The days after the funeral bleed together for Bella and she slipped between her personalities without notice. She spent her days at home with her family and at night she would make frequent visits to her prisoner. This wasn't necessarily the future she had predicted for herself but she wasn't complaining right now. She got what she wanted and no one was the wiser. Truthfully, Bellatrix was growing tired of Weasel and was hounding Bella to kill him. Bellatrix had been whispering ideas to her for weeks now. Arsenic, knives to the feet and neck, gun shot wound, maybe just beat the fuck out of him and dump his body in muggle London. It's not like Bella would be tied to Bellatrix's crime if she killed him the muggle way. Bella was entertaining the idea but decided she would worry about that after the surgery and the new year. It was the week before Christmas and the morning of Cass's surgery. She was set for a 11am arrival with the procedure starting around noon. It would take a few hours but all of the doctors seem very hopeful. Cass had been admitted, currently sitting in her hospital bed with her mothers and sister by her side. "Are you worried that they will just make it worse?" Minnie asked innocently enough.
"Minerva," Bella shushed her daughter. "It's not going to get worse. If her doctors are optimistic then there is no reason to fill her head with that rubbish before the procedure."
"Yeah Minnie," Cass scowled, "piss off with that. I'll be flying before the end of the year."
"That's right, kitten," Bella patted Cass's shoulder.
"Exactly right," Hermione added, "only positive thoughts in this room.
"Right," Minnie tried to not roll her eyes at Hermione. She still hasn't forgiven her mother for everything but she was trying her best to push it aside for Cass because she knew it was important for her to have both of her mothers at home right now. "Where's kitty?"
"Your grandmother is out with your Aunts in the waiting room."
"Is Sam out there too, mum?"
"Yes darling," Hermione turned back to Cass. "She wanted to come in closer to the time when you were going back."
"Makes sense," Cass shrugged, "bet she's a right mess out there."
"No one can ward off unwanted feelings and emotions like your Auntie Cissy," Bella smirked, "she's been perfecting her craft for 60 some odd years now. I bet Sam's tears dried up instantly."
That made Cass laugh, "very true, mummy. I remember when I broke my leg."
"And your arm," Minnie smirked.
"And my arm. When you brought me here, Aunt Cissy didn't even have to lecture me. The look alone was enough to make me feel guilty. Thank goodness Aunt Ayvia was there to soften the blow."
"Speak of Ms. Hart… she's going to be in the operating room as the potioneer for your surgery. So with her, Dr. Hoffman, and the other healers there is really no need for this nonsense of worrying."
"Is anyone ever going to tell Aunt Cissy that her wife is better at making potions than she is?"
"Minnie," Cass laughed, "you can if you want to die."
"Pass. Maybe mum can tell her," the look she gave Hermione could be felt throughout the room.
Hermione wasn't stupid. She knew Minnie hadn't forgiven her and she was certain her wife hadn't either but Bella was at least acting cordial for their daughters, "excuse me. I'm going to go check on the doctor."
All three watched as Hermione left the room, the door closing behind her, "way to go, Minnie."
"I'm trying okay," she sounded defensive.
"Well try harder," Cass wasn't backing down.
"Cass," Bella grabbed her hand, "it's not the time to have this fight. We both know why your sister is upset and quite frankly we all should be upset but right now this is about you and your surgery. Your mother being right or wrong has no place in this room. And that's also on you, Minerva. We can't be focused on that right now."
"I know but she just makes me so mad."
"Me too, bean," Bella is trying hard to reassure her that her feelings are valid but this was never her strong suit. She did noticed the tension leaving her shoulders though so she must have said something right.
They were sitting around bullshitting when a nurse came in to let them know the anesthesiologist was on his way down, "I should go get your mother and Sam so they can come see you off."
"Don't forget to tell Auntie Andy she still owes me 40 galleons and I will collect even in the event of my passing."
Bella cackled, "such a Black. I'll be back. If the needle doctor comes before I get back tell him I'll kill him if he puts you under without me." She exited the room and began wandering down the hall to the room she knew where everyone would be. "Kitty, Sam? You want to go in? The needle doctor is on his way." She looked at her sister, "you two assholes should go in too."
"Always so crude," Cissy rolled her eyes and followed Katherine and Sam down the hallway.
"You aren't going?"
Andy shrugged, "I owe Cass 40 galleons."
Bella rolled her eyes, "what's the real reason?"
