Chapter 14.
Hermione awoke, for a sweet moment forgetting where she was… But the cold dampness and stone walls confirmed her worst nightmares.
"Azkaban…" Hermione groaned sleepily, rubbing her face.
For the briefest of moments she had thought she was back in Fleur's small apartment, holding the blonde tightly to her.
Hermione sat up in the dim light. It was early. She reckoned she had plenty of time to squeeze in a workout before the cells opened and she could go shower.
Going through the motions, Hermione found her gaze drifting across to Fleur's cell. It was too dark to see if the Frenchwoman was up or not yet.
Hermione was wiping sweat from her brow when the cells finally opened. Grabbing a towel and her few toiletries, Hermione headed out of her cell. She fell into step with the other inmates, inwardly hating how much she had automatically fallen back into the routine of the place. Fleur appeared at her side, seeming cautious and a little on edge.
"Morning, Hermione," Fleur greeted quietly.
"Morning, Fleur," Hermione replied back emotionlessly, "How are things?"
"I hear there is going to be a snap election," Fleur replied agitatedly, in quiet tones, "Unrest with the current Minister of Magic."
"What?!" Hermione was surprised.
She was interrupted from inquiring more as Pansy elbowed her way in between the two women.
"Well, well, well," Pansy replied smugly, "Great day for comeuppance, isn't it?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Hermione grunted bluntly. She assumed Pansy was gloating about the latest political unrest and didn't want to give her the satisfaction of rising to the bait.
"Don't pretend you don't know," Pansy giggled, speeding up to walk ahead of Fleur and Hermione, "Bellatrix gets out of solitary today!"
Hermione felt a cold chill run down her spine and a lead weight in her stomach. She tried to focus on just putting one foot in front of the other as the overwhelming sense of dread began to overtake her. It had been one thing to put on a brave façade in front of Bellatrix when there was a thick stone wall between them. It was something else entirely to have Bellatrix roaming around the same common areas as her. Who knows what the madwoman was capable of… Smuggling in a wand? Another cursed blade like the one she had used to carve up Hermione's arm during the war?
"Are you okay? You've gone pale," Fleur asked quietly.
Hermione swallowed heavily, nodding dumbly.
"Y-yeah," Hermione replied hoarsely, "I'm fine."
Fleur squeezed Hermione's forearm. It was the briefest of touches, but Hermione did feel her mood lift slightly at the gesture.
They shuffled in to the bathroom area, which was as depressing as the rest of the prison. It was a large stone room with a number of shower heads and not much else.
Hermione ignored Pansy's toned body as she stripped off and confidently frolicked over into the showers. Hermione felt her shoulders tense as she saw the large amount of Dark Marks revealed as prisoners stripped off. She felt her most vulnerable in the showers.
Hermione scanned the room, alert to any threats, her gaze suddenly falling on Fleur. The blonde's back was to her. Her very bare back. Her long silvery platinum-blonde hair trailed down her back, ending just above the cute little dimples at her lower back.
Hermione bit her lip, trying to shoo the distracting thoughts. She needed to keep on guard. And she definitely needed to keep respectable boundaries with Fleur. Fleur bent over slightly, pulling off her pants and underwear.
'Jeeeeeesus,' Hermione's eyes were drawn to Fleur's curvy backside. She tore them away, instead looking at the ceiling of the shower room.
'She must have the best ass in all of Britain,' Hermione thought helplessly. She cursed her hormones. She never had to deal with this at Hogwarts. 'Trust the Grangers to be late bloomers.'
When Hermione risked a peek again, Fleur was gone. Hermione released the breath she didn't realise she had been holding.
Refocussing, Hermione tensed her shoulders and undressed. She found a spray of water to stand under and soaped herself up, massaging sore muscles. She washed her hair quickly, not wanting to spend much, if any, time with her eyes shut around the Death Eaters.
Walking over to grab her towel, she found Fleur, wrapped up in a thin towel herself. She felt a hot thrill jolt through her at the way Fleur's eyes roamed her body without restraint. Hermione tried not to blush as she pulled a towel around herself. An impish thought entered her mind as she noticed Fleur was still entirely zoned out, staring at Hermione's body.
"Enjoying the view?" Hermione asked with a smirk, inwardly surprised at her own gall.
A dark blush bloomed in Fleur's cheeks and her eyes snapped up to meet Hermione's gaze guiltily.
"Erm… I…" Fleur was at a loss for words, "You're even more toned than I thought."
Hermione rubbed the back of her neck, a little embarrassed at the sincerity of Fleur's compliment.
"Yeah, well, you know I've got quite into working out now," Hermione mumbled, "Not quite the stereotypical bookworm nowadays."
"No," Fleur replied, still blushing, "Although you were still stunning before."
Hermione felt the air whoosh out of her lungs at that last compliment. But Fleur had already turned headed off towards her cell.
"Fleur—" Hermione started, heading off after the blonde with her towel wrapped tightly around her.
A hard blow to her ribs knocked Hermione off-balance and she fell hard to the stone floor, grazing her shoulder painfully.
"Not so tough now," a harsh voice mocked.
