"You agreed to this? "Hermione stared up from the parchment, eyes wide with disbelief and focused on the last person she thought would go so far to help her.
"I did. It's still in need of revision," She pointed to a few scrawled notes and mark outs on the document that concerned Sterling. Hermione couldn't see what the witch had scribbled out because the writing had evidently offended the older woman so much she made sure not to leave a single letter. "If you sign this one," She rapped the marriage contract. "It fulfills what the muggle minister asked of you in order for him to grant you emergency custody. Neither you nor Sterling be returned to Salt, and he won't be able to try and force either ministries hand with them cooperating like this. There is going to be a trial for him, but Dumbledore has explained he is working on making it a trial of both muggle and wizards. I am assuming that means some form of veritaserum or a pensieve will be used."
Hermione's hands shook at the thought of everything a trial would bring to light. And if she somehow lost she would be forced to return with Sterling to Peter and even if she won there was no guarantee she would get to keep her sister, not with muggles involved. She turned her head toward the window and tried to compose herself. Bellatrix reached out and tugged her back.
"Nothing will happen to you. He won't touch you ever again." Bellatrix's hand reached out and gently, hesitantly, wiped the tears from Hermione's eyes. She wanted to believe her, there was nothing she wanted to believe more. But once upon a time she had believed Dumbledore would help her and he had returned with news that she could leave Sterling behind or she had to stay and endure it. He'd promised to find a solution, but it had never worked and he had never spoken to her about it again.
This new proposition they were offering was something she could never in her wildest dreams imagine. Getting married….surely the minister couldn't have been serious. If he had been consulted she couldn't see Dumbledore or the minister giving him only half truths. Surely he knew her age and that she was still in school.
And getting married to Bellatrix of all people. It was the strangest turn of events and if she hadn't already been in pain she would have thought she was dreaming.
Still, for Bellatrix to have agreed so readily, to seem perfectly content with the idea of tying herself to a student, one she disliked even…..Hermione couldn't seem to find the motive and that bothered her nearly as much as the pending trial did.
"Why are you willing to do this? To…marry me and take Sterling as an heir?" She pulled away from the hand stroking her cheek. Under any other circumstance she would have relished the feeling, relished the fact that they were getting along and Black seemed to care about her. But she needed real answers instead of pity and she needed to know what Bellatrix wanted, what she got out of the deal except the burden of two more people in her life.
"Hermione I know we haven't always gotten along but-"
"We've never gotten along." Hermione interrupted.
"I know I was hard on you, harder than anyone else but...There was always a reason." Bellatrix shook her head sending dark curls cascading from her ponytail, she didn't bother trying to fix them, even though they fell in her eyes. Instead she rose from her chair and began rolling up her sleeve, she extended it toward Hermione, dark eyes attentive as they watched for any sign of comprehension.
Hermione couldn't believe her eyes. She had never seen the tattoo resting on the woman's arm and she had seen Bellatrix enough with a simple shirt on, arms bare. Only just before break she had been unable to drag her eyes away from the creamy unmarked skin.
Now Bellatrix sported the largest, most intricate tattoo she had ever seen. She couldn't even see all of it, it took up all of her arm and climbed just like the rose bush it depicted, up toward her shoulder. It was beautiful, and it pulled at Hermione in a way that made her a little uneasy.
"I-It's beautiful but I don't understand…." She barely caught herself as she reached out to touch, her fingers curled back in on her palm and she leaned back in the bed, nearly pressing herself against the headboard.
" I gave you that assignment hoping you would figure it out but knowing you never would. I knew I would have to tell you one day." Bellatrix reached out and took Hermione's left hand. She turned it over so she could see the small mark between her thumb and forefinger.
The tattoo of a climbing rose. Smaller, so much smaller compared to Bellatrix's, but there just the same. And just as she knew Bella's wasn't a simple tattoo she knew hers wasn't either.
She grew still, eyes wide in shock as she slowly understood what the woman was telling her. As she finally understood what exactly was on Bellatrix's arm. She couldn't believe Ginny had been right, she still refused to believe it even as the dark witch told her so. Even as she saw the proof for herself.
"You're mine, Hermione. My bond. I may not have wanted it but I've learned to accept it. This brand….It will never fade, never go away and it will forever connect us, connect our magic. We will never be able to escape one another, not completely. If I let you leave, if I let you have a normal life I'm condemning myself to misery, quite possibly death." She sucked in a breath at the admission, her mind fighting a hazy panic at the thought of Bellatrix dying, remembering how still she had been in that dream.
