Chapter 5

Hermione sits in the library, curled up on the window seat and having her afternoon tea. She's been slightly upset by the attacks, there have been more near the bakery, so she can't really go visit her family. On top of the attacks, the weather has been miserable. Cold and rainy, it's been uncharacteristically warm for the time of year and Hermione foolishly hoped that it would stay that way.

As she finishes her tea and the chapter of her book, she hears a conversation in the foyer. She can't make out individual words, but she can tell it's Andy and another woman.

"These animal attacks are completely ruining everything," Hermione hears Bella whine as they make their way to the library, her voice is much clearer now that she's not drunk or groggy. It's actually rather pleasant, "and look," Bella says, gesturing to Hermione from the doorway, "it's obviously scaring my poor little dove. If this animal isn't taken care of soon, I don't know what I'll do," she says, walking closer to Hermione, brushing hair off of her neck and resting her chin on her shoulder, "besides, they're ruining my torment time with the commoners," she pauses, "oops, I mean playtime,"

"Bellatrix!" Andy exclaims, swatting her with her fan as Bella nips Hermione's earlobe and laughs. The contact doesn't really phase Hermione anymore, but this sends a shiver down her spine and makes blood rush to her face. She has a feeling this is exactly the reaction that Bella wants.

"Has Bella come for a visit?" Hermione hears Ted call from the hallway. Thankfully, Bella steps back as Ted enters, putting a little bit of space between her and Hermione.

"Yes, Ted, Bella is here," Andy says, disappointment clear in her voice. She seemed to think that she could get Bella to go away before her husband noticed.

"Is she staying for dinner?" Ted asks.

"I wasn't planning on it, but I think I will. Rodolphus won't miss me," Bella says.

"Well, Remus and Nymphadora are visiting for dinner anyway, I'll have the maid set six places at the table," Andy says, turning toward the library door.

…

"Aunt Bella!" Hermione hears from the foyer, signaling the arrival of Nymphadora and Remus. She decides she should go join them in the sitting room before dinner.

"Oh look, my sweet little pet has decided to join us," Bella says, making Hermione turn slightly red. She goes to sit on the couch Andy is on, trying to avoid Bella.

"Bella, you need to stop," Andy says, sliding closer to Hermione protectively, Bella rolls her eyes at this and turns back to Nymphadora.

Once dinner is ready, they head to the dining room, Bella makes sure she gets the seat next to Hermione despite Hermione's best efforts to avoid her. The cook brings out the food and gives everyone a helping. Hermione does her best to remain small and avoid attention being brought to her. She doesn't want to deal with Bella's teasing.

"When is the wedding?" Bella asks out of nowhere, the tone of her voice still playful, but there's something else under it.

"There's been no specific date set. Why do you ask?" Hermione asks.

"I just like to be kept up to date on the lives of my playthings is all," Bella says, going back to her dinner as if she hadn't just said that. Hermione chooses to ignore it, Bella just wants a rise out of her.

Remus and Nymphadora strike up a friendly conversation, trying their best to get everyone to participate. It's hard to get Bella to, every comment she makes is either moody or about Hermione, but most of the time it's both.

Dessert brings more conversation, this one touching on the topic of the recent attacks. There have apparently been two more. Hermione hasn't seen the papers, she's been trying to avoid them and not think too much about the current situation in the city. Most of the attacks have been near shops, where a lot of people are. This makes the fact that the police can't seem to catch the animal rather strange. You would think there would be at least one witness, but no one can seem to give a description.

"Well, I think Remus and I will retire to the library for a drink while you ladies talk," Ted says, standing. Remus follows his lead out of the room.

"Hermione, your wedding isn't far off, are you excited?" Nymphadora asks.

"Well, I'm not really too sure how I feel, the courtship was short and the engagement happened so quickly, I'm just now getting used to the idea of marriage," Hermione isn't lying, well, not completely, it all happened far too quickly for her liking, but she knows exactly how she feels. She doesn't want to get married yet, especially not to Ron. And she's certainly not getting used to the idea of marriage, she refuses.

"I know I was incredibly excited for my wedding, but I also know your circumstances are different than mine,"

"I'm sure as I get to know him, I'll become more anxious for the wedding," as Hermione says this, she sees a sympathetic smile cross Nymphadora's face.

"Or," Bella begins, "you'll end up like me with a horrible husband who doesn't give a damn about you or your whereabouts,"

"Bella!" Andy says.

"What? I'm just trying to warn her. All of you are telling her it won't be as bad as she thinks when in reality, it could be even worse than she's expecting. Don't coddle her, she's a grown woman for god's sake," Bella says, raising her voice slightly. The fact that she's not drunk is still slightly strange to Hermione. She wonders how Bella would react to this situation if she had had that much brandy.

