Harry Potter belongs to JKR
Warning: sex (including biting & blindfold), implied prisoner abuse & non con
Chapter 43
Bellatrix stopped spinning with a loud crack, then a wave of nausea hit her and she let go of Hermione's arm to slam her palm over her mouth to keep the blood and vomit in.
"The loo!" Hermione said.
Bella felt herself ushered her across hardwood floor and into a simple tiled bathroom. She stumbled and swerved her way to the porcelain bowl just as another spew of bloody vomit projected from her mouth and into the crystal-clear water at the bottom of the toilet. Then she sat down and leaned against the wall, panting to catch her breath. Hermione, still polyjuiced as the Auror, flushed the toilet for her, then stuck a small capsule in her mouth and held a hard plastic cup of water to her lips.
"That's the antidote," she said, "swallow it quickly before you vomit again."
It was odd hearing Hermione's voice coming from the dark-haired wizard. Bellatrix did as she was told, forcing herself to ignore the taste of blood in her mouth to drink down the cure. She set the half-empty cup next to her, sloshing some water onto the tile. As she did so, she saw Hermione setting up a few items on the counter.
"There's a new toothbrush, and floss and mouthwash here," Hermione said, then moved to the glass stall, "Err.. I imagine you'll want to take a shower too… the hot water is this one, and this one turns on the showerhead-"
"I know how a tap works," Bellatrix said. She took a few breaths, then summoned all her willpower to climb unsteadily to her feet. The horrible despair of Azkaban and the experience of being fed on by dementors still dragged at her soul, but with every passing second, they faded a little bit. She let out an exhausted giggle.
"You absolute barking mad nutter of a witch," she said, and Hermione stopped talking to look at her in shock, "you actually pulled it off."
Hermione smiled for a half-second, then grew serious again.
"It's not over yet," she said, "go on and wash up; I'll tell you everything."
Bellatrix watched as Hermione, still wearing the Auror's body, exited and left the door slightly ajar. She moved to the shower stall and twisted the metal knobs until the water was near scalding.
"Maybe I'll just take two showers, back-to-back," she thought as she stripped down. She held up the white shirt, now stained with blood, and tossed it onto a shower peg to rinse. Any thought of admiring Hermione's body in the mirror fled as she caught sight of the scars on the inside of her left arm. Guilt flooded through her, and then she was under the streaming water, sluicing away the grime and filth of weeks in prison. She glanced at the small metal rack in the shower to find it stocked with Hermione's usual shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.
"She planned ahead," Bellatrix thought. She picked up a washcloth, soaked it thoroughly, squeezed out a spoonful of body wash, then scrubbed, and scrubbed, until her skin was red and raw. Nothing had ever felt so glorious.
Hermione paced back and forth across the bedroom. A pair of queen-sized beds took up most of the space, with a single night table hosting a copper-coloured lamp set between them. A picture of the Scottish countryside hung on one wall, just above a small writing desk. The curtains of the lone window were currently pulled shut, and Hermione double checked the bedroom door to ensure it remained locked. A familiar burning sensation began across her scalp and spread throughout her body, and she fell to her knees in pain as the Polyjuice wore off. As the agony finally faded, she slipped out of Jenkins' boots so she didn't fall over. With the sound of running and splattering water as background noise, she quickly shrugged out of the now far-too-large robes and changed into her own long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans, then stuffed Jenkins' effects into her pouch and ended the sticking, silencing, and disillusionment charms on it. She glanced around, thinking perhaps to stow it somewhere, but ended up returning it to its usual spot hung around her neck. Her wand she kept ahold of.
"Don't let your guard down," she thought. If Bellatrix took her wand and got it into her head to run, there was not much Hermione would be able do to stop her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to try and calm her nerves. All she had to do now was give Bellatrix a day or so to recover from the worst of the dementors, restore her memories, and bring them to Harry and Kingsley.
"Assuming there are incriminating memories," she thought. It was an awful risk, and if she was wrong, she would certainly spend time in Azkaban. Also, Harry and Ron might never forgive her; she wasn't sure which was worse. With the water still running, Hermione tucked her wand into her shirt sleeve, unlocked the door, and slipped into the hallway.
The house near the northern tip of Scotland served as a bed and breakfast for tourists. Having had a year to reflect on how she would go on the run again if she had to, and now with some cash in her pocket from the book royalties, she refused to camp in the middle of nowhere with no food or facilities. Over the past week, Hermione had scoured a dozen small, privately owned homes with a room for rent. This one in particular stood out though, because the elderly widow who owned it was half-blind, and Hermione figured if the Ministry put out muggle posters of two fugitives on the run, she would not be able to recognise them.
"Mrs. Findlay?" Hermione called.
The little, white-haired woman poked her head out of the sitting room.
"Is that you dearie? I didn't hear ye come back," she said, her Scottish accent even thicker than McGonagall's.
"Yes, I was wondering if there is any more stew?" Hermione asked.
"Of course, ye don't think I could finish that whole pot meself, do ye?" Mrs. Findlay said, "help yerself."
"Thank you, just thought I would check," Hermione said. She ladled several scoops of hot broth, meat, and vegetables, sawed off a large piece of bread, cut some butter and scraped it into a dish, loaded it all on a tray along with utensils and a pitcher of water, then carried them back to the room. The shower was still running as she backed into the bedroom, set the heavy tray down on the desk, tucked her wand in her sleeve, and resumed pacing. She jumped as the wind gusted outside and something rustled against the exterior of the building; she tensed and stood still for several seconds, half expecting Aurors to come bursting through the door. For what seemed like the hundredth time, she ran through the steps she had taken to cover her tracks.
"But you never know," she thought.
The water stopped running and she glanced over to stare at the crack of light showing through the door.
"Hermione?"
It was Julia's voice. Hermione closed her eyes as her heart beat faster just hearing it.
"Keep it professional," she thought as she smoothed her shirt.
"Yes?" she replied.
"I'm afraid I've ruined your clothes, did you bring anything to change into?" Bellatrix asked.
"Idiot," Hermione thought, "only you would remember to lay out toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash, but not fresh clothes."
"Yes, of course," she said as she reached into the pouch again. She pulled out loose fitting purple and pink pyjama bottoms and a large Minnie Mouse t-shirt. The door opened slightly and a damp hand stuck out, along with a stream of steam that drifted up to the ceiling. Hermione placed her clothes in Bellatrix's outstretched hand, and they disappeared back into the loo.
"Really?" Bellatrix asked.
"They're the most comfortable things I own," Hermione replied.