"I don't want you to die." She couldn't pull her eyes away from Bella's gaze if she had wanted to. "I don't want you to feel you have to marry me either. I….we could find another way if you would rather….I didn't finish reading about bonds but…" She trailed off, not sure what she could do to help Bellatrix but not wanting her to feel she had to marry her just to keep her alive and to keep herself sane. She felt as if she were holding the witch's life ransomed even though she'd had nothing to do with it.
Fate it seemed had kicked them both in the teeth.
"This is the best way. I know I'm taking a lot from you Hermione. I wanted to be strong enough to give you a normal life, a chance at a husband and children. But if I let you have that you would leave. I can't- I'm not strong enough." Curls fell over her face, hiding her expression from the teenager as she choked out her next words. Words filled with so much pain Hermione nearly cried out.
"If you want to leave you may as well kill me now because I don't think I'll survive either way. And the chance I could hurt someone is far too high a risk for me to take."
"No." She couldn't imagine what that admission had done to the proud woman she always fought with. Bellatrix was not the type of person who needed someone. And even though it was because of some twisted fate, because of some magic neither one of them could control, she knew the dark witch hated it. Hated that she needed Hermione. She understood now why it always seems like the woman hated her, she very likely did, and there was nothing Hermione could do about it.
Except try to make her life easier.
She understood the woman's decision a little better. Marriage would mean nothing to Bellatrix because she was already shackled to her by something stronger than a piece of paper. It was Bella's life at stake just as it was Hermione's. It seemed Bellatrix was her only option, and it seemed this was the woman's only choice as well.
There was no choice for either of them. No alternative. Hermione would never have had a normal life anyways and Bellatrix was a far better warden than Salt.
Hermione needed her to free her of the man and Bellatrix needed Hermione.
She would never love her, Hermione wasn't stupid enough to believe the opposite, in fact she expected the woman to resent her for the rest of their life. She hoped her love would be enough, that in some small way she could make the teacher happy, that she could repay what she was giving up for her. Or at the very least ease her suffering.
"Okay."
"Sign these then." Bellatrix passed her the pen and watched quietly as Hermione scrawled her name across it. She did the same only seconds later. "All that's left is to give these to the Minister and to ensure the Prime Minister sticks to his word. After this there won't be anyone coming to the door demanding Sterling."
It was peace of mind, she understood that. Sterling wouldn't be going to her grandparents or returning to her father. Hermione was grateful.
"This…marriage…" Bellatrix's gaze seemed to see right through her, it made her nervous. "Its private? I mean….I don't want everyone at school….if we can put off-" She groaned, irritated that she couldn't get her questions out, that she couldn't properly explain her worries and requests.
"No one will know. It won't be made public until we both agree. Sterling being my heir however will be known. And the Wizengamot and the muggles they find to sit in on Salt's trial will likely know as well."
Hermione gave her a weak smile. She was so tired. Her body didn't seem to care that she had slept for days already, that she was impatient to see her sister.
The emotional rollercoaster she had gone down just the past few minutes had sucked up all the energy she felt her body had.
"Hermione-" She struggled to keep her eyes open, unaccustomed to Bellatrix's hesitant tone. "I don't know how to be a parent and I-I'm not a…not a nice person I don't know how to do relationships and this…us…its already so complicated with the bond and now Sterling and a marriage." Bella sat down and pulled her wand out, she twirled it over her knuckles, something Hermione knew she did often when she was thinking about something serious. "I just need you to know I'm not perfect but I will try, try not to be…I'll try not to be like I was. I'll do the best I can with Sterling."
The girl sat in the bed in silence, she felt rather ill although she did her best to conceal the tirade of emotions swirling around inside her. She appreciated Bellatrix trying to get along with her, for Sterling's sake or just their own it didn't matter. But she was worried about an altogether new problem now.
Her relationship with her sister had always been a more daughter mother type than sibling. Because it was necessary. It wouldn't be necessary now that she had Bellatrix but Hermione found she didn't want things to change. She'd raised Sterling for three years. She knew how to be her mother she wasn't sure she knew how to be just her sister.
But Bellatrix was making Sterling her heir. It only made sense she would take up raising her. She had never known Bellatrix to do anything half way. Sterling wouldn't just be the woman's heir on paper. It didn't matter than she was a muggle child. Her sister would have the best education, manners and anything else Bellatrix could provide to give her a good life. Whatever happened she knew it was best for Sterling.