Hermione got to her feet, gathering her senses about her again. There was a strong looking woman in front of her. Hermione didn't recognise her, but there was a Dark Mark inked on her arm.
"Who are you?" Hermione hissed, rubbing her shoulder.
"Friends of Pansy," the woman replied, as two more women appeared at her side. Hermione gritted her teeth as they stepped forward, beginning to swing blows.
Hermione was outnumbered, taking hits. But she managed to get in a few of her own. She kneed the original Death Eater in the stomach, winding her, before punching her as hard as she could. The woman fell, and didn't get back up. Hermione was blindsided with a hit to her own jaw, falling again, before kicking out her legs. Her legs swept out, catching one of the remaining Death Eaters and knocking her to the floor. Hermione leapt to her feet, ignoring the painful protests of her body. This was the whole reason she had got in shape after all. She charged at the remaining Death Eater, shoulder down, knocking her to the floor. This time she used her intelligence, a carefully aimed blow knocking the Death Eater unconscious.
Hermione got to her feet again, wiping at a dribble of blood that was coming from her mouth. The last Death Eater had also got to her feet, but was looking very nervous.
"You really want to keep trying to beat me up?" Hermione asked, thoroughly pissed off.
"N-no," the woman trembled, before fleeing the shower area.
Hermione looked around, nobody else was in the showers now. She was safe from further threat. Cursing Pansy inwardly, Hermione made her way back to her cell, her body aching all over.
"Hermione!" Fleur gasped, standing in the doorway of her cell as Hermione limped back. She was in the prison-issue wifebeater and grey sweatpants, her hair still damp from the showers. Hermione barely glanced at her, still angry about being attacked.
"Another lovely surprise from Pansy," Hermione grunted as she got into her cell. Fleur disappeared into her own cell before coming into Hermione's.
"Here," Fleur said gently, coming over to Hermione, "My sister sent me this in case I got into any trouble."
Fleur showed Hermione a small jar.
"What is it?" Hermione asked, rubbing a grazed elbow.
"Potion," Fleur replied simply, "For small bumps and scrapes. Allow me."
Hermione stiffened as Fleur opened the jar and began to rub the cream inside on Hermione's shoulder. Hermione felt her breath hitch in her throat as Fleur began to run her hand down her back, moving from the graze to some bruising.
"You should take off that towel and lie down," Fleur said, her voice not one of suggestion but command.
Hermione reluctantly complied, taking off her towel and lying on her stomach on her small bed. She felt a little self conscious being naked in front of Fleur in the cell. But it sounded like most other prisoners were off having breakfast and she couldn't hear any guards roaming.
Fleur nimbly clambered onto the bed, straddling Hermione and sitting on her. She scooped the cream with both her hands and set to massaging Hermione's back, ensuring all the scrapes and bruises were covered.
Hermione felt the potion grow hot on her skin, soothing her light injuries. She felt herself grow hot inside at the close proximity to Fleur and the way her hands were moving everywhere. Fleur even scooted down so she could get her legs.
"Okay, turn over," Fleur instructed. Hermione made a light choking noise but found herself complying.
Hermione gazed at Fleur's pretty face as the part-Veela started at her shins, massaging the cream over bruises and scrapes. Fleur began massaging up Hermione's thigh, a light blush on her high cheekbones as she focussed intently on what she was doing. Hermione felt her temperature rise exponentially.
'Merlin, I never thought I would find myself thanking Pansy for organising thugs to beat me up… But thank youuuuu, Pansy,' Hermione thought, light-headed as Fleur moved to massage her other thigh.
Hermione's eyes flickered shut as Fleur made her way right to the top of her thigh.
'So close…'
"Okay, you can sit up now if you want," Fleur replied, removing her hands suddenly. She was blushing darker.
Hermione sat up abruptly, her heart beating hard. Fleur came and straddled her lap, taking one of Hermione's hands in hers. She applied a thick coating of cream to the scraped and bruised knuckles, rubbing them carefully. Hermione watched Fleur's long dark eyelashes flicker as she took in how injured Hermione's knuckles were. She took Hermione's other hand and gave it the same treatment, meeting Hermione's eyes.
"You really are quite the tough girl now, no?" Fleur said, with the ghost of a smile on her lips.
"Well, I try to be," Hermione smiled back good naturedly. Fleur rubbed the rest of her arms, before placing a hand on each side of Hermione's ribs. They were so close now. Hermione felt her breathing getting a little shallow. They were still looking into each other's eyes.
"Just a few more scrapes to go," Fleur murmured softly, raising a hand to cup Hermione's face.
She ran her thumb over Hermione's lip, ensuring the cut that caused Hermione to bleed was covered with the healing cream. Her other hand came up and she gently ran her fingers down Hermione's temple, getting the last scrape Hermione had incurred.
Hermione was suddenly aware that her hands were on Fleur's hips, holding the blonde securely in her lap. She wasn't even sure when she had done that.
"So…" Hermione breathed out. Fleur's hands were still gently cupping her face.
