Notes:
Ready for the tango? This is the first time I've written about dancing, and it really wasn't as easy as I thought it would be (not to mention I was looking FOREVER for THE perfect song). I'm curious what you think. I would recommend that you let the song play alongside, but of course it's not a must. You can find the link below.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Hermione let her gaze wander over the dancing couples on the dance floor. On the one hand, it reassured her that they wouldn't be the only ones dancing, as the idea of being alone on the dance floor with Narcissa, helplessly exposed to the gaze of all the guests as if on display, made her terribly nervous.
On the other hand, it also meant that they had to be considerate of the other dancers and Hermione sincerely hoped that the magic on the shoes took into account the fact that they didn't have the entire dance floor to themselves. She could already imagine accidentally bumping into another couple while doing a spin, drawing even more unnecessary attention to herself.
She tried to calm herself with what Narcissa had told her. She wasn't a puppet, she was still in control. And Narcissa would lead her. That calmed her down even more. Narcissa would make sure she felt safe.
As soon as she finished that thought, she felt Narcissa suddenly let go of her hand. Panicked, she tried to reach for Narcissa's hand, but the blonde, with a single determined look from her ice-blue eyes, told her to stay right there, in the middle of the dance floor.
She watched desperately as Narcissa made her way confidently through the dancing couples and headed straight for the DJ's desk. Hermione hated how alone, helpless and insecure she felt. She felt like a puppy learning the command to "sit and stay" while ist owner tested it by walking as far away as possible without turning around.
Suddenly she could understand why so many dogs had problems with this command. With every step Narcissa took away from her, the urge within her to simply ignore the older woman's command and run after her grew stronger.
She tried to distract herself by looking for their table so she could gauge how good Minerva and Bellatrix's view of the dance floor would be if the two hadn't already been at each other's throats during her time with Narcissa in the bathroom.
The moment her eyes found the table, she instantly regretted her decision to even look for it. Bellatrix sat sideways on her chair with her legs crossed so that her entire body was facing the dance floor. With her elbow on the backrest and her head resting almost thoughtfully on the fingers at her temple, she fixed Hermione with those infinitely dark eyes, so that Hermione had the feeling of being pulled into a dark black hole from which there was no escape.
Her other hand appeared to be lying loosely on the table, but Hermione could see her fingers drumming restlessly on the table surface. She swallowed nervously, her throat suddenly feeling uncomfortably dry.
Her breath hitched and she could feel the heat rising throughout her body as Bellatrix's eyes suddenly moved painfully slowly over her body from top to bottom. Only then did she remember that she was now wearing a completely different dress. A dress that revealed much more of her body than the previous one.
Just as she had this realization, Bellatrix's eyes shot back up and found Hermione's. The intense eye contact almost made her heart stop and she licked her lips nervously. Bellatrix followed the movement with her eyes.
Hermione tried to take a deep breath in and out, searching for Minerva's green eyes as she turned around in her chair when she noticed Bellatrix next to her staring transfixed at the dance floor.
Her hope that Minerva would reassure her as usual melted away like snow in the sun when she realized the exact moment Minerva's eyes found her on the dance floor and stopped mid-motion. Her gaze was inscrutable, but her already thin lips seemed to grow even thinner as she pressed them together at the sight of Hermione in the new dress, and her posture became even stiffer.
But before Hermione could interpret these changes in the headmistress' demeanor, her head whipped around as a new song suddenly sounded from the speakers and her whole body began to vibrate in joyful anticipation.
As if by itself, her whole body tensed and stood proudly as her eyes immediately found Narcissa's ice blue ones on the opposite side of the dance floor. Hermione's heartbeat seemed to merge with the beat of the music and become a synchronized pulse.
Like a predator stalking its prey, Hermione put one foot in front of the other in time with the music, swaying her hips and never taking her eyes off Narcissa for a second. She mirrored her movements and approached her just as slowly.
When only a step separated them, both stopped as if by an invisible signal and began to circle each other. Hermione's heart was racing. Not from excitement or nervousness. No, her whole body urged her to pounce on Narcissa and pull her close.
