It has been a grueling two weeks. Hermione rubbed her sore eyes and took a sip of her tea. Leaning back in the chair she sighed.

"I've got this Minister. We spoke about this before, I am alright to do this." Hermione replied as the two guards entered, followed by Bellatrix.

Bellatrix looked well rested, the nights in the dungeon agreed with her more than her prison cell ever had. She nodded a greeting at each person in turn. Sitting up a bit straighter she dutifully took the vial offered, of Veritaserum, and drank it quickly. The effects were nearly instantaneous as Bella's body relaxed into the chair a bit more from her rigid posture of just a moment before.

Hermione cleared her throat and nodded to the witch ready to take notes of the questioning. Bellatrix's eyes fell onto Hermione, a slight smile played on the edges of her lips. It was the potion that caused this look on the prisoner's face but it suited her.

"Ms. Black, first off thank you again for providing this information for the ministry. We are now up to the night at Malfoy Manner." Hermione stated.

The fact that Hermione chose to wear a short sleeved blouse was not lost on anyone in the room. A dark shadow seemed to pass over Bellatrix's face as she swallowed and moved a bit in the chair.

"The night I did that?" Bellatrix indicated towards Hermione's arm.

"Yes, if you please Ms. Black." Hermione said absently moving her right hand over to cover the mark on her left arm.

"We had the reports you were on the run, Dumbledore was dead a year already, the situation was desperate on both sides. Tom was less inclined to trust me, to let anyone near him for that matter. Snape was concerned. I had given him the sword from my vault to pass along to you. We weren't expecting you to show up right in the manor, it was a shock really, to see the three of you standing there." Bellatrix paused here and sighed, to relive this tale over and over was taxing.

"The bloody snatchers, stupid gits, if they hadn't, if they hadn't removed the sword from your bag- I would never-well I would have never had to do what I did to you." Her voice grew softer at the end of this part of her tale.

It was in that moment, for the first time, that Bellatrix looked away and down at her hands. Even with the potion the shame still shone clearly in Bella's dark eyes.

"When you said you hadn't been in my vault I panicked. I was angry. I had told Snape to tell you the cup was there. To get the cup- to destroy it- but you hadn't been to the vault. I had to think fast. I had to convince you to go to my vault. To get what was still there. I- no offense but your friends are stupid. I couldn't tell them anything, I knew you were clever, Draco had told me. I hoped, I prayed that when I asked if you had been in my vault you'd realize there was still something to hide."

Bellatrix looked at Hermione now, "You clever girl, you knew, you figured it out."

Hermione swallowed hard again and sipped on her glass of water.

"I tried, I tried to whisper it to you but, well- you were screaming." Again Bella looked down ashamed. "But you understood it in the end."

Hermione took a breath to steady herself, she had to know. She had to ask the question.

"Why?" She said it quietly at first and then repeated it more forcefully. "Why do this?" She indicated the scar. "You were working for the great good, why mark me-why." Hermione caught herself, Kingsley met her eye and she gave a quick nod to assure him she was alright.

"What I mean to ask Ms. Black, why not take me into another room. Why-"

Bellatrix looked at her with a deep frown, "I am many things Ms. Granger but I am not someone who-"

Hermione waited for her to continue.

The room was silent, Hermione stared at Bellatrix kept her gaze from Hermione's.

Kingsley spoke now, his voice, "Forgive me Ms. Granger, in the magical community to take a victim into a room with no witnesses.. It- it isn't done unless-"

"It is not something I have ever or will ever do." Bellatrix finished, "The fate is usually worse than death Ms. Granger. Again I am many things to many people and known for my cruelty but never for that."

Hermione understood then. She understood the mercy in the cruel act that had protected both of their lives.

"I did and do understand Ms. Black. Thank you. If, if you hadn't done that-" Hermione didn't finish, Bellatrix was still looking down.

The room descended into silence again save for the breathing. Bellatrix finally looked up, if it was possible her eyes were even darker than before.

"I don't believe in blood purity Ms. Granger, not anymore. That word, it was vile to mark into your skin. I am sorry."

Hermione sat her glass down, Bella was still fully under the influence of the potion

"Yes well, thank you, for, thank you for no longer holding to those ideas." Hermione said, her voice catching slightly from emotion.

"You're welcome." Bellatrix replied, looking at her again.


