A/N It's that time again! The Latin spell roughly translates to distantly bound words or something along those lines. If you're confused you'll know what I'm talking about once you start reading.
Enjoy!
Hermione stood in front of the Vanishing Cabinet in the drawing room. Her eyes were closed and she was carefully reaching out with her magic to see if it was still connected to its twin. She hesitantly brushed against the cabinet's magic, feeling a tenuous thread of a connection. She pulled her magic back, careful not to interfere with the connection of the cabinets. It was fragile and Hermione did not want to damage it. Until they were both physically restored, Hermione couldn't repair the magic. She had a lot of work ahead of her, the cabinet was in severe disrepair and she had no idea of the state of the one in Hogwarts.
"What's the verdict, Hermione?" Draco asked once Hermione opened her eyes.
"The connection is still there. Barely. I should be able to fully restore it once the cabinets are repaired. It will take some time. If too much magic is poured into it at once it will sever the connection. Baby steps. I'm not sure what the cabinet in Hogwarts will need. I imagine we can begin repairing the magic around Christmas if this one is any indication of the other."
"That's not too bad. We should be able to have it repaired around the end of the year. What a perfect punctuation to the end of the school year."
"Indeed. Shall we see if we can get the journals charmed?"
"That's most certainly a splendid idea. School is fast approaching."
"Yes, I'd rather know it works before school starts."
Hermione and Draco sat on opposite sides of the table, examining the two notebooks. They were plain, bound in brown leather with a clasp to hold them closed. Hermione and Draco held their wands over their notebook, looking at each other.
"Are you sure this will work?"
"Theoretically. Do you remember the spell?"
Draco nodded, licking his lips nervously. He wasn't sure if this would work and he knew Hermione wasn't either. They locked eyes once more before they cast the spell.
"Longe vinctum verbis," they said at the same time, drawing a circle inscribed in a triangle in the air over the books. Hermione felt the magic around the books seal and she hoped to Merlin she had created the proper spell.
"Shall we give it a go?" Draco asked.
"Let's," Hermione said, grabbing her notebook and Apparating to her castle with a crack. Draco waited for Hermione to send the first message, watching the notebook for any change. Hermione wasn't sure how the Protean charm would manifest when mixed with the spell that bound the notebooks. The notebook glowed faintly and Draco waved his wand over the cover, magically opening the book to the message.
Does it work?
He looked at the words in awe. Hermione was truly brilliant and he was not surprised it had worked. With a smile, he penned a message back to Hermione.
Yes.
Hermione watched the words appear on the page, sighing in relief that the spell had worked on the first try. She had been unsure she had the proper word combination and worried it would ruin the spell. She decided to tell the Dark Lord of her success and the status of the cabinets. He had been gradually shifting their base to her island so she Apparated there.
The water was a brilliant blue, the sun shining against the water like tiny diamonds. Hermione smiled, face toward the sunshine as she walked into the large house nestled behind sand dunes. It was not a large island, but it was plenty big enough for all the Death Eaters to comfortably stay. There were a few different houses for them to choose from or there was room to build their own if they wished. The main building was made of dark rock, soaking up the sun and keeping it naturally warm. In the summer, the heat was magically redirected for water and the kitchen only, storing the heat in the stone for use during the winter months. It was incredible, really. The red oak door opened magically for her and she stepped into the house, seeing the Dark Lord in the entryway with Bellatrix. She couldn't keep the grin from her face as she spotted the dark witch. Bellatrix turned, sensing Hermione's magic but refrained from running to the young witch until the Dark Lord dismissed her.
The Dark Lord watched as Hermione entered the house, both witches refraining from greeting each other until Bellatrix was dismissed. He could sense the restlessness in both of them, giving Bellatrix a nod as she turned back to him. He watched as she turned back to Hermione, striding to the young witch and enveloping her in a tight hug. Hermione returned the hug, smiles on both of their faces as they were reunited.
"I'm so glad you're back, Bella. I missed you." Hermione buried her face in the older witch's neck, inhaling the cinnamon and pine she yearned for.
"I missed you, too, Hermione. What are you doing here? Aren't you staying at the Manor?" Bellatrix asked, placing a light kiss on Hermione's cheek.
"Oh! Right," Hermione muttered, breaking the embrace before bowing to the Dark Lord and saying, "My Lord, I have news. The journal has been successfully spelled and the Vanishing Cabinets are still connected. It is tenuous but once the physical damage is repaired I can strengthen the connection."
"That is excellent news, Hermione. Thank you for keeping me updated. I have news for you, as well. I have considered your proposition and I give you permission to carry out your plan," the Dark Lord said, voice echoing in the large room.
"What plan?" Bellatrix asked, confusion on her face. Hermione looked to Bellatrix, biting her lip.
"I'm going to make false attempts on Dumbledore to draw attention from Draco so he can focus on the cabinet without interference."
Bellatrix kept her jaw from dropping only through sheer will. She couldn't believe Hermione had come up with something so dangerous. She felt hands on her cheeks and her eyes focused on Hermione's clear hazel eyes.
"Bella, I promise to be careful. It will only be until Christmas by our estimate. Possibly sooner, depending on how quickly Draco can repair his. Mine will take a month or so. Once they're both repaired he won't need to sneak off as often. I don't need him to assist in repairing the connection so there won't be a need to distract the Order."