At the same time, an invisible tension between them prevented her from taking a step further towards Narcissa. She was so close and yet not close enough. She wanted to get closer, but couldn't. As if they were magnetic poles that both attracted and repelled each other.
Hermione could barely stand the tension when suddenly a woman's voice began to sing and Narcissa stopped. Hermione followed suit as she waited, transfixed, for the woman's next movements.
When marimba rhythms start to play, dance with me, sway with me.
Narcissa pushed first one arm, then her other straight up above her head, as if she wanted to stretch, and with this movement she pushed her upper body forward. Hermione's fingers itched to reach her breasts.
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore, hold me close, sway me more.
The blonde gyrated her hips as her hands slid from her head, along her neck, across her torso, down to the skirt of her dress, like the hands of a lover caressing her with their touch. Jealousy towards those hands that weren't hers was bubbling up in Hermione.
Like a flower bending in the breeze, bend with me, sway with ease.
Finally Narcissa reached out to her and motioned for her to come to her with an enticing movement of her fingers. Hermione shot forward and grabbed Narcissa's hand, but she had retreated from her with every step she took until the two of them were hanging together only by their outstretched arms.
When we dance, you have a way with me, stay with me, sway with me.
With a jerk of her arm, Hermione pulled Narcissa towards her, allowing her to turn towards her in a quick pirouette, finally pressing her body against hers. Hermione held her tightly, as if she were hugging the older woman from behind, and moved in step with her, first to the side, then forward.
Other dancers may be on the floor, but my eyes will see only you.
Suddenly Narcissa broke out of her embrace and lunged forward as if to flee from her. Hermione grabbed her arms and held her tight as she fell forward on one leg, trusting that Hermione wouldn't let her fall. She jerked Narcissa back into her arms.
Only you have that magic technique, when we sway, I go weak.
Narcissa turned on one leg to face her, grabbing one of Hermione's hands in her own as she slid the other onto Hermione's back and pulled her close. Hermione automatically clutched Narcissa's shoulder with her free hand as she led her across the dance floor with quick, purposeful steps.
I can hear the sounds of violins, long before it begins.
When they reached the end of the dance floor, they stopped abruptly and in a single movement, Hermione wrapped her leg around Narcissa's waist and hooked her leg behind hers. Narcissa spun her around, while Hermione's outstretched leg seemed to spin around them both.
Make me thrill as only you know how, sway me smooth, sway me now.
Again they stopped mid-movement and Narcissa let Hermione's upper body bend over backwards, so far that Hermione felt like she was about to fall over, but Narcissa's hand on her back held her steady. She had never felt like she did in that moment. She felt like she was in free fall, and at the same time the warm hand on her back gave her absolute security that she would fall but never hit the bottom. She still felt this certainty even when Narcissa let go of her hand and she only had the hand behind her back and her own leg for support, which was still wrapped around Narcissa's leg.
Other dancers may be on the floor, but my eyes will see only you.
She shuddered as Narcissa took advantage of her helpless position and ran a finger along the skin from her neck to the spot between her breasts. With just the strength of her hand on Hermione's back, Narcissa lifted her up again and brought her to eye level with her. Their faces were so close they could have kissed. Hermione could feel Narcissa's breath on her lips as they circled the dance floor together, their arms wrapped around each other, their clothes seeming to merge together in a swirl of black and white.
Only you have that magic technique, when we sway, I go weak.
Narcissa stopped and Hermione used the momentum to turn her back to Narcissa when suddenly, pressed tightly against Narcissa's body, she let herself slide down until her head was level with Narcissa's abdomen. She was suddenly grateful for the long slit in her dress that allowed her to bend her knees while her other leg was stretched out to the side.
I can hear the sounds of violins, long before it begins.
Narcissa grabbed her shoulders as if she couldn't stand being so far away from her and pulled her back up towards her in an agonizingly slow movement. They were still pressed together so tightly that Hermione could feel Narcissa's breasts brushing against her back.
Make me thrill as only you know how, sway me smooth, sway me now.
When they were at the same height again, Hermione let her head fall on Narcissa's shoulder while the blonde wrapped an arm around her from behind, placing her hand just under her breasts and holding her there. Hermione's hand slid over Narcissa's of its own accord, holding her in place. They danced backwards together to the rhythm of the music, two bodies in perfect unison.
