fountain of ice pouring out a sparkling punch into a large bowl surrounded by glasses.
Bellatrix smoothed down the last of the frizz of her curls, so they sat in large, elegant curls around her face. She was wearing her signature red lipstick to compliment the deep emerald green dress she wore. It was long to the ankle and also to the wrist and tight all the way from cleavage cut to her thighs, where a slit in the fabric gave view to lower ends of her legs. Her cheeks were red as she took a sip of fire whiskey, for 'Dutch' courage as Hermione had told her during their many conversations about muggle culture. She looked across the room at a clock, it was only a few minutes before 7pm. Upon standing she grabbed all she needed from her desk and walked from her dorm with haste, up to the Gryffindor common room. The closer she got, the more people stared, and when she got to the fat lady, even she eyed her curiously from her canvas. Every time the door let out someone who wasn't Hermione, she tried to eye her nails or a painting, but it was hard to pretend to be oblivious to the door when she was stood outside it. After another few long minutes, the door opened again and a flutter of silk and light brown curls flew out, slightly flustered. Hermione had her hair in small smooth curls, her dress was soft pink and was flowing with many thin layers, so she looked almost like a fairy. Bellatrix smiled at the sight as Hermione locked eyes with her.
"Sorry, I'm late" Hermione smiled "the hair" She said as she pointed at her head with a chuckle.
"it looks good" Bellatrix fingered a curl on Hermione's head. She suddenly remembered what was in her hand. "for you" Bellatrix said softly as she presented Hermione with a rose. It was deep red and in a tight bud as though it had only just grown.
Hermione blushed and smiled at Bellatrix before bringing the flower to her nose. As she breathed in the smell, the rose began to bloom before her eyes. The petals stretched and curled out, showing a lighter red interior, and sat upon the flower's bud was a tiny book. She fished it out with her fingers and Bellatrix flicked her wand to enlarge it back to its natural size. She stared at it for a long moment, it was a copy of Thumbelina, its cover was a thick old leather with rich gold detailing. She flipped open the page to reveal it was a first edition, with all the original illustrations.
"How…this must have cost" Hermione stuttered.
Bellatrix chuckled "do you like it?"
"I love it" Hermione whispered. "I'm sorry I didn't get you anything, I didn't know"
Bellatrix smiled and chuckled warmly, looking at Hermione intensely, then she held Hermione's chin for a moment. "I suppose you will have to make it up to me then" She finished with a wink and Hermione blushed again.
By the time they got down to the ball, it was teeming with students, with watchful teachers lingering at the outskirts of the room talking. Hermione reached for Bellatrix's hand and they walked in together, the chatter around them died down so that only the music could be heard, and even the band that was playing looked puzzled. Then the sound built back up as all those around the couple had drank in the sight and were now ready to discuss with friends. The mutters and whispers were so loud that if they cared to, Hermione and Bellatrix could have probably heard a lot of it, but they didn't really care. Instead, they walked to the dance floor together and paid attention only to each other and the occasional friend who passed by.
"do you think they noticed our arrival" Bellatrix said, wagging her eyebrows as she pulled Hermione closer for a slow song.
"Doubt they even know who we are" Hermione said, and they laughed. Then Hermione leaned in her head to give Bellatrix a short peck on the lips and then laughed again as the chatter around them grew once more.
"I love you" Bellatrix whispered as she held Hermione so close that it felt as they could have been alone in the sea of people.
"I love you too Bella".