"I'll help…however I can…" She forced herself to yawn, needing a break from any more emotional revelations. "I'm sorry…I'm barely keeping my eyes open." She slid down in the bed and let her eyes drift.
"Sleep. I'll wake you when the others get here with Sterling. We can talk about anything else later."
~H~
It was after breakfast before Sterling was finally brought in to see her. Andromeda and Molly trailed after the child, all smiles at the little girl's shout of exuberance when she saw her sister finally awake.
"Mommy!" Hermione was too happy to see her to berate her for not enunciating her words. And she didn't care that everyone else had a mild look of surprise on their faces.
She didn't care when Sterling jumped on the bed and jarred her still sore body. All she cared about was holding the little girl close, in her opinion there was nothing better.
"Hermione," She turned her attention toward Bellatrix's sister, now that she had a good look of her she was surprised at how similar they seemed. If Andy's hair had been just a shade or two darker they might have been able to pass as twins. Honestly they probably still could. "I spoke with the doctor. You can leave in just a few hours, once they are sure the potions side affects won't affect you."
She nodded, snuggled into Sterling one last time before she pushed the child back and signed to her. The others watched in fascination as the two spoke without words. They had figured out the child could communicate silently but none of them had been very adept at learning what she tried to teach them. The girl's moved their hands so fast there was no way they could have kept up if they had wanted to.
Sterling let out a sudden laugh and Hermione turned a stern gaze up to the two adults still lingering by the door.
"You….you let her fly? On a broom?!" Molly looked sheepish but Andy sported a smirk so similar to Bellatrix's Hermione found her eyes flickering to the woman beside her. Bellatrix for once looked like she agreed with Hermione.
"Andy! She's too small to be riding brooms what if she had fallen?!" Her sister's words didn't do anything but amuse the younger witch further.
Andy let out a full blown chuckle and threw in a conspiratorial wink at Sterling. "Oh listen to you two, already acting like her overprotective moms. Nymph was with her, she loved it. What are you going to say when she starts dating?" Hermione blushed furiously and Bellatrix only glared at her sister.
"For all intents and purposes, Andromeda, they are her overprotective moms. Or they will be once they file that paperwork and win the case against Salt." Both Molly and Andromeda turned toward the new arrival and stepped away from the open door to let the woman in. Hermione couldn't help but clasp Sterling closer as the stranger walked past them and moved closer to the bed.
"I was hoping to catch you before you left, Ms. Granger. My name is Weiss Kohtalo, I'm going to be making sure everything goes smoothly for you on the muggle side as well as the magical side. I work for the Minister of Magic and the Monarchy. A sort of liaison if you will." The woman reached out with the intent to take Hermione's hand but Bellatrix wrapped her fingers around her slender wrist.
"Khotalo…" Her teeth were bared in warning.
The woman smiled slyly at the Professor but retracted her hand. Hermione could hear Andy and Molly groaning in the background although she had no idea why. She was a little worried though because Black looked positively murderous.
"Let's not do this again." Bellatrix told her, forcefully even as she released her hold on the woman. "I promise not to blow you up again but you have to keep your hands off my bond."
Hermione stared at the witch in confusion. "Blow her up?"
"Yes….it was an unfortunate accident."
The newcomer scoffed. "Black you know it wasn't an accident." Hermione eyed her curiously but she said no more. It was very clear though that Bellatrix didn't like the other woman, although the stranger looked more amused than murderous.
"Okay," Molly stepped between the two women and nodded toward Sterling, who was curiously eying the two. "Enough of the pissing contest. You wanted to talk to Hermione then do it. She's been though enough without you two trying to kill each other over."
Khotalo nodded sheepishly and shifted her attention back to Hermione with an apologetic smile. Bella took her seat next to the bed again but she still looked as if she would hex the woman if she so much as breathed the wrong way.
"I'm supposed to give you a bit of a run down." She nodded toward the papers they had both signed. "May I?" At their nod she picked them up and perused both documents quickly. "You both signed the marriage contract…good….I see you set things up for Hermione in the event of a divorce or death…" Bellatrix only glared at her so Weiss shrugged. "That's fine it's easily amended to the records. You've also added quiet a bit to the heir….ah…I see the pureblood marriage clause pissed you off, that's understandable it's very outdated…Fudge bless his idiotic soul shouldn't have pulled a contract from the Black records." Weiss was muttering to herself about all the changes Bellatrix had made to that particular document, although from what Hermione could hear it seemed she was agreeing with her more than disaproved.
