She sat down to write her next set of letters, at least one of them would be easy.

Dear Mrs Malfoy,

I gladly accept your invitation to tea, I cannot do this weekend as it is my birthday but I could do any day the following weekend.

Please let me know what would suit.

I would like to thank you for your involvement after the incident in your Manor, I can confirm your suspicions are correct.

All the best,

Hermione

Short, sweet and proper. That should make Narcissa happy. Plus if it falls into anyone elses hands they won't have any idea what's going on.

The letter to Andy was a little more complicated. It took her a long while and lots of parchment, she thought she had a rough version when Bella came through the door.

"Hi Princess."

"Hey Bells, how did it go with Draco?"

"Fine, he made me promise not to spill his secrets to you and I told him to get lost but he supports it and ironically he was warning me not to hurt you because you are 'too pure to be hurt by a Black'... apparently. I think you quite enjoy being hurt by a Black but he doesn't need to know that. What are you writing Little Dove?"

"Letter to Andy. I've already sent letters to Harry and Ron, plus I've written a letter to your sister accepting tea and thanking her for her involvement in keeping you out of Askaban, although not in so many words so no one could accidentally figure it out. Want to read what I've written to Andy?"

Bella nodded and took the parchment.

Dear Andy,

Sorry I haven't written since returning to Hogwarts things have been a little crazy.

I'm sure you are aware that your sister has been placed as our Defence against the dark arts teacher. What you might not know but she is working with me to heal my scar and also with Neville to hopefully return his parent memory.

After spending a lot of time with your sister I feel we have developed a base of trust and what I tell you next I believe to be the truth.

Bellatrix swears she didn't kill Dora, in fact the look on her face and the resulting tears led me to believe she didn't even know Dora was dead, let alone by her hand.

I hope this will bring you a comfort.

I have developed a friendship with your sister and your nephew Draco, I am due to have tea with your sister Narcissa. They are all trying to build bridges and I genuinely believe they are turning over a new leaf.

Bellatrix has promised to discuss this under Veritaserum if you would prefer or to let you view all her memories from the battle.

I also feel it is important to mention from my own memories that Sirius was not hit by a killing curse. He was hit by your sister but it was a stupify, no one knew what would happen when he fell through that veil and I believe it wasn't her intention to kill him. She maintains that whatever wrong she has done it was never her intention to kill her family.

I know your forgiveness will not be easy to earn but I hope that with the knowledge that Bellatrix did not hurt your daughter that reconciliation may be at least considered in the future. If not I hope it at least brings you some comfort to know your sister didn't kill Dora.

If you would like to discuss anything further please don't hesitate to contact me and I could even come over to yours for dinner if you would like. I'm sure you could use someone to distract Teddy for a while.

All my love,

Hermione

"Is it ok?"

"My love it's perfect, I seriously can't thank you enough for this. If I had known before I would have tried to deal with it earlier but apparently no one wants to confront you about killing your own niece. So thank you for being the only person brave enough to call me on it. I'll have to write a letter to be sent along with yours but I don't think I've got the mental capacity right now."

"What would you like to do?"

"I think I'm going to take my girlfriend on her couch..."

Bella bent forward and hoisted Hermione over her shoulder, Hermione squealed and giggled as Bella carried her through to the front room before finally putting her down on the sofa. Bella sat herself on the coffee table in front of the sofa.

"Now Pet, are you going to be a good girl and do exactly what I tell you?" Bella knew that tone of voice would almost force Hermione to do exactly as she said.

Hermione's breathing had already been effected and there was a subtle flush across her face.

"Yes Mistress."

"Such a good girl, so tell me Little Lion...are you feeling brave?"

"That feels like a trick question..."

"I promise you it isn't. I've just got an idea but if your going to feel shy in front of little old me then ...I'm sure I can come up with something else."

Hermione knew whatever the plan was she needed to know now, once she knew there was something she didn't know it drove her mad.

