Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's note: I know this may be moving a little fast, but I am trying to keep it on some sort of a time line. It's been a few weeks since Bellatrix came to Hermione for the counseling. There will be slight Bellamione in this chapter…Please read and review.
Wide Awake: Chapter 12
Hermione awoke the next morning feeling slightly more rested than she had in years. She wasn't sure if it was because Tonks was holding her, or if it was because she had finally moved forward with Bellatrix, either way she felt good and she rolled out of bed and began to get dressed for the day.
"I made you some tea." Hermione said as Tonks joined her in the kitchen, dressed and ready for the day.
"Thank you Mione." Tonks said taking her mug and sitting down at the table.
She beamed at Hermione. She had never seen the young woman so happy. She continued to survey her friend as she busied herself in the kitchen. Finally she sat down with her own mug of tea and glanced at her watch.
"Are you going in today?" Hermione asked breaking the silence.
"No, I finished all my work for the week, plus I miss Teddy…I need to get home to him." Tonks replied.
"He is getting so big and so handsome." Hermione commented finishing her tea.
"He is, never ceases to amaze me." Tonks replied beaming.
She finished her tea and put her mug in the sink.
"Are you going in today?" Tonks asked looking out Hermione's kitchen window.
"Yes, for a little while, I have to transfer Bellatrix's case to Luna…" Hermione replied.
Tonks turned around to face her friend.
"Why? Why can't you treat her?" Tonks asked curiously.
Hermione chuckled a little.
"Because she is my charge…And it isn't appropriate for me to sleep with her and treat her." Hermione replied.
"You haven't…slept with her have you?!" Tonks asked shocked.
"No, no, no! Not yet…we just barely kissed…honestly Dora." Hermione said shaking her head in mock indignation.
"I didn't mean…I didn't mean anything by it Mione…I know you're not a harlot. I was merely curious." Tonks said.
"I know…I don't know where this is going, but I want to make sure that there isn't a conflict of interest, I think that I can talk Bella into talking to Luna." Hermione said getting to her feet.
The two women walked to the door, both putting on their coats.
"I guess I will see you Monday." Tonks said as they reached the secluded alley way a short ways from Hermione's flat.
"See you Monday; give Teddy a kiss from me." Hermione said hugging her friend.
Tonks smiled and turned on the spot. Hermione smiled at the spot where her friend had disappeared and began her walk to the Ministry of Magic.
Bellatrix was dressed and ready to leave for the Ministry when an owl arrived for her. She looked at the letter and then threw it down on the bed. It was from Narcissa. She knew that if she ignored her sister long enough, that she would receive a visit at some point. But right now Hermione was the only thing on her mind, Narcissa could wait. Plus she wasn't so sure that she wanted to even talk to her sister right now, though it wasn't just her fault, she knew that what had passed between them had forced them to a breaking point. Bellatrix picked decided to pick up the letter and tucked it into her cloak as she left the Manor.
Hermione arrived at the Ministry, shaking snow from her bushy hair. She looked up and wasn't surprised to see Luna in the office.
"Hello Hermione." Luna said cheerfully.
"Morning Luna…I didn't expect you to be here today." Hermione said.
"I wasn't…but I had some things to take care of, I won't be here much longer." Luna said turning back to her paper work.
"I see…can I ask you something?" Hermione asked sitting down at Luna's desk.
"Sure." Luna said looking up at her friend with polite interest.
"I…well I was wondering if you could take over Bellatrix's case." Hermione said a little awkwardly.
Luna smiled knowingly at Hermione. Hermione flushed and looked away from Luna's deep blue eyes.
"Of course I will Mione. I will just need your notes and we are all set." Luna said smiling.
"I will get them." Hermione said getting to her feet
She returned a few minutes later with her note pad, and handed it to Luna who took it and put it in her briefcase along with the rest of her paperwork. She stood and put on her coat.
"I will see you Monday Hermione." Luna said leaving her office.
Hermione nodded and walked into her office, she left the door open and sat down at her desk. She wasn't sure why she was so nervous, it was just Bellatrix, she wasn't even this nervous the first time they had met for their weekly counseling sessions. She was snapped out of her reverie by the sound of a soft knock on her door, she turned to see Bellatrix standing there, her cheeks slightly red from the cold, and flecks of snow in her wild curls.
"Please come in." Hermione said getting to her feet.
Bellatrix came in, hanging her cloak in the hook by the door. She placed a bouquet of roses on Hermione's desk.
"These are for you." Bellatrix said sitting down in the chair opposite Hermione's desk.
"Thank you!" Hermione said picking up the roses and bringing them to her nose.
Bellatrix smiled and just stared at Hermione.
"They are everlasting…they don't need water." Bellatrix said after a few minutes.
"They are beautiful Bella, thank you." Hermione said.
A short silence passed between them. It was even more awkward this time than the first, and Bellatrix seemed extremely nervous, which made Hermione smile; it made her feel good knowing that she wasn't the only one who was freaking out.
"So you asked me here, what is it that you wanted to talk about?" Bellatrix asked breaking the silence.