"If it all looks fine you should file it." Came Black's gritted reply. "Honestly Weiss I'd rather not see you longer than I have to."
"Fine, honestly Black will you ever change?" Hermione grimaced as Bellatrix nearly snapped her wand in irritation. She reached out and hesitantly touched the back on her arm, dark eyes spun around to her and by some miracle the dark witch seemed to settle, albeit only slightly. "Right…interesting." The stranger help up her hands, papers in tow, to signal she wasn't trying to cause trouble when Bella's attention returned to her. "I'm going already. When the trial is worked out I'll contact you. I've been given permission to tell you that Sterling will be filed as your foster child since you followed the muggle Minister's demands."
She shook Molly's hand and waved to Andy as she made her way to the door. She turned back and waved to Sterling too and turned her attention back to the two new legal parents. "For what it's worth I'm sure you'll win. And I'm sure you're going to make amazing parents. I'm pretty sure one of you already is." Her green eyes held Hermione's for a moment, understanding and admiration echoed in their depths before she moved and shut the door behind her.
"I hate that woman."
Molly shook her head and slapped her friend's arm, Bellatrix hissed as the hand landed on her newly branded mark. The skin still tender and burning.
"It's been years." Andy shot Hermione an exasperated look. "It's not too late to back out I can still catch her if you want me to and rip that marriage contract up." She grinned wickedly.
"Not if you want to keep breathing." Bella fixed her sister with a glare and shot one to Hermione for good measure.
"She…didn't seem so bad." Dark brown eyes rounded on her, a hint of suspicion and jealousy contained behind them. "What did she mean you set me up for divorce or death?"
"In the event of a divorce or my death you get a portion of my monetary assets. Legally the properties have to go to my heir, which will be Sterling. And she will inherit the rest of my fortune along with a few more odds and ends I've set out for various…. Traitorous relatives." She glared at her sister on the last bit and missed Hermione's downward glance at her own sister.
Hermione wondered if that was an option. If Bellatrix would want a divorce after everything was over. Just because they were bonded and she didn't want the girl to leave didn't mean she warned to stay shackled to her either.
"You said I could leave today." She found Andromeda's eyes leveled on her, something like pity staring back at her. Like she understood everything going on in Hermione's head. She made sure her shields were up before she continued, she didn't need anyone poking around in her mind or memories, especially not these women.
"You can." Andy answered her after a few more beats of silence.
"Where will I be going? I need….I need to get some stuff from my house-"
"No. I'll collect whatever you want." She was nearly angry at the blatant refusal but the way the teacher's teeth clenched and hands fisted on her wand let her know Bellatrix wasn't in the mood to be questioned, and she was so tired of fighting her all the time.
Sterling patted Hermione's cheek. She had been content to let the adults talk, taking comfort with her back pressed up against her sisters front but now she was sure they were talking about going home and she didn't want to. She told her sister so with her hands.
"We just need some clothes and my school stuff. Not to stay." She glanced toward Bellatrix who nodded her agreement.
"I'll get everything you want and have it taken to Molly's." If the redheaded woman was surprised her home was being offered up it didn't show. Hermione hadn't known where they were going exactly but she had expected it to be one of Bellatrix's homes, at least until break was over.
"I'll write a list." She told them quietly, helping Sterling down only for the child to climb over into Bella's lap. The dark witch moved as if she had always had Sterling. Hermione hadn't witnessed the fumbling and awkwardness of the first few days the two were getting acquainted.
Now they looked like mother and daughter, like a real family. Even their looks were so similar it hurt to look at them. She couldn't explain why but watching them filled her with such a profound sense of loss that she had to close her eyes and fight back tears.
"Hermione." She opened them again and carefully took the paper and pen she was being offered.
"If were not going back it'll be a long list." She warned.
"Just write everything. I'll get it all." Bellatrix kissed the top of Sterling's head and watched her bond carefully.
~H~
She had kept her word, Hermione couldn't say otherwise. Bella had collected everything on her list and even included her furniture. Hermione would not have to return to her childhood home for anything. Even the presents had been deposited under the Weasley's tree for Sterling.
The only thing Hermione seemed to be missing since her release from St. Mungo's was the dark witch herself.
She had taken to disappearing when Hermione entered a room, not that she was around that often to begin with, excuses echoed in Hermione's ears every time she caught a glimpse of the woman. It was positively infuriating. What she was doing Hermione had no idea.
