Warning: Mentions of death, destruction etc...
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters and no money has been made from this.
Enjoy...
Chapter Seventeen
Eyes watering, her hand hits the solid brick wall, grasping as though an anchor in the deep depths of the ocean. She steadies herself the smoke billowing as it howls down the street. It's smothering, covering her mouth, she moves to stay close to the wall not daring to stray far.
It's dark, terrifyingly so as she trips on debris that covers the ground. Someone knocks into her as they run away seeking safety from the advancing amber glow. Fear it's electrifying, igniting her nerves, the urge to run, and turn to safety. She should head back and leave the street away from the murky cloud.
Her hand touches something familiar, a glass pane of the window, the candles on the inside of the shop. She bursts through the door, inhaling a lung full of air as she does, shutting the door firmly behind her. The smoke pressed against the window, begging for entrance.
"Bellatrix?" Sheryl's voice is reassuring it removes a heavy weight from her shoulder.
Wiping at her eyes, Bella winces, the heat intense outside, she studies the faces huddled on the floor. Healers kneeling next to those with cuts, some lying down. A makeshift first aid camp, the shop supporting any who have been caught out in the fire.
Safe, the shop is currently, safe she had feared it would be engulfed in fire when she arrived. Had feared, she wouldn't be able to get near the shop, to check on the inhabitants, to find Hermione. Wait. Where is Hermione?
"Here," Sheryl presses a cold glass of water into Bella's hand. "Drink, the smoke is so strong."
"Thanks," Bella croaks gulping at the water as though a survivor of the desert.
It's cooling, refreshing, and soothing her throat, she uses some of the water to dab around her eyes. Frowning as her fingers come away black. The soot in the air.
"Where's Hermione?" Bella demands looking around the shop.
"She's not here," Sheryl explains. "She went towards the fire."
"What? Why?"
"There were so many people running, getting hurt. She went to see if she could help."
"There evacuating some of the pubs and restaurants," a healer speaks up. "Your friend went to offer help."
"Bloody woman," Bella grumbles.
"Do you need seeing to?" The healer asks.
"No," Bella shakes her head, moving towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Sheryl asks.
"To find your boss."
The door shuts firmly behind her, she covers her face as much as possible with her cloak. Hiding from the smoke, she moves towards the amber glow. Hand-trailing brick walls, and solid glass, she heads towards the carnage. Why? Why on earth did Hermione have to go towards the fire? Is the woman attracted to danger?
The smoke slows the closer she gets, the heat intense, and she feels sweat drip down her back. Lowering her cloak, she stares at the scene in front of her. It's chaos, a war zone, emergency services, and locals rushing around the scene. A five-story building engulfed in flames, the building next door's roof on fire.
Numb, she feels numb at the chaos in front of her, staring in disbelief as the fire rages, the water doing little to stem the raging inferno. Onlookers from connecting streets edge closer, needing to see the carnage.
"Ma'am you need to step back!" A voice orders a Sergeant stepping forward. "Auror Black, I didn't realise it was you."
"What's happening?" Bella asks although she feels it's a redundant question.
"The fire…"
"I can see the fire, who's in charge, what's happening with crowd control?" Bella demands.
"I don't know, I just got here." He trails off glancing at the fire.
"Fine, get three of your guys to block that alleyway, take two for Commercial Street. Push the crowd back. We don't need anyone else near here."
"Yes ma'am." He nods moving away.
"Henderson," She snaps noticing the Auror standing nearby.
"Boss," He nods moving closer. "Crazy isn't it?"
His eyes light up at the scene, a pyro at heart. She can always guarantee to find Henderson when there's something ominous at hand, always. A secret talent of the Auror, finding trouble before it finds anyone else.
"Take Junior there, push a crowd control of Central Alley back towards Hick's Supplies, no one else is to pass down this street."
"Yes ma'am. Junior, follow me."
She watches them leave, heading through the thick of the smoke to bar anyone entering but professionals. Someone taps on her shoulder, she turns to catch them to find Dolohov standing next to her, breathless.
"Boss,"
"Dolohov." Bella greets.
"Bookshop still standing," Dolohov reassures.
"She's not there."
"Where is she?"
"Here… somewhere."
