Four words: I heart this chapter.
Oh! And this one goes out to MadameCissy. Check out her stuff, you won't be disappointed!
"Bella!" Two voices squealed as footsteps thundered toward the front door. Bellatrix whipped her sable mane back and forth, shaking the snow from her ringlets. The myriad of red and green tinsel reflected like gemstones in the sheen of her hair. Her face was positively beaming as the sight of her two beloved younger sisters, Andromeda and Narcissa Black, greeted her.
"Cissy! Andy!" Bellatrix held her arms open wide, beckoning the two younger Black sisters into a crushing hug. Rodolphus shrugging the snow from his shoulders, pushed past the three siblings and trudged into the home throwing his overcoat on top of an unsuspecting house elf.
"Happy Christmas Bella!" Andromeda cried, her right arm now resting on Narcissa's shoulder. "We've missed you!"
"Happy Christmas to you as well Andy." Bellatrix gave a warm smile, overjoyed at the sight of her two younger sisters dressed like royalty. Andromeda wore a strapless burgundy dress and had her auburn hair tied into an elegant French twist. While Narcissa donned an elegant green satin gown, and like Bellatrix, opted to wear her golden hair down.
Bellatrix wore a simple black bodice and matching skirt, and strapped to her feet were lace up knee high boots. Her bird skull charm rested in the valley of her breasts. "Is the whole family here?" She asked.
"Yes." Andromeda nodded. "Even Aunt Walburga decided to crawl out from under her rock to join us." The brunette joked with a smile, the resulting laughter like music to Bellatrix' ears.
A house elf took Bellatrix' coat and the elder Black linked an arm with each of her sisters, and allowed the two to guide her into the crowd. The party was in full swing, a string quartet was playing sprightly renditions of popular Christmas songs.
"Come, they've got wassail in the kitchen Bella!" Narcissa exclaimed as she and Andromeda led Bellatrix by the arms through the large crowd of partygoers. Bellatrix felt as if she were 12 again, sneaking off behind her parent's backs to sneak treats from the kitchens.
Arriving in the kitchen, Andromeda pulled out her wand to summon three glasses, and Narcissa skillfully filled each with a large silver ladle, careful not to spill a single drop of the hot drink. Bellatrix rummaged through the cabinets until she found a garish crystal decanter containing an amber alcohol. She pulled free the stopper and inhaled the aroma of the alcohol within and Bellatrix proceeded to spike each of their glasses with the expensive brandy. Her charcoal eyes darted from left to right before she took several sips straight from the hand-blown glass decanter. Narcissa chuckled. "Oh Bella, if mother saw you partaking in her prized Cognac…she'd have your head!"
Bellatrix smiled wickedly as she raised the ornate decanter once more. "Better to drink up then!" And she took one last swig.
Andromeda leant on the counter top, absently rapping her fingers on the sides of her glass. "Can you believe it is only a week until it is 1978? Where has the time gone? Cissy you'll be done with Hogwarts soon enough, and our great triumvirate will have come to a close." She gave a wistful sigh.
Narcissa took a long sip, licking the remnants from her lips. She moaned in delight. "Imagine…only a few short years until the '80s! That is what I find even more incredible!"
The three sisters returned to the living room and sat together on an sumptuous leather couch. Andromeda held her cup aloft, "To Family!"
"Here!" Clink!
"So how fare you Cissy? Andy?" Bellatrix asked with a warm smile, reaching across the coffee table for a fingerling sandwich. "Keeping out of trouble I hope."
Andromeda smiled broadly. "Of course dear sister. Unlike you, who has married an utter rogue, I have been conducting myself with utmost finesse. In fact I have nearly completed my healer certification at St. Mungo's." Her back straightened in an expression of personal pride.
The eldest Black reached over for her sister's hand, and gave it a squeeze. "That's so wonderful Andy! And how about you Cissy?"
Narcissa breathed a dreamy sigh, her eyelids fluttering. "I have a feeling that Lucius is going to propose to me after we are through with school!" Andromeda gave a shrill squeal, and Bellatrix could only roll her eyes. "Bella, come now, he is perfect for me."
"A prig. Oh yes. A most appropriate match for you dear sister."
Narcissa could only scoff. "Hush, we can't all be so lucky to marry someone as dashing as Rod."
Bellatrix gave an uncomfortable shrug, her fingers absently tapping an unknown rhythm on the edges of her mug. Across the busy room, Bellatrix spied her husband talking to a gaggle of young women; every so often he'd run a hand through his wavy brown hair, and absently pluck at his finely manicured goatee in a thoughtful manner. A frown grew on her face as she watched him. "What of you Andy? Got a lover of your own?"
Andromeda's eyes flitted nervously from left to right. "Um, no. Still playing the field as they say."
