Hermione's attention was immediately drawn to the small dragon nestled in a burnt patch of overgrown grass. He was no bigger than a cat with onyx scales and leathery wings. His claws were sharp but retracted similar to a cat. At their approach, his head snapped up. It had ridges forming what looked like a crown and its eyes were gold. Seeing Bellatrix, he made a chirping sound and stood, shaking out his wings and flying over. Bellatrix pulled her to a stop, allowing the small dragon to approach on its own. Hermione watched as the dragon hovered at the dark witch's eye level, pushing his snout to her nose.

"Hello, Kyndet. Did you miss me?" Bellatrix cooed, scratching under the dragon's chin. He chirped, pleased with the action before noticing Hermione and moving to hover in front of her.

"Bella, what? How?"

"I found him after I escaped from Azkaban. His wing was injured and I nursed him back to health. He likes to stay in the garden, eating the rodents that live here. Only Narcissa and the Dark Lord know about him. Now you, too. I don't know how big he'll get but he's sweet. Sometimes I come out here and sit when I need to think."

"Bella, I-thank you. For trusting me with this."

Kyndet circled around Hermione, sniffing the air around her before deeming her safe and landing on her shoulder, pushing his head against hers.

"Of course, Hermione. I thought you might like to see him. He likes you, too."

Hermione stroked the scales of the dragon, gently scratching behind the ridges on his head. He gave rumbling chirps and settled across her shoulders, his tail wrapping around her arm for stability. He kept the sharp point of his tail away from Hermione's flesh, knowing it would hurt if it punctured the skin. Bellatrix watched, glad that Kyndet and Hermione had taken to each other so well. She hadn't worried about their reactions, suspecting her bond to Hermione would affect the dragon.

"He's incredible, Bella. I love him. You're so amazing," Hermione said, leaning to kiss the older witch. Bellatrix snaked her arm around Hermione's waist, careful of Kyndet's tail.

"I can think of so many things more amazing than I am, Hermione," Bellatrix whispered against her lips.

"None that matter more to me than you."

"I love you."

"I love you, too, Bella. Come on, I want to see the library."

"As you wish, my love."

The Black library was indeed impressive. It was large, seemingly nothing but shelves of books, most about dark magic. Hermione wandered around in awe of the pristine collection. True, her own library was larger, but something about Bella's was captivating. Kyndet had stayed outside, returning to his nest of burnt grass and curling around himself. Hermione supposed it was for the best, fire and books didn't mix very well, but she had felt a part of her magic go with him. Pulling a book off the shelf, Hermione sat on the couch, her back to the arm and feet tucked under her.

The Tales of Merlin and Morgana

Merlin was born of a mortal woman and an incubus, his magical blood dominating his life. He was not exceptionally skilled at magic but through practice, he honed his abilities as best he could. He became renowned around Europe for his skills as a seer and healer. After the exile of Morgan le Fay, he became the advisor to King Arthur of Camelot. The people loved him because they felt his abilities did not make him a threat. He had roamed Europe and provided King Arthur with his knowledge of the different cultures. He could see the future in his dreams when he was not plagued by nightmares caused by a curse from a bog hag he encountered many years prior. Merlin served King Arthur for several years before they both perished at the hands of Morgana. Merlin's final spell killed the witch but not before she cast two.

Morgan le Fay was born of two mortals. She would often explore the forests where their cabin was built, coming across dragons. She asked them to teach her magic and at first, they refused. It took many tries before the dragons agreed, finally consenting after she had saved a baby dragon from death. They taught her the path of natural magic, harnessing the energy of the earth and using it. They gifted her this knowledge and the secret to dragon fire, a skill no mortal has been able to master since. Young Morgan grew under the tutelage of the dragons, becoming the most powerful witch ever known. She helped King Arthur rise to power and was his advisor before he exiled her, fearing rebellion from his subjects. At his betrayal, Morgana turned her magic to darker purposes, developing the dark arts. She took years to master the magic she created, the dragon she saved at her side. She met her demise at the hands of Merlin, but not before casting a spell to preserve her magical essence to continue her line upon finding a suitable heir and one two ensure Merlin and King Arthur died with her, both unable to carry on their lines.