Its mass of bodies, a blur of activity, the injured camped to the side away from the burning building. The smoke makes it difficult to establish faces, in the distance, she can hear the crowd control taking form. The lights are out in all the shops, the only light from the fire and the healers at work.
"We'll find her," Dolohov states.
"Hermione can look after herself. Get some lighting around here, we're all running blind. We need to push this smoke out. Send for backup, we're going to need as many as we can spare."
"Boss," He nods, moving away drawing his wand he casts a patronus, sending for reinforcements.
It's easy to fall into old ways, giving instructions, and barking orders, it distracts her from the fear. There's no mistaking the bodies on the ground, red tags, deceased. The crying of pain, emergency workers injured on the job, civilians going about their general lives caught up in the fire.
"Head Auror," Wright, Head of Emergency services arrives next to her.
"Wright," Bella greets shaking the wizard's hands. "Do we know what this is yet?"
"Not yet, but from what I've been told there have been renovation works going on the building's top floor. That's where the fire started,"
"Accident or Arson?"
"Too soon to tell," He sighs wiping his face, and removing the soot from his eyes.
"It's an inferno," Bella points out. "Surely, we're looking at arson."
"It's an old building," Wright shrugs. "They stored a lot of fabrics on the third floor, silk, cotton you name it. It was a disaster waiting to happen."
"Where do you need us?" Bella asks noticing more of her department appearing.
"Crowd control and helping the healers, we've got the fire."
"You got it."
Turning, Bella addresses the new arrivals splitting the groups to crowd control, lighting and assisting the healers. She heads to the healers, she needs to focus on something not able to stand and observe.
She works, helping to prep people for transport, to ensure they will survive the journey to St Mungo's. The injuries are enough to make her wince, if she didn't have a strong stomach she would have lost the bacon butty she had for lunch by now.
Lifting the stretcher she helps load it onto the waiting carriage, the fire has dwindled, and the lights have helped illuminate the situation. Although she thinks she prefers the darkness anything from the destruction that surrounds them. The bodies decorating the ground, unable to move them. Not until they can survey the scene, not until it's investigated.
She's yet to find Hermione, the only reassuring note is she hasn't treated the witch. It doesn't mean she wasn't one of the first ones shipped to the hospital. Did she become injured somehow? Did she volunteer to head to St Mungo's to help there? Is she one of the disfigured bodies on the ground?
The thought makes her sick, so she forces her attention back to the next patient. She's spotted Andromeda amongst the healers. A flicker of surprise on her sister's face, not expecting to find Bella amongst the carnage. Bella was the first to turn away from attending to those in shock, she helps a mother towards the waiting healers. Her seven-year clutched in her arms, a nasty burn to the woman's leg she assists the lady in waiting for transport. Watching the child clutching her pink bunny as she takes a seat next to her mother.
Someone knocks into her, a grumble of an apology as they pass rushing towards the mother and daughter. The relief on the mother's face, the father's. It's a happy reunion as she watches the family embrace.
"Sorry,"
Wincing, Bella moves her foot as someone steps on it, frowning she turns to the witch carrying the stretcher. She'd recognise that voice anywhere. Hair tied up, bloodied and dirty, the witch is lifting the stretcher onto the transport. Explaining the injuries to the waiting healer.
Dumbstruck, Bella stares at the witch, watching in disbelief. A weight lifts off her shoulders, and the fear leaves her. The urge to cry is nearly overwhelming, but she bottles it pushing it back down.
"Bella?!" The shock on the witch's face.
Not answering, Bella steps forward wrapping her arms around the shocked witch. Pulling Hermione into a tight hug, the reassurance. Hands return the hug just as fiercely, ignorant of the world around them.
"What are you doing here?" Hermione asks breaking the embrace.
"Me? What are you doing?" Bella demands stepping aside as a stretcher goes by.
"I couldn't just sit there," Hermione shrugs brushing a loose strand out of her face. "I had to help."
"I saw the fire," Bella answers running a hand through her hair. "I came to check and make sure the shop was okay."
"Just the shop?" Hermione quips with a ghost of a smile.
"And Crooks."
"Obviously," Hermione repeats, squeezing Bella's arm. "I'm glad your safe."