"Better be quick about it." Bellatrix said with a grin. "Next thing you know, father might try to marry you off to Rabastan…"
Narcissa heaved a sigh. "Father's already hard at work with Helen. Poor girl isn't even our blood and father sells her off like he was one of his own."
"Helen?"
Andromeda was surprised. "Bella surely you recall Helen, the girl was at your wedding! Father gave her your room in fact!"
The eldest Black sister was at once incensed. "My room! Father gave some orphan girl my old room? That is ridiculous. And furthermore, what would possess our father, the loathsome creature that he is, to show kindness to another girl?" Her ruby lips curled into a sneer. "He has nary shown us a kindness in the past, why is he starting now?" Her fists clenched tightly in a display of obvious anger.
"What do you care Bella? You left home the instant you finished Hogwarts, and now you live in that lavish mockery of a manor. So what if father might be growing soft? Live and let live Bella!" Andromeda scolded, rapping Bellatrix on the arm.
"Well I intend to give this Helen a piece of my mind. If she is going to live in the noble house of Black she should know what she's getting herself into." She finished her wassail in two huge gulps, and the brandy burned as it traveled down her throat. When the alcohol hit her stomach, a tingling warmth permeated across her body. The two younger Black sisters merely looked at each other with an exasperated shrug, neither seeming to want to attempt to calm their older sister.
Bellatrix stood from the couch and began to march up the stairs. Once she'd reached her old bedroom, she was surprised to see that her old nameplate was still on the door, as was her "Class of 1969" Slytherin pennant, adhered diagonally across the grainy wood. Pressing her ear to the oak she could hear the sounds of light jazz music and someone singing. Easing the door open ever so gently Bellatrix was greeted by the sight of a young brown haired woman. The woman to Bellatrix was, for lack of a better word, quite beautiful. Donning a red satin cocktail dress, she was sitting at Bellatrix' old vanity, deftly pinning up her shining hair into a ballerina bun. She did this with near mathematical precision, as not a single hair on her head was out of place. Her eyes were closed and her head bopped along with the music coming from an old gramophone perched on her nightstand. The woman's voice was deep and melodious; the delicate vibrato sounding like the tender cries of a morning songbird to Bellatrix' ears. She stood mesmerized at the sight and leaned against the doorframe feeling lucky to bear witness to such a performance.
Somewhere there's music
It's where you are
Somewhere there's heaven
How near how far
The darkest night would shine
If you would come to me soon
Until you will, how still my heart
How high the moon…
A crash of a cymbal and quick march of the snare drum signaled the arrival of a sudden increase in tempo and the young woman started to sing in a fast scat, still completely unaware of Bellatrix' presence in the room.
How high the moon
Is the name of this song
How high the moon
Though the words may be wrong
We're singin' it because you asked for it
So we're swingin' it just for you…
How high the moon
Does it touch the stars?
How high the moon
Does it reach up to mars?
Though the words may be wrong to this song
We're askin' how high high high high is the moon…
She broke into another rapid-fire string of scatting, her fingers loudly snapping in rhythm. The nonsensical syllables flowed from the woman's lips strung together in scales and arpeggios sounding as if they were plucked from a guitar or blown from a flute. Bellatrix had never heard anything quite like it.
The woman stood and pranced toward her closet grabbing a pair of black high heels and quickly throwing them on. She spun around and tap-danced about the room, her arms outstretched as if she had an invisible partner. The song was now an up-tempo drum solo, the woman singing and whistling a tune along with it, occasionally musically improvisational words slipping from her throat. To Bellatrix' amazement as the young woman danced a perfume bottle from the vanity slowly floated toward her, spritzing her three times, followed by a floating powder puff, deftly adding blush to her cheeks as she continued her frenzied dance. Not a wand in sight.
Bellatrix could feel her heart seize in her chest, she had never felt anything like this before in her life. Beauty personified was standing right in front of her, and she was rendered immobilized. The woman's mere presence was magnetic, Bellatrix was being drawn in and she was helpless against it.
The song abruptly came to a close, and Bellatrix clapped loudly and whistled. The sound startled the young woman, who pressed a nervous hand to her now heaving chest, her eyes suddenly going wide.
"Oh my! H-How long have you been standing there?"
Bellatrix entered the room, a smug smile on her painted face. "Long enough. Your voice is…incredible…Miss…Gaunt is it?"
"Y-y-yes! H-h-helen! Helen Gaunt. Gracious me! You're Bellatrix Black! I have always wanted to meet you formally. Oh Merlin, you must think me a nutter seeing me act like this." The girl stuttered, extending a nervous hand to shake with the eldest Black sister. Helen turned away a moment as a slow saxophone solo began on the gramophone but was taken by surprise as Bellatrix took the offered hand and brought it to her lips, placing a gentle kiss on the soft skin. Helen blushed profusely and a stray curl fell over her eyes. Bellatrix' hand acted as though it had a mind of it's own as she gently pushed the hair behind one of Helen's delicate ears. Bellatrix' mind was reeling, her limbs and heart marched headfirst into this situation, and she was completely helpless to the younger woman's charm.