"It's just hard to see her in there like that. We don't know what's going to happen. She just reminds me so much of my Dora. It hurts."
Bella pulled Andy in for a hug, "I know it's hard but Cass would really like to see you before she heads back."
Andy threw her arms around Bella's waist letting the uncommon hug settle between them, "can I borrow 40 galleons?"
"Oh piss off," she pushed her sister away. "Go say goodbye to your niece. You haven't seen Hermione around here have you? She took off after Minnie said something uncouth."
"Your daughter saying something uncouth? Doubtful," she cackled. "No. She didn't come in here."
"Okay thanks. I'll find her. And like I told Cass if I'm not back before the needle doctor comes in, tell him I'll kill him if he tries to put her under without me."
"Rest assured that I'll kill him for you," Andy told her sister before leaving the room.
"Where is that woman?" Bella grumbled as she went in search of her wife. "Now is not the time to be feeling guilty."
She's not feeling guilty. She's probably readying your room in Azkaban.
"No, no, no," she started pacing, hitting her head, "now is not a good time."
It's the best time.
When Bella looked up she saw Bellatrix Lestrange sitting against the window, cackling her rotten teeth glistening in the sunlight, "you shouldn't be here."
Afraid someone will see me? Don't worry, pet. It's just me and you. Well and Ronny but he's still recovering from our last visit.
"I have to get back to Cass. I don't have time for you or the Weasel right now. Hermione," she started pacing, "I need to find Hermione. We need to get back to Cass," her pacing intensifying.
What do you think Muddy will say when she sees what we've been doing together?
"DON'T call her that," she shouted and watched as Bellatrix cackled and disappeared from the room. She turned and saw Andy standing in the doorway. Her mask immediately slipped back on, "is the needle doctor here?"
"No," Bella noticed a strange look on her face, "I forgot my phone." She moved past her sister to grab it. When she turned around, she really stopped to look at the older witch, "are you okay Bella? Who were you talking to?"
"I'm fine," she waved her off.
"Was there someone else in here? You were yelling."
Bella looked around the room, "just me in here, Andy. Are you okay? Come on now, I have to go find Hermione."
Andy watched her sister leave the room. Maybe Luna was right. Something seemed off about Bella today but it could just be the nerves leading up to the surgery. The family had been through it this year so she couldn't blame Bella for slipping a little. She decided it was time to put in extra sister duty and keep a closer eye on Bella.
The dark witch wandered the halls following the wisps of her otter that lead her to the maternity ward. She took a deep breath when the wisp slid under the door to the NICU. "Hermione?" She whispered when she opened the door hoping not to disturb any of the babies. She found her wife in the corner where Cass had been brought 18 years ago. "What are you doing here?" It was clear that she had been crying, "we've graduated from this room."
"Have we? It seemed we've made one big loop and our baby is back at square one," she wiped some of her tears away when she saw Bella coming closer. "She's just a baby, Bella. It's not fair."
She felt a twinge in her heart that she wished wasn't there. Bella didn't want to feel bad for Hermione when in all honesty she did this to herself, "but she's grown, Hermione." She held her hand, "she is strong, capable, stubborn as hell and will pull through this. I have no doubt about that."
"Why do you keep doing that?"
Bella looked at her with a funny expression on her face, "what exactly am I doing?"
"You've been calling me Hermione."
"Well that's your name isn't it?" She chuckled.
"We've been together 22 years and up until two weeks ago, I could count the number of times you called me by name with two hands. It's nothing," she shook her head. She didn't want to get into it today of all days. "You are right. Cass is going to be just fine. No need to get caught up in my emotions with these babies. Cute as they are."
"Right then," Bella stood up, smoothing out her skirt. "The needle doctor is on his way. I was just coming to find you so we can say good luck to Cass." She held out her hand as if on instinct, "we should get out of here."
Hermione's hand slipped into her wife's with practiced ease, "needle doctor?"
Bella smirked at the subtle tease, "it's as best as he gets."
They made it back down to Cass's hospital room in record time. Bella watched as everyone said their well wishes to her daughter. Bellatrix was sitting in the corner of the room making faces at everyone and Bella was starting to sweat. She had seen her in the dungeon when she was with the Weasel but she had never seen her outside of there before. Now, apparently she was further gone that she had thought. "Mummy?" She was pulled out of her internal thoughts and eyes Bellatrix once more before turning to Cass, "yes kitten?" She walked over when Cass motioned for her to bend down. "What is it? Everything is going to be fine."