"You too," Bella nods.
"I'm going to help them clear the last few,"
"Yeah, I'm going to check crowd control… Don't…" She pauses what she going to say.
"I'll wait for you there. Sound good?"
"Sounds good."
Nodding, they head in separation directions, Bella heading back to crowd control, to check statements have been taken. Leaving Hermione with the last few to be moved on to St Mungo's.
Tired, Hermione collapses against the brick wall, hands still shaking with adrenaline she tries not to notice the remains of the bodies on the ground. The night had taken a very unexpected turn, one she would not forget anytime soon.
The fire dwindled to nothing, the crowds dispersing, diminishing to the few last onlookers. There's a ringing in her ear, a dull throbbing in her feet, and the skin of her hands cracked. Her fingers ache from the stitching, and the administering of medication. Her mind is numb, running on autopilot, she watches the last few healers tend to the emergency services. Those well enough not to go to St Mungo's. The lucky ones.
Seeing Bella brought much-needed comfort, and watching the Auror working, it's reassuring. Listening to the witch bark orders moving amongst the scene undisturbed, a fearless leader, keeping her team upbeat despite the long hour they rally behind her. A flicker in the distance, the night easing into a light blue, a tinge of orange. The sun is beginning to rise, and the night is being chased away. With it, the nightmare of the fire now distinguished.
Feather-light falls from the sky, the wind has calmed now just a breeze carrying the remains of the smoke. The ash falls from the sky as though snow, staining her already ruined clothes. She feels it touch her face she closes her eyes, and this ground will be covered in debris in the disguise of snow. The ash will settle and the destruction will be available for all to see.
"Here," A familiar voice interrupts her thoughts. "Take this."
Opening her eyes, Hermione stares at the offered boxed food smiling her thanks at Dolohov. He hands her a wooden spork before moving on to handing out food to the workforce.
"What you got?" Bella asks her voice rough. "I've got chicken,"
Peeking inside the container Hermione notices the beef wincing, she's not a fan of beef. She's not even sure she feels like eating, but her stomach aches and she's not sure if it's from hunger or sickness.
"Beef." Hermione answers.
"Swap?"
They change containers, Bella popping her food open as she uses her little wooden spork to dig into the beef and rice. She eats unfazed by the destruction, the bodies sprawled on the ground a few feet away chewing thoughtfully on her beef pieces.
"This is pretty good," Bella announces.
"I think it's from the restaurant down Harper Street, I think they've cooked for volunteers and emergency services."
"Uh, it's good." Bella nods happily.
Smiling, Hermione pushes away from the wall holding the food tight to her side. She watches as some dig into their food, starving from the night's activities. Some of the first responders are lying down, recovering from the exertion of the evening.
"I've sent most of them home, next shift will be starting soon," Bella remarks.
"What are they thinking?" Hermione asks watching the investigators near the front of the burnt-out building.
"Accident, I think."
"All this over an accident?"
"Well, I'm sure they'll be some arrest. Negligence, unsafe storage and improper working conditions the owner of the building is going to have a lot to answer for."
"If he hasn't already," Hermione whispers staring at the deceased bodies.
"Hmm, come on no point staying here."
"You finished?"
"I'm exhausted," Bella states with a sigh. "Can I borrow your shower?"
"Yeah,"
They walk along the empty alley towards the dark bookshop, the door locked. Sheryl must have gone home. Bella shuts the door behind them as Hermione picks up the letter from Sheryl, explaining the witch had gone home and asked for a message. Picking up a quill she jots a quick letter down, telling Sheryl not to return to work for a couple of days, that the bookshop will be closed for the next few days. Thanking the witch for all her help.
As she ties the letter to the waiting owl's leg, she hears Bella's boots thumping upstairs, the clunk as the shower turns on. With a flap of its wings, the owl heads off with the letter. Leaving the bookshop in the darkness she drags her tired feet up the stairs.
Heading to the fridge she drags out a bottle of beer, unscrewing the lid she swigs the drink. Leaning her head against the wooden cabinet, she picks at her food, throwing chicken to Crooks.