"It's alright you don't have to be so nervous…my sisters have told me you've been staying here. I'll admit I was a bit put off by someone having my old room as I can be quite…possessive…though it seems that my worries are ill-placed."
"Y-yes…your father…took me in. Gave me your old room…I hope that I haven't mucked it up too much. Andy and Cissy told me how important this room was to you…"
Bellatrix' eyes looked along the walls. For the most part Helen was telling the truth, everything looked exactly as she had left it save for the gramophone, and a framed photograph of a city skyline. "Where is that?"
"Oh! That is New York City, in America. I…hope to maybe live there one day. Maybe even sing...as a career that is. Always been a dream of mine…I love music and singing. Unfortunately my post-Hogwarts fate has been sealed. Conducting Ministry research isn't exactly my idea of a rewarding career…nor does it pay well for that matter. Druella has been kind enough to allow me to stay a little longer after graduation while I save up."
Bellatrix crossed the room and sat down at the vanity, crossing her legs at the ankle. Helen absently smoothed her dress as if she were under inspection.
"You must be a pureblood."
Helen nodded. "Yes, yes, I have heard from countless others, Merlin forbid the great Cygnus Black takes in a half-blood orphan." Quickly she turned to meet Bellatrix' gaze, gauging her reaction. Bellatrix merely smirked as if to say I'm not offended. "But if you must know of my status, I am a Gaunt, though I am not proud to be such." Helen drew nearer to Bellatrix, her face inches away and she pointed at her right eye. "It is very subtle but look closely at my eye, it does not hold a gaze in a perfectly straight line…I have a lazy eye…if you will. All of my family bears it. So yes you can call me 'pure' but notice that even with that taxonomy, our blood still comes with…imperfections." Helen sighed and sat down on her bed before beginning again quietly. "Despite the multitude of degenerates in my family…one aspect of my pedigree was of great interest to your father…"
"And that is?"
"I am a direct relative of Slytherin himself." Came the sad answer, the woman's shoulders slung forward. "In your father's eyes…as well as my own father, it might be my only redeeming quality. My aunt Merope, though I never knew her personally…she had Slytherin's locket in her possession. I am unsure of it's whereabouts now."
Bellatrix' eyes went wide. "Slytherin!"
Helen's head hung low, the strand of hair slipping out from behind her ear, veiling her face. Bellatrix needn't lean in any closer to know that the girl was nearly crying.
"That was a muggle song wasn't it? That you were just singing moments ago." Bellatrix asked in a softer voice.
Helen nodded, her gaze meeting the dark haired witch. "Cygnus would be mortified if he heard…" Her words were downcast. Bellatrix drew closer, her thumb and pointer finger turning up the younger woman's chin.
"He must be deaf then…for all I could hear was an angel singing…"
Helen playfully slapped Bellatrix' shoulder, a small grin beginning to grow on her features. "Flatterer."
The London street was dreary that evening, the cold rain fell in a slow drizzle. Cars and cabs kicked up puddles and steam billowed from manhole covers as several well-dressed figures made their way down the cobble stone street.
They rounded a corner down an alleyway and arrived at a blank wall with a single ragged poster pasted on it. One by one the figures walked directly into the poster, disappearing from sight.
Sanguine Bleu Jazz Club glowed brightly on the neon sign above their heads, the eerie blue glow reflected in rivulets of smoke from several cigarettes, and shimmering martini glasses. A lively jazz piece filled the air, the saxophone currently engaged in a energetic solo. The group all shook snow from their coats and magically their coats hung themselves along the foyer wall. New Year's Decorations still adorned some of the walls, "HAPPY 1979" still shimmered in glass of the liquor cabinet of the club bar.
Helen Gaunt happily pranced toward the stage with Narcissa Black a few steps behind, both women spun wildly along with music laughing loudly throughout. "I love this song!" Helen squealed in delight as she did a pirouette in her black high heels. Lucius, Rabastan and Rodolphus made their way to the bar, nodding toward the women. Hands clasped together, Helen and Narcissa swung their arms rowdily, twirling the other in a quickstepped dance. Watching from a distance at a cocktail table sat Bellatrix, a grin forming on her face at the sight of the two friends lightheartedly dancing and laughing. Helen's eyes would meet hers every few minutes, the younger witch's mischievous expression practically begging the older witch to join them on the floor. Bellatrix declined the offer with a shake her head and a chuckle. Helen only feigned a pout and returned her attention to her dance partner. Bellatrix watched the brunette with admiration through another four songs, until she was shaken from her reverie at the arrival of her husband.
"Remind me why we here again Bella?" Groaned Rodolphus, sitting down with a huff at the table, a mug of frothing ale in hand. A lit cigarette hung precariously from his lower lip; it's ashes fell like a dirty snow onto his lap.