Hermione skipped drinks with the gang that night. She had to get up early to start the arrangements for Bella's pardon. She read and reread Bella's testimony, the killings, the tortures, the deals with the Ministry, Fudge's corruption, the discovery of Harry in the ruins of the house. She hadn't told Harry those details, she couldn't' tell anyone really any of the details of the conversations.

Hermione sipped her wine, the dagger that Bellatrix had used on her skin sat on the desk. She had removed it from Dobby before he was buried. It was clean now, her finger touched the end, allowing it to trace across her finger tips. The finest crimson line shone almost immediately, it was a beautiful knife, the sharpest one Hermione had ever encountered. She sucked the blood from her fingertips. The familiar ache returned between her legs. She stared at Bellatrix's picture, Bellatrix stared back.

Hermione found herself standing outside Bellatrix's cell door. The witch was lying on a cot reading a book and took no notice of Hermione at first. Hermione made a little noise and Bella moved the book to the side, she looked almost normal laying there, her one arm resting behind her head, the book she was reading was being held up to catch the best light.

"Ms. Granger." Bellatrix said, quite surprised, she looked over at the clock on the wall. "Have you come at midnight to execute me?" A slight smile played on her lips.

"No-I'm- I'm sorry Ms. Black I don't-well I had a question actually."

"Oh?" Bella put the book on her nightstand and sat up on the bed. "Shall I get dressed to join you upstairs."

Hermione took in the image of Bella's slightly messy hair from laying down and the white cotton nightgown she wore. An outfit for an angel really, not suited to Bellatrix Black.

"Oh no, nothing like that, this is more unofficial." Hermione explained, her nerves shifting into overdrive.

Bella looked weary now, "I shouldn't speak without my attorney."

"Oh- no, no it isn't like that. I just. I wanted clarity on something."

Bella got off the bed and walked over to the bars, "Clarity around what?"

"When I was there, and- well when I was there and you were on top of me…"

Bella cocked her head to one side, "Yes pet?"

Hermione's face instantly went crimson at being called 'Pet'. Bella seemed to have not noticed she had said it, rather a habit of calling her sisters that for years really.

Hermione regained her composure, "What did you whisper to me?"

"Oh." Bella leaned against the bars, "Come closer." The guard stood from his chair.

"I'm about to be pardoned. Do you really think I would do something? I'm one of the good guys you know." Bella said in disgust at the guard who nonetheless did not return to his seat.

Hermione leaned over so Bella could whisper, "The cup is in the vault. I'm so sorry."

Bellatrix's breath against her ear caused Hermione to shiver. Her hair stood on end and somewhere recalled the words.

Hermione stepped back slowly from the bars. "Thank you Ms. Black."

Bellatrix nodded, "Was there anything else?"

"No. I think that's all I need."

Bella turned from the bars to return to her bed. "Goodnight Ms. Granger."

"Goodnight Ms. Black."


A week later Hermione was once again in front of Bellatrix in the same room along with Kingsley, Percy and the head of magical law enforcement Hank Vance.

"And you agree to the terms of your pardon?" Kingsley asked, the roll of parchment on the table in front of them.

"I do."

"You understand that any violation of this pardon and you will be returned to Azkaban to serve out the remainder of your sentence."

"I do."

"You understand that you are required to check in with Ms. Granger or another office of the parole board once a week until the conditions of your parole are met."

"I do."

"You understand your wand will be limited in its ability to perform magic and if you are found in the possession of another wand you will be in violation of your parole."

"Yes."

Bellatrix signed with the blood quill as did Kingsley, Hermione and Vance.

"Ms. Granger and Mr. Vance will take you to your place of residence." Kingsley stated after duplicating the pardon and giving it to Bellatrix to place in her folder. "Thank you for your service to the wizarding community."

Bellatrix nodded and shook Kingsley's hand.


Bellatrix, Hermione and Mr. Vance apparated to Bellatrix's new residence. Bellatrix looked around for a moment.

"This is where I am staying?" She said as Vance went to open the cottage door.

"It is. Just until the terms of the parole are met." Hermione said.

"I'm back in prison." Bellatrix said softly. She walked to the edge of her property and looked out over the water. "And I own this property?"

"Yes, it was purchased through your vault. You authorised it last week." Hermoine said looking at the very overgrown garden that had potential. "But it's far from horrible." She added stepping back and looking up at the crooked shutters. It reminded her of a fairy tale come to life.

"It's a cottage on an island in the middle of Scotland." Bellatrix stated, staring at the fog bank that was beginning to roll in.

