Hermione sat in the shade of the wall as she watched the carrots unbury themselves from the garden patch. It was late morning and the sun was shining high above the cottage. Andromeda was lazily moving her wand as she summoned the ripened vegetables from the garden into the kitchen. Teddy had managed to catch one as it flew out and was currently nibbling on the end after Hermione had cleaned it.

"I can't believe it's only a week until you leave" Andy spoke, as she sent a large cluster of potato spuds into the kitchen door.

"I haven't even thought about packing yet" Hermione spoke absentmindedly. She was always one so organised but naturally this year was different, she had received her book list the previous week, ordering them via owl mail instead of her annual trip to Diagonalley, despite it being two months since the war ended there was still much missing.

"You know you're welcome back here anytime, for as long as you need" Andromeda reassured her.

Hermione smiled. "I know, you have said it two times already, but it's most appreciated to know I have somewhere to call home".

Hermione followed Andromeda into the house, entertaining teddy in the living room while the older witch got ready, she was heading out to tea with her sister, Hermione had declined to join stating now would be a good time to pack.

Hermione observed the older witch taming her long brown curls in the mirror above the fire, twisting it into a loose bun with several escaped tendrils. The older witch seemed to be distracted as she looked down at the photo of herself and her sisters on the mantle, picking it up and staring at it for several moments before speaking.

"It's her birthday today" she whispered.

"Narcissa's?" Hermione asked feeling slight guilt at not attending the tea, perhaps it was meant to be a celebration.

"Bella's" Andromeda spoke, setting the picture back on the mantle. She took Teddy in her arms, wishing Hermione a goodbye before apparating to the tea room.

Hermione stared into the area the witch had apparated from, deep in thought and contemplation, as an idea struck her she walked into the kitchen and put her plan into action.

Bellatrix sat with her hand supporting her chin, her face showing a bored expression as several female centaurs fawned over her. She had woke up to a chorus of whinnying from the unicorns and thestrals, and flute playing from the centaurs in what Apollo explained was the celebration call of her birthday. She almost turned round to go back to bed but Arria had whisked her off to the meadow for what appeared to be pampering. She had been drenched in a freezing cold purple liquid smelling fruity before being told to strip and rinse under the waterfall, they had been decent enough to give her some privacy as she washed and changed in rapid timing as she sensed there return. She was currently sat in the grass as two of the younger female centaurs weaved her hair into a French braid while adding various wild flowers into the folds. Her attention only picked up as she watched the small pygmy dragon leave her side and fly off out of sight.

Hermione placed her wand in the same tree as she had been shown last time. She pulled the strap of her bag over her shoulder tighter as she walked in the direction she had been taken last time. Despite not feeling the magical wards, she believed she had made progress until she walked past her wands hiding place again. She sat down in defeat, about to unstick her wand to send a patronus, when she spotted the little dragon. She stood up admiring the creature as it hovered at head height, once she was on her feet, it set off in the direction she had previously walked. She was so enchanted at how the small creature moved she didn't spot the centaur until he turned, his bow loaded and pointing at her.

"My apologies miss Granger, I did not sense your presence" he said lowering his weapon.

Hermione nodded. "What are you hunting?" she asked.

"I'm guarding, there appears to be more wraiths in this area" he spoke searching the perimeter once more.

"You should take this tip off your arrow, wood through the heart is the only known thing to kill a wraith" Hermione quoted. The centaur smiled suddenly remembering the same information passed on to him. He pulled the tip off making sure the wood was sharp.

"You seek entrance?" he asked looking towards the never-ending greenery.

She nodded.

"Come, I believe after this time there will be no restriction to letting you in" he spoke leading the way. Hermione immediately felt the change in magic as she walked behind the centaur, Levi flying off ahead.

Hermione stood in surprise as she took in the site of the meadow, her previous visit had been in the dark with only shadows from the large bonfire emitting the vast clearing. Now she could understand why the centaurs kept it sacred, large trees dominated the perimeter as various colouring of flowers dotted the lush green grass. Hazel eyes scanned the vicinity, eventually spotting the raven haired witch in one of her dresses Hermione had brought on her last visit as well as the black hooded jacket Hermione had given her, she was scratching the neck of the scaly creature as it walked alongside her. Hermione had become accustomed to seeing thestrals, after the death of dobby, she admired the morbid beauty of the creatures, the sadness of their association and their intelligence and loyalty.