Fresh, Bella appears from the bedroom, wearing one of Hermione's oversized t-shirts and boxers. Swallowing, Hermione watches the witch wander towards the fridge helping herself to a beer and moving towards the cupboards in search of food. Bending over Bella searches the bottom cupboards for biscuits, the boxers fitting her bum perfectly.
Forcing her eyes away, Hermione heads to the shower, throwing her clothes to the corner of the bathroom floor. She tries to ignore the half-naked Bellatrix in the flat. The water runs black as it washes the soot and muck from her body. She scrubs at her skin hoping to remove the smell of smoke until the shower goes cold running out of hot water. Sighing, she exits, spraying herself with the nearest perfume. She finds some comfy loungewear, throws on a fluffy jumper she wanders back to the living room.
Bella chills on the sofa munching on biscuits silky legs tucked out of sight. Nope, behave. Hermione focuses on picking up her drink, collapsing on the sofa next to Bella, she stares at the ceiling. She had not expected the night to go the way it had. She's too exhausted to stay awake and too strung out to sleep. Adrenaline has left her in limbo, her mind buzzing processing information from the night.
A prod to the stomach, Bella nudges her with her finger. A small smile from the dark witch as she demands Hermione to move off the blanket.
"Shift, I'm cold," Bella moans nudging Hermione again.
"You want some pyjamas."
"No, I want the blanket."
Rolling her eyes, Hermione moves so Bella can pull the blanket free, happily spreading it over herself. She waits for Hermione to settle before offering some to the witch.
"That, that was intense." Hermione states. "Did that happen?"
"Yes, yes it did."
Shaking her head, Hermione snuggles under the blanket jumping as two cold feet land on her lap. She scowls at the Auror, currently seeking Hermione's warmth for her cold feet. Crooks hops onto Bella's lap, padding at the witch's tail flicking, he stares adoringly at Bellatrix. Traitor. Hermione whispers under her breath.
"You make your mum jealous you know," Bella reprimands the cat as she scratches his chin.
Mum. The word bounces around in Hermione's head, such an innocent word. With a loaded meaning, falling from red lips. The idea of being a mum, with Bellatrix it's overwhelming it ignites something in her stomach. She ignores it focusing on the beer in her hand she picks at the label. Forcing her mind from dangerous territory.
"Did you see the fire start?" Bella asks slipping into her role as investigator.
"No," Hermione answers trying to peel the label off without ripping it. "We thought there was someone outside the shop, then the lights went out. Honestly, Sheryl and I were bricking it. Like a horror movie."
She chuckles at the memory she can remember the immediate fear when the lights went out, she had thought it was Tom coming back to finish the job. The idea of fire hadn't even crossed her mind, why would it?
"For a moment, I thought Tom had come back," Hermione shakes her head in entertainment, missing the cloud that passes across Bella's face. "Then we saw the amber glow. People were running past, tripping over each other. Some healers appeared first on the scene, so we offered the shop for them to use. I went to see if I could help."
It still doesn't feel real but her flat windows are dirty from ash and soot. The sun is rising in the distance, and the small amount of smoke that remains trickles by. A reminder of the night before. A nightmare.
"You used to work with Tom," Bella states casually.
"I did for a bit, more of a rivalry." Hermione answers sinking into the cushions.
"You never said."
"Didn't I?" Hermione questions rolling her head to look at the older witch.
"No,"
"Then how do you know if I didn't mention it?" Hermione asks suspiciously.
"Because of that night with Tom," Bella answers not breaking eye contact. "I wanted to know more."
"If this is about pressing charges," Hermione sighs.
"He ruined your political career, didn't he?"
Growing still, beer hovering from her lips Hermione swallows harshly, turning her attention back to the witch. An ancient anger bubbles deep down, a history she had forgotten about. She doesn't understand why Bella is bringing this up now. Not now.
"What?" Hermione asks.
"Tom is the one who fabricated those pictures, he's the one that caused the rumour."
"Tom?"
"It all makes sense."
"Bella, this is your ex-boyfriend…"
"Does it matter? You were meant to go on the volunteer thing that would have propelled your career. Instead, a rumour broke out, you lost your career and Tom was sent instead." Bella nods rising from the sofa. "It all makes sense, and you can sue."
"Sue?"