Hermione frowned, "At least it is not Azkaban."

"A cage is a cage even if it's gilded." Bellatrix answered, stepping towards the door that opened into the kitchen area.

Hermione did not answer but simply let Bellatrix explore the pantry.

Bellatrix gave Hermione an appraising look. "So I can leave this island whenever I want?"

"Ms. Black, you know the terms of the parole to pardon."

Bellatrix sighed, "You know a pardon means that I have done nothing wrong." Her voice tired but challenging nonetheless.

"Yes Ms. Black I am well aware of that. I wrote the bloody thing. Now, you're free to leave between the hours of eight a.m. and eight p.m on a Monday and a Tuesday. Your limits are to the Ministry, Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade and Portree. I will be here every Friday at noon to check in on you and see if you need anything. You're free Ms. Black it is just until the parole conditions are met."

Two years, two years on an island in the middle of Nowhere, Scotland.

"Are you to be my only visitor?"

"I am afraid so for now Ms. Black, though Mr. Vance will possibly check in on you from time to time. If for some reason neither of us can be here then someone else will come from the parole board."

"I think I'd rather just you." Bellatrix said, looking in the direction of the head of the magical law enforcement. Hermione nodded, she understood from some of Bellatrix's earlier testimony that men were not her favourite gender.

"But I can write letters, get the post and that yes? I still have access to my owls?"

"Yes Ms. Black." Mr. Vance replied as he sat her bag down. "Now if you need anything just call on the floo, there is a container for you there. You have to use the floo to journey where you need to go, there is no apparating once you're on the island."

"And my sisters, are they connected to my network?" Bellatrix checking in the container for a moment before stepping back to take in the fireplace.

"At the moment, no." Hermione said as she set Bellatrix's folder on the counter along with the keys and cottage ownership papers.

Bella straightened, 'And when will they be connected?" She picked at the mantle with her nail for a moment.

"In six months there will be a review of your parole and we can address that privilege then. Your sisters are welcome to see you in the villages on Mondays and Tuesdays." Hermione frowned slightly, they had gone over this in the office already.

Bella frowned, you could apparate in but not out, clever. "What if I want to go for a swim?" She was being sarcastic of course.

"Oh no Ms. Black I wouldn't recommend that being just the start of Spring and all. Much too cold." Mr. Vance replied. "Now then, we have you all sorted. You can take your boat out so far as the rock but then it will bounce you back if you're keen to go into the water come Summer."

"Alright Ms. Black. I will see you tomorrow." Hermione said as Vance scooped out floo powder to take the network back to the Ministry.

"Tomorrow?"

"Well yes, today is Thursday." Hermione replied with a smile. "I'll see you then."

With a burst of flame Hermione was gone.

Bellatrix looked around the cottage and placed the folders in a desk drawer. She looked at the wand laying on the counter top. A child's toy, good for nothing but cleaning, cooking and basic needs.


Hermione moaned underneath Bella's kiss, the dark witch's hand rubbed slowly between her legs.

"Do you like this pet?" Bella whispered in her ear before placing a kiss. "Is this what you want?"

Hermione groaned again pushing herself against Bella's hand. Hermione saw the glint of the dagger and shivered as Bella ran it across her stomach, her tongue lapping up the faint blood trail that was left.

"Come for me, pet." Bella cooed, her hand rubbing harder. "Come for me."

Hermione woke with a loud moan, her own hand was pressed hard between her legs, her clit throbbing angrily at being woken before it could completely crash over into a climax.

Hermione rubbed hard between her legs to soothe her clit, it was a mere shadow of what had awaited her had she not woken up. It left her aching and unsatisfied. She sighed and waited for the throbbing to subside before jumping into the shower, she noticed the scratch marks across her stomach.


It has been nearly six months since Bella had received her parole, so far not a peep or a problem out of the witch. She had only been to the shop once on her first Monday of freedom but quickly returned back to her island. Hermione could track her movements quite easily due to the wand and the tracer that was part of her pardon condition.

Hermione got dressed, fixed her hair and grabbed a book. Bellatrix was a ferocious reader and Hermione had taken to getting her muggle based books to occupy her time.

She arrived at Bella's precisely at noon to find the witch nowhere. Hermione frowned and looked out the window, Bella wasn't in her boat or in the garden.