"What are you reading, love?" Bellatrix asked, sitting on the opposite side of Hermione, mirroring her position.

"It's the story of Merlin and Morgana, basically what you told me. Did you know she learned her magic directly from dragons?"

"Yes, that is also how the Blacks obtained their magic but at a cost."

"What cost?"

"When the first Black approached the dragons for their magic, they told him it would come with a price. The price would be his and his eldest descendant's sanity. The firstborn of the firstborn and so on down the line would be driven mad because of the dragon magic flowing through their veins. Should the firstborn have no children, the curse would affect the secondborn's first child or the thirdborn's first child. The Black family was incredibly powerful because their magic comes directly from dragons, but they would never rival Morgana."

"But you aren't crazy. Well, not completely, anyway."

"I should be. I suspect it is the bond of soulmates or you being the descendant of Morgan le Fay that keeps me relatively sane."

"What does my being the descendant of Morgana have to do with it?"

"Morgana was taught by dragons rather than the essence just being given to her. She had no magical essence from dragons, them teaching her enabled her to develop her own. Because of this, it is possible your magical essence absorbs the magical essence of the dragons, keeping it from affecting me. As a result, we both stay relatively sane, but without each other, we would not be."

"That makes sense. It's like complimentary wavelengths."

"Yes. It's just a theory, though."

"That doesn't make it any less plausible, Bella. I think I rather like the idea. Can we come back another time? I'd like to lay in bed."

"Of course, it is getting late and I'm sure you're still tired from today."

Hermione nodded, moving to hug Bellatrix as she Apparated them back to Malfoy Manor. They appeared in the foyer with a crack, startling Draco who had been looking for the two. Hermione laughed at the stunned expression on his face upon nearly running into the two of them. He gave her a strange look before turning to his aunt.

"Don't mind her, she's just tired. What do you need, Draco?" Bellatrix asked, trying to silence Hermione.

"Mother said you would help with dueling experience so I can better protect myself. She said to talk to you for a time."

"We can do it after lunch any day you want, Draco. Hermione can join us. She will be a good sparring partner, I believe you will both benefit from some practice. If you don't mind, I must take Hermione to bed before she collapses."

"Thank you, Aunt Bella. Goodnight."

Draco watched as Bellatrix guided Hermione up the stairs. He was glad he would not be sparring with his aunt to begin with. He knew Hermione was formidable, especially if she was Bellatrix's equal, but she didn't have a lifetime of dueling experience to throw at him. She was powerful but just as inexperienced as he was and it made him feel marginally better. He would not make the mistake of underestimating her. She was bookish but he could see the predator lurking behind her eyes. It made her more dangerous.

Hermione ungracefully threw herself onto their bed, sprawling to take up as much space as she could. Bellatrix laughed, moving Hermione's limbs so she had room to lay down. Hermione turned on her side to face the dark witch, tracing her face with her fingers. She felt a light kiss on her fingertips as she traced ruby lips, smiling at the dark witch in front of her. She curled into Bellatrix's side, still in her robes.

"Are you gonna sleep in your robes, love?"

"No." Hermione didn't move from her spot, instead silently banishing her robes.

"Nice trick but you forgot about me."

"I wasn't aware you wanted me to banish yours."

"I didn't know you were going to banish them." Bellatrix banished her own clothes, pulling the blanket around them. Hermione rested her head on Bellatrix's shoulder, one arm around the dark witch's waist and the other resting on her chest. Bellatrix wrapped her arms around Hermione, pulling the young witch close. It had been an eventful day and Hermione needed real sleep, not a nap. She had not properly slept the night before, having too much energy from the raid and both her naps had been cut short. Feeling soft breaths on her neck, Bellatrix relaxed, drifting to sleep with Hermione in her arms.