"Yes, you can sue Tom for ruining your career, defamation against your reputation. Make him accountable for his actions."
"What?"
"I can provide some good lawyers, he won't stand a chance. With all the information I've gathered, it's him. He was jealous, and used his connections to fabricate this story of you having an affair with a ministry employee." Nodding, Bella folds her hands together. "Just give me the word and we can get this ball rolling."
"No."
Shaking her head, Hermione rises from her seat, heading into the kitchen she swigs the remaining drops of her beer. Heading to the fridge she grabs another bottle, before moving past the speechless witch. Dark eyes bore into her, Bella confused, bewildered, silently raging.
"Why are you protecting him?" Bella demands. "Don't give me some bullshit about protecting my career, why on earth are you protecting him. Does he have something on you?"
"Bella stop," Hermione sighs sinking into the sofa she rubs her eyes the smell of smoke lingering. "Just stop."
"No, this man assaulted you, destroyed your political career and you sit there as though it doesn't matter. Tell me, Hermione, if his blackmailing you, I can deal with it. You know this."
"Bella, just stop. Please!" Hermione snaps angrily.
"Tell me, I will wring his little neck,"
"Tom didn't destroy my career," Hermione hisses pushing from the sofa. "He didn't have anything to do with it."
"Are you sure, it all adds up…"
"It was Croaker." She shouts the name.
The word ends all debate, the shock on Bella's face, the anger in Hermione's veins. The frustration, the annoyance of past mistakes. Groaning, Hermione punches the nearest wall cursing under her breath she throws the beer down ignoring it as it splashes across the floor staining her carpet.
"Tom is an idiot, Tom is a slimeball but he didn't take the pictures. Tom can't handle his drink he got rowdy and he was escorted off the premises before the pictures were taken."
It feels as though it's another life. She was good at politics, brilliant, god's she would have been magnificent. If only she hadn't become careless, but everyone thinks they're invincible in their early twenties.
"Mercy said the pictures were fake." The whisper from Bella.
"Mercy lies." Hermione retorts folding her arms. "You can't trust Mercy."
"She's your friend. Work wives."
"Mercy has me on a pedestal, I can do no wrong in her eyes. She doesn't admit I'm a catalyst to my own life." Shaking her head Hermione glares at the table. "If will alone was enough, Mercy would have re-written history by now. But no matter what, Mercy cannot be trusted."
"So the pictures…"
"Were of me and Amelia Bones."
At any other time, the shock on Bella's face would have been hilarious. At this moment in time, it's anything but funny.
"Before she became Head of Magical Law Enforcement we worked in the same department… she was my mentor during my internship. We had a brief affair."
"Why would Croaker destroy your career?"
"Because I was investigating, I had started looking into something. These wizards came to see me, I thought it was a bit of roughhousing, and they told me to stop looking. I ignored them, I was high on success, and I felt untouchable. I didn't realise the Unspeakable was involved in this case. The pictures of Amelia and I, well thankfully no one could tell who I was with. The pictures were damning, but Amelia had a husband, and a family I couldn't be the reason that was destroyed. The attention was on me the easiest thing to do was slink away."
"And Bones didn't object."
"She was a highly decorated member of the Ministry, I wasn't going to let her throw that away for a stupid one-night fling."
Shaking her head, Bella turns away running a hand through her hair. Sighing, Hermione slinks to the floor cradling her knees.
"I lost everything, but I refused to ignore the investigation, it was all I had left after losing my job. That's when I trailed Luna, followed her it's how I became an Unspeakable." Hermione concludes.
"You still worked for Unspeakable's after all that?"
"I didn't know at the time." Hermione shrugs. "Not until Adam."
"Adam… Mercy, before she transitioned. Mercy told you."
"No, Mercy took the pictures." Hermione smiles grimly. "She felt bad for her actions when I first started, Adam at the time kept a wide birth. I thought it was weird. After a while, we grew close."
"Mercy can't keep secrets." Bella summarises.
"Ha, Mercy is the best Unspeakable there is." Hermione laughs bitterly. "You don't think it's odd the witch doesn't bother you anymore? Have you even seen her since I stopped being an Unspeakable?"
"No, actually she's strangely absent."