She heard a dramatic sigh and could almost see Julia rolling her eyes. Then came the sound of rustling cloth, and the door swung wide to release a full blast of steam to reveal Bellatrix Black, wearing her clothes, white towel wrapped around her hair. With her cheeks rosy from the shower, she already looked well on her way to recovery, but as Hermione took in the features of her face, the heavy lids and aristocratic cheekbones, her gut clenched and she was forced to look away.
"I don't suppose you'd be willing to let me use a wand?" Bellatrix asked.
Hermione shook her head.
"No. Too risky, no offense," she replied.
Bellatrix didn't respond. Instead, she took four limping steps on bare feet across the hardwood floor and before Hermione knew what was happening, she had wrapped her up in a tight embrace. Warm kisses showered her face as Hermione closed her eyes and her lips tightly as she reflexively inhaled the scent of conditioner and body wash.
"No," Hermione thought, and she turned her head and pushed Bellatrix back.
"What?" Bellatrix asked as a look of concern crossed her face, "what's wrong?"
"What's wrong?" Hermione replied, "How about… for starters you lied to me about who you were… are!"
"Well I couldn't-" Bellatrix started to say, but Hermione's frustration boiled over, and she continued talking over her.
"And then you started a… a… a relationship with me, all along knowing you were the one who cut up my arm and killed my friends," Hermione said as she gestured to the cuts beneath her shirt sleeve.
Bellatrix looked like she was about to argue, but expression grew tearful, and she swayed and gripped the back of the chair to keep her balance.
"You know I don't remember any of that. I would never do anything to hurt you," she said.
"But you did! You did hurt me, terribly," Hermione said.
Bellatrix's mouth opened, but no sound came out for a few seconds.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly, "I never meant to. You know how I feel about you."
Hermione's anger dissipated as the guilt of forcing the other witch to reveal the extent of her feelings resurfaced.
"That might be true, but it doesn't change what she did, or who she is," she thought. She resolved to soften her tone a bit.
"Sorry doesn't make it better," Hermione said, "and that's why, when this is over, we're done."
Bellatrix flinched as if Hermione had punched her. She used the desk for support as she leaned over it and breathed deeply. She opened her eyes to stare down at the tray and then over at Hermione.
"You brought me food?" Bellatrix asked. Hermione blinked at the sudden change in subject.
"Umm, yes, I thought you might-" Hermione said, but Bellatrix had already dragged the chair out, sat down, torn off a piece of bread, dipped it in the broth, and stuffed it in her mouth. She let out a little moan of satisfaction as the stew and bread hit her tongue, and she closed her eyes as she chewed and swallowed. She took another large bite, then cut a piece of butter and sucked it straight off the knife.
"…I thought you might like something to eat," Hermione said quietly. Bellatrix ignored her, and Hermione noticed how loose her t-shirt fit; she had definitely lost weight in Azkaban.
"Oh Merlin, this is divine," Bellatrix said in between bites.
Hermione watched her shovel food in her mouth for a moment, then brought a footstool from the window to sit down at the desk.
"Right, so, here's the plan," she said, and Bellatrix nodded as she continued to stuff bread and stew into her mouth and chew.
"We stay here for a while, to recover from the dementors, enough at least so there aren't any residual effects on your memories. Based on my research, it shouldn't take more than a day. Then we'll use the cure to restore whatever was modified or erased… Considering your injuries, I'd say it's almost certain you were attacked in your cell, more than once."
Bellatrix's spoon stopped halfway to her mouth and she looked at Hermione, who could only hold her gaze for a second before she turned to look at the painting on the wall.
"Assuming you were, we'll bring the memories to Kingsley Shacklebolt, the Minister for Magic," Hermione said.
"I know who the bloody Minister is," Bellatrix said, "what I don't understand is why you're doing this."
Huh?
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.
"Why are you risking your life, your reputation, everything, on… on this?" she asked.
Bellatrix had been about to ask why she would risk her life on her. It was so uncharacteristic of the Julia White she knew, who had always been supremely confident, even overconfident.
"Dementors must still be affecting her emotional state," she thought.
"Is it so hard to believe I simply don't want your death on my hands?" she said.
"Yes," Bellatrix replied, "I think you're in denial."
"Ah, there's the confidence," Hermione thought.
"That's ridiculous, I am not in denial," she said.
Hermione noticed the pureblood witch staring at her hands, loosely folded on the desk. She moved them to her lap to keep Bellatrix from reaching over and taking one.
"Right, because witches so often risk their lives to spring a mild acquaintance from Azkaban," Bellatrix said.
"Well… it was my fault you were arrested in the first place, so…" Hemione said. She trailed off and fell silent while Bellatrix finished most of the stew. After spending months living and working together, Hermione recognised a million little mannerisms, from the way she held her spoon to her posture in the seat, to the little expressions or gestures she made when talking, and they all screamed that the witch sitting in front of her was her girlfriend, Julia White.
"It's a lot harder than I expected to separate the two," she thought.
"Are you saying you weren't happy when we were together?" the pureblood witch asked suddenly. Hermione blinked a few times.
"I thought I was," Hermione thought, "but it was all a lie."
"I'm not having this conversation," she said as she stood up, "and it'll all be for nothing if we don't get the memories we need."
"And what if there aren't any?" Bellatrix asked.
"There will be," Hermione replied stubbornly, "once we have them, I'll bring them to Kingsley and Harry. We'll view them in a Pensieve, and then Harry can demand Kingsley release you to his custody."
Bellatrix paused, dripping bread halfway to her mouth.
"And what good is that going to do?" she asked, "I mean I get that he's Harry Potter, saviour of the Wizarding World, but…"
"There's an old Wizard's Council decree that lets him, as head of House Black, demand your punishment be handled by him," Hermione said.
Hermione saw it on her face then, hope, and she caught herself before she smiled.
"And… he'll do it?" Bellatrix asked.
Hermione nodded.
"Even though I'm fairly certain he despises you, at least on some level," she said.
"And he definitely won't be too happy with me, either," she thought.
"So… it really could work," Bellatrix said slowly.
Hermione nodded slowly.
Bellatrix stared at her with an expression Hermione recognised from her time with Julia, and she looked away again, this time at the foot of the closer bed.
"I wish I could kiss you right now," Bellatrix whispered in Julia's voice, and Hermione's heart fluttered. She folded her arms and steeled her resolve.
"Well, you can't," she said. She opened her pouch and pulled out several bars of chocolate wrapped in silver foil and brown paper, and stacked them on the desk.
"Eat as much as you want, and then we should get some rest; tomorrow we're going to apply the cure," she said.
Bellatrix shifted her gaze to the chocolate. With the bowl of stew now empty, and nothing but crumbs remaining on the tray, she started to unwrap one, then paused.