Sometimes the woman would pop in for breakfast, spend a little while with Sterling and talk to Molly but then as soon as it looked as if she and Hermione would be alone she vanished. She was cagey in a way Hermione had never seen her before and she couldn't help but believe it was because she was resenting her for their situation.
She knew being bonded wasn't anything new to Bellatrix and she knew their sham of a marriage wasn't anything important to the witch either but she desperately wanted to know what was going to happen after the trial at least, even if Bellatrix didn't want to talk about anything else. If they won would she be moving into the Burrow permanently until graduation? Would she still be living with Sterling or would Bellatrix be taking her in during the holidays and summer? The unknown was killing her.
But until the witch came to her she knew she wouldn't be getting answers so there was nothing she could do but to wait. She had never been good at idly waiting. So instead she buried herself in studying, particularly studying the journal Bellatrix had given to her before the break.
She spent hours a day in her shared room with Ginny pouring over it but as Christmas approached Molly had become insistent she come out of her room. She was currently curled up with it on a couch while she watched Bellatrix and Sterling sitting comfortably near the fireplace. It was one of the rare times the witch hadn't flown off when she was nearby, but she chalked it up to coming in after she was already busy with Sterling.
"You okay?" She glanced up from the old book and nodded silently as Ginny approached. For a moment Ginny only stared at her skeptically before she shoved her feet off the couch and sat down beside her. "Not sure I believe that. Are you sure your not still hurting from the accident?" Hermione started to ask what accident she had nearly forgotten the lie they had told her friends. Only the adults knew what had truly happened to her, at her own insistence Harry, Ron and Ginny had been kept in the dark, not even Sterling would talk about what had happened to Hermione.
She put her bare feet in her friend's lap and sighed. Her eyes trailed back to where Bellatrix and Sterling were sitting beside the fire. They were engrossed in a book and oblivious to everyone else as Bellatrix taught the little girl how to read.
Crude hand signs interrupted the girls voice as she tried to correct her pronunciation, Sterling had been trying to teach her signs in response for Bellatrix helping her learn to read. Sterling was already very adept at silent reading, Hermione had taught her as early as possible to help deal with her soundless word. Reading aloud however hadn't been something she had picked up easily, at least not from Hermione. Not being able to hear how best to project the sounds had made such a task too difficult for the short time she got to spend with her young sibling. And Peter had absolutely refused her suggestion of sending her sister to a speech therapist to learn. Of course Hermione had sent her in secret but during the school year there was nothing she could do.
"Something happen with you and Black again?"
Hermione nodded. She might not want to tell Ginny the truth about her home life but she wasn't going to lie about the situation with Bellatrix. And besides eventually the girl would begin to wonder why she never returned home….why Sterling was staying with her mom instead of returning to her father.
"You were right." Ginny tilted her head in confusion before Hermione tapped the journal. Brown eyes slowly widened in shock.
"You're shitting me?" Hermione shook her head.
"She told me herself, after I woke up and she dropped the bomb about us getting married."
Ginny at least had the presence of mind to keep her voice low when she squealed out her excitement. It quickly faded when she realized her friend wasn't as happy as she was.
"Isn't this what you wanted? You've been in love with her for as long as I've known you."
"No. Not like this. I knew I never really stood a chance with her. And the fact that she always hated me….it was easier when I didn't know the reason." She pulled her gaze away from the two figures and turned her tear filled eyes to her friend. "This bond….it chained her to me. She hates it. She's only marrying me for Sterling, because her father isn't capable of raising her." It wasn't the only reason but she knew Bellatrix wouldn't appreciate her giving out details about how hard the bond had evidently been on her. About her speech of dying if Hermione chose to leave. Hermione was just as chained to Bellatrix as she was to her and there was no point in going through those details if she didn't have to. "If she doesn't do this they will separate us, put Sterling in foster care." She sucked in a shaky breath, her eyes once again falling to the dark robes witch on the hearth. "She doesn't love me, Ginny. And I hate that I've put her in this position."
"I don't think you know how Bella feels, have you talked to her?"