"Granger" Bellatrix shouted as she spotted the muggleborn standing across the way. Hermione waved back as the raven haired witch made her way towards her.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, she knew school term didn't start for another week.

Hermione frowned slightly, feeling a slight pang of sadness as the dark witch had called her by her surname once again. Her emotions towards the strange relationship with the dark witch in recent weeks had been tumultuous for her. She couldn't really interpret calling it a friendship or a truce of some sort, but she found her time with Bellatrix was becoming more often, whether planned or simply a spur of the moment.

"Oi bookworm? Are you done dreaming?" Bellatrix joked as she reached the dazed brunette, dragging her from her trail of thought.

Bellatrix noticed immediately the frown on the other witches face, though it disappeared quickly into an annoyed look.

"I came to see you but if you're going to be rude about it, I'll just leave!" Hermione spat back before turning on her heal.

She felt a hand grasp her sleeve, stopping her from storming off.

"Wait"

Hermione turned waiting for an apology she knew she was unlikely to get.

"I wasn't expecting you for another week that's all, then again most your visits are spontaneous" Bella concluded.

"I came to wish you a happy birthday" Hermione said.

Bellatrix stared unbelievably at the brunette.

"How . . . how did you know it was my birthday?" Bellatrix asked

"Andromeda told me this morning, she was looking at a picture of the three of you as children she keeps in her living room"

"She has a picture of me?"

"Just because you hated her doesn't mean she hated you Bellatrix" Hermione stated.

"Don't you dare talk what you don't know" Bellatrix whispered harshly. "I loved my sisters more than anything else in the world, protected them and she betrayed me abandoned me when I needed her!"

"She didn't abandon you Bellatrix, she escaped because she knew she didn't want that life, she wanted to marry for love. If you really loved her you would have supported her no matter what!"

Bella's face turned red with anger as she looked back at the muggleborn.

"She didn't even fucking tell me! She was gone, possessions packed and left in the night to be married. She didn't even love me enough to tell me that, betrayal of my trust. She was my sister do you really think I wouldn't have tried to help her if she had asked!" Bellatrix stormed off towards her shelter as hot angry tears fell. She had never been one for showing a week emotion, her father had beaten that out of her as a child.

Hermione watched as the dark witch rushed from her. The words spoken sinking in. Hermione cursed as she trailed after the other witch, noticing the looks from the centaurs at a side glance.

She reached the cave entrance noticing the witch sobbing into her blankets. Hermione hesitantly stood at the entrance, scanning the dwelling she noticed the book she had given Bella almost completed as it sat face down a few pages from completion.

"Bellatrix, I'm sorry I upset you on your birthday. I'll leave this bag for you with your present in and go" Hermione spoke in a calming tone as she turned to leave.

Sniff "you got me a present?" Bellatrix looked up through bloodshot eyes. Hermione nodded.

"I don't understand you Granger, your everything I was taught to hate, I hurt you, humiliated you and tortured you, and yet you're here yet again giving me presents" Bella spoke.

"It's who I am, you also saved me from a spider, cared for me when I fainted and healed me when I was injured. Were all capable of change". Hermione stepped forward reaching into the bag and pulling out the first item setting it in front of the dark witch.

"Shoes?" she asked looking at the objects.

There a spare pair I had, I can transfigure them to look more like your boots or you could practise yourself" Hermione continued as she pulled the next one. "How have you liked the book?"

Bellatrix looked over at the almost completed book. "They have no idea about what a real witch is like do they?" she joked.

Hermione smiled and pulled out two more books. "This is the two following books, when u finish these let me know there's another four after that" she passed the books over to the other witch.

"Did you bring any more of those éclairs?" Bellatrix asked enthusiastically as she flicked through the new books.

"You ate the all already?" Hermione asked incredulously.