"Just tell me, you know I need to know now." she huffed slightly but she was amused at how well Bella knew how to minipulate her already, although two can play at that game.

"I asked you a question Sweet, are you feeling brave?"

"Brave enough to do whatever it is your thinking..." 'I hope'

"Such a good girl, my brave Little Lion. Strip for me."

Hermione blanched. 'Maybe I'm not so brave after all...get a grip of yourself Granger this is your soulmate, she knows what you look like and she wants to see you. You don't have to be ashamed of your body in front of her'

She stood up and began to strip out of her clothes, her robes went first of course, followed quickly by her jumper and tie. She then spent a long time undoing the buttons of her shirt, watching as Bella's eyes tracked every single one. Finally the shirt was dropped from her shoulders, she turned away from Bella and slid open the zip of her skirt; she let it fall to the floor and then bent at the waist to collect her fallen clothes.

She could feel Bella's eyes on her and it was unexpectedly exciting. She popped her clothes on the free side of the coffee table and then bravely sat on Bella's knee facing away from her.

"Unhook me?" she asked coyly and Bella popped down her wand and obliged. Hermione slipped the straps from her shoulders and added her bra to the pile. She then reached back to grasp Bella's hands and brought them up to her chest. Bella gave an appreciative squeeze and then let go.

"And the panties Pet" was the next command. Hermione stood but kept hold of Bella's hands, slipping her fingers into the waistband of her underwear and using Bella to remove them.

"My my you are feeling brave today Little Witch. Let's see if you can keep it up. On the sofa."

Hermione sat herself down facing Bella, there was a hungry look in her eyes which always made Hermione feel overheated.

"Now Pet, I believe we had a deal and as such I am not allowed to cum for two day...but I'm also mad at you for tricking me young lady. So for the next two days if you want to cum it will be from your own hand and I am going to sit and watch you every single time. Unless you want to end our arrangement? In which case I will come over there and fuck you on the couch like a good little slut."

Bella clearly thought she had one upped Hermione and that Hermione would simply cave and tell Bella to take her, fuck the bet. Hermione however had been expecting something like this, Bella didn't like to lose and she didn't like being told what she could do, in the bedroom even less. Hermione however didn't back down from a challenge

She pulled her feet up on the sofa and spread her legs wide and locked eyes with Bella. She began to make lazy circles against her clit, allowing herself to moan so Bella knew just how good she felt.

Hermione continued and brought one hand up to pull on her own nipples, as she slips to fingers inside herself Bella moves to stand. Hermione, who's wand was still sitting in a holster on her arm cast an Incarcerous, Bella who was wandless was suddenly tied to the table with no way to stand and not enough movement in her hands to cast wandless spells.

"Your playing with fire Pet..."

"You lost Bella, I'm just sticking to my side of the bargain." she said innocently.

With a flick of her wand a battered shoe box floated through from her bedroom.

"Whatever have you go there, Pet?" she was annoyed but clearly intrigued.

"Ahh this is a box of things I bought from a muggle shop, well I ordered them from a catalogue and had them delivered but either way... I brought them with me when I found out I would have a room of my own but I haven't had a need to use them, since you've been ever so helpful on that side. So I thought I might as well make use of them now."

She pulled out a collection of sex toys; vibrators mostly but also a few dildos.

"I had spent some time figuring out a way to make them work around and with magic, and I think I've finally struck a balance."

She pulled a dildo into her mouth to get it wet, watching Bella's eyes darken with lust and then slowly inserted it into herself, letting her head fall back onto the sofa. She then tapped it with her wand and it began moving in and out of her, slowly fucking her by magic.

"Clever isn't it." she then picked up a wireless wand vibrator, she placed it against her clit and cast a temporary sticking charm, meaning that whatever she did (even letting go of it) it would remain in the perfect place.