"Bellatrix?" Hermione called out, they had decided that a first name basis was easier seeing as how they had a standing date every Friday. No answer. "Bella?" Hermione called using the shortened form.

"Is that you Pet?" Bella called from upstairs. "Sorry I didn't realise the time. I'm in the bath. Make yourself comfy in my cage won't you?"

Hermione smiled to herself, she had to admit that Bella took her confinement quite well. A few minutes later a robe clad Bellatrix came down the stairs.

"Hello Pet." She said with a smile, spying the books, "Are those for me?"

"They are." Hermione replied, looking around the living room. Christmas was three weeks away and there wasn't a sign of it anywhere.

"Oh I do hope it's about that girl who is fighting to the death in the arena. Who nearly killed herself."

"It is and the third one as well."

"Thank you."

Bella put on water for tea. She wasn't allowed a house-elf, too easy to manipulate.

"Are you getting ready for Christmas?" Bella asked looking in the pantry for biscuits to go with the tea.

"Not really, I mean I have gone shopping but nothing really like plans. You?"

"Oh yeah, can't you see the whole cage is done up?" Bella smirked. "No, I haven't any plans, though Christmas is on a Friday this year. Will you be stopping in?"

"Yes."

"Does that ruin your plans with Weasel?"

"How did you?"

Bella tapped the side of her head and winked, "Don't need a good wand to read your mind pet. You're an open book."

Hermione blushed.

"Ah, naughty girl." Bella smirked, pouring the tea. "You'd rather not see the Weasel at all. You know you can just say so, say you have to come here and keep me from doing harm to myself or something dramatic like that."

Hermione's mind went to her dream; she couldn't help it, it flew to the font of her mind. She looked quickly to see if Bellatrix was still glancing at her thoughts; if she was there was no reaction.

They spent a nice quiet afternoon chatting about the books Bella had been reading.

Before she left for the day she and Bellatrix had made the actual plans for Christmas. Hermione would go see Ron in the morning and then come to Bellatrix at noon.

She would have to skip lunch with the Weasley's but it was worth it to not have Ron's hound dog expression trying to pressure her into more than a quick kiss.


Christmas Day arrived, Hermione was longer at the Weasley's than she had planned and only arrived at Bellatrix around two.

She walked into a silent house, the tree that had been purchased the week before was laying on its side, the ornaments smashed. Pillows and blankets were thrown around the room. The flower vase was smashed and water was dripping steadily from the counter to the floor.

The presents were piled around messily as though Bellatrix had kicked them all over. A chair was overturned and a glass of wine was smashed against the white wood floor.

"Bella?" Hermione called her wand out. "Bellatrix? I am sorry I'm late."

She heard a page turn loudly in a book down the hall. She walked to the little library Bella had created and found her sitting rather cosily in a chair, her eyes scanning the page. "Bella-"

Bella held up her hand, "Just a moment." She said making a slight show of finishing the page. Hermione stood waiting. Bellatrix turned the page and placed her marker between the page.

"Oh hi." She said as if she just noticed Hermione had entered the room.

"I'm sorry I'm late. I couldn't get away and then Tonks came with Teddy and-" Hermione's words trailed off as she looked at Bellatrix's eyes, the same dark intensity she had felt on several other occasions. "Merry Christmas." Hermione finished somewhat lamely.

"I was worried." Bellatrix said, still sitting in the chair. "You should have called."

"I know. I- well they didn't exactly know that I was coming to see you. They thought, well, I sort of pretended that I had a sore stomach."

"I was upset." Bellatrix said, still looking at Hermione. "I thought- well I thought you changed your mind about Weasel." She stood up and walked slowly to Hermione. Reaching around her she placed a book back on the shelf.

The room suddenly felt much too small to contain the two of them.

"Why would you worry about him?" Hermione was suddenly very aware of how close Bellatrix was to her.

"Because I want to be the one doing this." She whispered, her lips brushed against Hermione's. "And this." She said as her hands slid up her sides. "Not him." She kissed Hermione's lips again, her fingers slipping into her hair. "Never him." She breathed against Hermione's ear. "Just me touching you."

Hermione melted against the touch, her lips finding Bellatrix's. Hermione's hands slipped around Bella's back as she pulled the dark witch in for a deeper kiss. Her entire body felt as though it were on fire underneath Bella's kisses, her lips parted slowly as she touched the tip of her tongue to Bella's. "Merry Christmas Pet." Bella said, kissing Hermione's deeply