"It's Helen's 22nd birthday and I wanted to surprise her with a trip to a Jazz bar. She loves this music. Look how happy she is Rod."
Rodolphus scoffed. "O'Course she's happy. Regulus has disappeared, anyone who would've been shackled to that waste would be celebrating his disappearance too!" Bellatrix rolled her eyes in disgust and Rodolphus leaned in closer, speaking in a harsh whisper. "I guarantee you the lad was shooting blanks. Couldn't make an heir to please the great patriarchs of the noble house of Black, and ran with his tail between his legs like the dog that he is." He attempted to nip her neck with his teeth, and her neck whipped to the side in disgust. "Speaking of heirs…care to have another go?" His fingers grazed the fabric that encased her breasts.
"Rod…don't do this to me."
"Oh that's right…I forgot, my wife is barren…killing yet another pureblood line hmm?"
"Go find yourself a plaything…you know it's your favorite thing to do. Why not that blonde coquette by the bar? She's been eyeing you this entire time."
Rodolphus clenched his fists. "Just like how you've been eyeing the Gaunt girl? Makes me sick."
Bellatrix sneered. "Don't be ridiculous!"
"To think the Dark Lord allowed you to join the Death Eaters…you're too weak. Throwing a surprise party for some tart your bastard father took in. Can't even fulfill something as simple as getting pregnant. The Dark Lord wants more purebloods and you can't deliver. Lucky me to have a wife as barren as a desert. You're worthless Bellatrix Black. A ball and chain you are….AHH!" A deluge of vodka and ice struck his face as Bellatrix threw her drink, glass and all, at him. Rodolphus narrowly dodged the thrown highball glass that shattered against the wall. His chair fell to the floor with clamor as he rapidly stood, clawing at his burning eyes that were now filled with alcohol. The raven-haired witch grabbed for her wand, tucked into her leather corset, and aimed it at her husband's head. His reddened eyes met her intense stare. "You cunt!" He snarled. "What're you gonna do with that? Last time you tried to crucio me, 'twas barely a tickle. You're pathetic, you don't have it in you!"
Her hands buried themselves in her curls, and she turned away. "I can't deal with this right now. Get out of here Rod. Go after your hussy, leave! It's been made clear as crystal, you don't love me and I don't love you."
"If it weren't for the bloody Dark Lord breathing down our backs, I'd have divorced you ages ago. I could kill my father for thinking this union was a good idea…" In that moment, Bellatrix lost what little semblance of self-restraint she had left. They began a loud shouting match, fingers pointed and wands aimed. Tables and chairs were flipped and thrown, the floor littered with splinters after a spell had be blocked. Bellatrix gave Rodolphus a well-aimed smack to the cheek, whipping the man's head and neck to the side in a violent manner.
Lucius at that moment approached the bickering couple, with Helen and Narcissa in tow. Rodolphus, sensing their presence turned to face the Lucius. "You better have your head checked before you decide to marry one of the Black women. Bloody harpies…the lot of them." CRACK! With that he disapparated.
Helen fell to her knees beside Bellatrix, easing the woman onto her unsteady feet. "Bella…are you alright? Did he hurt you?"
With a soft shove, Bellatrix pushed Helen away from her. "Nothing that I haven't dealt with before."
Lucius, holding an equally concerned Narcissa in his arms spoke next. "Helen, this is a common occurrence between the Lestranges…it is rather fortunate that this club is still intact…we have witnessed but a minor…disagreement."
Helen drew near the dark haired witch once more, reaching out with her hands to tuck the sable mane behind Bellatrix' ears. Her hands still lingered on each of Bellatrix' cheeks, her thumbs gently wiping away a few stray tears falling from eyes trained upon the floor. "I apologize that you had to witness that Helen…on your birthday no less…I must've lacked the foresight to leave Rod at home." Helen gave a small smile and turned toward the future Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, giving a slight nod of the head. Narcissa gave a nod back and looped her arm around Lucius' and guided them away toward the bar.
"Will you take my arm Bella?" Helen asked calmly, tilting the ebony haired witch's chin up with her fingers. Weakly, Bellatrix touched the younger woman's wrist and felt the sensation in her stomach of side-along apparation.
They landed in a dimly lit living room with a gentle thud. Helen pulled her svelte wrist from Bella's fingers and walked off toward what Bella could only assume was a kitchen. Clicks and clangs of plates and cups punctuated the silence of the small apartment and Helen returned to the elder witch's side in a matter of minutes.
"Received some exquisite oolong as a birthday gift at the Ministry this morning. Would you care for a cup?"
"Helen where are we?" Bellatrix looked around the room, there were still a few boxes on the floor, yet to be unpacked.
"Oh we're at my new flat. Just acquired it a few days ago. Thought it was about time I move out of your parents home…before they throw me out that is." The last words barely a whisper.