"Fuck...Bella you can't image how good this feels." Bella growled, she was clearly not enjoying this teasing at all. Hermione knew she was going to pay for this but she couldn't find it in herself to care.

"Not quite as good as you my love but desperate times call for desperate measures. Fuck...Bella I wish it was you fucking me."

"Let me go and it will be!" Bella was fighting against her binds but it was for naught, Hermione had put a lot of magic into her spell and she wouldn't be able to just shake it off.

"No I don't think I will. You lost Bella and now you've got to take your punishment like a good girl."

"Yes but what punishment are you going to get for this... Little Girl?" the growled, low and threatening.

"Oh I don't know but I am excited to find out...in two days time." she smirked.

Bella was nearly feral by now, she was practically foaming at the mouth. Hermione on the other hand was quickly spiralling towards her release.

"Fuck! God, this feels... Shit! Oh god, Bella I'm gonna...I'm gonna...Bella!"

She came hard and when the stars in front of her eyes had finally cleared she stopped the spells on the toys. Bella was seething, she practically radiated with the anger that was bubbling under her skin.

"Well Ginny will be suitably mortified I'm sure. Now what to do with you Professor... I'm not sure if it's safe to release you right now. You'll just have to stay there for a little while longer."

She began to walk towards the door to Bella's.

"Where the hell are you going, pet? Get back here!"

"Just going to grab something, won't be a minute."

She returned with the strap on in hand.

"And just what do you think you're going to do with that?" Bella was really hoping her suspicions were right and she was going to get to fuck Hermione now.

"You're going to fuck me with it." she looked confused.

"That's more like it Pet! Let me go and I'll fuck you for as long as you like." She said sweetly.

Hermione spelled the strap to snake itself onto Bella over her clothes and under her binding.

"Oh no Bells, your still not allowed to cum so I don't think it's fair if you get to touch. I've even manage to turn off the spell which lets you feel it for you, so that you're not tempted to cum. I didn't think that it was fair to wind you up but not let you cum."

She then levitated Bella into the sofa (she was pretty sure the coffee table wouldn't take both of their weight) and then straddled Bella.

"You are playing a very very dangerous game... and when you release me I am going to absolutely ruin you... You. are. mine. and I will remind you of that!"

"I'm counting on it!" Hermione said as she dropped herself down onto the strap. She began fucking it with abandon, head thrown back and hands resting on Bella's shoulder for support.

"Fuck Bells it feels so good!"

Bella's face was a mask of fury but there was something enjoyable about watching Hermione completely give in to her pleasure and take what she needed. To see the girl so wanton and free was something deeply attractive. Of course she wasn't going to tell Hermione that and she was still going to teach her who she belonged to when she was finally free but still...

Hermione moved one hand to Bella's hair and leaned forward into a positively sinful kiss, Bella was unbearably turned on and she just hoped that Hermione would relent soon.

Hermione by now had pulled back and with her eyes closed and her head thrown back she was releasing a near constant stream of moans and sighs.

"Pet, let me free. I think I'll die if you don't let me touch you."

"Ask me nicely and we have a deal."

"I will ask nicely so long as you are aware that doing so will make me ever more irate than I already am and that you will be feeling just how much in the morning?"

"Like I said... I'm. counting. on. it." her eyes flashed mischievously but with a sense of accomplishment.

"Very well then. Please Hermione, please let me free."

At that precise moment Hermione tipped into her next climax, afterwards she flicked her wand and Bella's clothes disappeared, the strap still firmly in place on her body. She then let Bella feel through the strap again and finally released Bella's bindings.

Within a fraction of a second their positions were flipped and Bella was fucking Hermione into the couch. A strong hand came to grip around her neck as she thrust into Hermione without mercy.

"Is this what you were hoping for Little Girl?"

"Yes..." she whined.

"You wanted to get me angry and remind you of who you belong to?"

"Fuck...yes!" a shiver ran down her spine.

"You knew exactly what would happen didn't you?"