"Can we do something first?" she asked, "can we go outside?"
Hermione shook her head.
"No. It's too risky," she said.
"Hermione… I haven't seen the sun in weeks," Bellatrix said. Hermione wavered as a deep, longing expression passed over Bellatrix's face.
"It's so odd to see that expression on that face," Hermione thought, "we'd better go; she might try to sneak out without me if I say no."
"Okay, but let me check first," she said. She slipped her trainers on (they were mostly free of blood), opened the door, and walked out the front door of the small home. It stood at the bend of a lonely country road. A stiff breeze blew off the ocean, cool even in the middle of summer. She looked around in all directions; not a soul in sight, then she returned to their room.
"It's clear, but we have to be quick," she said. Bellatrix, damp hair now hanging free, nodded. Hermione led the way past the kitchen and deliberately slowed her pace as Bellatrix limped after her.
"Don't look at me like that," Bellatrix said, "I'm fine."
Hermione shook her head as she tried to make sense of the injuries to Bella's leg. One foot twisted inward, and it looked like she was having trouble with her knee as well. The pureblood witch wore a determined expression on her face though.
"It probably hurts, a lot," Hermione thought.
They made it to the front door and Bellatrix stopped at the threshold, then stepped down the small porch onto the path.
"This way," Hermione said as she led them around to the rear of the house. The sun hung low in the sky. This far north, it never got very high; the summer sun still warmed her skin though, once she stepped around the shadow of the building. Bellatrix, the breeze whipping her shirt and tugging at her raven locks, took about five steps out of the shade and then sat down in the tall grass to stare directly at the sun.
"I thought I would never see it again," she said quietly, eyes wide.
"Come on, you're going to hurt your eyes," Hermione said.
"It's okay, it feels good," Bellatrix replied as she continued to stare. In the distance, waves washed ashore, the sound mingling with breeze across grass. Hermione constantly glanced around to make sure they remained alone. Eventually, the sun dipped behind a cloud, limning it with golden light as shafts peeked through to the ocean below. The cool breeze grew chill, and Hermione shivered.
"Let's go," Bella said as she struggled to her feet. She limped her way back inside, and Hermione thought about offering a hand, but figured Bellatrix would find that insulting and it also might send the wrong message. She locked the bedroom door behind them and turned around to see Bellatrix hobbling to the loo.
"Just that little walk has me knackered," Bellatrix said with a yawn, "think I'm going wash up and lie down."
It was a good idea. Hermione pulled the covers back on the beds to the sound of brushing teeth. When Bellatrix emerged, she stumbled into the bed closest to the loo and was already half-asleep by the time Hermione turned off the lights.
"I will never take a bed for granted again. Thank you for getting me out of there," she mumbled.
"Don't mention it," Hermione said. Then Bellatrix was out, sleeping on her side with the covers pulled up to her neck. Hermione crept to the loo, locked the door behind her, and looked into the mirror.
"Get it through your head, she's not Julia," she whispered.
She nodded resolutely to her reflection, then set her pouch on the counter, took a shower, changed into pyjamas, and slipped back out into the bedroom. In the dim light filtering through the curtains, she noted Bellatrix hadn't moved an inch, still fast asleep in the first bed. She tiptoed to the second and crawled beneath the cool covers to lay awake and try to calm her racing mind.
Some hours later, Hermione awoke with a start, and it took her a moment to remember where she was. The curtains were dark; it must have been near midnight, and from the other bed, the sound of shuddering breaths reached her ears.
"A nightmare, one of the aftereffects of prolonged exposure to dementors," Hermione thought.
"No," Bella said, but to Hermione, in the dark, it was Julia's voice, "Father, no!"
Hermione threw back the covers and crossed the narrow space between their beds. She tried to wake Bellatrix up by nudging her shoulder, but the other witch grabbed her hand tightly; Hermione felt the slippery, clammy sensation of sweat against her palm.
"Please," Bella said, still in the throes of whatever nightmare the dementors brought on, but then she stilled and her breathing became more even. Hermione tried to reclaim her hand, but Bellatrix gripped it tighter.
"Don't leave me," Bellatrix whispered.
"Are you awake?" Hermione asked, but there was no response. Hermione sighed, stretched her arm back to her own bed, dragged the pillow to the floor and manoeuvred it under her knees, then knelt to rest her head on the edge of Bellatrix's bed and held her hand. She lay there for a while, listening to her breathe, and eventually drifted off herself, because the next thing she knew, someone was poking a finger on the top of her head.
"What are you doing down there?" Julia asked.
"Mmf," Hermione said as she stirred.
"Where am I?" she thought. Her eyes burned; it was still dark.
"Oh, you were having a nightmare," she mumbled. It was silent for a few seconds, and Hermione felt pins and needles as she tried to move; her legs were stiff from half-kneeling, half sitting, and she shivered in the night time chill.
"Come on, you must be freezing down there," Julia said, and she slid back and tugged lightly on Hermione's hand while holding the thick blanket up to let her in. Still groggy, Hermione climbed into bed, into the warm spot near the edge, and froze as the heavy blanket was thrown over her.
"That's not Julia, it's Bellatrix," she thought. She took a deep breath and immediately realised the depth of her mistake as she caught a faint scent reminiscent of fresh sawdust on the pillow. That one breath brought back a torrent of memories from school and the tent.
"Smells like Julia," she thought, "of course it does, but it's not her."
Hermione turned away from the other witch to face her own bed and the window beyond, but Bellatrix slid an arm over her midsection to rest her hand on Hermione's stomach. With nothing but thin pyjamas separating their skin, Hermione immediately tensed and covered the pureblood's hand with her own to prevent it from wandering, though she didn't remove it. Although she knew she should throw off the covers and retreat back to her own bed, the warmth of the body, the presence of the girl behind her, felt so good, the small gap between the beds might as well have been the distance between stars. Then her thumb caught the small scar between Bella's thumb and forefinger, and Hermione closed her eyes, furrowed her brow, and listened her own shuddering breaths as she fought to control her own thoughts.
"I missed you," Julia's voice whispered, barely audible even in the silence of the dark room, "I miss this."
Hermione took a deep breath in an attempt to still her libido, and although it had gone dormant for the past several days, it now woke with a vengeance.
"Stop it," Hermione thought, but her heart refused to listen as it thumped wildly, and her body betrayed her as heat flowed between her legs, tingling as the mere touch of Julia's hand brought back dozens of intimate moments. She clutched it tightly and squeezed her eyes, then felt a ghost of a breath a second before a small kiss to her ear forced the breath from her.
"Stop," Hermione whispered.
She felt Bellatrix pulled back slightly.
"Why?" the pure blood whispered.