Bellatrix drew nearer to the younger witch, gathering her hands in her own. They remained in this position for a few minutes; Bella absently played with the colorful bangles on Helen's wrist, and Helen could only watch. "Why would they throw you out?"
"Regulus…I'm sure you've heard…he disappeared last week. Our marriage…it will not happen." An uncomfortable laugh escaped her lips. "In fact I dropped off the half-finished self-portrait that Walburga was planning to gift me at my family vault just this morning." A hand went to her wrist, twisting the skin uncomfortably.
"What! He abandoned you? The swine, why I'll…" A baby soft hand suddenly clamped over her mouth corked her rant. A shh slipped through Helen's teeth.
She kept her hand pressed to Bellatrix' lips and the older witch resisted the urge to kiss the delectable flesh against it. "It is my fault…Bella…I'm pregnant."
It suddenly grew cold as Helen pulled her hand away and turned her head in apparent shame. Bellatrix stood slack-jawed at the revelation, her heart thrummed in her chest.
"Pregnant?"
Before Bellatrix could further form her words Helen spoke once more. "I'm having a girl." she gave a warm smile. "A little girl Bella…I…I plan on leaving the country as soon as my little one is born. Lord Vold—whatever Tom wishes to call himself nowadays—"
"You mean Lord Voldemort…The Dark Lord's name is Tom?"
"Yes…in fact…he is my cousin." A hand flew to Bellatrix' chest, an attempt to quell her now throbbing chest, quaking with ragged breaths. Helen gaped at the black haired witch in surprise. "You wondered if your father acted out of kindness when he took me in? Tom-Lord Voldemort brought me to him, after he came to visit my father and I one day. He saw my father's deplorable treatment of me. He saw the squalor that Gaunt family had fallen into. He obliviated Morfin and took me to your father. I did not hear the conversation they had but once it was over, I had a new home. Little did I know that with that came mine and Regulus' supposed duty to preserve the Black family. Regulus was terrified when I told him the sex of the baby. I haven't heard from him since."
"Oh Helen…" Bellatrix engulfed the young woman in a hug, running her fingers through the velvet soft hair. She smelled of sweet lavender.
"It's alright really. I actually wanted to ask you if…you would be my daughter's godmother…as you are indeed the strongest woman I know." Helen smiled. "If anything were to happen to me…I'd rest in the comfort of knowing you are there to protect my little one." Her hands came to rest upon her abdomen.
Bellatrix nodded and held Helen tighter; her hand resting on the back of Helen's head. "Helen…I would be honored." When they pulled away Helen took each of Bellatrix' hands in her own and guided Bellatrix toward the couch to sit. As they sat, staring deeply into the other's eyes, a teapot, cups and saucers floated into the living room, landing gracefully on the coffee table in front of them. Helen barely moved, still holding tight to Bellatrix' hands as the teapot filled the two cups by itself. Once the objects finished their little dance, Helen let out a deep breath, and she smiled.
"Sorry, levitation still takes a lot out of me I'm afraid."
"Helen…that was incredible! You did that on your own? No wand? No words?"
A light giggle was the response. "I am telekinetic. Surely you knew that already. Both a blessing and a curse, but I am learning much. It's what I'm conducting research on…there's so much controversy over it, and there are so few of us left."
"What does your research entail?"
"Practical Applications of Telekinetic Magic in Invasive Surgeries." Helen recited with a mechanical pronunciation. "A rather convoluted subject I know, but telekinesis is quite useful in treatment of internal maladies. Especially with the more…human aspect of disease. Cancer, tumors, etcetera. My studies also include the physical reactions of the human body when wandless and nonverbal spells are cast. It's quite fascinating!" Helen was beaming, her smile broad on her face, Bellatrix found the girl's enthusiasm endearing. "To normal people…must seem a little boring."
"It sounds incredible!" Bellatrix looked at the brunette with rapt attention. "Could you continue that in America? That is where you wish to go right?"
"Yes…once my little Hermione is born, we both shall start a new life in New York City. I wish to raise her far from this conflict we know that is about reach a boiling point. Though I will admit, I am a bit unsure if my research career can resume there, but I am determined to make it work. And…do some singing too…"
"Hermione. A beautiful name. Rooted in mythology no doubt."
"Oh yea. Greek actually…oh and though I know that you are no fan of muggle history but I do so adore "The Winter's Tale"." Silently they basked in each other's presence both women drinking their tea without a word. Helen was first to speak when she finished her cup. "I never properly thanked you for the lovely evening at the Jazz club tonight. It was a most pleasant birthday surprise. Cissy could barely contain her excitement all day."
"But I ruined the night as well." Came Bellatrix' despondent reply. She hung her head, her thick curls covering her face. "If Rodolphus hadn't…and I didn't even…"
Helen leaned in close. "Hush Bella dear. It's alright. Cissy has told me time and again the nature of your relationship with Rodolphus Lestrange. I have seen the way he ogles other women. And I was there on your wedding day…I know...that you do not love him."
