Bellatrix made her way back to Hermione's flat. She felt good for the first time in a long time, things were finally starting to work out for her. Landing a job was not on her mind, but she had landed it, the plus side it was a good job, something she could be good at and be able to teach others. She couldn't wait to tell Hermione about this, it was exciting.
Once she arrived, she could smell something coming from inside, it smelled delicious. She knocked and waited. After a couple minutes Hermione answered the door wearing a pair of sweat pants and a tank-top, he bushy hair was pulled up into a ponytail. Bellatrix swallowed, Hermione looked beautiful. The rough, raw look suited the younger witch who ushered her inside, taking her coat and hanging it on one of the coat hooks by the door.
'I missed you Mione' Bellatrix said planting a soft kiss on Hermione's cheek.
'I missed you too Bella, I made us some lunch if you're hungry.' Hermione said walking back into the kitchen.
'I'm starving' Bellatrix said looking around the room.
She saw a piano, something she hadn't noticed before. sitting in the corner of the room, she moved towards it and sat down on the bench.
'Hey Mione, when was your piano last tuned?' Bellatrix asked running her fingers along the top of the fall board.
'Last week.' Hermione replied from the kitchen.
She came back in the room to see Bellatrix sitting at the piano. She watched as she slowly, delicately lifted the fall board and straightened her posture. She looked so natural sitting there, like it was meant to be. She began to play.
It was a slow sad movement of notes, Bellatrix's eyes were closed and she was unaware of Hermione's presence in the room. Nothing else mattered in that moment but the notes, the music and the emotion.
Hermione leaned against the doorway, watching as Bellatrix played. She wondered how long she had been playing, and how she learned. It was hard to imagine her lover as a child. Hermione wondered how her childhood was, what she did, what she was like. She made it a point to ask Bellatrix all of this. Though they had touched on it briefly when she was a patient of hers, she had never got too deep into it. The younger witch was snapped out of her musings by the sound of her lover's voice.
'I'm sorry about yesterday...I was irritable because Cissy had stopped by...our last...conversation hadn't ended well and I didn't want to speak to her' Bellatrix said still playing.
'It is alright Bella. Don't worry about it, you have alot going on.' Hermione said softly.
'Still doesn't excuse my behavior' Bellatrix said hitting the last chord on the piano, she turned to look at Hermione.
'I want to go all the way with you' Bellatrix explained 'But I am not sure how to go about it.'
Hermione eyed Bellatrix curiously.
'I want our first time to be...special, and I'm just not sure how and when it should happen, I have heard that when the time is right, you'll know, but I don't believe that.' Bellatrix said looking at her lover.
Hermione didn't say anything, she just listened.
'I won't know when the time is right until we are...being intimate, I know that sounds like crap, but it is how I feel.' Bellatrix finished.
She turned to look at Hermione who was still leaning against the door frame. Hermione was looking down at her feet, she couldn't meet Bellatrix's eyes.
'We'll figure it out Bella, we'll slow down. Lunch is ready.' Hermione said going back into the kitchen.
Bellatrix sighed heavily and gently lowered the fall board, following Hermione into the kitchen. She say down at the table that Hermione had already set.
'I made us something light, I hope that is okay?' Hermione asked.
'It looks delicious.' Bellatrix said looking down at her salad and half a sandwich.
The two women ate in silence, Hermione still not meeting her lover's eyes, she sipped her wine and continued to eat. Once she was finished she cleared her plate.
'Finished?' Hermione asked.
'Oh yes, I'll get it Mione, you go sit down in the sitting room, I'll clean up.' Bellatrix said.
Hermione didn't argue, she went to sit down on the couch. Bellatrix began to clear their plates, washing them and put them in the dish rack to dry. She joined Hermione in the living room, she sat next to her.
'Talk to me Mione, what is it?' Bellatrix asked softly.
'I...' Hermione hesitated.
'Baby...please.' Bellatrix said.
'I want some space. I need to figure things out.' Hermione said finally.
Bellatrix was taken by surprise, she had never expected this.
'If you so wish it Mione, we can do that.' Bellatrix said getting to her feet.
Hermione didn't look up, she just continued to look down at the floor. This is what she wanted, she needed time to keep herself in check, figure things out. She knew this was a low blow, her asking for space, after all Bellatrix should be the one, but she really needed to be alone.
'I'll talk to you when you're ready Mione.' Bellatrix said kissing her lover on the head.
'O-okay.' Hermione said, her voice laced with tears.
Bellatrix picked up her coat, putting it on. She gave one last look at Hermione and then walked out the door, closing it behind her.
Hermione could hold back the tears any longer, she fell back on the couch and let them fall.
TBC...