"I know. I just wanted to ask who you were looking at," she whispered.
Bella's eyes traveled to her other self in the corner, "no one sweetheart."
"Oh okay. I thought maybe you saw Pap Pap. When the needle man started my medicine, I thought I saw him. It's stupid."
"It's not stupid," her forehead was now resting against her daughter's. "He is here with you, watching over you today."
"You think so?" She whispered.
"I know so. Now, go get all fixed up. I'm dying for a scrimmage with you," she kissed Cass on the forehead, "I love you wholeheartedly."
"Love you, mummy."
Being the last one to get to talk to Cass, it felt important to Bella. She felt it deep down that this was going to be it for her daughter. She was going to pull through this time, "she's going to be fine."
Bella said that more to herself than to anyone else and felt someone slide up next to her, "she is." Hermione put her arm around Bella's waist, "she's strong and so stubborn. Takes after you," she kissed Bella's cheek.
Bella heard a scoff come from the side of the room then a gagging noise. I can't believe you let muddy kiss you like that. What would Cygnus say?
"Are you okay?" She felt Bella tense.
"I'm fine. I think I need to take a walk. I can't sit and wait." She turned to her wife, "do you want to come?" Hermione actually looked like she was thinking about it and Bella scoffed, "Salazar forbid I take you away from whatever else you have planned."
Muddy doesn't even want to spend time with you. What a wife you got yourself there, such a worthless pure blood.
Bella snarled which was directed at Bellatrix but Hermione took it towards herself, "Bella wait," but it was too late. Her wife had already left the hospital room.
Bella had left the hospital room, walking straight out of the doors and didn't stop. She wasn't sure how long or how far she had been walking. All she knew is she had to get as far away from that place and her wife as possible. Bellatrix had not left her the entire time. While the vision wasn't actively talking to her, Bella could see her in her peripheral vision the entirety of the walk. She was tempted to put an end to Ron. Maybe if she got rid of the Weasel for good, Bellatrix would go away. She couldn't think about that now when Cass needed her at the hospital. She had to turn around and start heading back. If she missed Cass coming out of her surgery, she would never forgive herself. Thankfully, nobody tried to contact her when she was trying to cool down. She had made it back to the hospital but stopped just outside to get a quick smoke in before heading inside. She pulled out a cigarette, lighting it with the tip of her wand. "Are you just going to creep around and stare at me or would you like to sit down and have a smoke with me?"
Bellatrix cackled, taking a seat next to her other self. We always did love muggle cigarettes. Filthy habit I see the mudblood hasn't stopped. She reached out and took the offered lit cigarette.
"Don't call her that," Bella looked at her old self. She was disgusted by her appearance and the things coming out of her mouth. Then she thought about what she must look like to everyone else on the streets. Sitting here talking to herself, literally talking to herself. Then she wondered if anyone else could see Bellatrix. Maybe she truly was loosing her shit.
Are we killing the blood traitor soon? I'm getting bored. We haven't killed anyone in ages.
"If I kill him, then we both go back to Azkaban. Is that what you want?"
Azkaban? Ha! Bellatrix cackled, what good was marrying muddy if you don't have any perks and amnesty for marrying the bloody Minister for Magic.
"To be fair, when I proposed she wasn't Minister yet so I didn't marry her for that," she didn't know why she was sitting here arguing with herself.
Well I'm killing him soon. With or without you. I don't need you there to get the job done.
It was Bella's turn to cackle, "if you haven't noticed you are kind of dependent on me being somewhere for you to come out to play. Now," she finished her smoke, "piss off, would you. I have to get back inside and it would be easier without you."
Bellatrix was pouting, fine but if I leave then we get to do the daggers in the feet again.
"Deal," Bella did enjoy shoving those daggers into his feet. He was so pathetic. "Okay time to be a good mother. See you later, Bellatrix."
Whatever, Bellatrix disappeared from the bench.
"I've gone completely mad. It was bound to happen. At least I made it to 70," she rolled her eyes thinking of her birthday and the upcoming holiday. "What a shit show this is going to be," she put out her cigarette in the bottom of her boot and flicked it into the rubbish. She took a few minutes to give herself the power to go back in alone without Bellatrix popping back in. She was a Black for fucks sake. She could easily do this. Setting her will, she got up and walked back into the hospital bypassing the front desk and walking straight up to the waiting room where she knew the family would be waiting. "Any news?"