Sway me now, sway me now.
Suddenly Narcissa pushed her away and spun her into a freestanding pirouette, only to grab her hand again mid-spin and turn her back towards her. In a single fluid motion, Hermione wrapped her arms around the blonde's neck and used the momentum of the turn to swing her legs upwards. Narcissa caught her under the back of her knees and turned with Hermione in her arms until the momentum left her and she slowed down and stopped with the last strains of the song.
Narcissa carefully lowered her again until Hermione could feel solid ground beneath her feet. Her arms were still wrapped around Narcissa's neck, who was leaning her forehead against hers. They remained in this position for a long moment, their rapid breathing slowly calming.
Only when she tilted her head back slightly and looked into Narcissa's bright blue eyes did she hear the clapping around her. She looked around the hall confused when she remembered that they were not alone.
When she caught Narcissa's eye, who obviously had been completely lost in their dance as well, they both laughed out loud and Hermione couldn't help it. She hugged the blonde in the middle of the dance floor and hugged her tightly one last time before finally letting go of her and letting her lead her by the hand back to their table.
Only then did Hermione realize how thirsty she was. Still a little out of breath, but incredibly happy, she collapsed into her chair, immediately reached for her glass of water and drank it in one gulp.
"Someone's thirsty." She met Bellatrix's gaze on the other side of the table as she put the glass of water back down. Her eyes flickered briefly to Minerva, whose expression was just as unreadable as it had been just before her dance. The headmistress sipped her drink diligently but remained stoically silent.
"Well, when you get spun around the dance floor like that."
Bellatrix shrugged her shoulders, pointedly bored: "I wouldn't know, I wasn't paying that much attention."
Narcissa snorted into her wine glass before drinking, "If you want to tell yourself that..."
This earned her a dark look from her sister and Hermione half expected Bellatrix to stick her tongue out at her, but the dark-haired witch seemed to change her mind at the last moment and turned her attention back to Hermione.
"I'll give you one thing, Cissy." Her eyes slid over Hermione's upper body. "The dress is quite nice."
"Quite nice?!" Narcissa gasped indignantly.
"Yeah," Bella smiled, once again happy that she was able to get her sister out of her shell, "quite nice."
"Did you hear that, darling?" Narcissa looked at Hermione and gave her a meaningful smile. "Quite nice it is."
Hermione couldn't help the smile that spread across her lips as she thought back to her time with Narcissa in the bathroom, where she'd used the exact same words to describe the blonde, even though they didn't even begin to do her justice.
The intimate moment the two shared seemed not to have been missed by Bellatrix in particular, as she asked impatiently, "Are you ready to dance with me then, little witch?"
Before Hermione could answer, Narcissa had already snapped at her sister: "Let her catch her breath, Bella, would you!"
Hermione put a reassuring hand on her arm: "It's okay, Cissy." Turning to Bellatrix, she asked: "Please give me a little break, Bella."
"Okay, if you need to." She drummed her fingers impatiently on the table again. "I take it from the relaxed atmosphere between you that you were able to resolve your differences from earlier?"
"Yes, Bella, we could," Narcissa replied curtly.
Bellatrix leaned forward curiously, "What else were you guys talking about in there?"
"That's really none of your business, Bella," the blonde replied coolly.
Frustrated, Bella leaned back in her chair and began stretching, apparently for lack of something more exciting to do. As she folded her arms behind her head, Hermione tried not to stare too much at the dark-haired woman's biceps, which protruded freely from her arms in this position.
The idea that she would soon be able to hold onto those biceps while dancing with the Auror made her dizzy. She sipped her Lillet and let her gaze wander over the women at her table. Since the dance with Narcissa, the mood at the table seemed even more tense than before. She sincerely hoped that this tension wouldn't increase in direct proportion with each dance.
Bella's voice tore her out of her thoughts, now examining the ceiling paintings in detail: "How difficult it must have been to paint the entire ceiling without magic. The poor Muggle artists must have had terrible neck and back problems."
"One artist." Everyone looked surprised at Minerva, who had now spoken for the first time since Hermione and Narcissa had come back to the table.
"What?" Bellatrix asked irritated.