Bellatrix shook her head sadly at the realization. "No…it'd be in my best interest to leave him…but father and his tradition…ugh it is one of those times where one is damned if they do, and damned if they don't." Helen absently rubbed Bellatrix' back.
"You can make it up to me you know. For Rod's behavior." Helen said playfully, sitting up ramrod straight. A coy smirk danced across her lips. "There was one thing I so wanted tonight as a gift, and you can still give it to me." The brunette reached a single finger to trace the Bellatrix' collar bone, the feather light caress causing the older witch to shift uncomfortably.
Bellatrix' mouth went completely dry, as the woman's finger ran along the length of her carotid artery, the pulse undoubtedly quickening by the second. "And what might that be?"
"A dance...with you." As she spoke, a record floated across the room toward the old Gramophone, now sitting by a window, and Helen stood up extending a hand. Bellatrix shuddered for a moment before taking it in hers.
"I am not so sure, I'm a bit clumsy….I…" A finger to her lips silenced her.
"Let me lead…"
The sound of pizzicato strings and a tapping snare drum filled the room as an orchestral jazz song began to play. Violins joined the snare like an approaching breeze. Helen placed Bellatrix' left hand upon her waist, and held the right aloft. As the song's tempo finally settled into a gentle rhythm, Helen and Bellatrix began to dance across the floor. At the sound of a piano key Helen began to sing, her voice awash with an ebbing vibrato.
Fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars.
Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars.
In other words, hold my hand…
Helen, with her shorter stature providing her with the best position, rested her head lightly on Bellatrix' chest as she continued to sing. The lyrics sung in Helen's deep sultry voice put the sable-maned woman into a trance.
In other words…darling kiss me…
Her head lifted and Helen's pink lips hovered dangerously close to Bellatrix'; Helen's singing leaving a tender heat against the ruby skin of other woman's lips.
Fill my heart with song and let me sing forever more.
You are all I long for, all I worship and adore.
In other words, please be true.
In other words…I love you.
With that the meager distance was closed and two lips met in a soft kiss. Any inhibitions were carried away with playful piano music now filling the room. Bellatrix' fingers climbed up the delicate expanse of the brunette's slender body, and nestled themselves in the strands of shining auburn hair. She gently angled Helen's head to deepen their kiss, the sensation completely intoxicating. Never had the eldest Black sister felt so at peace, never had she felt so wanted. The kiss ended as the final notes of the song faded into quiet. The two women blushed, both visibly tongue-tied.
Helen leaned forward, softly pressing her head against Bellatrix' creamy neck. "In other words…" She spoke into the supple skin. "I've fallen for you…Bellatrix…Black."
"Bella darling I don't think we'll be needing all of those blankets for the baby!". Helen giggled, stuffing some clothes into a box, all while wordlessly levitating several other items into their own boxes. "Little Hermione will be fine with just a sheet and comforter."
"But what if that is not enough to keep her warm? What then? What if she catches a cold!".
"You are being quite ridiculous Bellatrix Black! The last thing Hermione would want is an overbearing mother. You don't want to be like Auntie Walburga do you? Oh the horror stories Reg had told me." Helen strode over to the older witch and placed a small kiss on her ruby lips. Her pregnant belly stretched out against the fabric of her dress, and Bellatrix knelt down to place a kiss on the peak of the mound. Helen smiled warmly at the sight, and ran a few fingers through Bellatrix' raven curls as the older witch rested her cheek on the swell of Helen's stomach.
"Little one has been restless lately." Bellatrix cooed into the fabric of Helen's dress. "She is kicking a lot dear!" Bellatrix smiled warmly, her heart swelling with happiness in her chest.
Helen helped the dark haired witch her feet. "That's because she is eager to meet you love." Helen arched her back to stretch like a cat, her arms held high above her head, her spine cracking in two places. "I cannot believe this...a dream nearly come true." The words were intermixed with a contented sigh. Bellatrix kissed the soft skin of Helen's nape.
"Nearly?" Bellatrix playfully probed with a smirk as she took the brunette into her embrace and started a slow waltz. Instinctively, Helen rested her head upon Bellatrix' shoulder.
"Oh yes...moving to New York City...the woman I have fallen madly in love with by my side...and within a matter of days, our little one will finally be here. All that's missing is the white picket fence."
"Such wonderful imagery...until the dreadful picket fence. I wouldn't be caught dead with something so cliché as a white picket fence outside of my home. I'd rather have stone walls, with statues of lions...or perhaps a gargoyle or two."
"Oh yes I'm certain that is exactly what little Hermione needs to see each and every morning she awakes. The macabre representations of evil and malice. Man eating monsters." Helen rapped the tip of Bellatrix' nose and smiled. "Why not compromise my love, we have a white picket fence complete with a gargoyle. But it must be dressed nicely."
