A/N: So, this chapter is on the shorter side for what I usually write for this story, but after pondering over it for however long it's been written, I've decided that it's finished. I know a lot of you have been waiting for this, well, something a little more than this, but still. As a warning, Hurricane Dorian may affect the next update as it is inching towards the US. I will do my best to write what I can. For those of you in FL, GA, SC, and NC, I hope you stay safe during the storm.

Thanks for reading!

Bellatrix hummed as she laid in Hermione's-well, theirs, really-bed, eyes focused sharply on the ceiling but not actually seeing. She had been enjoying her newfound relative freedom, even though it wasn't much. Hermione had...changed, the cause of her gleeful humming. She could sense it, the darkness the girl had accepted, wielding it almost masterfully. She was so close. There was nothing Bellatrix wanted more than to lay down the final pieces of madness within Hermione. Time, though. It would take time. She could not rush, for risk of breaking the poor girl irreversibly. Bellatrix had convinced Hermione to let her take them to Black Manor, well, Hermione had almost asked, but still. It would be a pivotal moment. It was not quite the same as Malfoy Manor, but it was close enough.

At the thought of Malfoy Manor, Bellatrix licked her lips, her pupils growing dark with want and need. She rose, stalking toward Hermione, who was sitting on the couch grading abominations. Bellatrix tore the essays away, discarding them almost carelessly on the floor and settling possessively on Hermione's lap. The young witch didn't move, didn't protest as she recognized the need in Bellatrix's eyes and immediately felt it reflected in her own. With a satisfied smirk, Bellatrix leaned forward, her breath warm on Hermione's neck. Hermione tensed, waiting for the bite she knew was coming, wanting it so badly her core throbbed.

Bellatrix pressed her lips against salty skin, slowly opening her mouth and letting her teeth drag across soft flesh. Slowly, slower than she ever had before, she bit down, feeling Hermione tense and relax underneath her. The sweetly metallic taste of the young witch's blood met her tongue as her teeth finally broke the skin of Hermione's neck, and she consumed it greedily. Hermione, in turn, gripped Bellatrix's lower back, sliding until she found exposed skin. She latched on, her fingernails digging harshly into ivory flesh, causing Bellatrix to shift in her lap, increasing the pressure. Hermione felt warmth envelop her fingertips, different from Bellatrix's usual warmth. She knew immediately she had drawn blood, and she sucked in a breath, her pupils nearly engulfing her irises. She moved her hands higher up Bellatrix's back, drawing them downward hard enough to leave trails of blood in their wake. Bellatrix sighed against her, her hands on Hermione's shoulders, pushing her further into the couch.

Bellatrix took a deep breath, moving her tongue slowly across the bite she had just made, savoring the deliciously sweet taste of Hermione's blood and the deliciously intoxicating sensation of her own blood flowing down her back slowly. Hermione moved one hand to grip dark curls, holding Bellatrix's head hostage as she mirrored the dark witch, biting into the surprisingly soft flesh of her neck hard enough to draw blood. A deep rumble spread through Hermione, originating from the dark witch on top of her. Experimentally, Hermione traced the mark she created, inexperienced compared to Bellatrix, but still effective. The dark witch on top of her stilled, the rumble more pronounced. Growing bolder, Hermione traced the bloody marks on Bellatrix's back while firmly moving her tongue over the bite she had inflicted. Bellatrix relaxed into her, the first time she had ever done so, and Hermione stilled, unsure if she should continue. Bellatrix panted, wanting to melt into the witch beneath her, but resisting the urge. It felt heavenly, like nothing she had ever experienced, and she had experienced such delicious pain. It was different when it came from Hermione, authentic if a bit unpracticed. When the girl stopped, Bellatrix caught her breath, shifting so her lips where next to Hermione's ear.

"You've learned so much, little witch, done so well. Shall I say the word you're dying to hear?"

"Please!" Hermione begged, the need drawing her in and manifesting itself between her legs.

Bellatrix was silent, waiting as Hermione squirmed underneath her. "Crucio."