"I already told you… and besides that, it'll never work between us," Hermione whispered. She squeezed her legs together in another vain attempt to quell the gathering sensations.
"Why wouldn't it? …you know how I feel," Bellatrix whispered, "are you telling me… you didn't feel the same?"
"There's that guilt card again," Hermione thought as regret for forcing Bellatrix to reveal the extent of her feelings resurfaced. The most frustrating part was, even though she knew what the pureblood Slytherin was doing, it was still effective.
"Bloody temptress," Hermione thought. She would just have to absolutely refuse to give in.
"I thought I did, but it was all based on a lie," Hermione replied, "I don't even know who you are."
"I'm the witch who loves you, isn't that enough?" Bellatrix whispered.
"No! Maybe you think you love me, but if you did, then you wouldn't have lied to me and… and you certainly wouldn't have started a relationship based on that lie," Hermione replied.
Bellatrix squeezed her hand, and it took her a moment to respond.
"I tried. I tried so hard not to… not to fancy you, not to… not to kiss you," Bellatrix said, and Hermione could hear the raw emotion pouring from her, "don't you know I tried?"
The truth was, she did know, because she had fought those the same urges. She closed her eyes tightly.
"But I liked spending time with you, and seeing you," Bellatrix said, "stopping would have meant stopping the project and I couldn't do that, but I knew, I knew if kept going, eventually I would slip up…. And then you'd…"
Hermione could practically see her biting her lip.
"You're too brilliant for your own good," Bellatrix whispered.
Hermione sighed deeply. Regardless of what had happened, she did know Bellatrix loved her, or at least thought she did.
"I… I don't even know what was real about our relationship and what was… fake, a cover," Hermione said.
"All of it was real," Bellatrix said quickly, "except my name… and really, what's in a name?"
Hermione snorted. The nerve!
"Shakespeare isn't going to save you this time," she said.
"Stop, don't banter like that," she thought.
They fell silent for a moment.
"It could be like it was," Bellatrix whispered.
"It can never be like it was," Hermione replied, "don't you get it? It will never work between us."
"You still haven't told me why, not really," Bellatrix said.
"Because we live in the real world," Hermione replied, "let's think this through…"
She took a deep breath.
"IF we manage to stay out of prison, which is still a rather large 'if' at the moment, say we start over from zero, and we meet my friends for lunch," Hermione said, "Here's Neville, whose parents are in St. Mungo's because of you, he certainly won't share a table with us."
"That wasn't me though, I don't even remember that," Bellatrix said.
"He doesn't see it that way, but wait, there's more," Hermione said, "now here's Harry, and you happen to be the person who killed not only his godfather Sirius, but also Dobby, his house elf friend."
"Look-" Bellatrix said, but Hermione was on a roll.
"Wait, I'm not done yet," Hermione said, "Harry's godson is Teddy Lupin, and do you know who is raising Teddy Lupin? His grandmother, Andromeda Tonks. And why is he being raised by his grandmother? It's because you killed his mother, her daughter."
That was met with silence.
"Yeah, that might be a problem, Andy was always stubborn," Bellatrix said, "but I'm sure the rest of them will come around."
Hermione's mouth dropped open.
"Have you heard nothing I've said?" she asked, "it will never work."
"So far all I've heard about is you talking about your friends, but what about you?" Bellatrix asked. Hermione paused.
"What?" she asked.
"You're worried about their feelings, but what about your own?" she asked.
"That's…" Hermione said. She was going to say 'entirely irrelevant', but the word died on her lips because, really, nothing could be more relevant to a romantic relationship.
"You're always worried about everyone else; it's one of the things I like about you, by the way," Bellatrix said, "but what about your feelings? If you don't feel anything for me-"
Her voice hitched, and Hermione closed her eyes again; it pained her to hear Julia's voice so distressed.
"That's just… conditioning," she thought, "that's not how you really feel."
"If you don't, then perhaps you should say so," Bellatrix said.
"Say it, tell her you don't care about her at all, that you can never ever trust her again after what she did," she thought, but try as she might, as much as she knew it would make her life infinitely easier, her lips wouldn't move, and the silence stretched on, and on.
"And if you do have feelings for me, and they really are your friends, then you won't lose them over it," Bellatrix said, "and if they do walk away from you because of who you love, then… were they really your friends?"
Anger flared in Hermione's chest.
"Don't twist this around. Trying to make me choose between you and my friends? That's low, even for you," Hermione said.
"I'm not trying to make you choose anything," Bellatrix said, "Andy's my sister. I like Longbottom, and Potter. Well… I don't dislike them. Perfectly happy to be seen together at social functions, which is more than I can say for most people, so I'm not exactly the issue here… but… have you asked them?"
Hermione huffed.
"I don't have to… I've known them and lived with them for years, I know how they'll react," she said. It would be a disaster, and Hermione couldn't fathom losing them. No, weighing a relationship with Bellatrix Black against losing her friends, her friends would win out every time.
"But you do have feelings for me," Bellatrix whispered.
Hermione closed her eyes.
"To be truthful, or lie?" she thought, and stayed silent for nearly a minute as she mulled her response, "…there's been enough lies. Besides, don't they say the truth will set you free?"
She nodded once in the dark.
"Then I suppose we really are star crossed lovers," Bellatrix said quietly.
"Romeo and Juliet?" Hermione asked, "you know it didn't work out so well for them."
"That won't happen to us, we're better than they are," Bellatrix said as she squeezed Hermione's hand again.
Hermione smirked. It was such a Julia thing to say.
"No, it's a Bellatrix thing to say," she thought. She exhaled again as she wondered just how much cross over there was between Julia White and Bellatrix Black.
"She said she hadn't faked anything about our relationship except her name," Hermione thought, "You can't trust her though."
"They couldn't fit into their world," Bellatrix continued, "we can change our world to fit us."
"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked. She didn't like the turn the conversation had taken.
"We cured obliviation in less than a year, something all of wizardkind couldn't figure out in centuries," Bellatrix said, "if we work together, we can do anything."
Hermione stayed quiet for a moment, and the sentence hung in the air.
"You should sleep," she said, "you need rest to recover."
Bellatrix fell quiet for a moment, and Hermione listened for her breaths to slow and deepen.
"Answer me something… if it was just the two of us, if your friends, and Andy, weren't in the picture, do you think… do you think there might be a chance for us?" Bellatrix asked.
"…I hope you're not suggesting running them off, or worse," Hermione said.
"Of course not, don't be ridiculous," Bellatrix said.
Considering who she was talking to, Hermione did not think she was being ridiculous.
"Hypothetically speaking," Bellatrix said.