"Right…well you are my patient, so I wanted to let you know that since we are…well going to become more intimate, I will no longer be able to treat you." Hermione said.
"You won't?" Bellatrix asked a little apprehensively.
"Don't worry, Luna is more than capable. You can trust her." Hermione replied softly.
"We shall see." Bellatrix said.
"You will, she agreed and now we can get down to more pressing matters." Hermione said standing.
"Pressing matters?" Bellatrix asked raising a perfectly sculpted eyebrow.
"Yes…like this intense burning….I have." Hermione whispered moving closer to Bellatrix.
Bellatrix's dark eyes narrowed, she uncrossed her legs and Hermione straddled her in her chair, pressing her lips against hers softly.
"This intense burning…tell me about it?" Bellatrix asked kissing down Hermione's neck.
"It…it's hot…very h…hot." Hermione said between pants.
The feel of Bellatrix's lips on her neck was driving her crazy. She moaned as Bellatrix lightly sucked on her pulse point. Her hands running the length of Bellatrix's torso.
"How do you propose we get rid of this burning?" Bellatrix asked kissing her again.
"I can think of a way…but it's too soon…oh god…" Hermione replied as she felt Bellatrix's fingers stroke her through the fabric of her slacks.
It seemed that Bellatrix already knew what to do. Her hips moved against Bellatrix's hand, her own hands tangled in the older woman's wild mane of raven curls. She moaned, and long fingers stroked her clit, she threw her head back, pressing Bellatrix's head between her breasts.
"Fuck…" Hermione whispered as she felt her orgasm crash down over her.
Bellatrix let out a low moan as she felt Hermione's groin become even hotter as her orgasm approached.
"Bella…Bella…fuck…" Hermione moaned softly as her orgasm exploded over her.
Bellatrix continued to rub Hermione through her slacks as her orgasm dissipated. Hermione laid her head on Bellatrix's shoulder, lightly sinking her teeth into the fabric. After a few minutes Hermione's breathing returned to normal and she looked into Bellatrix's eyes.
"I think we moved a little too fast." Hermione said sadly.
There was a look in Bellatrix's eyes that she couldn't quite place, and she figured it was because she had just came on too strong to the older witch. Bellatrix removed her hand from Hermione's groin and placed both hands on her hips, squeezing them lightly.
"It's alright Love. Don't fret, I know I said that I wanted to do this properly but I think that we are sort of beyond that now. But I am serious about wanting to do this right, I think that full on sex shouldn't be something we engage in so quickly…though that little display gives me something to look forward to." Bellatrix said smiling.
Hermione blushed, but she smiled all the same.
"So I was thinking that we could go out for some lunch? Are you hungry?" Bellatrix asked changing the subject.
"I could eat, where did you have in mind?" Hermione asked.
"I place that I haven't been to in years." Bellatrix replied.
Hermione got to her feet and Bellatrix followed. They both put on their winter wear and walked out of the Ministry. After a few minutes of walking Bellatrix stopped and Hermione stopped too. She eyed the older woman curiously, but Bellatrix didn't say anything she just kept walking.
"We are here." Bellatrix said stopping outside of a small café.
Hermione looked up at it, it was small indeed, and the Muggles on the street didn't seem to notice it, Bellatrix took her hand and they walked inside.
"Madame Black." The owner of the restaurant said inclining his head to her.
"It's Lestrange now." Bellatrix snapped.
The old man apologized a hundred times over for offending her, Hermione rolled her eyes, even if the Wizarding World was different, it appeared that Bellatrix's family name still held and commanded a certain level of respect from the rest of the community. The man had obviously forgotten that Bellatrix had been married. She tugged on Hermione's hand and they sat down at a small table. The waiter came over and took their drink orders.
"Do you like it?" Bellatrix asked apprehensively.
Hermione nodded and continued to look around the small café. There were pictures in every wall and there were only a few tables, it didn't look like it was a place that many people ate at on a daily basis. Hermione looked at the menu and gaped, open mouthed at the prices of some of the dishes. Bellatrix seemed to know what Hermione was thinking because she took the menu away and placed a hand on Hermione's and smiled at her.
"Look don't worry about the money. It's no trouble. And plus this place is exclusive, only a few of the oldest Wizarding Families eat here. We won't be judged or bothered." Bellatrix said.
"You don't have to pay for me." Hermione said softly.
"I asked you out, it's only fair. And plus I have more money than I know what to do with, I might as well spend it on someone I like." Bellatrix shrugged taking her hand back and examining her own menu.
Hermione smiled and picked up her menu, this time ignoring the prices next to the entrée names. After a few minutes the water came back to refill their drinks and took their orders.
"So, what kinds of things do you like to do?" Bellatrix asked awkwardly.
Hermione took a sip of her water and smiled at Bellatrix.
"I like to read." Hermione replied.
"Is that it? I mean a talented young woman like you would surely have other hobbies other than reading." Bellatrix replied.
"Well what do you like to do?" Hermione shot back slightly defensively.