"How can I when she can't even bare to be around me for five minutes." Ginny grimaced, she hadn't been the only one to notice Bellatrix avoiding seeing the girl alone, her own mother had said something to the witch about it. "I have no idea what's going to happen to me after school. Bloody hell I don't even know what's going to happen when the trial for Sterling is over. We have to go and prove to the Wizengamot and a group of muggles that Sterling should be with us. That we can raise her better than he could. What if we lose? What if we win?" She trialed off, ran her hand over her face and climbed to her feet. "I'm sorry. I'm tired. I think I should rest a little more before supper. She turned back to the stairs with the journal in tow without a backwards glance at her worried friend.
Or the woman who felt her distress and turned to watch her go with dark sad eyes.
~~A~~
Block, parry, strike….block, parry, strike. It went on and on. The world dimmed down to the echo of steel against steel, wood slamming into wood. Men shouting and groaning as they struck out across the battlefield….and were struck down. They were not winning this fight. The enemies numbers were too great.
"My Liege!" The rider atop the hill struck out at the last man trying to pull them from the saddle. With a cry the man fell dead onto the damp grass, his blood running down and joining the crimson streams flowing out with the rain.
"My Liege! We are over run! Mages," The young man ran up beside the rider, breath frosted on the air as he huffed to catch his breath. "They…they have brought mages."
A curse pulled from the riders lips, dark as the hour. They were loosing before but against mages the valiant men could do nothing. They would be torn to shreds without even the hope of killing enough to have their enemy scampering back to lick their wounds. Their families would suffer if the barbarians were not stopped here.
"Call for a retreat." Brown eyes searched the field for a General. "Licanus! Licanus!" The man snapped a spear off in his assailant and turned to the sound of the king. "Retreat! Fall back to the village by way of the forest, our enemy has brought mages."
The King could hear them now. Marching with a small band of reinforcements. Clanking of fresh armor coming from behind them on the hill. The men would be destroyed even as they retreated unless someone covered their flank.
A hand reached out and grasped the messenger, practically tossed him toward the woods. "Go! Hold the village, I will face the mages here and catch up."
"My Lord?!"
A boot kicked at the back of his shoulders causing him to stumble. "I order you to go! Now! Get the woman and children to safety." With barely another pause the slender Man took off, following the trail what was left of their army made toward the forest. Thankfully they had given the main army enough cause to stop and lick their wounds, they weren't yet perusing.
The men retreated and the King's enemies surrounded the steed. Mages lined the hills above on either side, the men behind had gathered themselves and blocked the path the army had retreated to. Sickening smiles met the king as a glistening helmet turned to take him the situation. It was grim indeed.
The mages did not attack, they had no need to. Even this king couldn't take on so many men at once.
A horn drew attention to the east, a rider atop a black stallion headed for the king, weapon drawn and a war cry on the beastly man's lips as he charged.
The King raised a steel sword in preparation and charged. If this was to be a battle of rulers the rider was not going to make the enemy wait.
Swords clanged as they met, nearly knocking the golden clad figure from the saddle. The leather had loosened and if the battle between them raged much longer it would be a battle fought against a horseman and foot soldier.
"Surrender, Young King!" The barbarian laughed as his sword swung for a head. "I promise I will make your death Swift, only a little painful." His laughter irritated the King more than frightened. This man was responsible for the sacking, the murdering, raping and orphaning of the people he loved. The kingdom was suffering this war because of this barbarians cruelty. It would not go on.
"On my life I will never give in to you." A strike rang true, sliced through the mail protecting a soft abdomen. The vile king hissed.
"I will take your head and place it on a spike for your people to see!" Their swords met again, the young king's arm ached with the force of it and cracks spread out across the steal of the sword.
The horse spurred as the clang of metal struck again. As the barbarian made a swipe for the mount and the king barely kept his sword from plunging into the unprotected hide.
"No!"
The steel sword, the sword given to the rider by a man who had been as a father, broke nearly to the hilt. The barbarian smile triumphantly and swung his great sword just as the mount spurred. It sliced at the feathers on the King's helmet as the saddle slipped, sending the king sideways on the mount and tangling an armored foot up as the beast launched itself maddeningly toward the Forrest.
It's flight saved the King's life. The saddle breaking was a miracle. But still blood ran from the King's wounds, minor though they were, and if the beast got away it would be no time before the enemy came upon them. Without a weapon there would be no defense.
~H~
She woke with a start, head aching and body covered in a cold sweat. He hand hurt as if she had been clutching something for a long time and her arm ached as if it had been her wielding the sword and fending off the vile man's crushing blows.
A glance out the small window let her know she had slept far longer than she had meant. She had missed putting Sterling to bed and the fact the girl hadn't pitched a fit for her to come left her feeling bereft.