"Don't even think about it," Hermione thought, but as usual, her brain operated independently of her conscious thoughts and dove down the rabbit hole. Perhaps starting over somewhere new, where nobody knew who they were... perhaps in Sydney, where her parents lived.
"I suppose… I suppose if not for them, and Andromeda and society at large… I suppose… I, yes, it might… it might be possible," Hermione said, "but it doesn't matter, because the rest of the world does, in fact, exist."
"Not in here it doesn't," Bellatrix whispered.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"Nobody knows we're here," Bellatrix said, "Tomorrow, we could both be cleared of all charges or arrested and thrown into a cell. Whatever happens tonight, no one needs to know… it could be our secret."
"No," Hermione thought as she closed her eyes, because Bellatrix was right… they did have the opportunity to share a night together, free of consequences, free of the burdens of her friends' and society's judgement. She actually felt her resistance crumbling. Like so many times alone in bed while home on break, when she resolved to only run her fingers over her stomach or her thighs a little bit, and it inevitably led to eventual loosening, then removal of clothing, and ultimately ending in climax, it was only a matter of time.
"The world isn't in here, it's just us, like it was in the tent. It could be like it was, at least for a night," Bellatrix whispered. Hermione felt a tongue trace up the edge of her ear, and she shivered and shuddered as she clenched Bellatrix's hand.
"Julia," Hermione whispered, though she was barely aware of it; instinct had already almost completely taken over. The teasing lick stopped where it was, and Bellatrix drew back.
"You can call me Julia, if you want," she whispered. Hermione could tell though, from the tone of her voice, that she didn't want to be called Julia. She rolled over to face the dark silhouette as blood thumped in her veins.
"That's not your name though, is it?" Hermione said, "it's Bellatrix."
She ran a finger across Bellatrix's cheek. Her resistance was almost gone; it was all she could do not to throw herself at her former lover.
"You know you've already lost this battle, just give it up," Hermione thought.
"…okay. Just for tonight," Hermione said, and she hated herself for her weakness, "we can pretend it's like it was… but tomorrow, it's like it never happened. No one can know, and… and we have to keep the lights off."
Bellatrix chuckled.
"Because you can't stand the sight of me?" she asked bitterly.
"She noticed," Hermione thought, "of course she noticed. How horrible it must be, to be completely infatuated with someone who can't even look at you?"
"I can't help it," Hermione said, "and also… my arm. But in the dark, maybe it can be like it was in our tent."
"I don't mind the dark," Bellatrix whispered as they drew closer and Hermione put a leg over one of Bellatrix's, only for the pureblood witch to do the same and pull her closer still. She felt Bellatrix's hair brush her cheek first.
"I love you so much," Bellatrix said as Hermione felt kisses on her neck and jaw. She tilted her head back to give her better access, then squeezed her eyes shut.
"I love you too," Hermione gasped, but she almost wept from the warring emotions inside her chest, "I know I shouldn't, but I-"
"I know," Bellatrix said in between kisses, "you don't know what it's like, someone like me falling for someone like you. It hurt, but I was so, so happy."
She stopped talking as she spread kisses around Hermione's cheek, and then bit down on her ear, not too hard, just a nibble, a promise of more to come. Hermione let out a small gasp of surprise, but she didn't care.
"I'm going to regret this," Hermione thought as the last of her resistance fell away. She pulled back briefly to wrap one hand behind Bellatrix's head, among wild hair she now knew to be jet-black. She slowly moved forward in the dark and locked lips with her, sending explosions of fireworks off behind her eyelids, for it was Julia's mouth she tasted as their tongues clashed. Legs still entwined, they sat up together on the bed and the duvet fell away as they kissed, Hermione pouring weeks of frustration into exploring the other girl's face and neck with her lips.
"Oh, I missed you so much," Hermione whispered between kisses as their hands roamed. She abandoned all effort to remind herself of who it really was she was kissing, and momentarily fell into the fantasy that she had her girlfriend and lover Julia White back in her arms again.
"At least respect her. Bellatrix and Julia are the same," Hermione thought, "they're the same. She wants you to call her by her real name, call her by her real name."
"I'm yours," Bellatrix said as they embraced and Hermione sucked on her earlobe, "whatever you ask me of me, I'll do it. Anything."
She meant it, Hermione knew, just as Voldemort could have asked anything of Bellatrix Lestrange, and she would have done it. Hermione knew exactly what she wanted to hear.
"Make love to me like it's our last night together," she whispered in her ear.
Bellatrix responded by kissing her again, and then tugged at her pyjama top, which Hermione quickly pulled over her head to let her breasts fall free. She dropped it between the beds and returned to Bellatrix to slip her hands beneath her t-shirt. As they travelled north, one hand slid over her ribs, now so much more prominent than before.
"Oh Bella," Hermione said as she was reminded how much weight she'd lost.
Bellatrix groaned at the utterance of the name only people close to her used, and her teeth clamped down hard on Hermione's ear.
"I know there's less of me, but I'm still here," Bella said as Hermione gasped in pain, "thanks to you."
Hermione felt the pain dissipate as Bellatrix licked and sucked it away. Now both topless, they came together again. The warmth of Bella's breasts and stomach pressed against her own had her wanting to rip the rest of their clothes off and quench her burning desire. She slipped her hands beneath Bellatrix's pyjama bottoms to touch her arse, then slid one around front.
Bellatrix caught her wrist.
"I.. umm, I didn't have a wand," she said. It took a second for Hermione to register that she meant she hadn't been able to cast any hair removal charms. She almost laughed.
"I don't care," she whispered.
She continued to slide her hand around the front and dove deeper to find, not the coarse hair which grew after shaving, but a patch of very fine, very soft hairs, the result of years of using magic to remove them.
"Beautiful," Hermione said, but before she could dip her hand lower to seek the wetness she knew would be just below, Bellatrix threw the covers off and knelt down to kiss Hermione's stomach. She felt her pyjama bottoms tugged at, and she lifted up to let them slide down over her hips, then knees, and then completely off, leaving her fully naked and exposed to the chill night air. She saw the shadow of Bellatrix moving to kneel between her legs, and felt hair drape across her thighs as fingers spread her open and probed at her entrance.
"Merlin, you are wet," Bella said, followed by a long lick from bottom to top.
"Oh," Hermione said, as any form of actual coherent speech became impossible. She spread her knees wider, as wide as she could, and Bellatrix's tongue found her sensitive spot, then delved into her wetness.