Hermione gasped, her body tensing against Bellatrix's pushing up into her. Fire coursed through her entire body, settling firmly-and wetly-between her legs. Bellatrix knew and smiled her predatory smile as she eased her thigh between Hermione's legs, pushing down as the young witch pushed up. Hermione's hands tightened their grip on Bellatrix, drawing a pleased hum from the dark witch as she moved to nuzzle Hermione's neck, the gesture a mix of possessive love and untamed lust. Hermione could not begin to fathom how good it felt to be Crucioed. She had come to find it more enjoyable than painful, especially at the expert hands of Bellatrix. Her back arched off the couch and into Bellatrix, the beginnings of unconsciousness blurring her vision. Not that she could see with the sheer amount of pleasure she felt. She struggled to take a full breath, her entire body warm and tense, melting into the warmth of Bellatrix. It washed over her in waves, shaking her entire body as Bellatrix released the spell, reversing their position so Hermione was on top, held gently to her. She stroked the young witch's back, whispering nonsense until Hermione relaxed completely. A light sheen of sweat covered her skin, her body still trembling and her breaths coming in pants. Her eyes were closed and she let her head rest on Bellatrix's chest, the gentle rise and fall of her breathing slowly bringing her back into awareness.

"It isn't supposed to feel like this. Good. It isn't supposed to feel good. But it does."

"That's because I want it to. You have to mean it. But the way you mean it can be different and that makes it feel different."

Hermione just nodded, winding her arms around Bellatrix's waist, "Teach me."

Bellatrix chuckled. "You'd have me teach you how to tell time."

"You're a good teacher," Hermione mumbled. Bellatrix felt her heart flip, silently cursing the bloody thing.

"You're a good student. That helps, otherwise, I'd have hexed you into oblivion before you could ask me to teach you."

Hermione hummed, growing too tired to carry on the conversation. Bellatrix had never let it go as far as it had this time, never let her cross the threshold to absolute pleasure. She had never come so undone before, been so utterly satisfied from Bellatrix's Crucio before. It had always been more pain than pleasure, but this time, the pain and pleasure had matched each other, spasm for spasm, driving Hermione wild with arousal.

Bellatrix flicked her wrist, bringing the abominations up and grading them for the young witch. She would have been harsher, but she knew Hermione didn't care enough to be strict. It was easier to let students slide by with their essays and grade harshly when they perform. Bellatrix knew how Hermione graded, had studied her closely, and so she finished the stack and sent them to the now sleeping witch's desk. Absently, she stroked messy brown hair, letting herself get lost in thought again.

As Hermione began to stir, Bellatrix was brought back to reality, still holding Hermione to her. Bellatrix was still as Hermione shifted closer, resting her hand on the scar she had given Hermione. She could feel the slightly raised scar tissue through her sleeve.

"We need to strike the Ministry during the school year," Hermione mumbled sleepily, "that way it's harder to trace back to us."

Bellatrix hummed, nodding thoughtfully, "Good dreams?"

"Dreams of your victory."

"I like the sound of that. What else?"

"I want to practice dueling more." Hermione sat up, breaking out of Bellatrix's grip and stalking to her desk. "You graded them?"

"I was bored."

Hermione nodded, flipping through the first few before setting them back down. She held out her arm and Bellatrix took her unspoken cue to transfigure. Perching on Hermione's arm, Bellatrix bobbed her head up and down. Hermione had made more of an effort to show her face at meals-at Bellatrix's insistence-and rarely felt comfortable alone. Bellatrix found the noise of the Great Hall more bearable than being alone all the time, even though she had to be a bird. The wheels in both their heads were turning, trying to figure out the best way to take down the Ministry. They had gotten a little side-tracked, but now they were ready to focus on it again. They hadn't found anything they felt was useful at the library, but there really wasn't any rush to seize control. It would happen in time and if they did things the right way they wouldn't face as many issues later. Arthur would be the perfect person to use in their plan, so they just needed to find a way to develop the bombs and get Arthur to use them. Things were changing, around them, between them, and they needed to reaffirm their already tenuous grasp on reality.