Ginny was curled up in the bed beside hers, mouth agape as she slept. Hermione would have given anything to sleep as peaceful as her friend.
She climbed out of the mismatched comforter Molly had loaned her and set her bare feet on the cold floor. She knew there was no point in staying in bed, she wouldn't able to sit idle and sleep was so far away from her now.
She made sure the door didn't creak as she opened it and was careful not to let it slam and wake Ginny. She didn't need any comfort or any questions. She didn't need anyone to worry over the fact she hadn't slept well as of late, that her dreams were plagued by someone else's life. That she dreamed of a war so real she could taste it and feel it even after she woke.
The steps squeaked as she trailed down them, the Weasley's home was held up by magic it was no surprise it had a few quaint characteristics, squeaking stairs were just part of it.
She trailed down to the kitchen, quiet as she could be, heading for the sink to get a glass of water. To hopefully wash away the taste of sweat and blood that lingered still from her dream.
Voices caught her attention as she neared the window over looking the sink. Soft voices, from people she couldn't quiet make out in the darkness. She recognized them though, Bellatrix and the woman from the hospital, the woman Bella hadn't seemed to like. To hear them now speaking in the darkness sent a cold chill down her body and her mind spun wild tales about why it was they disliked each other so, and what would make them meet up in the middle of the night.
Under normal circumstances she would never have eaves dropped, she always warned Ginny she would only ever hear things she didn't like if she did. But this time she couldn't help it. Despite the fact she could barely make out the word she found herself moving toward the back door and listening hard through the screen.
"Are you sure about this? You have Black Manor I mean surely-"
"I do not want Hermione there." Bellatrix's voice echoed well on the wind, though she struggled to hear Weiss's reply.
"You filed the paperwork…" She couldn't hear the rest of Bellatrix's word as the wind echoed around her, flowing through the open areas of the Weasley's home. The home itself was enchanted against the elements but it seemed the sound slipped through from time to time.
"I seem to remember we split up because of your ideas about marriage-"
She couldn't hear the rest but Bellatrix's laugh caught the wind and seemed to wrap itself around her. She had never heard the woman laugh so openly toward her, the fact that she could do so with someone she truly claimed to hate…hurt her.
The two obviously had a past, a romantic one if what she was hearing could be believed. She didn't want to hear anymore. She was right about eaves dropping.
~B~
The knock had surprised her, she'd nearly spilled her tea as she turned to see who was behind her at the back door. A scowl graced her face as she took in the sight of Weiss's smiling face.
"It's too late for this shit." She grumbled, but still she made her way over and let the woman in. She had asked for her help after all and it would do no good to let the woman stand out in the cold.
"I've got what you wanted, half muggle land half magical. It was quiet a bit of paperwork I'll have you know, what on Earth do you need it for?"
Bellatrix took the papers Weiss handed her, deeds to the parcels of land they were talking of, hundred of acres near Hogsmeade.
"I want to build a home. For Sterling and Hermione. One where they can have muggles over and still be apart of magic."
Weiss raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to build two homes then?"
Bellatrix shook her head. "Just…maybe a hybrid of the two. Repelling charms only on half of it." She lost herself in thoughts of the planning. It was going to be difficult, the hardest thing anyone had ever likely built in regards to magical enchantments. But Sterling wasn't magical and one day she would go to school, she would make friends, and Bellatrix wanted her to have a place to bring them. A happy place she could enjoy to call home. One that wouldn't just serve as a reminder of what she was not.
"Bellatrix?" The dark witch jerked and turned her attention back to the woman she had almost forgotten. A creak from the house had them both turning their eyes upward, it wasn't any secret that Weiss was here, she wouldn't find her plans ruined if someone as to walk in on them but that didn't mean she wanted them interrupted. Weiss was going to be a major player in Sterling's trial. She had to reconcile with the woman or her own feelings might jeopardize everything Hermione had gone through.
"We should speak outside." She cast a charm over both of them and brushed by the shorter woman, leading her to the edge of the fields where they could speak without being over heard.
"Bella I know we…I know we haven't seen each other in a long while but I assure you I am up to this task, I will do everything I can to ensure Sterling remains safe with you. You don't have to make threats-"
"That's not my intention. I know you are capable. We were friends once."
Weiss huffed, "And despite our ridiculous argument after my graduation we still are." Dark eyes turned toward her in surprise. It hadn't been a ridiculous argument. Bellatrix had always been sure her words had been reprehensible. That she had damaged their friendship beyond repair with her hatred.