"Sometimes I wonder if I've gone completely mad...to run away with someone as nutty as you."
"Ahh but your life would be oh so boring without me in it." Helen returned to finish her own packing in her bedroom.
"Have you decided where you'd like to have the baby dearest?" Bellatrix called out. "I can contact St. Mungo's straightaway and have them prepare a room for you."
"That won't be necessary. I'd like to use a muggle hospital. Hermione will be born in the way nature intended. Magic is much too chaotic."
Bellatrix rushed to Helen's side taking both hands into her own. "Are you sure you want to put the fate of…our…baby into the hands of a muggle?" Her tone was guarded, charcoal eyes wide with concern.
Helen only nodded. "Yes love...ohh..." The brunette stumbled toward the couch and collapsed upon it. "Contractions...ohhh..."
On cue Bellatrix began to count in her head, mentally clocking the time between the spasms now wracking the pregnant woman's body. "They are close dear...perhaps we should..."
Helen let forth a guttural shriek as her hands flew to her stomach and she curled into a fetal position. A wet spot was beginning to grow by her legs. Her water broke.
"I think...things...are...moving...ahead...of...schedule...". Helen grunted through obvious pain.
"Little Hermione must be impatient."
"A trait...of...your...side...of...the...family...no doubt...ugh." The brunette's slender body writhed upon the cushions, her arms tightly encasing her belly. "Take...my arm...darling...I...know which...hospital...I'd like to...have the baby...in." She grunted and sweat beaded at the top of her forehead. Try as she might to conceal what she was feeling, Bellatrix could tell that Helen was under an intense amount of pain. The woman fought to stay conscious.
"Are you mad? Apparating while you are in labor? Don't be so daft!" Bellatrix hissed. Helen wailed as her body was struck by another violent wave of contractions. Bellatrix started to hyperventilate and she reached for her lover's arm with great trepidation, uncertain of where they were headed.
With a gentle thud they arrived outside a muggle hospital among some hedges. Helen could barely stand and Bellatrix struggled to keep the pregnant woman up on her feet. An orderly out on his cigarette break noticed the two women emerging from the brush, and rushed to their sides. "We have active labor!". He screamed.
Minutes later a team of nurses arrived with a stretcher, and they skillfully lifted the brunette on top of it. They burst through the double doors of the Hospital, rushing toward the maternity ward. Bellatrix ran along side, clinging tightly to Helen's limp hand. The screams coming from her throat caused Bellatrix' heart to seize in her chest. "Stay strong love...it'll all be over soon...just think, in a matter of hours our family will be complete...we'll be on our way to New York City." They rounded a corner before approaching a set of double doors. An orderly scanned a clipboard before giving a nod to the team leading the stretcher. The doors swung open and they began to push Helen through, Bellatrix followed a few steps behind before an outstretched hand had halted her.
"Relation to this woman?" He asked in a gruff smokers voice.
"She's my significant other. She's about to have our child. Let me through!" Bellatrix tried to move past the large man but he pushed her back.
He recited the words with perfunctory meticulousness. "I am sorry Miss but the state does not recognize same gender relationships. Only legal spouses and next of kin are allowed into the wards. If you'll kindly take a seat in the lobby we will inform you when-". Bellatrix stomped her foot angrily, and leaned in close to the mans face.
"Let me in."
He only responded with the same words, and they visibly stung the older witch. They argued for nearly ten minutes before she reached for her wand and was horrified to realize that she had left it back at the apartment. Cursing herself inwardly, the tears that formed in her eyes threatened to belie the rage she was desperately to swallow down. Movement behind the thick panes glass of the windows caught her eyes, there in the middle of the hallway now stood Lord Voldemort, his handsome features scarcely concealed by his hood. His eyes locked with hers, and she pleaded, begged for him to allow her entry. He turned and made his way down the hall, in the same direction that the gurney took.
Defeated, Bellatrix walked to the lobby, dragging her feet across the tiled floor. The sterile atmosphere of the muggle hospital did nothing to help her mood. Within ten minutes she had nodded off, slumped against a chair.
"Miss...Miss? Are you awake?" Bleary-eyed, Bellatrix stirred awake, the nurse gently tapping her shoulder. "Miss you arrived here with a Miss...Helen Gaunt?"
Snapping awake Bellatrix stood and nodded her head furiously. "Yes! Is she alright? Can I see her? Tell me, how does she fare? How is the baby?" Her hands came to grip the fabric of the nurse's scrubs.
The young nurse swallowed hard, her hands beginning to quake and she nearly dropped her clipboard. "I am afraid Miss Gaunt…she didn't make it. A complication."
The words were a stab wound to the heart. A rusted knife wrenched deep within the fibers.
