Hermione couldn't focus at work, her supervisor Mr. Birch-Lock, convinced Hermione was coming down with something sent her to the mediwitch to get checked out. It was a waste of time Hermione knew but she went anyway, it was something to do, a change of scenery. After a series of embarrassing questions and a few wands waves and a potion Hermione was declared perfectly fine and sent back to work. She gave her clearance scroll to her supervisor and sat back down at her desk.
"Granger, glad you're healthy, in my office please." Hermione grabbed a quill and parchment, her heart jumped into her throat when she saw Tonks sitting in her supervisor's office. Tonks had told.
"Ah Ms. Granger, my star investigator, new case."
Hermione looked surprised for a moment looking from Tonks to Birch-Lock.
"You are certain you're not sick?" He said with a chuckle when Hermione took a seat blushing.
"No- I'm fine, sorry got lost in thought." Hermione gave an apologetic smile to Birch-Lock and Tonks. Tonks frowned slightly but said nothing.
"So new case, ties into your current case with Bellatrix Lestrange-' 'Black' Hermione interjected, "She prefers Black." 'Right, so this case ties into your current case with Bellatrix Black." He nodded his head to appease Hermione, "And so I thought it could use your specialty of dealing with all things reformed death eater. We're a bit backlogged with the reconciliation board so we're just having to clear these cases as quickly as possible ok?" Hermione nodded and readied her quill. "Alright so I got Tonks here to help out a little added security, use your time wisely hey it's not every day we get a fancy Auror down here." "Gosh Birchy I didn't think you cared." Tonks said pretending to be touched. "Yeah yeah, turn around time of one month on this people." "You got it boss." Tonks said giving a mock salute. "Who are we investigating?"
"Cornelius Fudge." Birch-Lock paused for effect to let it all sink in. "Ms. Black has some damming evidence that has been backed up with several eye witnesses and key documents, what I need from the two of you is finding the link that can actually tie up the case against Fudge into a neat little package. While he authorized the prison break he did so without the knowledge and permission of the Wizengomat. Huge no-no folks. He was operating outside the lines of his jurisdiction and we're going to nail that son of a bitch."
Birch-Lock looked at both Tonks and Hermione, "I don't have to explain that this investigation is hush hush alright." Hermione was convinced the wizard watched Muggle cop shows on his weekends. She scratched some notes quickly and looked at the stacks of files, it would take nearly two weeks just to get through it all.
"Alright so, Granger, get comfortable, take these home, take them to the park but get through them. Tonks I want you tailing our sweet morsel Fudge, clock his routine, ins and outs, where does he go, who does he talk to." Oh yeah, he watches cop shows, Hermione wondered which one was his favourite.
"Report back to me next Tuesday with where you're at and Granger, get some sleep you look like a troll used you for an ear bud."
"That is the most disgusting thing you've ever said to me." Hermione stated rolling her eyes. She couldn't look that bad.
"Yeah well get some sleep, start on those files tomorrow and Granger, read them away from the office I don't need people questioning your case files alright?"
Hermione nodded and charmed the files to fit in her bag. "See you next Tuesday."
Tonks walked out with Hermione and followed her into her office, after casting a silencing charm on the room she turned to Hermione. "Well?"
Hermione licked her lips, "Well what?"
"Don't well what me Hermione, what is going on it's been three days since we chatted and you look like shit."
"I haven't seen her." Hermione confessed, she also hadn't slept.
"Any word from her, owls, anything?"
Hermione shook her head, "Nothing."
Hermione usually flooed to Bella's cottage but today she decided to apparate instead of just arriving in the cottage unannounced. She arrived with a quiet little pop, Bella was on her hands and knees digging in the garden getting the beds ready for Spring.
"The nice thing about being in this cage is the lack of garden gnomes. Nasty little buggers always biting your fingertips." She stated as she turned over another clump of dirt before mixing in fertilizer. "I was thinking of putting vegetables in here, some herbs for potions there and then some roses. I love the smell of roses and jasmin don't you? I think I will plant them under the window so we can smell them in the Spring. It's such a beautiful smell, even in the middle of the night." Bella turned over another clump of dirt and looked over at Hermione when she didn't answer. "Cat got your tongue Pet?"