"It was just one artist who designed the ceiling paintings. Rubens," Minerva explained.
"Why doens't it surprise me that you know something like that, kitten? And you're probably able to tell me something about each of the…" She looked up again to count the paintings.
"…nine partial paintings," Minerva added, without once raising her eyes to the ceiling.
As if Bellatrix hadn't heard her at all, she finished counting calmly and lowered her head again: "... nine partial paintings, aren't you?"
The headmistress simply shrugged her shoulders and sipped her drink, "Maybe."
"I always wondered why you didn't end up in Ravenclaw," Narcissa interjected.
This made the controlled Scottish woman smile: "The Sorting Hat considered that for a long time before putting me in Gryffindor."
"Hmmm, me too," Narcissa smiled back, clearly lost in memories.
"Me too," said Hermione, enjoying the feeling of togetherness that she shared with the two women. Narcissa and Minerva apparently felt the same way.
Suddenly all eyes turned expectantly to Bellatrix, who had been grimly watching this moment between the other women. She rolled her eyes, "Well, not me."
"Then which other house did it consider for you? The Sorting Hat thought about it for a long time with you too," Minerva remembered, leaning forward curiously.
"Oh oh," Narcissa murmured.
Bellatrix gave her sister a sharp look, "Shut up, Cissy!"
She answered evasively: "The Sorting Hat didn't think twice about me at all, it sent me straight to Slytherin. Your memory must be wrong, McGonagall."
"And there you just complimented me on my outstanding memory, Bellatrix. Ttz, tz."
Bellatrix sulked and slid down in her chair and punished the headmistress with silence, but she didn't let her off the hook so easily: "Come on, Bellatrix, which house was it?"
The eldest Black sister remained vehemently silent, but Minerva was just as stubborn as she was: "I wonder if there is a gentle and soft Hufflepuff heart beating deep inside you?"
"Absolutely not!" Bellatrix blurted.
Minerva smiled triumphantly and leaned back in her chair. Bellatrix paled as she realized she had fallen right into the Scottish woman's trap: "So it was my house?"
Bellatrix snorted, "Don't flatter yourself on that, McGonagall."
"That would never occur to me." She gave Bellatrix a sympathetic look. "That's nothing to be ashamed of, Bellatrix."
"Oh really?"
"Of course not, quite the opposite!" Hermione spoke up.
Sarcasm dripped from Bellatrix's voice. "Then I should be proud that the Sorting Hat considered me for Gryffindor?"
"Of course you should!" Hermione emphasized. "Bella, you're one of the bravest witches I know, and that's saying something considering who's sitting at the table with us! You deceived the most dangerous wizard of our time for decades despite being right under his nose the whole time, survived 14 years in Azkaban during which you were exposed to dementors on a daily basis, and in the end you faced Voldemort himself in battle. Of course you should be proud of how brave you are."
Bellatrix looked at her intently. You could see the wheels turning in her head, and something about what Hermione had said seemed to have convinced the witch, because her eyes suddenly softened a touch and for a brief moment, Hermione caught a glimpse of the Bella, with whom she had been alone behind the pillar at the buffet.
Her heart leaped with joy at the thought that she had brought this out in the usually untouchable woman. But the moment was gone as quickly as it had come and Bellatrix threw a warning look around before sipping her gin: "If any of you ever tells anyone about this, I will find you and then, unfortunately, I will have to kill you."
She winked at Hermione over the rim of her glass. Hermione wasn't at all surprised that Bellatrix had retreated behind her arrogant and mocking facade here in the ballroom, and she didn't blame the older woman for it either. Rather, she felt honored that she had opened up to her and given her a glimpse of her true self. She just hoped that she would get to spend a little more time with the real Bella in the future.
Suddenly a gray-clad ballroom employee walked up to her table and asked politely, "Miss Bellatrix Black?"
"Yes?" Bellatrix looked up at him questioningly.
He handed her a folded piece of paper: "This is for you. From the lady at the bar."
All four women craned their necks curiously to see who the man was talking about, who had already disappeared among the other guests. Hermione couldn't believe her eyes when she recognized the redhead who had been in the ladies' room with Bella earlier.