"What they're nice! You didn't give me that many" Bellatrix retaliated.

"I would say you have a minor addiction to chocolate éclairs!" Hermione laughed. "No I'm sorry I didn't bring anymore, but I did take into account your affection for them" she continued as she pulled out a plastic container. She pulled off the lid and lifted out a rather lopsided chocolate cream cake.

"I'm afraid baking isn't something I have excelled in yet, but it was my first try after all!"

"You made me a cake?" Bellatrix queried. Hermione nodded,

"Want to try some?"

Bella looked over and stuck her index finger across the overindulged icing. Mmm she hummed licking her finger.

"It will have to wait though, its lunch time!" the dark witched announced as she heard the call of the horn. She jumped from her bed and headed out the entrance. Hermione stood looking confused until the dark witch took a step back and peered back through the entrance,

"Coming granger?" she asked. Before taking off again Hermione scooted after her.

Bellatrix sauntered towards the eating area, the female centaurs did the majority of cooking and food preparation as was custom, and it was traditional for the herd to eat together, Bellatrix picked up a carved wooden plate from the pile, they had a shallow dip allowing the scooped vegetable soup from the large cauldron to fill her bowl and grabbing a small loaf from the side before sitting down near the fire. Hermione watched the strange ritual before feeling a tap on her shoulder as one of the younger centaurs passed her a filled bowl with a piece of bread and pointed for her to join Bellatrix.

"Do you always eat as a group?" Hermione asked as she watched Bellatrix dipping her bread soaking up the liquid.

"Usually one or two meals a day, except for if were patrolling" she replied before taking a bite. Hermione followed suit tearing a piece of bread and dipping it in. the soup was delicious, unsure of half the ingredients as the context was various coloured leafs. She copied Bellatrix as she finished her bread and held the bowl to her lips slurping the remaining contents fluidly. Even in this lower standard form of eating Hermione found the dark witch much less repulsive than 7 years of Ronald Weasley's dinner etiquette skills.

After they had ate both witches wandered out of the meadow, Bellatrix mentioned going to find her dragon at the snow cherries as he was no doubt over indulging and Hermione wanted to retrieve her wand. As she detached the wand and turned back round she found the dark witch munching in a slab of chocolate cake.

"How did you-"

"I summoned it, I just remembered I hadn't had it after dinner" she shrugged as she took another mouthful, before holding her left had forward with another slice offered to the brunette. Hermione took it without hesitation. Savouring the taste as she realised how good it was.

"We usually light candles on our birthday cake and make a wish" Hermione randomly quoted.

"Really? Do the ever come true?"

Hermione shrugged. "If you could have wished for something what would it be?" Hermione asked.

Bellatrix stopped chewing, looking back deep in thought as she contemplated the muggleborns words. As she thought of her answer.

"Right now . . . to fly" she answered looking up at the sky.

"To fly?" Hermione repeated

"I've been in these woods for month's granger, to watch you leave every time causes me envy, because you can"

"Have you been told you can't leave?" Hermione queried.

"No, but I can't just go strutting through the leaky cauldron can I?" Bellatrx snapped back.

"No, but you could fly . . ." Hermione stepped forward with a look of determination grabbing the dark witches arm before she could protest. Bellatrix muttered for the muggleborn to unhand her even throwing a few choice words before she realised the brunette's intentions. They both stood looking at the Thestral Bellatrix had been patting earlier, it seemed it had been following them and unconsciously came to their bidding.

"You've ridden a thestral haven't you?" Hermione asked.

Bella nodded as she looked onto the beast. Bellatrix mounted onto its back, sitting naturally with her knees pressed in tightly behind its wings.

"Do you need me to cast a disillusionment charm?" Hermione asked. Bellatrix shook her head, she could do that herself, then a thought occurred to her and replied. "You might want to cast one on yourself"

Hermione looked confused. "What? Why-"she felt herself pulled towards the thestral half lifted from the force of the pull onto its back behind the dark which. Bellatrix dragged the brunette behind her, hearing her scream as the thestral flapped its wings and soared of into the sky. Bella grinned with excitement as she felt the wind flapping through her hair from the back draft of the wings, she cast a disillusionment on herself and Hermione, feeling the other witch was too busy straightening herself up and currently clinging tightly for dear life onto Bella's waist.