Everyone looked up at the dark witch as if they were studying her. Hermione must have told them she was upset. Her wife stood up, slowly walking over to her, "no news yet. Are you okay?" She asked in a hushed tone.
"Fine," she waved off the concern. "They have to be close to finishing up. It's been hours."
"Mummy?" Minnie patted the chair in between her and Sam. "Come have a seat. We are playing cards."
Hermione looked at her wife, reaching out to squeeze her forearm as if silently asking her if she was okay. Bella just shook her head no and moved to whisper, "just worry about Cass. Don't worry about me."
"I'll always worry about you, love," she whispered back as Bella moved to sit between Minnie and Sam. They dealt Bella into the card game they were playing with Katherine, leaving Hermione to watch over them.
Andy got Hermione's attention from across the room and nodded to the door. She watched her sister in law exit the room knowing that she was expecting her to follow. She truly had no choice but to follow her out into the hall, "what's going on, Andy?"
Andy was leaning against the wall opposite the waiting room, looking into the small window on the door. Her sister was sitting in there laughing with the girls like nothing was wrong, "it's just Bella. Are you? Is she?"
"She's different," Hermione sighed, leaning next to Andy.
"That's what Luna said, too. I just don't know what exactly is going on or how to help her. I think I caught her talking to herself earlier before they took Cass back but I'm not entirely sure."
"I've only been back in the house for a few weeks but yes I've noticed she's different."
Andy looked over at her, "then how do we help her?"
"I wish I knew how to get my wife back," she was about to ask her more when she saw Dr. Hoffman coming down the hall with Aviya. "Look."
"Let's get back inside. We can talk about this later."
"The doctors are coming," Hermione announced as she walked over to take the empty seat next to her mother. Instantly Katherine reached out, grabbing her hand.
Bella saw the gesture, resentment coursing through her mind. She thought she saw a glimmer of Bellatrix in the corner but pushed the thought of her out. She would need to go relieve some stress tonight. Maybe she could just fuck Hermione to get it out of her system. That probably wasn't a smart idea though visiting Weasel probably wasn't either, she was lost in her own sea of thoughts when Dr. Hoffman came through the doors with Aviya to deliver what she said was good news. Bella had been so far into her own thoughts that she missed the entire prognosis. Dr. Hoffman left but Aviya stuck around to let them know that Cass would be back in her room within the hour and that she would have to stay a few nights because she wouldn't be allowed to move during that time. "Did you hear her mummy?" The voice of her youngest daughter brought her out of her fog. "Hmm?" She turned to look at Minnie and Sam's happy faces before turning to see her wife and mother in law crying. Then she saw both of her sisters looking at her with faces of concern. "Mummy? Isn't that amazing?"
"Aviya," she called over to her sister in law. She wasn't going to admit she wasn't focused on the doctors so she tried her normal approach, "can you translate that from muggle doctor language to something I can understand?"
"Did she just call my wife Aviya?" Bella heard Cissy ask Andy from across the room.
"Yeah," Aviya sat down across from Bella, "no problem. Takes me a while to get what Dr. Hoffman says sometimes. "She performed two separate spinal fusions on Cass. Which means, she had to connect her spine in two different places. When Cass had the original surgery everything was swollen from the accident and the fractures weren't clear at first. After her last MRI, the doctor was able to see the issue. She was able to connect them by putting rods and screws into Cass's spine to hold the bone grafts in place. So good and bad news."
"Good news first, Aunt Aviya."
Aviya smiled at Minnie, "right. So during surgery, we actually partially woke Cass up to test her nerves. When we pressed on her vertebrae, her body responded appropriately. She also had tingling sensations in her legs when we tested that. So Dr. Hoffman is very hopeful that Cass will fully recover from this."
"So what's the bad news?" Hermione and her mother had been listening in to Aviya's retelling.
"She'll be in the hospital for two days then back at home and in bed to heal for four weeks. If she gets her strength back and can walk with physical therapy, which seems likely, she won't be able to fly for at least three months."
"Three months?" Minnie started counting on her fingers, "she should be back on her broom before the scouts come."
"That's the best case scenario. We won't really know for the first couple of weeks. She'll have a lot of pain and will be restricted in her movement because of the surgery."
"I'm going to go call my parents," Sam was too excited to wait any longer. She gave Aviya a hug, "thank you for the good news."