Her jaw muscles clenched as she looked between the redhead and Bellatrix, trying to figure out what was going on between the two of them. The unknown woman smiled shyly at Bellatrix and blushed again under the older woman's gaze. Hermione seethed with anger and jealousy.
She fixed Bellatrix with her gaze as she turned back around to the table to see from her expression what kind of relationship she had with the red-haired woman. But Bella didn't move a muscle as she unfolded the piece of paper in her hand, far too slowly for Hermione's standards, and read what was written on it.
Hermione died of curiosity. It took all of her willpower not to lean over the table and snatch the piece of paper from Bella's hand and read for herself what the woman so urgently had to tell her. Her leg twitched restlessly under the table and she crossed her arms so that she wouldn't imitate Bellatrix's tics and drum her fingers impatiently on the table like the older woman had done countless times that evening.
"Bella?" Narcissa also seemed to be waiting anxiously for her sister to tell them what was on the note.
The dark-haired witch looked up and, almost bored, caused the piece of paper in her hand to burst into flames with an unspoken spell.
"Bella!" Narcissa cried in shock, reached for her glass of water and poured its contents over Bella's hand.
"Jesus, Cissy, don't wet your panties now, the spell wouldn't have burned me." Disgusted, she shook the burnt pieces of paper out of her hand and wiped them dry with a napkin.
"But we're still in the Muggle world. The last thing you should do here is use magic, whether said or unsaid," Narcissa hissed.
Hermione had tried to wait patiently for the sisters to exchange blows, but now she couldn't stand it any longer. She stood up abruptly, finished her Lillet in one gulp and walked around the table to Bellatrix, who looked up at her in surprise.
She held out her hand, "I think it's time for my dance, Bella." The jealous green monster in her thrust her arm up in triumph as Bellatrix stood up, beaming with joy, placing her hand in hers. With her head held high, she pulled Bella toward the hidden door at the edge of the dance floor, making sure they were both clearly visible from the bar, especially as they held each other's hands.
She could hear Bella laughing next to her, "Hmmm, little witch, do you feel the need to mark your territory?"
She stopped and turned to Bella so suddenly that the older woman almost ran into her. She replied provocatively to the mocking look from her dark eyes: "And if that were the case?"
Bella took a step closer to her and put her hand possessively on her hip. Her voice was a hoarse whisper as she replied, "Then I'd find that pretty hot."
Hermione ignored the nervous fluttering in her stomach for a moment, turned around again and pulled Bella the last bit through the door into the hidden bathroom so that she could finally be alone with her. She had questions and she wasn't going to let her out of here until she had her answers.
But before she could even say a word, Bella had picked her up and placed her on the counter next to the sink. She stepped so close that Hermione automatically spread her legs to make room for her.
She supported both arms on either side of Hermione and looked deep into her eyes as she said: "There, little witch. I have a few questions for you and I won't let you out of here until I get a satisfactory answer to all of them."
Perplexed, Hermione looked into the older woman's scowl for a moment before a mischievous grin crept onto her own features and she wrapped her arms around Bellatrix's neck while she wrapped her legs, which had plenty of room to move thanks to Cissy's dress, around the older woman's hips.
With a jerk she pulled Bella closer to her, who was visibly surprised by the younger woman's unusual directness and instinctively grasped Hermione's waist with her hands. Hermione enjoyed both the short gasp of shock from the ususally arrogant woman and the brief moment of superiority while it lasted.
"That's good, Bella," she said smugly. Two could play this game.
"Oh yeah?" Bella's voice sounded hoarse and she had to clear her throat for a moment. It was exhilarating to be able to turn the tables and unsettle the great Bellatrix Black.
"Yes. Because I have a few questions for you, too, and, like you, I'm not prepared to let you out until you answer them for me."
Now it was Bella's turn to grin and she pulled Hermione even closer to her so that her hips put pressure between her legs. Hermione tried to suppress the moan that seemed to come from deep in her abdomen, but she could tell by the glint in Bella's eyes that she hadn't quite succeeded. So you want to see which one of us loses control first? All right, challenge accepted .
She slid her arms forward a little so that her hands could play with the fine hairs on Bella's neck. She felt the witch shudder under her hands and grinned triumphantly. Bella's eyes darkened.