"Not exactly...but I was really hoping...for something like this."

"You wanted angry sex, Pet?" Hermione whimpered.

"Yes...I wanted you to..."

"You wanted me to what, Pet?" she squeezed slightly on the side of Hermione's throat and the girl moaned.

"I wanted you to take me hard, fuck me like you hate me, to fuck me like a dirty little whore!!!"

"There she is!!! There's my filthy little whore, you forgot your place there for a moment didn't you."

Hermione nodded, in fairness she hadn't forgotten anything but she knew if she acted like that then Bella would let her emotions rule her and fuck her just like this.

Bella hooked one of Hermione's legs over her shoulder and continued to grind her into the sofa.

"Open up slut!" she said and Hermione obediently opened her mouth, Bella spat at her, it landed over her face and in her mouth "Swallow!"

Hermione did as she was told and a shiver ran down her spine at the utterly filthy debasement; degradation when Bella was like this was making her melt.

"What a good little whore." She cooed "Who do you belong to?" in a sterner tone.

"You..."

"Can anyone else make you feel the way that I make you feel?"

"No, no one, only you!"

"You feel so good on my cock baby girl! Such a good little cock-whore for you Mistress. Such a dirty girl..."

"Fuck Bella please?"

"Please what, slut?"

"Please let me cum!" she was desperate, even after already cumming twice in the last ten minutes.

"No, you are here for my pleasure, to remind you of who you belong to! I don't think dirty little cock-whores deserve to cum, and naughty submissive who tease their Mistress defiantly don't deserve to cum. You brought this upon yourself."

"Bella please, I'm sorry. I know who I belong to, I won't tease you again."

"You're damn right Little Girl...you will never tease me like that again! If you can give me three good reasons why you should cum I might consider it..."

She slowed her thrust a little and dipped her head to kiss Hermione's throat and collar bones.

"Fuck Bella please?"

"Please is not a reason, Pet..."

"Because... because...I managed to successfully defeat my opponent who is the most powerful witch in the world."

"You did...but I don't think that's helping your case consider it was me that you beat."

"Because when I cum I will clamp down on you and it will feel amazing."

"Now that is a good reason, Pet!"

"Because this is my rightful place, under you whilst you control my pleasure."

"Such a clever thing aren't you Pet, one more." she cooed.

"Because I love you and I need it." Hermione said matter of fact, she didn't want to manipulate anything anymore; Bella knew how much she needed this and Hermione knew she wouldn't leave her in a state.

"God damn you with your emotions... Fine!" she sat back up and started to thrust into her deep and hard again.

"Yes Bella! Just like that... I'm gonna..."

"Cum for me baby girl my filthy little cock-whore, my good little Muddy. Cum for me NOW!"

Hermione came with a shout, she stopped breathing and when she came to Bella was leaning on her chest breathing hard.

"I knew you wouldn't make it past day one, Pet."

"Me too but I wanted to get something out of my win and this is exactly what I wanted." she laughed.

"You could have just asked..." Bella rolled her eyes.

"Where would be the fun in that?" a smirk.

Bella pulled back to place a kiss on her lips.

"Fuck Pet... You really did come hard! You've broken some of the blood vessels around your eyes."

Hermione blushed which made the redness even worse. "It was pretty spectacular..."

"Go look at what you've done to your face. Then I'll heal it, can't have you walking round school with a bruised face."

"As opposed to the bruises I glamour every morning on my neck, chest, bum, thighs..."

"Okay Okay I get it, but I'm still going to heal this one."

Hermione rolled her eyes "Fine, but I'm going to look first and then we can jump in bed. Can you grab those sandwiches Winky brought us yesterday? They should still be fine, I spelled them again this morning."

"For you Baby Girl?... anything. Just don't tell Red that you've got me wrapped around your little finger... Or if you do at least tell her when she's sat right here on the sofa." Patting the wet patch they had created.