"Mercy isn't absent, Mercy's job is internal affairs. It's her role to get involved in people's lives, she probes for information. She's not sharing information, she's fishing, and she's always seeking information. Her job is to ensure that we haven't slipped any information to loved ones to family. Her role is to make sure no information ever leaks from the department. She's the reason Helen March's husband is in Azkaban. She found out he had intel he should never have, turns out he had been stalking his wife. Mercy reported it, he got framed and shipped to Azkaban, and he got the kiss... Mercy will be the next Croaker."
The whole thought makes her sick, looking back it all seems mad, at the time. Hermione believed in it all, security was important, she never saw the lies, ignored the spies. It was thrilling being an Unspeakable, being this unknown person. The stress, the lies, grow, and they wear people down.
"Your Godmother to Mercy's daughter."
"I know." Hermione shrugs. "Mercy was just doing her job, she has enough guilt over it there's no point making her feel worse."
Gosh, she can still remember the hurt the day she found out, it felt like someone had driven a dagger through her heart. The moment she realised Adam had taken the pictures, destroyed her career. That night Adam came knocking at her door, willing to explain, Hermione had punched him and broken his nose.
It's strange to think, she helped Adam through his transition, to becoming Mercy. Perhaps it made it easier to forgive Mercy, Adam was gone no more, and she had sworn an oath to herself to bury the hatchet. To move on, work with Mercy. A small part of her knows though, Mercy was dangerous and is still a threat. So she made sure to make friends with the witch.
"Sometimes I'm not even sure if we're friends because we like each other or because we fear one another. I was so angry when I found out, I did my best to find something on Mercy, and I dug through report after report. I could have destroyed her career the same way she destroyed mine, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it."
Wiping the tears from her face, Hermione counts her breathing, trying to control her spiralling emotions. The Unspeakable had taken so much from her, she ensured to take something for herself. Mutual destruction, should anyone make a move on her, she had enough to take them all out. The idea makes her feel sick, the person she became to ensure her survival.
"It's sick really," Hermione admits. "The whole thing, you get dragged so deep, that at some stage it all just becomes normal."
Silent, Bellatrix is silent, and the witch is probably disgusted with Hermione. Not understanding her motives, Bellatrix hates secrets. She can only imagine what the witch must be thinking of Hermione.
"I didn't scam Ted out of his business," Bella announces.
Frowning, Hermione watches the witch pad towards her, slumping to the floor in front of Hermione. She offers her drink to the younger witch.
"I like to invest in things, sometimes they work out. Sometimes they don't. When Andy left, I was done with it. All of it. But my father wanted us to keep an eye on Andy, on Ted. I had not long set up my own investment company, Andy didn't know at the time. So I brought shares in the restaurant, and I had someone go on behalf of my company. That way, I could keep an eye on it, I put someone I trusted in the restaurant, just a waitress. She would report back, I report back to my father, Andy was stable, she had a good income, Ted was an honourable guy."
Sighing, Bella picks at her nails lost deep in thought.
"I was spying on my sister, it was pathetic. Anyway, I went to an exclusive card tournament one night. Lo and behold I spotted a familiar face. Ted was there, losing at a blackjack table. At the time the restaurant wasn't doing great, and cash flow issues. There were rumours someone was pocketing the money. I was furious, I thought Ted had a secret gambling addiction, so I dragged him from that club. His face when I told him it was my investment company he was screwing over. I let him sober up that night, and went to visit him the next day. He didn't have a gambling problem. He was in debt, shit loads of debt, they had taken out large loans for the business. At the time Nymphadora had just been born, I knew Andy was still bedridden. Unable to work. The market hadn't long crashed, the restaurant was losing money. Ted was working his business as well as two other jobs. Had taken out another mortgage on his house, maxed loans, he was fucked."
Bella's hand seeks out Hermione's searching for comfort, the warmth of the squeeze. The auror looks away, watching the sunrise in the distance. Hermione takes the hand in both of hers, gently running her thumb over the witch's knuckles.