"Very well, little witch. How many questions do you have?"
"Two. You?"
"Same." She began to run her fingers gently over her waist and Hermione had to concentrate to keep her breathing normal. "May I start?"
"Why you?"
Bella shrugged, "Age before beauty." She grinned.
"Mmmh." Hermione tilted her head and thought for a moment. "Now that you give me a compliment at your expense." She grinned as Bella gave her a loving nudge on the side. "What's your first question?"
Her fingers had now moved into Bella's hair and were massaging her scalp. The dark witch visibly struggled not to close her eyes in pleasure at Hermione's touch.
"In the entrance hall…"
"Yes?"
"...when you saw me..."
"Yes?"
"What inappropriate words were you thinking that you wouldn't say out loud?"
Hermione paused for a moment and bit her bottom lip before plucking up the courage to bring her lips close to Bellatrix's ear. She took a moment, opened her mouth and just breathed. She felt Bella's grip on her waist tighten as she felt her warm breath on her ear.
"Hermione," she hissed threateningly.
Hermione whispered the words slowly into her ear in the most sensual voice she could manage: "Bella...you are so hot...so sexy...jaw-dropping...worthy of worship and...irresistible."
With every word she breathed into her ear, Bella shuddered, which made Hermione even more animated and so she let her tongue dart out and slide along the older woman's ear.
Bellatrix jumped back in shock as a moan escaped her at the touch. The look Bella gave her didn't bode well. As soon as she finished the thought, Bella's hands went to her bare knees and drew small circles on her skin.
Hermione swallowed several times before she felt like her vocal cords were wet enough not to fail her as she asked, "What did the note say?"
Bella's hands moved a little further up her thigh without stopping their caresses for a moment: "Her phone number."
Hermione's eyebrows shot up. Her phone number. And Bellatrix had burned it straight away. Whatever had happened with the redhead in the ladies' room seemed to have left no lasting impression on the dark-haired beauty in her arms when she had no interest in repeating it.
Before she could even deepen that thought, Bella asked her second question: "What happened with Cissy in here?"
Hermione looked at Bella intently. Did she hear some uncertainty in her voice?
"We talked."
Bella rolled her eyes, "That's not what I mean, as you know perfectly well."
Her hands pinched her inner thighs warningly. Hermione winced at the mix of pain and pleasure that shot through her simultaneously at the touch. She began massaging Bella's neck with one hand while her other hand ran through her velvety soft curls.
"We kissed."
"Nothing else?"
"Strictly speaking, that's another question, but I'm giving you a pass. No, nothing else."
She didn't know whether the brief episode in front of the mirror, when Cissy had licked her shoulder up to her ear, counted as kissing or as more than that, and she shivered involuntarily at the memory.
"What was that?" Bella asked immediatly.
"What was what?" Hermione tried to deflect.
"What you were just thinking about and what made you shudder so beautifully, little witch." Shit.
"Come on, out with it, what did Cissy do that caused this reaction?"
Bella's hands were now dangerously high on her thighs and Hermione was having trouble concentrating. She lowered her hands to Bella's shoulders and began massaging them to get back at the witch, although unfortunately it didn't seem to have the same effect as the hands on the inside of her thighs had.
"We...we stood there together in front of the mirror." Bella turned around briefly to look. "Yes?"
"We were looking at my dress together that she picked out for me and...she hugged me from behind. Tightly. She…licked from my shoulder, down my neck, to my earlobe." She shuddered again at the memory. "She was watching me in the mirror...watching me closely how I reacted." Bella's hands were now almost brushing against her panties as her hands slid even further up.
"And then?" Bella asked. Her voice had become deeper.
"Nothing. She let go of me and stepped away from the mirror."
"Hmmm." That seemed to make Bella thoughtful.
„Bella?"
„Mmmh?"
"What happened with the redhead in the ladies' room?"
Notes:
Is it just me or is it getting hot in here? 🔥 😅
Song for the tango: watch?v=TQoU1qxddaI
Inspiration für den Tango:
watch?v=b24a_2NPleg
watch?v=moe3i3AycwE
watch?v=6lAKlYTQVKY