"Finally," she thought as she internalised the unique sensation of her girlfriend's tongue inside her. Bella moved north, and Hermione felt a finger penetrate her. A few flicks of the tongue elicited a small mewling sound she didn't know she was capable of making. A second finger joined the first inside her, increasing the sense of feeling filled. Hermione vaguely registered that Bella was grinding through her pyjamas against her leg, but the sensations both inside and out had her tensed and trembling and not able to focus on anything except the waves of pleasure radiating out from her sex. After weeks of denying herself, orgasm took her by surprise, rising up and cresting before she fully realised what was happening. She threw her head back on the pillow and arched her back as she heard herself give voice to her release, a breathy, urgent sound. Her body convulsed from the top of her head down to the tips of her toes, and actual stars swam in her vision in the darkness. Then she collapsed back onto the bed and, before she'd barely started to come down, Bellatrix, still with two fingers inside her, moved up and kissed her deeply. Hermione tasted her own tangy juices, but she didn't care. Finally, they broke apart, and Hermione lay back, breathing hard and not chilled even in the slightest without the covers. Bella finally withdrew her fingers, swirling once near her entrance, and slowly, Hermione became aware of the heat of Bella's groin, still grinding slowly against her hip.
"She hasn't had a turn yet," Hermione thought.
"Lie back," she said. She pulled off Bella's pyjama bottoms, and they lay naked together for a moment until Hermione's hand drifted down, and she moved lower on the bed to return the favour Bellatrix had just given her. She ran her fingers through the fine hairs between Bella's legs, and felt the tingling start anew between her own.
"Okay, I'm really going to do this," she thought as she drew closer. She used her fingers to spread and explore the soft folds, then, before any second thoughts could trickle in, she leaned forward and led with her tongue, and was rewarded with a moan of satisfaction. The room was chilly though, and she pulled the thick covers over herself, then ducked back down again. She smiled as she alternated using her tongue and fingers to explore every inch of Bella's sex, eventually settling on swirling gently around her most sensitive spot while her fingers curled inside as Bella's breathing grew more insistent. Musky scent filled the warm space beneath the heavy bedcover, but Hermione didn't care, she was focused on one thing, and one thing alone. A trembling began, giving her just a few seconds of warning before soft thighs clamped down on her ears, muffling the sound of Bella's climax. When they released her, she slid up and brought the duvet with her to cover them both, then stroked Bellatrix's breasts and stomach before leaning over to give her a long, wet kiss, just as she had received. Then she lay on her side and pulled Bella close, to touch foreheads as her breathing slowed. Hermione slipped a hand between her own legs and started brazenly touching herself.
"I don't believe it, I need another round," she thought.
"I want to see you," Bella whispered.
"No, I'm going to spoil everything when I can't look at her," Hermione thought.
"We agreed, lights off," she said.
"I have an idea, don't go anywhere," Bellatrix said. Hermione missed her presence as she slid out of bed and her silhouette limped to the loo. She returned a moment later, and Hermione felt her searching around the dark for her. She reached out, and Bella pulled her in close and Hermione felt something slightly damp against her forehead.
"A towel?" she thought.
"We'll use this as a blindfold," Bella said, "then you don't have to see anything. I mean, unless you happen to have an actual blindfold in your pouch."
"I.. no, I do not carry a blindfold around with me," Hermione replied.
"Could conjure one," Bella said.
"No, no magic, I don't think they can track it, but I don't want to take the chance until we have to," she said.
"Towel it is, sit up," Bella said and she helped lift Hermione's head.
"I'm not sure about this," Hermione said as she felt the small towel wrapped about her eyes and tied off above one ear.
"Trust me. Lie back, I'll take care of everything," Bella said.
Hermione did as she was told, and the perfect black of a dark room and blindfold gave way to dark grey as the light from the small lamp filtered through the towel. She felt the covers slowly pulled away, and she instinctively held her scarred arm against her side to hide it. Although she knew she could take off the blindfold at any time, Hermione found that the fact Bella could see her completely, without clothing, while she could not see anything at all, created a kind of helplessness, as if she were at her mercy. She felt fingers start walking up her body, starting at her toes and making their way up one leg, over her knee. They stopped at her hip, as if deciding which way to go, then continued up towards her stomach.
"Tease," Hermione said with a tentative smile.
"Guilty as charged," Bella said.
The anticipation drove her mad, but she refused give her lover the satisfaction of seeing her squirm. The traveling fingers stopped between her breasts, then walked first one way to make a circuit around one nipple, and then the other, before continuing on up towards her neck. When they reached her jaw, Bellatrix leaned forward and kissed her briefly, then trailed her lips back down. When she reached her chest again, she licked one side of Hermione's breast, near the centre of her chest, and then Hermione felt her teeth bite down, pinching the soft, sensitive flesh. Now she squirmed, for Bellatrix had bit hard, eliciting a sharp pain, followed by a warm sensation as she licked the injured area, and then bit again.
Hermione knew what she was doing; she was marking her. The skin would bruise, and then, over the next few weeks, assuming she didn't heal it, whenever she looked at herself, she would see a reminder of this evening. Finally, Bellatrix continued kissing southwards, skirting around the spot Hermione wanted her to go, and stopped at the inside of her upper thigh. She bit down again, repeatedly in the same spot just as before, intentionally bruising her skin, and Hermione squirmed again from the alternating pain and soothing sensation as Bellatrix licked her tender flesh. Finally, she felt Bella shift, and her fingers found their way to her warm wetness, while her tongue returned to one nipple, then shifted to the other. Hermione tensed as she felt her second climax building. Bella proved she knew her well, and Hermione resigned herself to her ministrations.
Almost… almost…
Just as her toes clenched on their own and her fists gripped the sheets, she felt the blindfold torn away, and she gasped as the room came into stark focus.
"Look at me," Bellatrix said in such a tone that Hermione was forced to obey, and her eyes snapped to the pureblood witch's rosy cheeked face and wild raven locks.
"Her eyes," Hermione thought, as for the first time she saw flecks of silver in them. The familiar revulsion rose up in her gut, but it was such a small thing compared to the tidal wave of pleasure that washed over her as Bella's fingers pushed her over the edge. She wanted to throw her head back and close her eyes, but she forced them to stay open as she rode her climax to its completion, even though her vision tunnelled and she forgot her own name. Then it was done, and she was panting and quivering with aftershocks as Bellatrix slowly sucked one finger clean, and then another. Hermione stared at her face, her old aversion shrinking and fading away to nothingness, as if carried over the horizon by a receding tsunami. She held her arms up and Bellatrix came to her, and they lay facing one another under the covers, hands slowly wandering and caressing as Hermione finished coming down. The dim light of the single lamp seemed as bright as the noon day sun to her as she stared into Bella's eyes, and the pureblood stared right back.
"You're beautiful," Hermione said, and Bella smiled, a genuine, satisfied, happy smile, and Hermione felt her own smile in response.