"And the baby...stillborn." The knife was suddenly twisted, tearing the muscle fibers into shreds, blood pouring out into her chest cavity. Drowning her in her own vitality. Bellatrix wanted to scream, cry…die. Instead she tore away from the frightened nurse, and pushed through the double doors, sprinting toward the one room in the ward that was left ajar. People gave chase, but she did not stop, her legs burning with each stride she took. Two orderlies tried to subdue her, but she was faster, brandishing her knife. "Back away! I mean it! Come any closer and I'll gut you like a fish!" She entered the delivery room and slammed the door shut behind her.
The room had one other occupant, who stood still as stone in a floor length black cloak. Lord Voldemort stood over Helen's bed, and turned to face Bellatrix. His hood was completely drawn, his face concealed within shadows. "Shame...two souls lost...their blood dripping from between the fingers of incapable muggle hands." Before she could speak, he disapparated with a deafening CRACK!
Turning to face the bed, she spied Helen's now comatose body, sprawled out, legs still in the stirrups, her blood steadily dripping to floor. The sterile lighting of the room reflected in the crimson puddle. Helen's porcelain skin, once supple and slightly tanned was now fading to a sickening pallor. Bellatrix let out a wail at the sight; the sobs nearly putting her body into an epileptic fit. Crashing to her knees beside the dead woman, Bellatrix touched one of the dangling hands, and instantly recoiled. It was cold as ice. Quivering lips pressed themselves against the cold flesh, and as they pulled away, a silvery thread of saliva lingered; a final connection that was soon severed by the air.
"They couldn't save you...they couldn't save the baby...muggles...all of their science and quackery...father was right, right all along...they are a blight, a curse...my love...I miss you so much...my darling Helen...I love you..."
And for the first and last time in her 28 years of life...Bellatrix openly sobbed.
Hermione whipped her head free of the pensieve, her breath coming in sobs. Pain gripped at her as her mind reeled from the images it had been exposed to. It left her feeling utterly exhausted. Fleur, whom had been quietly sitting across the room, closed the distance to her lover in a few short strides, arriving in just the nick of time as Hermione's knees buckled and she slunk to the floor.
"They loved each other…" The words were nearly lost in a sharp inhalation. "Helen and Bella…they were in love…so madly in love with one another..." Hermione stumbled blindly across the office until slumping into the Headmistress' chair and placing her tearstained face into her palms. "They had grand plans to start a new life together. I was part of those plans! And the doctors...they couldn't save her."
"I know."
Hermione's heart lurched with anger. "What do you mean 'you know'?" She snapped. "Only I was in the pensieve!"
"Bella told me 'zee story 'erself ma belle, and made me promise 'zat you saw 'zese memories for yourself. Bella was afraid 'zat I would not trust 'er…so when we she took me aside to chat 'zat first night 'een 'zee manor, she told me of 'er love for 'elen, and for you. And of 'ow 'zee two of us…'ees a constant reminder of what she and 'elen once shared. She sees 'erself and 'elen...'een you and I..." Fleur reached down and helped the younger witch to her feet and placed a kiss on the girl's lips. "Come...let us go back to 'zee common room for 'zee night...being submerged 'een a pensieve can be exhausting…you can tell me more about what you saw." Fleur turned to guide Hermione away but the Gryffindor remained glued to the spot.
"Gringott's." She deadpanned, catching the blonde off guard.
"Gringott's? 'Ermione what are you talking about?"
"Helen's portrait. It's in a vault, if I'm going to get any answers, it's in there." Deathly serious, Hermione grasped both of Fleur's shoulders, holding the Frenchwoman rigidly in front of her. "I must get into that vault."
"Je suis desolee 'Ermione, but I do not recall a Gaunt family vault. And even 'eef I did, I would no longer be allowed access to 'eet…'Owever…Bill…'e might." Hermione did not release her grip, Fleur playfully swatted the witch's nose. "And yes I will talk to 'im for you 'Ermione…for now just let 'zis go…we 'ave precious 'ours left before I must return to Narcissa and 'zee manor…can we forget for a moment 'zis war and 'zis mystery…and just…be?"
The brunette's shoulders slackened and she heaved a sigh. "You…You're right Fleur…now isn't the time for this…I'm sorry love." Hands clasped together they thanked the Headmistress for allowing them time with the pensieve and began their trek back to the Gryffindor tower.
Disclaimer: Lyrics to "How High the Moon" and "Fly me to the Moon" are not mine.
A/N: So ends Part II. You'll probably notice the obvious parallels between the two main couples in this fic. Totally part of the master plan. Mwhaha. As for Part III…the shit finally hits the fan.
A/N 2: "How High the Moon" and "Fly Me to the Moon" are both very famous Jazz standards. They are wonderful songs and Ella Fitzgerald and Julie London sang the two versions I was channeling in this story respectively. I highly recommend listening to their versions of these songs. The Julie London version of "Fly Me to the Moon" has been added to the fictrack, and it's nothing short of wonderful.