Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I still don't own Harry Potter.

A/N: Hey all sorry for the update being so overdue I had a few computer problems which have all been taken care of now and I'm back on track. R&R.

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After properly drying off and dressing Hermione stepped to the mirror and brushed her teeth, secretly savoring the minty taste of the toothpaste. Her parents being dentists always ensured her a sparkling smile. After finishing her teeth and having brushed her hair Hermione stepped out of the bathroom. As expected Ginny was sitting on her bed reading a book, but not just any book, Hermiones favorite, Hogwarts: A History. Despite the small scene that had just happened between them, she couldn't help but let a small grin creep up on her face.

"What are you smiling about?" Ginny asked lowering the book to glance at Hermione. The younger witch had a curious expression plastered on her face.

"Nothing." she said casually as she walked over to her bed and sat down. "Just that you're reading my favorite book that's all." It was an understatement to say it was her favorite, after all the girl had tried to read every possible version of it.

"So..." Ginny started out, trying to break the akward silence that as settling between them. "How's summer been going for you?" she finally asked.

"It's been fine, of course I've been meaning to go to Diagon Ally soon. I want to pick up a few things for summer like parchment and quills. And perhaps look at getting some new books for my summer reading." she mussed to herself. She turned to see a confused look on the redheads face. "What?" she asked curiously.

"You want to spend your entire summer reading?" she knew the older teen was a complete bookworm but honestly three whole months of reading? It just seemed a liltte too much to Ginny who liked to read!

"Of course not. I'll have other things to do, like see my muggle friends, I just enjy the company of a good book when I have a free moment is all." she explained.

"Hermione your parents are muggles." she started out. "Just out of curiosity why do you need quills and parchment for summer?" she knew muggles used regular paper and pens.

"Oh well sometimes I like to write letters and I find that for longer letters too much paper makes the owls cranky. So one long roll of parchment does much better." she explained.

"Hmm. Smart." she said. After another hour of talking about nothing but things that they wanted to do and such Ginny announced that she was off to take her own shower. After all with so many people living in one house one had to take every opportunity at hot water they had. Stepping back into the room half an hour later she went and started to prepare for bed as most of the other Weasleys were doing.

After saying goodnight to Mrs. Weasley and Ron and Harry, who was there as well, Hermione changed into her nightclothes and walked over to her bed. Bothing girls being tired from the days events turned the lights off and tried to sleep. Neither of them reaching said goal. After half an hour Hermione spoke.

"Ginny," she started akwardly, "Have you ever liked someone you think you're not really suposed to?" she asked, quietly waiting for the other girls answer. After a few moments she thought she would get none when Ginnys voice barely a whisper responded, "Yes."

Not wanting to push Hermione turned and tried to go to sleep. After another twenty minutes she heard the slow even breathing of the girl next to her.

'What was she doing in Diagon Ally?' she wondered to herself. 'Probably looking to buy some Dark artifact. Or torture someone.' She tried to push the thought from her mind. This proved more difficult then thought. She just couldn't shake the thoughts of the dark haired witch form her mind. 'Get ahold of yourself Granger!' She glanced over to th sleeping witch making sure she was out.

"Probably just need some air she decided. Gathering her jeans and a sweater she padded quietly to the bathroom and slipped out of the room.

Once a safe distance away form the Burrow she felt herself relax for the first time in the last twelve hours. "There just needed some air." she said to herself. Walking farther away from the house she sat against a small tree and closed her eyes, just enjoying the cool night sky and solitude.

"Hello Mudblood." a soft thin voice whispered causing Hermione to jump to her feet wand drawn as she looked around nervously. Not seeing or hearing anything after a few moments she let her wand fall to her side.

'Calm down Granger probably just the wind.' she told herself. She took one last look around and saw no one. Bellatrix moved quietly through the brush she was hiding in.

'Now's my chance.' the older witch told herself. She brought her wand up ready to strike.

"Hermione!" the voice had scared both witches. The honey haired witch turned wand, yet again drawn, to see Ginny.

"You scared me half to death! What on Earth are you doing out here?" she demanded lowering her wand.