"Bellatrix, I understand your concern for Hermione. Know that I would never do anything to intentionally endanger either one of you. I have given Hermione's plan intense thought and you may accompany her if it makes you feel better. I believe she is correct and it is to our benefit to keep anyone from scrutinizing Draco too closely."
Bellatrix took deep breaths, her hands on Hermione's shoulders, fingers digging in slightly. Hermione did not flinch, knowing Bellatrix needed to be grounded. She stepped closer to her witch, gently running her teeth over the Azkaban tattoo on Bellatrix's neck. Bellatrix shuddered, snapping back to reality at the action.
"Alright. I agree. I trust both of you," she whispered, hugging Hermione tightly. The Dark Lord watched the exchange, a smile on his lipless face as he dismissed both witches. Hermione Apparated them back to the Manor, under their willow tree. Bellatrix smiled at her young witch, not surprised that Hermione had learned the skill while she was gone.
"Do you need anything, Bella?" Hermione asked, resting her forehead against the dark witch's. Bellatrix shook her head, pulling Hermione down as she sat. Hermione settled on her lap, one arm around her waist and the other on her shoulder. Bellatrix's arms were wrapped around her waist, holding her close. Her back was against the trunk of the tree and she nestled her head against the young witch's shoulder. She breathed deeply the walnut and rain of Hermione, missing the freeing scent.
"I missed you, love. I'm proud of how much you've accomplished while I was gone." She placed light kisses along Hermione's neck, a gentle smile on her face at Hermione's shiver.
"I missed you, too, Bella. Are you sure you don't need anything?"
"Just this. It was a long two weeks but I managed to recover most of the Horcruxes. There was one I couldn't because Dumbledore has been hunting it. He'll probably take Harry with him so he can teach the boy about them." Bellatrix sighed, leaning her head against the bark of the willow. Hermione shifted to straddle the older witch's lap, placing gentle kisses against a pale jaw.
"Let's not talk about the war," Hermione whispered, seeing Bellatrix's dark eyes swirl with emotion.
"What should we talk about then?"
"We don't have to talk at all, Bella. We can just be."
They sat under the willow tree, Hermione moving to sit next to Bellatrix. They each had an arm around the other, sides pressed fully together. Their heads rested against each other, hands clasped between them. They sat that way for a long moment, no words passing between them but any observer could see the love that freely flowed.
"Hermione? Will you tell me about your family?"
"Of course, Bella. What do you want to know?"
"Did you have any siblings?"
"No, I was the only one. My parents had been trying to have another kid but it didn't work and they gave up after a while."
"What were your parents like?"
"They were nice. They were both dentists. That's like the Muggle version of a healer but they only work with teeth, nothing else. They were busy a lot. They loved their jobs and they worked long days but they always made time for me. We tried to always have dinner together every night. It was easier when I was younger but after I started going to Hogwarts I didn't spend as much time with them. We would sometimes go on family trips over breaks if I wasn't with Harry and Ron. That's pretty much all there is to tell."
Bellatrix nodded, a small smile on her face as she stood, pulling Hermione with her. Hermione laughed as Bellatrix spun them around, hands on the dark witch's shoulders. Bellatrix had a firm grip on Hermione's hips, pulling her close and capturing soft lips with her own in a tender kiss. Pulling away, she pecked the young witch's cheek.
"Let's go see Narcissa. She'll be furious if she found out I've been sitting in the garden without telling her I was home."
"Don't worry, Bella. I won't tell on you," Hermione teased, her hand finding Bellatrix's as they walked into the Manor. Narcissa was in the drawing room with Draco waiting for Hermione's return. Narcissa knew Hermione would have gone to tell the Dark Lord of their success and the analysis of the cabinet but she couldn't help the worry that ate at her. It had been longer than it should have taken and Narcissa was fearing the worst when Hermione and her sister walked into the drawing room. She breathed a subtle sigh of relief upon seeing the two.
"Nice to have the two of you back. Congratulations on the notebooks Hermione. The protection charm is firmly in place. I didn't even manage to open it," Narcissa said, standing and hugging the two witches.
"Aunt Bella! You're back! Nice job, Hermione!" Draco exclaimed, staying in his seat.
"It's good to be back, Cissy. Hello, Draco. I hope you have been practicing your sparring. School is starting soon."
"Don't remind me. I am not looking forward to dealing with Potter and Weasley," Draco groaned, slumping in his seat.
"With any luck, all their attention will be focused on my false attempts to kill Dumbledore," Hermione said.
"Hermione, are you sure this is wise?" Narcissa asked, concern in her voice and on her face.
"The Dark Lord has approved the plan. It is to keep Draco out of the spotlight long enough to fix the cabinet, nothing more," she reassured.
Narcissa nodded, a slight frown on her face. She was grateful it would offer Draco some protection through the school year but Hermione's safety was important, too. She trusted Hermione but unforeseen events could always occur. The night of the Ministry came to the forefront of her mind as she looked at the young witch. She was so much different, fiercer, more dangerous. Hermione was powerful and had been learning magic from Death Eaters for a portion of the summer. Narcissa was confident Hermione's abilities would keep her safe but she also had Bellatrix if something went wrong. She knew her sister would not let anything happen to Hermione, their bond was strong enough that they would be able to Apparate to the other, regardless of wards.