They both stood up, Bella headed to her room and Hermione cast a quick cleaning spell on her couch; as much as it was fun she didn't want her couch to smell like sex all year. She collected the toys and after cleaning them too, put them in their box below her bed. She nipped the loo and looked at her face, Bella was right the blood vessels around her eyes had burst. There was tiny pinpricks and spider veins of red splattered around her eyes but under the surface, she wasn't actually bleeding of course.

By the time she was back Bella was in bed with the sandwiches.

"Thanks Bells. I'm really hungry."

"Well you know what they say...happy wife happy life."

They both froze. They were both aware that with the whole soulmate thing it would probably happen eventually but neither of them had verbalised it bar the fact they weren't ready for the full soul bond.

It was Hermione who spoke first, she continued her progress to the bed and sat herself on Bella's knee.

"I like it when you call me your wife...one more time?"

"As many times as you like...Mrs Black."

Hermione couldn't stop the excited squeak that escaped her lips and she instantly flashed scarlet.

"I would marry you tomorrow my love, I hope you know that. I just think that currently I couldn't give you the wedding you deserve. All your friends don't even know and I'm currently still on a watch list. I promise I will marry you the moment we are free of Hogwarts ...if you still want to."

"I'll hold you to that! Three years then you make me yours legally.. promise?"

"You already are mine my dear, but yes. Although I am perfectly happy to call you Mrs Black when we're alone."

"Maybe I want you to become Mrs Granger?"

"How about... we both become Mrs Black-Granger, an equal partnership."

"Now that's the right thing to say if you want a girl to marry you! Now Mrs Black-Granger your wife is hungry."

Bella gave her a kiss on the nose then lent them forward to grab a sandwich and proceeded to feed Hermione.

"I love you so much Hermione, I can't wait to marry you. Now come on Princess, let's get you into bed."

Hermione wrapped her arm tighter around Bella and swallowed her bite of sandwich. "I love you too but I'm quit comfortable here for now, I'm rather enjoying you feeding me." She said with a smile.

"How did you become the one pulling all the strings?"

"By being adorably cute and needy." She quipped.

"And increasingly annoying..." Bella grumbled.

"You could just pull rank, you know what your dominatrix voice does to me..." Hermione countered.

"My what now?" That smirk was back.

Hermione flushed brighter than Ginny's hair.

"The voice you use when you're being all controlling." She dropped her head and looked up at Bella through her lashes.

"You call it my dominatrix voice?"

"Well I've never really names it before, I guess I've always just thought of it as 'that voice' why do you always have an issue with what I call things? First head chat and now this?"

"Because it's funny the things you want to call things. You are never naming any pets we get!"

"Hey if you think I'm bad you should hear what Harry wants to call his kids!"

"REDS PREGNANT!"

"Oh don't be silly! No, Harry has just put a lot of thought into it since the war. His legacy, the family he deserves after all his hard work."

"Ohh let me guess! Let me guess!!!" Hermione rolled her eyes but nodded "Ok well ones obviously got to be like Sirius James Remus Potter or something like that, which isn't bad."

"Not far off, James Sirius Potter."

"Ok so then there has to be Lilly there for a girl. Middle name... Well you said they're ridiculous so... Ohhhh Bathilda? Coz Nagini wore her like a suit or Ariana after Dumblefuck's sister?"

"Oh god I hope not! He hasn't actually chosen a middle name but I really hope it isn't Bathilda... There's one more boys name."

"Something bad...And I bet it's something to do with Dumblefuck! ermmm ohh Wulfric Rubeus Potter?"

"Honestly that would be better... It's Albus Severus Potter."

"Snivelrus!!!!"

"I know, believe me I know but 'he was looking out for me the whole time Hermione, he loved my mum' as if being a dick to him for years is worth naming his kid after. Hagrid did way more for him than Snape ever did, I mean I know Snape died but still. I'm hoping he'll change his mind or Ginny could do it for him. I mean I can honestly think of a thousand better names than them..."