"I could ask you the same thing." the young girl shot back.

"I just neeed some air. Is that alright?" she knew she sounded like a bitch.

"Is this about what happened earlier?" she heard Ginny ask not being able to bring her eyes to meet hers.

"No no of course not. I'm not mad." she said unnecessarily. The look Ginny was giving her told Hermione she didn't believe her.

"Right." she finally said turning to walk away from her.

"Ginny wait!" she grabbed the redheads hand and pulled her back towards her. "It's just...I want this war and all these problems over with. I just want to be able to go back to school and focus on my work and not worry about anything happening." she exhaled in one breath.

Ginny silently nodded and looked don to see they were still holding each others hands. Suddenly both witches felt a tingle as their finger intertwined. A smile tugged at Hermiones face as she lent over and planted a soft kiss on the girls lips. A seething Bellatrix watched from the bushes.

"We'd better be getting back before someone notices were gone and comes looking for us." Hermione pointed out. Still holding hands they walked back to the Burrow leaving the Death Eater alone.

After the two girls had disappeared and gone back inside Bellatrix carefully crawled out of the brush, an evil smile curled ono her lips. Her shrieking laughter fill the air as she apparated back to Black Manor.

...

A few days had passed and Hermione stayed on at the Burrow.

"Thank you for letting me stay so long Mrs. Weasley." Hermione said as she announced this is the day she would leave.

"Oh no problem dearie. You're welcome here anytime you please." she said while giving Hermione a bone crushing hug. After Molly let her go she turned to pack her things seeing Ron and Harry in the hallway she stopped and hugged both of them and explained her leaving. After a chat the boys went to go practice their flying, as she went to see Ginny and pack her things. She walked in the room to see Ginny sitting on the window looking out. She could tell she was upset.

"I'll come back." Hermione said from behind her. She turned to see a sad looking Hermione staring at her.

" I know, its just been good to have another girl here to talk to sometimes." she shrugged. Hermione nodded and pulled the younger girl in an embrace. After goodbyes had been said she went to the fireplace to Floo. As they days went on the raven haired beauty was starting to fade form her long list of worries.

...

Walking through Diagon Ally looking for the bookstore reminded Hermione thought of when she first laid eyes on it. So big and full of people! But it really didn't seem so scary now. After picking up her parchment, ink and quills, the distracted witch picked out a few books for her entertainment, then wandered aimlessly , letting her feet take here wherever. So entranced with the witch she saw a few weeks ago it bothered her. It was strange to her, after her escape from the Death Eaters just mere months ago she couldn't believe she wanted to find the witch.

'Get a hold of yourself! She'll kill you! She's an insane mass murderer!' she knew her thoughts were dangerous. 'But she's beautiful.' the logical part of her brain told her to shake the thought away. Only after turning around a corner to clear her head, did she notice she's ended right back up Borigan and Burks, and was standing in a dark ally.

"Oh no." she groaned looking around realizing where she's gone to. Not wanting to stay in the dark ally any longer she turned to go.

"Well well my dear." Hermione stopped dead in her tracks at the familiar voice behind her. "Looking for me my little Mudblood?" her voice was calm.

"Of course I wasn't looking for Lestrange!" she spat out with as much courage as she could muster. She turned when the insane laughter started. She went to draw her wand only to be stunned by Bellatrix before she even had the chance. Trying to get up she found herself bound by chains.

"Finally I've got you! Don't worry Muddy I'll take good care of you." the seductive voice whispered before Hermione felt the dizzy feeling of apparation. She felt the dark witch pick her up. Darkness consumed her then.

...

When she awoke she found herself lying on the floor of a dark, and quite dusty room, in what she assumed to be Black Manor. When the world started to become clear and she found she could move, she immediatly reached for her wand. She heard a low chuckle that sent shivers down her spine.

"Looking for this are we Muddy?" she asked holding up Hermiones wand. A wave of fear washed over Hermione. Here she was wandless and face to face witht he most feared Death Eater there was in her own house!

"Let me go Bellatrix." the honey haired witch demanded. A frown of disapproval spread over Bellatrix's face.