After what feels like an eternity of awkward silence, Andy suggests they all go have some tea in the parlor, but all Hermione wants to do is go to her room and read. It would be rude to refuse after Andy has brought her into her home though. So, she finds herself, sitting in a comfortable chair with a cup of tea. She can't seem to become interested in the conversation, so she stares out the window instead.

Bella's reflection in the glass catches her eyes, she's pouring something from a hip flask into her tea. Hermione rolls her eyes, its likely alcohol, she was hoping Bella would stay sober. She almost likes Bella sober.

Remus leaves the library with Ted, announcing to Nymphadora that he's tired and would like to go home. Hermione breathes a sigh of relief. It's not that she doesn't enjoy spending time with this family. She's just ready for bed. After goodbyes are said, Hermione says goodnight to Bella, Andy, and Ted. She gets to the guest room that she'll be calling her own for quite some time and undresses. Once she's only in her chemise and her hair is taken down, she blows out her oil lamps and curls up in the bed.

…

Around thirty minutes after Hermione finally starts to doze, there's a light knock at the door. Hermione quickly lights the lamp on the bedside table and walks to the door to open it.

Standing in the doorway, looking slightly disheveled, is Bella.

"What do you want?" Hermione asks, aggravated and tired.

"I just thought I'd come for a little visit," Bella pushes past her for the closet, grabbing all the spare blankets and pillows and tossing them on the bed like she did the night of the masquerade ball. After the blankets are all situated, Bella undresses and crawls under them, laying in the middle of the bed. Hermione does her best to get comfortable. She's not about to sleep in the chair or on the floor without even a blanket.

Once Hermione gets part of her side back and can turn over to face away from Bella, she starts to doze. Bella wraps her arms around her, waking her up just a bit. But she quickly falls asleep to the smell of sandalwood, it's much more pleasant than the harsh scent of alcohol that Hermione had been expecting. Bella had carried that scent with her when she slept in Hermione's bed last.

…

There's a knock at the door. Hermione opens her eyes as Andy walks in quietly and opens the curtains, letting light in. The sunlight rouses a very grumpy Bella from the nest of blankets and pillows. Hermione, who must have turned over in the night, tries to go back to sleep, burying her face in Bella's arm to protect her eyes from the sunlight.

"Bellatrix Black!" Andy yells, pulling the blankets off of both of them.

"What? It's too early for this," Bella says, grumpiness apparent in her voice.

"How did you get in here?"

"I knocked," Andy turns to Hermione.

"You let her in?!"

"I opened the door and she let herself in," Hermione shrugs, finally sitting up.

…

The next week, this happens again. Bella knocks while she's up reading. Hermione recognizes the knock and quickly heads to the door.

"Bella, you can't be here, Andy will be angry again. I don't want to upset her. I'm a guest here," Hermione says, blocking Bella's way into the bedroom.

"Don't worry about it, you have my sister wrapped around your finger. She'd never throw you out,"

"Well, it's still incredibly rude of me to allow you to visit when she has already said she doesn't want you to,"

"You're just making excuses now, pet," Bella says, pushing past Hermione and going about the same routine she did the week before. She does leave room for Hermione on one side of the bed though.

…

When they wake up to Andy opening the curtains, the arguments are only half-hearted.

Breakfast is slightly awkward, mostly because Bella refuses to get dressed yet again. But afterward, Bella leaves and Hermione spends the rest of the day in the library.

…

Three days later, Hermione hears the knock again and it's the same routine. It doesn't really change at all until one night the next week when Bella had been showing up every other night. She knocked, but before Hermione could get to the door, she let herself in. Andy has become used to it and only complains sometimes.

…

One night, Bella doesn't knock, she just crawls into bed with Hermione while she's half asleep. It's not strange to Hermione anymore, it's actually quite comforting and she's begun to rely on her presence to sleep on particularly hard nights.

Since Hermione has gotten more comfortable with Bella's presence, she doesn't mind the casual touches. Whenever there are family dinners, Bella does her best to sit next to Hermione. It doesn't faze her anymore though.

One evening, when it's just Hermione, Ted, and Andy, they sit down with her in the library to talk.

"Hermione, dear," Andy starts, her voice very motherly, "you aren't aware of what Bella is capable of, you may think she's harmless, but I assure you, she's not,"

"What do you mean?" Hermione asks, completely confused by the cause of this conversation.

"We mean that you need to stop letting Bella into your room," Andy says flatly.

"I've told you, I'm not letting her in, she lets herself in,"

"We're trying to get her to stop, and we know this is no fault of yours, but please try and be more firm with her when she tries to visit," Ted adds.