Hermione didn't even have time to gasp as Fleur dipped her head and captured her lips. Hermione's cut lip still hurt, but she found she barely noticed the pain as Fleur's soft lips touched her own. She slipped a tongue into Fleur's mouth, instinctively pulling the blonde even closer to her. Her hands moved slowly from Fleur's hips to her ass. She moved to lie down on her back, pulling Fleur with her. Fleur's hips began to grind against Hermione's. It was sweet torture and Hermione felt her already shaky resolve snap. Her hands moved from Fleur's ass to the edge of her wife-beater, creeping up under the material to touch soft and toned skin.
Hermione broke their passionate kiss to trail kisses up Fleur's slender neck. It was crazy how good Fleur still smelt despite having limited beauty products in the prison. Hermione caught the lobe of Fleur's ear between her teeth, tugging it lightly before sucking on it. Fleur moaned and her hips jerked.
The movement caused a painful throb in a nasty graze on Hermione' side, causing her to hiss as she was drawn painfully out of the romantic moment.
Fleur immediately leapt off her, crouching at the foot of the bed.
"I'm so, so, so, sorry!" Fleur muttered, bringing her hands up to her face in horror.
"Relax… It's fine," Hermione said, rubbing at her injuries.
"It's not… That was so inappropriate," Fleur muttered, bright red, "Bill… He's not speaking to me… But he definitely won't take me back when he hears about this."
"Do you want him to take you back?" Hermione asked bluntly, a sudden possessiveness taking over. Fleur blushed darker, looking away from Hermione.
"That cream will take a while to work," Fleur muttered, "But you should be fine by evening."
Fleur got up from the bed and briskly walked off, heading in the direction of the cafeteria.
Hermione sighed heavily, getting up and finally finding some clothes. When she was dressed she lay back down on her bed. She wasn't hungry anymore and had no interest in getting in to catch the last of the breakfast time.
Her mind was firmly on Fleur and what had just happened. It was the furthest the sexual tension between her and the Frenchwoman had gone and it was…
"Amazing," Hermione sighed, staring at the ceiling.
The rest of the day, Hermione noticed that Fleur was somehow managing to avoid her. She finished her lunch and left before Hermione had sat down to eat hers. When Hermione went to the exercise yard, Fleur went inside.
Hermione wanted desperately to talk to the blonde about what had happened in the morning. The smouldering sexual tension between them needed addressing. Hermione wasn't afraid to admit she wanted Fleur. With the Weasleys shunning Fleur in light of her imprisonment … now was the best time to find out if Fleur would be willing to take the plunge and give up on a future with Bill.
But, Hermione supposed it could wait if Fleur wasn't willing to talk yet. Hermione stalked around the perimeter of the exercise yard, looking at the wired fence separating their area from the other areas of the sprawling prison. Hermione had asked around and found that the area Harry and Ron would be housed in was likely the one next door to theirs.
'Of course they don't have their outdoor time at the same time as ours,' Hermione thought to herself, annoyed.
"Granger," Pansy's voice startled Hermione from her thoughts and she turned around to face the raven haired Slytherin, annoyance growing.
"What do you want?" Hermione growled. Pansy smirked.
"Heard you met my friends," Pansy grinned. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Well then, you would have heard they came off second-best from that exchange," Hermione replied flatly.
"I'm sure you'll be the one coming off second-best when you reunite with Bellatrix," Pansy sneered, "She should be arriving back in the cells about now."
"Whatever," Hermione growled, pushing past Pansy and walking away. She didn't want Pansy of all people seeing the fear in her eyes. Even the mention of Bellatrix seemed to trigger flashbacks to Malfoy Manor.
"Hey Granger?" Pansy called after her. Hermione paused briefly, not looking back at the Slytherin.
"Don't miss the political news going down," Pansy called, "Today's a big day, indeed."
Hermione was heading back from dinner when she saw Bellatrix for the first time. She was standing in a cell much further down from Hermione's. When she saw Hermione, she drew herself up against the bars of her cell.
"Mudblood," Bellatrix husked in her raspy voice, "We finally see each other again."
Hermione tried to suppress the icy chill that ran down her spine.
"Your cell is closed," Hermione noted. Bellatrix grinned, her dark eyes glittering. She writhed against the bars, giving a snake-like impression.
"Yes, well… I am out of solitary" Bellatrix drawled, "But I remain on 23-hour lockdown. I'm only allowed out for an hour a day. A bit melodramatic for someone losing a boring old arm, don't you think?"
Hermione tried not to let the fear show on her face as her scarred arm throbbed at the memories flooding back.
"You're sick," Hermione managed to get out.
Bellatrix blew her a kiss.
"I'll make sure to come visit you when I get a chance," Bellatrix smirked.
Hermione turned away, tightening her hands into fists. She walked down the hallway towards her own cell. She stopped when she got to Fleur's cell.
Fleur was sitting on her bed, her knees drawn up to her chin and arms wrapped around them. A small wireless radio was next to her, prattling away.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked, suddenly concerned at the look of Fleur's face.
"The Justice Party won," Fleur replied, her voice uncharacteristically shaky, "The goddamn Death Eaters managed to get voted into power by disguising themselves as actual positive change-makers."