"I was sick of it all." Bella spits angrily. "The secrecy, my father demanding answers, if he had found out about the debt he would have gone to that house, taken Nymph. Brought lawyers in, my sister would have never stood a chance. See people always think I want to mend the bridge, offer an olive branch to Andy. I don't. All my life I had spent protecting Andy, she was such a free spirit, and so was I, but Andy broke every rule. Would sneak out every chance she got. Who do you think took the brunt of it? I always answered for my sister's mistakes. Always. Nothing I did was ever good enough for my father, he wanted me to take over his business. I was done. At that moment I was done. I joined the Auror unit, and my father was disgusted."
With a sharp laugh from red lips, Hermione had seen a picture of Bella's father he seemed like a strict parent. She wonders if he was ever abusive physically or mentally.
"I offered Ted an out, I would pay off his debts, all of it. In exchange, I would have the restaurant. So I did, I contacted all his debtors, I paid it all off including the second mortgage, and I left him with four months worth of wages to be paid monthly into his account. I took the restaurant, and at the time I had someone looking for a business venture. My cover was blown, and my sister heard I had brought the restaurant poor Ted being conned out of his business by me. My father was angry, not only had I lost his best intel to his estranged daughter, but I had also quit the family business. It didn't matter, I was creating a new life, I burnt all my bridges." A tired sigh.
"Andy thinks you're the bad guy in this, but it was Ted." Hermione whispers.
"You think Ted had the balls to tell Andy her big sister had to bail him out?" Bella scoffs snagging the beer. "Please, he just went along with the scenario Andy created. I was the bad guy, I was happy to live with that."
"Why? You should tell Andy the truth."
"Nope."
"Bella…"
"Because I don't want her to know." Bella shrugs. "I don't want her to know I saved her from living on the streets, I didn't do it for that reason. I self-destructed my father's plan for my benefit. I did what I needed to do for me, not for her. I don't need her forgiveness, I don't want it. The same way you didn't destroy Mercy's life."
"That's not the same."
"Isn't it?" Bella asks. "Should I go tell Mercy's wife, that Mercy destroyed your life?"
"No, course not. She doesn't need to know."
"Exactly."
"I don't feel these situations are the same." Hermione reasons.
"No, but we're both good at painting ourselves as the bad guys, don't you think?"
Shaking her head, Hermione stares at the witch, these are very different situations. Regardless, she's grateful Bella trusts Hermione enough to tell her the truth. The proud shoulders sag, the relief at easing the burden of telling the truth. She can see it physically lift from Bella.
Watching the witch take a drink, Hermione realises this is probably Bella's way of saying she understands while also trying to ease her burden.
"Will you stop looking into Tom?" Hermione asks.
"Yes, but if he touches you again, he's a dead man." Bella bites out begrudgingly.
"That's fair," Hermione smiles.
"You can't speak of anything about the sister to anyone, understood?" Bella demands
"Fine." Hermione agrees.
"Swear to it."
Rolling her eyes, Hermione smiles at the witch, smirking at the raised eyebrow the witch waiting for her to swear to it. Mischievous, overtired, she's not sure, but somewhere Hermione finds the courage. Moving forward, she cups Bella's cheek with her hand, tracing the cheekbone.
She places a kiss on red lips, the hitch of breath as their lips touch. It's igniting her thundering heart. It sends fire straight to her core, and the urge to push the witch backwards and straddle her. The need to deepen the kiss, the idea of taking it a step further. No. She pulls away, swallowing as she does so, forcing herself to meet dark eyes.
"I swear," Hermione whispers.
Confusion swells in dark depths, smiling, Hermione shifts, moving to stand up. She's pushed Bella far enough today. A hand lands on her hip forcing Hermione back down until she lands in Bella's lap. Two strong hands holding her hips in place. Heart pounding, Hermione places her hands gently on the tightly wound shoulders.
"Bella," Hermione murmurs.
"Just…" Bella trails off biting her lip lost in thought, hands tightening and loosening.
Relaxing, Hermione straddles the witch, brushing hair from Bella's face she leans forward, pressing a kiss just below the jawbone. The witch beneath her was so tense, strung so tight one wrong move could make her snap. Leaning forward Hermione rests her face in the crook of Bella's neck.
She feels the hands relax as they snake around her, holding her in place. The witch beneath her hugging her back, holding her in place. Absently, she plays with the dark witch's hair, a gentle sigh as Bella relaxes fully into the hold.