Tears stung Hermione's eyes, if she could have apparated in that moment she would have. Damn island and it's anti apparating spell. Bellatrix rose to her feet and wiped her hands on her robes and walked over, "Pet? Why- what's the matter?" Bellatrix asked noticing the tears glistening unfallen from Hermione's eyes.
"I've been so worried about you. I haven't slept. I told Tonks about us and she- she told me to end it and I've been sick with stress and I don't want to end it because I thought you wanted to end it and I come here to tell you so and you're gardening." Hermione said in a rush of anger.
Bellatrix blinked in surprise at Hermione's anger. "I- I didn't know you were worried I- well I thought you just went home and would be back on Friday." Bellatrix held her arms out to Hermione. "Come Pet, it's alright." She pressed her lips to Hermione's forehead. "My sweet girl, why have you been so worried because of what I said on the beach?" Hermione closed her eyes against the sweet kiss and nodded into Bella's neck. "You mustn't worry when I say such things. I was- well Mrs. Weasley upset me I really shouldn't have let it get to me." Hermione clung tighter to Bellatrix, "I'm sorry Pet I am so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you with what I said. My dearest heart." She pressed a kiss to Hermione's eyelids catching the tears. Bellatrix rested her chin on top of Hermione's head and breathed in her scent.
Bellatrix made Hermione a cup of tea and added a bit of Fire Whiskey. "Oh my sweet Pet." She said, Hermione still brushing away a tear. "I did upset you so." Bella looked at the tea tray once she set it down. "I am so sorry." She finally looked up, "I'm not good for you Hermione. I'm not good for anyone. My demons, they speak too loudly sometimes." Hermione gripped her cup. "Pet I'm no good for you."
"No-" Hermione protested, her heart pounded painfully, "I- I know what I am getting into with you. You're who I want, good or bad. I don't I don't know where this will lead but I want to see."
Bella hugged herself for a moment, "I fear it will lead to sorrow Hermione."
Hearing her name on Bella's lips was strange, it was usually Ms. Granger or Pet. "It doesn't have to."
Bella gave a sad smile, "You say that because you're young and infatuated. I'm a bad person Hermione, the whole world seems to know it but you.'
"They don't what I see Bella."
Bella frowned and reached over to touch the scar on Hermione's arm. "I did this to you. I did it willingly. I enjoyed your screams." She finished softly, her fingers tracing along the scar staring into space. "I can still hear them, at night when I dream. I dream of that moment."
Hermione swallowed, "So do I, but the dream changed Bellatrix, in the dream now- It's not fear that makes me scream."
Bella shook her head, "You're so beautiful and so innocent." Hermione blushed. "I want to rip that away from you and make you mine forever. I want to possess you. I want to fuck the innocence out of you until I have consumed you and there is nothing left, until the only thing left for you is me and that scares me."
She shivered at the words, Bella's very touch on her arm felt like fire.
"Do you understand me Pet? What I want from you. Everyone would see that but you my sweet girl. You don't see what I am because you're innocent and sweet and pure."
Hermione felt a panic in the back of her mind, Bella was ending it, she was ending it for Hermione's own good. She couldn't she didn't want that. Ever.
"I want that." Hermione whispered not looking away, she felt as though she were falling into Bella's gzze. "I want you to be the only thing in my world."
Bella licked her lips slowly, her eyes probing for any signs of fear in Hermione's face. "What if I go to the dark places again. It scared you Pet, I'm scary."
Hermione shook her head.
"You can't be a little girl and run away to hide."
"I'm not afraid of you Bella."
Bellatrix's heart sank a little, she should push her away, terrify her into leaving. Scare her until she had sense in her head but she couldn't. Her heart ached for this girl, she had dreamed of Hermione every night since the manor. She had heard her screams, tasted the drops of blood on her arm. In the dream Bella could always save her in the end, always stop herself from carving that word. In her dream Bella is a hero. "You should be Pet."