"This is great!" Bellatrix squealed watching the earth below them floating past.

"I hate flying!" Hermione shouted back. Her grip tightening as she felt the thestral descending.

They landed amongst some low hanging trees on what looked to be the side of an estate. Bellatrix dismounted and walked a few steps forward crouching by the tree, her attention on something.

Hermione jumped off and walked over to the other witch, looking over her shoulder towards what had caught the other witches attention. When she realised where they were she grabbed the dark witch and stumbled behind the trunk.

"Are you insane we could be seen?" Hermione whispered harshly as Bellatrix scuffled back to her place.

"Don't be stupid we have a charm on remember" she whispered back looking across again.

Narcissa and Andromeda were enjoying a picnic in the gardens of Malfoy manor laughing and watching teddy as he crawled around attempting to catch the neon coloured butterflies.

"I've never seen my sisters together for over 25 years" Bellatrix whispered.

"Andy says if feels like they were never apart" Hermione spoke

"If I could make another birthday with, it would be to walk there and laugh with my sisters, feeling their happiness and love role around like it is now" Bellatrix whispered so quietly Hermione wondered if she had meant to say it loud at all. Bellatrix stood from her perch and walked back over to the thestral as it stood patiently. Hermione followed unsure why the witch stood but not yet mounted.

"You go first, maybe you will feel safer in front" Bellatrix ordered. She gave Hermione a leg up before effortlessly jumping behind her.

"shuffle forward, grip him with your knees, you can wrap your hand in his mane but don't pull, he will direct himself for you" Bellatrix instructed, Hermione pulled her knees in tightly behind his wings, she felt Bellatrix sitting tight behind her practically spooning her body, with a sense of safety. Hermione grasped the dark silky mane and felt the creature taking off once again.

Bellatrix was right, she felt much better in the front, especially with the solid body tucked behind her, the iron grip of two arms encircling her waist. What had surprised her was the feeling of the dark witches head curled into the back of her shoulder blades in a tight embrace, with no speaking or moving as they flew back and landed in the forbidden forest once more.

Neither had moved despite the thestral standing at the same destination they had left, Bellatrix grip had loosened slightly but still she held onto the brunette and embraced her, unconsciously Hermione had leaned back into the embrace closing her eyes to the warmth and comfort offered.

An owl hooted and soared down perching on a branch next to them.

"Lazarus?" they both spoke in unison.

Hermione jumped off, holding out her arm as the owl swooped to her holding its leg out with parchment attached with her name on.

She untied it and opened it.

Hermione,

Apperate to the burrow as soon as you get this, we have an emergency order meeting

Andy,

"I have to go" Hermione announced rolling up the parchment.

She turned to the dark witch who nodded in understanding.

"I'll come see you next week, after the big feast" Hermione reassured her before apparating.

Hermione landed just in front of the porch of the burrow, she could see the house was already full as she entered the rear doorway. All eyes were on her as she walked towards the kitchen table, she squeezed onto the end next to Andy who shuffled up, putting her arm around her and asked in a whisper if she was ok which Hermione smiled and nodded a reply. She noted several people still missing including the current minister and her two best friends. However she was surprised to see Narcissa and Draco sitting at the table, along with several others scowls aimed at the blondes.

"There has been concerns raised that need to be addressed immediately" Minerva spoke as all eyes turned on her.

"What's happened?" Ginny asked looking worried.

"We have been given important information that the Lestrange brothers have been spotted with Lucius Malfoy."

All eyes turned to Narcissa.

"I filed for divorce several weeks ago, I do not wish to be associated with that side any longer" she spoke in a matter of fact tome.

Minerva grunted getting attention back.

"The Auror's are currently following up leads, with this information has been some disturbing details, there has been a threat of revenge on not only Narcissa and Draco but others as well. I'm afraid to say it doesn't look like the war is over yet" Minerva finished with a tired tone, worry clearly etched on her face.

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SlytherinEnigma