"I'll try, I don't want you to think I'm inviting her though. You don't want her in your home and that's completely understandable,"

"Thank you, Hermione," Andy says, standing up from the couch she and Ted have been sitting on.

Hermione goes back to her book as the two of them leave, but she can't get the idea that there's more to this family than she thought. The idea that Bella is dangerous leads her to think that maybe there's crime in the family history. Whatever it is, she wonders if the Tonks' are in on it. That wouldn't make sense though, they seem to be trying their best to protect her.

Eventually, Hermione falls asleep at the window seat with her head propped against the glass pane. Her dreams are filled with visions of the Black family as criminals, the sisters all brandishing terrifying weapons covered in blood.

…

Hermione wakes to the sound of rain pattering on the window, she looks around at all the books she had scattered the night before. Something seems off. She heads out of the library, a coppery smell filling her nose.

Once she reaches the foyer, she realizes the source of the smell. There's blood on the floor, but she can't seem to find who or what the blood belongs to. She goes to run through the front door but slips, it's still slightly warm. She tries to stand, but something snags her dress when she turns to see it, she wakes up.

…

Bella is sitting up beside her in the bed, watching her intently as Hermione jolts up.

"What in the world are you doing here?" Hermione demands, still hyperventilating.

"I'd take that personally, but my poor little pet is scared,"

"How did I get to bed? I was in the library,"

"I brought you in here and undressed you, I couldn't have you sleeping in that wretched corset and I wasn't about to leave you in the library in only your underwear,"

"Oh, thank you then," Hermione says, confused by the sudden kindness. That's not to say Bella is typically unkind, it's just that she tends to act in ways that benefit her.

"Of course, pet," Bella says, "now, I have to go before Andy shows up, I can't deal with her yelling at me more. I know it looks like she has stopped caring, but that woman is anything but over my visits. I can't go anywhere anymore without her questioning me," and with that, Bella quietly dresses and leaves the room.

Hermione debates going back to sleep, but she decides against it, opting instead to go to the parlor and get away from the rather overpowering smell of sandalwood. She would go to the library, but she doesn't see herself getting over that dream anytime soon.

…

The day carries on as usual and Andy seems rather pleased that she didn't find Bella in Hermione's room this morning. This makes Hermione feel slightly guilty, but only slightly. She didn't invite Bella in, she didn't even open the door. She only woke up and she was there. She still didn't want to tell Andy about it. The idea of breaking the strained trust Bella has in her is a scary thought. Especially after everyone has told her that Bella is completely unpredictable and not good company to keep.

Lunch comes around and Hermione takes it in the parlor with Andy, who proposes an afternoon outing. Hermione, who's eager to leave the house for the first time since she came, gladly agrees.

Once Lunch is finished, Andy calls the carriage and they both head into town. This part is a bit higher end than Hermione is used to. They go to a grocer instead of buying fruits from someone on the street. Everyone seems to know Andy and love her.

"So, Hermione," Andy says, eyeballing some expensive oranges, "I was thinking we should get you new sheets, no matter how hard the maid tries, she can't seem to get the scent of sandalwood out of them.

"I hardly see a reason for that," Hermione says, hoping her voice doesn't waver. If she were to say yes, Andy would know that Bella is still visiting on occasion.

"Hmm," is all Andy says.

After the grocer, Andy stops at a small flower stall and buys a small bunch, muttering something about a dinner party. Then, Andy picks up a dress from the seamstress. There's a large crowd again and Hermione barely notices Andy loop her arm into hers to keep Hermione from getting swallowed by the crowd.

"Must be another attack," Andy says, anger around the edges of her voice.

"Really? Are they still as bad?" Hermione asks.

"Worse, actually,"

"So, I'm assuming I'm not going to be able to go home anytime soon," Hermione sighs, looking in the window of a small bakery on the street.

"I'm sorry, dear. Everyone is doing their best to make sure whatever is doing it gets caught. Now, all we can do is wait. There's at least one new attack per day," this sets Hermione's mind off, she tries her best to push it out of her mind, but she can't help but wonder if a victim could be Neville or Nan, or her father.

…

Remus and Nymphadora come for dinner again. Tonight, they play silly games and have fun. It's meant to be a sort of family night and Hermione feels almost like a part of the family. A part of her wishes she could be doing this with her father, but she knows she'll see him soon.

Once everyone is exhausted from games, Hermione bids everyone goodnight and heads to her room. Tonight, Bella doesn't come for a visit and the empty bed feels rather cold without her. She nods off reading, finally lulled to sleep by the scent of sandalwood still lingering on her sheets.

...

A/N: This is an incredibly short chapter and I'm sorry about that. I don't want to stretch them so much that they're bad though. Updates are probably going to be spaced farther apart because school is starting soon.