"What have you done? What are you doing?" she thought.
"Shut up," she told herself, "For once in your life, live in the moment, and enjoy it for what it is."
"Your eyes look like Andromeda's," Hermione said.
Bellatrix raised an eyebrow.
"First of all, Andy's eyes look like mine," she said, "but a lot of us have it; it's a Black thing."
Hermione continued staring. She felt like she could get lost in them forever.
"They look like stars," she whispered, then she blinked, "oh, is that why you're all named-"
"Yes," Bellatrix said, "partially anyway."
They lay facing each other, and Hermione relished the feeling of soft, gentle caresses, and staring into the eyes of someone she'd just shared something so intimate with. Bellatrix's eyelids began to droop, and she snapped them wide open.
"You haven't recovered yet… you need to sleep," Hermione said.
An expression of sadness and resignation came over Bella's features.
"If I go to sleep, then our night is over," she said.
Hermione smiled slightly. After having gone without for so long, she felt she could go all night. Bella was another story though.
"Don't worry, I'll still be here in the morning," she said, "sleep, we have to restore your memories tomorrow, and you need to recover for that to work."
"Sex with you helps me recover," Bella said as she slapped her lightly on the bum, then pulled her tight against her body.
"Well, maybe one more round," Hermione thought.
They kept going until well after the sun rose. Eventually, Bellatrix passed out asleep when she closed her eyes while kissing her, and Hermione pulled back to watch her face. The reality of what had happened started to sink in, and she stood up, made sure Bellatrix was covered up to the neck by the duvet, and started pacing. As was so common after lovemaking, the fact she wore not a thread of clothing didn't bother her at all; her concerns resided entirely within her head.
"Oh Merlin, why did I do that?" she thought. The weight of her responsibilities and relationships with her friends came crashing down on her shoulders, and she put the heels of her palms to her forehead as she walked.
"Okay, this can still work," she thought, "you set the rules beforehand, all you have to do is stick to them. It was one night only, and we have to keep a secret. Tomorrow, or rather, later today, you don't even kiss her, just get the memories, and get them to Harry and Kingsley. Then you don't have to see her anymore."
Her heart ached at the thought, but she tried to reassure herself.
"It's for the best," she thought.
She shivered from walking back and forth in the nude, and picked up her pyjamas. She held them for a moment, then decided to clean up and warm up with a shower. The streaming water washed away all trace of their activities, all except for the already-forming bruises on the inner side of one upper thigh and one breast. She stuffed the pyjamas into her pouch and dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved shirt for the next day. Then she lay down on top of the covers on the empty bed and stared at the ceiling. Dressing in day clothes and moving to the other bed felt like a betrayal; all she wanted to do was strip naked again and cuddle up next to Bella.
"No, she needs sleep to recover, and you need to stop thinking there's a possibility of a romantic relationship with her," Hermione thought. She switched off the light and lay in the dark with her eyes open for a time, and tried to avoid thinking about the best sex of her life. Then she gave in, closed her eyes and smiled while replaying as much as she could recall.
Hermione woke later that day and stretched, feeling the tightness in her limbs and the sore spots on her breast and inner thigh. Bellatrix still slumbered peacefully in the next bed, but light filtered in through the curtains. She checked the clock; it was mid-afternoon. They had slept most of the day.
"To be fair, that's because we were up the entire night," she thought. She smoothed her clothes out, tied up her hair, brushed her teeth, hung her pouch around her neck, and shuffled off to the kitchen.
"Coffee first," she thought as she set a kettle to boil.
"There are sandwiches in the fridge, if you're hungry dear," Mrs. Findlay called from the sitting room.
"Wow, thank you so much," Hermione replied. She opened the grey door and pulled out a plastic wrapped plate with several sandwiches and happened to spot a brown bottle of chocolate milk mix stored upside down. She poured a glass of milk and squeezed in copious amounts of sugary syrup, then stirred; the sound of the spoon hitting the side of the glass made a distinctive clinking that served to help wake her up. The kettle started whistling, and Hermione shifted over to pour the now boiling water into a mug.
Five minutes later, she balanced the tray in one hand as she turned the doorknob, then backed into the bedroom again. She set the tray down on the table and took a sip of her brew, then laid out a fresh set of clothes for Bella to wear during the day. Bellatrix lay beneath the covers, still sleeping. Hermione watched her breathe deeply for a moment.
"Okay, be strong," she thought. She opened the curtains to let sunlight into the room, took a deep breath, and clapped her hands twice.
"Rise and shine," she said, "time to wake up."
Bellatrix stirred and her eyes fluttered open. When she caught sight of Hermione, she smiled.
"Good morning," she said.
"Afternoon," Hermione said, "I hope you're feeling better, we're going to try and recover your memories."
Bellatrix sat up and held the duvet to her chest, and from the expression on her face, Hermione knew what she was about to say.
"Hermione-" Bellatrix said.
"Don't," Hermione said, but she ended up looking at the other bed so she could get the rest of her words out, "it was a one-time thing, our secret; we can't tell anyone."
A long moment of silence stretched between them.
"Fine," Bellatrix said suddenly, and she threw the covers off; Hermione turned to face the door.
"There are clothes on the counter," she said. She heard Bellatrix limp her way to the loo, and the door slammed shut.
"She's angry," Hermione thought, "but she'll have to get over it; this is for the best."
Truth be told, if she were angry, it would be easier to keep her at arm's length; Hermione wasn't sure if she could resist if Bellatrix actively tried to seduce her. Flashes of their lovemaking from the previous night came to her, and she pushed them away.
"You can't, it would never work," she thought, "you need to be an adult about this, or you're going to get hurt, and worse, you're going to hurt the people around you."
The water started running, and Hermione rummaged around in her pouch to pull out the things she would need: several glass jars to store memories, some of the leftover potion from her parents, and her wand. Bellatrix emerged a few minutes later, wearing the t-shirt and jeans Hermione let her borrow.
"I'm starving," she said as she sat down in front of the tray. They ate in silence. Bellatrix focused on the food and Hermione was happy to avoid engaging in conversation. She passed the chocolate milk, which Bellatrix accepted with a nod. With her belly full, Hermione handed another bar of chocolate to Bella.
"It can't hurt," she said. Bellatrix ate half of it, then set it down.
"Okay, I'm ready," she said.
"Merlin, I hope this works," Hermione thought. Bellatrix uncorked the potion and drank it all, and Hermione waited a minute for it to take effect, then pointed her wand.
"Just like old times," Bellatrix said. Hermione ignored her.
"Vivica scopum," she said.
