Azkaban sat on an island in the North Sea, always dark and stormy. The building was imposing, its grey walls continuing up and out of sight. The dismal structure was cold and damp. The constant waves and rain eroding the walls despite the magical reinforcements. Wails and desperate moans that had once been cries for help echoed through the empty halls. The noise echoed into a roar, bouncing of stone and amplifying itself. The Aurors were absent, as were the infamous Dementors. Lightning flashed occasionally, lighting up the dim building in white light. The wind seeped into the building, whistling through the halls and bringing a deathly chill with it.
Bellatrix had tensed as soon as she was in the building. She gripped Hermione's hand tightly, feeling the young witch squeeze reassuringly. When Bellatrix had been imprisoned, she was a contributor to the noise that never ceased. It was disturbing. The dark witch squeezed Hermione's hand tighter, feeling the young witch's ring against her finger. Her own ring was a solid presence in an unstable environment.
"Are you sure, Bella? We don't have to do this today," Hermione whispered. She understood Bellatrix's reaction to the prison. It was Hermione's first time seeing the truly horrible conditions of Azkaban, but Bellatrix had lived this. For years.
"I can do it," Bellatrix softly said. She took a deep breath, focusing on the faint walnut and rain scent of Hermione. It was different from Azkaban's rain scent. Hermione's rain was that of springtime, bringing new life and the smell of damp earth. The prison's rain that of sickness and decay, both of which it caused.
"I'm half tempted to close it down right now. Maybe burn it to the ground for good measure."
"Merlin, I love you," Bellatrix mumbled, looking at Hermione. The young witch grinned at her brightly. They gazed at each other, and for a moment, they forgot where they were, lost in the nearness of each other.
A piercing shriek echoed through the prison, causing Hermione to jump and Bellatrix to wince. It went on longer than a person should ever be able to scream. The two witches shared a final look before taking off toward the source. It took some time before they finally found it, the echoes leading them the wrong way. They skidded to a stop upon seeing a Dementor feeding from a prisoner. Bellatrix froze, her body shaking in fear and her hand gripping Hermione's as tightly as she could. Her brain forced her back to when it had been her. The emptiness. Despair. She could feel the shackles that had bound her wrists, the chafing they had caused. Hermione knew the moment Bellatrix froze, feeling the terror through their connection. She looked back at her soulmate. Tears streamed down pale cheeks, her eyes wide with terror and memories.
Hermione turned back to the Dementor. It discarded the prisoner, turning its attention to the two witches in the hallway. A chill ran up Hermione's spine but she straightened, facing the Dementor and drawing her wand as it approached. She trembled visibly, Bellatrix's terror mixing into her emotions. She stood between the dark witch and the Dementor, one arm stretched behind her to hold Bellatrix's hand. The cold invaded her body and she squeezed Bellatrix's hand, shaking off the terror.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" she shouted. Her panther burst from the tip of her wand immediately, pouncing on the Dementor and viciously ripping it to shreds. The shriek had reduced itself to whimpers, largely ignored by Hermione as she focused on Bellatrix. Her Patronus sat at her feet, keeping a lookout for any other threats.
"Take a message to Nymphadora Tonks and Alistair Moody. Azkaban Prison is to be immediately shut down. All prisoners are to be transported to St. Mungo's with as many teams of Aurors they deem necessary until further notice. The Dementors are to stay in the prison. Under no circumstances are they allowed to leave," Hermione said. Her Patronus nodded, slinking off to deliver the message. The young witch turned her full attention to Bellatrix, engulfing her in a tight embrace and Apparating them to their room.
"Bella, you're safe, I promise. Okay? Look at me, Bella," Hermione whispered. Her hands framed the dark witch's face, keeping her head up. Dark eyes settled on hers, their depths filled with terror and shining with tears. Hermione ran her thumbs over Bellatrix's cheeks, gently wiping away the tears as she mumbled soothingly to her soulmate. Bellatrix choked out a sob, burying her face in Hermione's neck as she regained her ability to move. She still trembled with fear and a chill that invaded her very bones, clutching tightly to the young witch.