"It wasn't so ridiculous as I remember." No…it hadn't been ridiculous at all and her temper had gotten the better of her. In a rare slip she had accidentally injured the witch, albeit only a few scrapes and bruises if she recalled.
"No…maybe not. But I waited for you, I know you never would have apologized," a small laugh fell from the younger woman's lips, "honestly Bella I can't remember a time you ever did apologize." In the dark she didn't see the witch's flinch. "At the party, I waited. I expected it to go like all our other fights...I expected you to show up, say something witty and make me laugh and then go on about our friendship as if we never fought."
"I couldn't." Merlin how she wished that was what happened. Her father had cursed her to the point of exhaustion because Andy had run off with a muggle born. She had barely stopped him from going after her to murder her. Weiss and their friendship had been the last thing on her mind. The party had never even crossed it as she had laid broken on the mansion floor praying to any God for her father to leave her sister be.
"It doesn't matter now, too many years….but…perhaps we can pretend that is what happened." Eyes turned toward her, pleading with her for a friendship she had believed long dead.
"Do you truly want to rekindle a friendship with me, Weiss?" She sighed heavily. "I've changed, perhaps I'm colder than I was."
"Maybe but I think this marriage will thaw you out a bit, certainly the kid will. And forgive me for saying so but your friendship was worth any hardship."
Bella couldn't help the smile that graced her lips, she and Weiss probably got into more trouble than Hermione, Harry and Ron could ever dream of.
"If you'll help me keep Sterling and get this home built I'll try to keep our friendship free of any more hardships."
Weiss grinned, happy to have a chance, even if they both knew it would require more work than just a few words on a dark night. "Bella…I have to ask…are you sure about this? You have Black Manor, I mean surely you could build something there, this is a ridiculous amount of money."
"I do not want Hermione there." She tried to soften her words but she had enough of thinking of that horrid place. "The evil my father carried about seeped into the very foundation. And besides you know I'm loaded, I don't care about the money." Thankfully Weiss let it drop. She remember the rumors of Bellatrix's father and she had no intention of bringing back bad memories.
"Aright. I don't think it's a bad idea anyways, what your doing for your wife."
Bella's breath caught at the word. Her wife. Her wife and soon her child. A home was the least she could offer them.
"You filed the paperwork then? She's legally my wife?" Relief hit her hard, almost as if she had been subconsciously afraid it had all been a dream, that she would blink and Hermione would be gone. She hadn't seen her much as of late, she was afraid if the girl began asking questions of her she would spill her surprise. Or Hermione would change her mind, but the separation had been rather hard on her and sleepless nights seemed to be the number one symptom.
"Awful happy to be tied down are we?" Bellatrix huffed at the teasing tone. "I seemed to recall we split up because of your ideas on marriage. I seem to recall you saying it was gross as worms, all that kissing and stuff."
Bellatrix threw her head back and laughed. "We were six if I recall correctly. And you wanted me to cut our mud pie cake, there were literal worms involved and I had no desire to kiss you."
"Eh well, feeling has always been mutual, except obviously when I was five. I just wanted to cut a cake and wear a white dress like my sister."
"I'm glad I didn't leave you heartbroken." Bella elbowed her gently as Weiss pretended to be wounded.
"I've been pining after you for so long! How dare you treat my broken heart so cavalier."
Bellatrix chuckled. "I seem to recall you married first."
"Oh…" Weiss pretended to be surprised at the news she had a husband. "I suppose I did. A lovely, handsome man. You two should meet, perhaps you can bring Sterling and Hermione. I have a son a little older than Sterling. He…hasn't shown any signs of magic yet they might get along splendid."
Bellatrix pondered on it for a bit but she wasn't ready yet to share her small family with others, she was already having to share with Molly and Lily and soon she wanted her home finished. She wanted a chance to be a family together before they started showing a family to others. "Maybe…let's work a little more on our own friendship," She grasped Weiss's hand when the woman's eyes turned sad. "It's been a long time, and I did miss you. I was shocked to see you in the hospital acting as if you didn't hate me."
"I never hated you. I- can't say I understood but I never hated you."
Bellatrix nodded. "Give us time, Weiss, and then I think I would be happy for us to come for dinner." She was shocked by the sudden embrace but didn't pull away. Weiss had always been one of her regrets and she was grateful she could finally put it to rest, even if it wasn't all healed it was a start.