"I like to read as well." Bellatrix admitted.
"Thought so, poking fun at me when we really aren't that different." Hermione said taking another sip of water.
"Anything else?" Bellatrix asked.
"I like to listen to music. Though I doubt I will convert you to Muggle music any time soon, I think you might like some of it." Hermione replied.
"Perhaps. I play piano. I have been playing since I was a small child." Bellatrix said taking a sip of her own water.
"You play piano?! I had no idea! I play…a little…but I am not that good." Hermione said excitedly.
"You?! You Hermione Granger, the Brightest Witch of her age is bad at something?" Bellatrix asked in mock surprise and shock.
"We can't all be good at everything." Hermione said rolling her eyes.
"Failure is not an option for me." Bellatrix said darkly.
"Don't do this, not here Bella." Hermione said warningly.
Bellatrix sighed and she finished her water. Just then the waiter brought their food and refilled their glasses. They ate in silence; once they were finished Bellatrix paid the bill, even leaving the waiter a tip which he took gratefully, and left the café.
"Thank you for lunch." Hermione said taking Bellatrix's hand.
"You're welcome." Bellatrix replied.
They walked for a while, not speaking just enjoying each other's company.
"Where to now?" Bellatrix asked.
"I don't know." Hermione replied.
"We could go shopping or we could go back to your place." Bellatrix suggested.
"You don't have to buy me things Bella. And why don't we go to your place?" Hermione asked.
"I…not yet…I'm not ready for that." Bellatrix replied.
Hermione nodded and became silent once more. She wanted to respect Bellatrix's privacy, but there were a million questions on her mind that she wanted to ask. Bellatrix seemed deep in thought as well and didn't speak for almost ten minutes. Finally Hermione broke the silence.
"How do you feel about Rodolphus's death?" Hermione asked boldly.
Bellatrix stopped walking and stared at Hermione in shock. Hermione thought she had crossed a major line, but a smile graced Bellatrix's lips, much to Hermione's surprise.
"I am glad he is gone." Bellatrix said honestly.
Hermione looked sad for a moment; she couldn't believe that someone would say that about their husband, I mean they were married for like what almost 30 years?
"Don't get me wrong, he could be useful. But he was mostly a controlling bastard who was jealous of me and my rank within the circle." Bellatrix added.
"Jealous…I'm sorry I don't meant to pry, but I am just curious, I mean you two were married for what 25 years?" Hermione asked.
"30, and you aren't prying, I suppose this would have come up sooner or later in our weekly conversations." Bellatrix said.
They continued to walk as Bellatrix talked about her marriage to Rodolphus Lestrange. Hermione walked along side the older woman, completely engaged in what she was saying, she never knew how complicated a Pure-Blood marriage was.
"We tried for children, but a healer at St. Mungo's determined that I was barren. But in all honesty I didn't want children, not with my self ambition taking me higher than I ever thought possible…I just wasn't ready to give that up…I rose with in the ranks faster than most and I proved myself more than once to everyone." Bellatrix said.
"It must have been difficult." Hermione said.
"I was for a while, but I pushed myself. I wasn't going to fail any longer. I had failed as a wife and I couldn't produce children, so I had to prove myself other ways…I wont get into those, but you get the idea." Bellatrix explained.
"I do…goodness Bella…Did you love him?" Hermione asked.
"Who?" Bellatrix asked confused.
"Rodolphus." Hermione replied.
"No." Bellatrix snapped.
"Not even a little?" Hermione asked, she knew that she was pushing her luck, but Bellatrix didn't seem too uncomfortable with the questions that she was asking.
"No, not in the slightest. Pure-Bloods do not marry for love; we marry for money and power." Bellatrix replied.
"Do you think that you could ever love?" Hermione asked before she could stop herself.
Bellatrix stopped walking and looked at Hermione confused. This whole thing was new to her and she didn't even know where to start, but understood that Hermione was trying to figure out if she had made the right choice. And Bellatrix knew deep down, that she could some day love the girl, but right now, she was just trying to get used to the fact that she was in a relationship.
"I'm sorry…I shouldn't have…" Hermione said on the verge of tears.
"Hermione, look, I spent most of my marriage in prison, so I never really got to experience what it was like to have a relationship like that. We weren't married very long before we were imprisoned. And so I am not sure how to act. I mean I saw my parents, but they were no fit example…the only example I have is…Cissy…" Bellatrix said.
This time Bellatrix was on the verge of tears, but she wiped them away angrily. She didn't want to lose face in front of Hermione like this.
"I'm sorry Bella; we don't have to talk about this anymore. Lets go back to my place and talk some more. Get out of this cold." Hermione said taking Bellatrix's hand.
"Are we walking?" Bellatrix asked.
"Yeah, sure, why not? My place isn't far from here." Hermione replied smiling.
They walked in the direction of Hermione's flat.
"Is there anything that you absolutely hate?" Hermione asked unsure if she really wanted to know the answer.
Bellatrix thought for a second and smiled.
"Cinnamon." Bellatrix replied.
TBC…..