"Oh, Bella. I'm so sorry," Hermione whispered, her voice breaking. She held Bellatrix tightly, gently guiding her to the bed. It was a difficult task, but she managed. Even under the heavy blanket, the dark witch still trembled. Hermione felt her shoulder grow wet as she held Bellatrix as close as she could, the blanket wrapped around them tightly. She rocked them back and forth slowly in an attempt to soothe the distraught witch.
Bellatrix held onto Hermione as if her life depended on it. She struggled to take full breaths, to find Hermione in the cold and dark and emptiness. She could hear soft noises, ones she knew were from her witch, and she let them guide her as she slowly came back to herself. The dark witch couldn't stop her cries or let go of Hermione, but the young witch held her just as tightly, if gentler, and whispered nothings in her ear. Bellatrix felt warm skin against her cheek, a hand stroking her back calmingly, the steady heartbeat of Hermione. She latched onto it tightly, clawing through the remaining darkness back to Hermione.
"Hermione," she whimpered, pressing her face against the young witch's shoulder.
"I'm here Bella. I've got you," Hermione whispered, placing loving kisses to her hair.
"I can't go back. I can't."
"You don't have to. It's being shut down as we speak. Tomorrow it will be destroyed, along with all the Dementors." Hermione's voice was soft against the harshness of Bellatrix's breathing. The dark witch struggled to normalize her breaths, choking down sobs to force them away.
"Bellatrix, my beautiful witch, you can't force it away. I've got you, I promise," Hermione whispered, tilting Bellatrix's chin up so their faces were level. The dark witch leaned her forehead against Hermione's, forcing herself to focus on the walnut and springtime rain. Hermione's hand rubbed circles on her back and she trailed soft, loving kisses slowly over Bellatrix's face.
"It was so horrible. Being there. Alone. It sucked the life out of me. I thought I could go back since I wasn't a prisoner but seeing it there, remembering how it felt. It was awful," Bellatrix whispered.
"Can I see?" Hermione asked, nudging the dark witch's jaw with her nose.
"I don't want you to. It's not pleasant."
"Okay." It was barely a whisper as she pulled back, positioning them so they were sitting. Bellatrix's back was against Hermione's front and the young witch summoned a glass of water. She held it to Bellatrix's lips with one hand, the other stroking her side. The dark witch pushed it away when she was finished, letting her head fall back. She turned it slightly, her temple on Hermione's cheek.
"Thank you," she whispered, blinking away the remaining tears.
"I'm always here for you, Bella. I love you." Hermione turned her head, kissing Bellatrix's cheek gently. Bellatrix leaned back against Hermione, feeling arms around her waist and the rhythmic rise and fall of her lover's chest as she breathed. She closed her eyes, hands resting on Hermione's. Hermione absently rubbed her cheek against Bellatrix's temple, humming softly. It wouldn't be long before reporters caught wind of her shutting down the prison soon, but she would deal with that later. Hermione moved Bellatrix so she was laying with her head in her lap. She stroked ebony curls lovingly, picking up the book on the nightstand. Flipping through the pages, Hermione found her eyes drawn to Bellatrix more than the book.
A gentle smile painted Hermione's face as her eyes traced the lines of Bellatrix's defined cheekbones and jawline. The pale skin was smooth and youthful, creased only slightly at her brow from her current expression. Her nose was regal and her ruby lips were full and turned down. Hermione ran the backs of her fingers over Bellatrix's cheek softly, tracing the pronounced bones. Her thumb smoothed the creasing of her brow and she traced ruby lips with her fingertips. Bellatrix's full lashes tickled the inside of her wrist. Hermione brought her fingertips to her lips, pressing a kiss to them before moving her hand back to Bellatrix's lips. She lightly touched her fingertips to the dark witch's lips, watching the frown turn up the slightest bit.