"Filthy Mudblood. I don't recall giving you permission to speak my name. Not to worry, you'll learn." she walked towrd Hermione, her wand drawn. "Crucio!" she shouted. There was an angry flash of red then the most excruciating pain the young witch had ever felt swept over her. Hermione, who'd never experienced the Cruciatus curse, screamed as the pain overtook her. Like thousands of knives being plunged into her body only to have the wounds heal and rip back open. She screamed and sobbed at the same time as the laughter started and the curse lifted.

"There there now that's all over with now. Back to the matter of what you may call me. I rather like the sound of Mistress Bellatrix, just like the house elves call me. Or perhaps Master" she mussed to herself. "What do you think my pet?" she asked with a childlike amusement.

"I'll never call you Master! Let me go! People will come looking for me!" she shouted.

"The older witchgot close to the stunned girl, and in a soft voice said, "Who? Perhaps the Weasley girl?" her tone was both seductive and amused. She looked at Hermiones face and saw her staring in wonder.

"How did you know Ginny and I were close?" she whispered. A smile played on Bella's lips.

"I saw that you'd seen me in the ally. Since you were so curious about me I decided to keep an eye on you, and that's where it led me. "Oh and if you don't believe me I know about your small kiss. You remember by the tree in the dark." Hermiones face paled as the words registered in her brain, then the witch spoke again.

"Never thought you'd be one to fancy the ladies now. Not such a good girl after all are we?" she said with a cackle. Hermione felt the blush creep up her body. The demented witch saw her kiss Ginny, then she called her a lesbian in not so many words. Hermione had never thought of herself as a lesbian, but Ginny had changed things.

"What are you going to do with me?" she stood face to face with Bellatrix, who in turn raised a curious eyebrow.

"Well now dear I'll let you decide that. You could be my pet."

"Pet?" the words sounded ridiculous to her. She was a human being for Pete's sake!

"Yes pet." her tone was annoyed. The Mudblood was very stubborn she could see. "Many Death Eaters have taken Muggles and Mudbloods as pets. Seeing as I've some time I decided to try it. Or I could kill you right 's really your choice." Her lips contorted into a grin. She stepped close, her lips mere centimeters from Hermiones ears, her warm breath hot. "So," she whispered, "What do you choose girl?" Stepping back to look at the dark haired witch she noticed she had a raw sort of beauty about her. The years in Azkaban showed on her face. Her skin was pale and her face gaunt, her teeth were dirty and unkept. Her eyes were a shade of dark brown but looked like empty orbs. Her eyes moved lower to her felt her skin flush when Bellatrix caught her staring and gave her a seductive look. Moving her eyes away quickly, she took a shakey breath and whispered, "I want to live." she felt the last bit of pride she had left and resigned to the Death Eater who only smiled and laughed madly.

"Good girl, they said you were the smart one." Hermione didn't know if it was a compliment or a taunt.

"What's going to happen to me?" she asked in a shakey voice.

"Well like any pet you'll need a place to sleep. I'll have the house elf prepare the cellar." she said pointing her wand under her cheek in mock thought.

"You're not even going to give me a proper room? You're horrible!" she exclaimed.

"Crucio!" she shouted. "You will not speak to me like that Mudblood!" she screamed. Finally stopping the curse.

"Bellatrix please!" she screamed and sobbed at the same time.

"Listen up Muddy more outbursts like that and your life will be very difficult. Understand?" her tone was cold and warning.

"Yes. Yes I'm sorry." trying to calm herself. "Please don't curse me anymore." she pleaded quietly. Her eyes were shining with fear. She glanced over to see her reaction.

"Well now you're coming around. Now come." she ordered, complete with the point of the finger. Silently Hermione got up and walke over to Bellatrix, who in turn patted Hermiones head. "Good girl." Even though it was Bellatrix Lestrange, the touch sent shivers down her spine.

"Just to add to the fun, I'm very successful at Legilimency. So what's going on in your head could be going on in mine." she said it almost as if it was a game. Hermione noded as she followed Bellatrix to the cellar.

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A/N: And that's the end of chapter three everyone, please read and review and let me know if you like it. Reviews make me update faster =].