"Me too...probably! Let me try a good one like a real name not trying to be dumb. I think Lilly Ruby Potter would be cute."

"Ruby?"

"Ye Ruby ...short for Rubeus, Harry's other mother." They both laughed, Hargid with his apron and his baking (no matter how bad it was) really was like a second mum to Harry.

"Honestly that's not bad! I have one I've always wanted to suggest to him just because it's so ridiculous but I'm scared he'll actually use it..."

"Go on?"

"Aragog Norbert Potter. Aragog after Hagrid's giant spider that nearly killed us in our second year and Norbert after the baby dragon we helped Hagrid to smuggle to Ron's brother in Rumania."

"Giant? How giant? And how little was the dragon?"

"He was a 50 year old Acromantula. And Norbert, who's name is now Norberta because she is a girl, was maybe two month old when we sent her away. We saw her hatch it was quite strange."

"Woah! You actually saw a dragon hatch? I want to be the golden girl more and more everyday. But I concede Potter's names are far worse than yours my dear."

"Thank you." Hermione said satisfied.

"But we are going to have to get in bed because my legs are going numb."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Come on then."

They had finished off the left over sandwiches so they cleared the plates and got into bed, they had been snuggled together for some time when Bella spoke. It was barely more than a whisper.

"Have you been thinking about kids?"

Hermione tensed, she wasn't ready for this conversation but it had to be had sometime.

"I've thought about it a lot, probably too much. Everyone thought I would marry Ronald and push out a bunch of babies but that was never what I wanted. Honestly...I don't want kids. I mean I might want to adopt one day maybe but I always thought that there were far too many people to help and too much to do; I don't want to bring children into a world where so many live without. I would rather spend my time and money helping those who are already alive and struggling, I'm sorry if that's a disappointment."

Bella could hear the unasked question "I'm not disappointed, I'm relieved. I never wanted kids, my parents screwed me up which was enough for me to say never for me but then the older I've gotten the more I see that all parents mess up their kids in one way or the other. Even the ones who are near perfect screw their kids up somehow. I've messed up so many things in my life that I don't want that looming over me the whole time. I want to travel, see the world and learn about other magic communities. I want to learn everything that I can learn and go on adventures. I think helping people sounds good too, make up for the things I've ruined in some way I guess. I want a lifetime of adventures and learning with you."

"I want that too Bells, plus I'm sure between our families there will be enough nieces and nephews running around. We really were made for each other weren't we?"

"Yes Little Witch, I think we were."

"So what's class tomorrow?" Hermione asked whilst rolling in Bella's arms to become the little spoon.

"Well actually I was hoping you would help me with that. I want to start working on their Patronus, how many of you can produce one?"

"Me, Ginny and Luna can produce corporeal and I know Neville can produce Non-corporeal although it's been nearly two years it could well be corporeal by now."

"Okay that's good, so at least four of you to help. I think it is an important thing to learn I know they have been removed from Azkaban but you never know with those things. Plus I know they can be used for communication so I'm sure that's useful."

"Wait so the rumours are true? Death eaters really can't cast Patronus?"

"I could never cast one, not enough happy memories I guess. I haven't tried since my first day in Azkaban. How I thought I could produce one wandlessly when face to face with them, especially when I had never managed it before I don't know."

"Well why don't we leave Patronus till at least next week, we can practice together and see if we can't find yours. Also hopefully by then we will have Harry and Ron on side and I'm sure they would help. It was Harry he taught us all to cast them, there were ten or eleven of us casting corporeal as best I can remember. I'm sure everyone would be happy to just duel again or work more on Occlumency."

"You're probably right Pet, I need to at least attempt it before trying to teach it really. We will see how things go with the witless wonder twins tomorrow and then go from there. We really should get some sleep."

"Night night Bells."

"Na night baby girl."