For a moment, nothing happened, then Bellatrix's eyes widened and she looked off into the distance. A repulsive look of disgust came over her face, and she gasped for breath, then looked like she was about to cry. The rapidly changing expressions quickly faded into a mask the Hermione recognised as occlumency.
"Give me your wand," Bellatrix said as she held out your hand, but a warning went off in Hermione's head.
"No," Hermione said as she held her wand out of arm's reach.
"I need it to get the memories out," Bellatrix said, but Hermione saw the cold determination in her eyes, saw through the lie.
"You can't, you have to wait for the charm to wear off first, otherwise the memories will vanish, you know this," Hermione said.
Hermione only had a split-second of warning as Bellatrix focused on her, then launched herself. She fell backwards off the stool and hit the floor hard, landing with Bella on top of her. She felt her wand arm pinned by both of Bellatrix's hands, and she pushed with her other hand and twisted in vain to try and get free as Bellatrix attempted to prise her fingers open.
"No, don't!" Hermione shouted, "they'll throw me in Azkaban!"
Bellatrix stopped, her fingers still intertwined with Hermione's.
"If we don't show up tonight, with your memories, they'll throw me in prison," Hermione said.
Bellatrix closed her eyes and looked down, then opened them and looked at Hermione, understanding combined with a desperate fear in her silver-flecked depths.
"Okay," she said as she sat up and pulled Hermione to a sitting position as well. Hermione saw the blank expression come over her features again.
"You can't lock them away with occlumency, you have to focus on the memories so you can recall them later," she said. Bellatrix shook her head, closed her eyes, pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms about them, and buried her face. She shuddered and let out a long, painful moan, like a wounded animal.
"I didn't expect it to be this bad," Hermione thought. She reached out to touch Bella on the shoulder, but the other girl flinched away.
"It's me," Hermione whispered, "I'm here."
She reached around Bellatrix's shoulders to pull her close, and this time Bella leaned into her, shuddering as she wept. Several times, she shook her head, but she didn't say anything, and Hermione figured she would speak when she was ready. Instead, the golden girl held her hand and made gentle shushing sounds while stroking the small scar, as was her habit.
Finally, Bellatrix sat up straighter, wiped her tears, and looked Hermione in the eye, but this time it was the pureblood who broke eye contact and turned away.
"We have to show them the memories? There's no other way?" she asked.
Hermione nodded.
"It's been long enough now," she said.
Bella nodded.
"Who's going to see them?" she asked.
"Umm… Minister Shacklebolt certainly, and Harry, and possibly Head Auror Dawlish and Professor Winthrop," Hermione said, "and… technically I'm your legal counsel so, probably me too. Erm, unless you don't want me to, then I won't."
Bellatrix looked over at her again.
"I love you," she said as she shook her head slowly, "but you have to see them, so you know."
She spoke slowly, as if the words were painful for her. Then she held out her hand for the wand again, and Hermione hesitated.
"I swear on the House of Black, I won't run," Bella said, "I don't think I could bear the thought of you sent Azkaban because of me."
Hermione knew how she felt.
"Though, perhaps that's just what she's trying to get you to feel," she thought, "come on Hermione, at some point, you're going to have to decide to take the risk or not; you don't have all day."
Hermione turned her wand around and handed it to Bella, and the pureblood witch immediately placed it to her temple and drew out a long, silvery thread. Hermione uncapped one of the jars and Bellatrix tapped it in. They sat on the floor at the foot of the bed and memory after memory came out, and jar after jar went from empty to occupied.
"So many?" Hermione whispered. Bellatrix nodded. They started doubling up memories inside jars. Several more came out, until finally, Bellatrix handed her wand back, and Hermione capped the last jar.
Bella looked at the memories, then opened her mouth to speak but didn't say anything, and Hermione waited patiently.
"I tried," she said, "I tried to fight, but I couldn't… and I never wanted it. The ones where it looks like I did, it's because of a love potion."
A heavy stone dropped into the pit of Hermione's stomach. She had thought the abuse had been physical, the notion of anyone trying to do anything sexual in Azkaban had never even crossed her mind. Bellatrix looked at her like she didn't have any words, like she was trying to convey meaning through her expression alone.
"You have to believe me, I tried-" Bellatrix said, and Hermione felt hot tears sliding down her own cheeks.
"I'm so sorry," Hermione said, "I'm sorry I didn't get you out of there sooner."
Bellatrix looked at her with a cross between confusion and pain.
"You got me out," she said. Then she leaned forward and gave Hermione a kiss on the lips, barely more than a peck. Hermione licked her lips to erase the sensation, but she couldn't be angry with her for crossing that boundary, not now.
"You got me out," Bellatrix said again.
Hermione took a deep breath and stood up. She gathered all the jars and stowed them in her pouch.
"Let's go, it's time," she said as she held out an arm. Bellatrix used the bed for support as she climbed to her feet.
"I can't," she said, "I can't face them. Oh Merlin, everyone's going to know. When they find out I'm released from prison, the press will run stories… everyone's going to know."
She hugged herself and seemed so forlorn, Hermione couldn't help but step closer to hold her. Bellatrix's arms moved around her midsection, and she held on tightly. Hermione listened to her shuddering breaths, listened to her try to control herself.
"We'll get through it together. Even if we aren't… dating, I'm not going to abandon you," Hermione said.
Bellatrix held on even tighter, and then slowly, as if she were forcing herself, stepped back. Hermione looked at her puffy, red eyes and tear-streaked face and figured she must look similar.
"I can't go, but you had better… you don't want to be late," Bellatrix said.
Hermione nodded, then she paused.
"You're… you're going to be okay, if I leave you alone, right?" she asked.
Bellatrix looked at her in teary-eyed confusion for a second.
"You mean, am I going to do anything crazy like slit my wrists in the shower?" she asked.
Hermione laughed nervously.
"That or… try to run and hide," she replied, "you know."
"I don't have a wand and I can barely walk, so, I'll still be here when you get back," Bellatrix said. Then she smiled, and her expression darkened as an unstable gleam came to her eye.
"Plus, I need to stick around," she said, "All the pain he gave me, I'm going to revisit on him tenfold, one way or another. You can bet on that, or my name isn't Bellatrix Black."
She pinned Hermione with her gaze, but Hermione clearly saw the trauma behind the mask of vengeance. She stepped forward to break through it and brushed her fingertips against Bella's cheek, and the pureblood witch's expression immediately softened as she closed her eyes and tilted her head towards the gesture.
"Please… don't think less of me," Bella whispered as she opened her eyes again.
Hermione forced a bitter smile to her lips.
"Never," she said. Then she stepped back, caught Bella's silver-flecked gaze one last time, turned on the spot, and apparated.
A/N: Please review.