Aviya whispered to the girl, "Cass mentioned how much she loves you before we put her under."
"Thank you," she kissed Aviya's cheek before leaving the room to give her parents an update.
"Cass should be up in her room soon. Two days overnight here then she'll be discharged. Lots of pain potions for the first couple of weeks. Then PT starts week three to prepare her to start walking around weeks 4-6. Don't be surprised if she can't feel anything the first couple of days. Also don't be discouraged. It doesn't mean the surgery didn't work."
"Got it," Hermione confirmed, "thank you for explaining everything to us."
Christmas Eve- 1 week later*
Waking up on her birthday wasn't as exciting without the traditional birthday orgasms but Bella would survive. Hermione had still been staying in the room with her mother but that was fine because it's not like Bella opened the door to their room for her to come in. Nothing had really settled between the two of them. They put their masks on when they were in front of the girls but they still were barely speaking. She tried masturbating the other night but fucking Bellatrix was in the corner watching her and things got weird so that ended as quick as it started. She rolled over and checked the time, "2am. Well what the bloody fuck am I supposed to do now?" Her body was wired and wide awake. She had been getting up to give Cass her medicine every night but tonight was the first night she wasn't scheduled to have it. Someone forgot to tell Bella's body. So here she was, 70 years old, 2am and the only company she had was her deranged other half laying in bed next to her. "Must you be here right now?"
Why wouldn't I be here? It's our birthday. Don't be a rude hostess.
"I would only be a hostess if I invited you here and I can't recall extending that invitation."
Bellatrix rolled her eyes, you invited me the minute you kidnapped Ronny boy. I'm here for the long haul, pet.
"That's what I'm afraid of," she looked over at her other self.
Hours to go before anybody wakes up. I know how I'd like to spend our birthday.
Bella sighed, "I mean… we do have time."
That's the spirit. Get out your best daggers and throw some clothes on. Nothing says Happy Birthday Bellatrix like spilling a little ginger blood.
"If we don't go to Azkaban, it'll be the surprise of a lifetime."
But think of the stories you'll have, Bellatrix pouted.
"Oh great. I'm sure my cell mates will love to hear of all my adventures."
I suppose they will probably just kill you being married to Muddy.
"Call her that one more time," Bella grumbled, getting her pants on, "and we won't go torturing tonight."
I didn't say a word, Bellatrix jumped out of the bed, clapping her hands with excitement.
Bella quietly left the manor without anyone noticing her as usual. She hated to admit she was becoming a ghost among her family. "Torture Weasel, go home, take a nap and be woken up by my daughters. Put on a fake smile. Make it through the holiday. Torture Weasley again."
Sounds like a solid plan to me, Bellatrix was already entering the house. Yoo-hoo Ronny boy. Auntie Bella is here, she started to head down to the makeshift prison. Wake up, she slammed on the wall and lit all of the candles at once. It's not time for a nap.
"Why are you here?" He didn't bother turning his head.
"Why am I here? It's Christmas Eve. You know what that means? It's my 70th birthday. Show some respect."
Insolent little shit, Bellatrix kicked his water bowl.
"Who are you talking to?"
Aren't you going to wish us a Happy Birthday?
"Us? Who is us?"
"How many of me do you see Weasel?" He just stared at her, "answer me when I'm questioning you!"
He looked at Bella, "just one."
Interesting. He seems to hear me too.
"I hear you arguing with yourself. Clearly you've gone off the deep end."
That's no way to speak to the birthday girl, she cast a hex his way and he screamed when a few slices appeared down his arm. Much better. I like unwrapping my gifts slowly.
"You're mad. Deranged. You know as soon as you slip up… you're going back to Azkaban."
I think he's talking too much. Less talking. More bleeding.
"I have to say," Bella turned to look at herself, "I'm starting to agree with her more and more."
You promised more daggers to the feet.
"No," Ron started to move away, closer to the wall. "No more daggers to the feet. Crucio me. Please. Kill me even. Just not more foot stuff."
Look at the little pussy. He'd rather you kill him. She walked over towards the window and pulled something out of her coat. I knicked this wand from an idiot at Mungos the other week. We could crucio him and the unforgivable can't be traced to us.
"Give me the wand," she held her hand out catching the stranger's wand that Bellatrix threw at her. "You asked for it Ronny. Buckle up because when I'm done with you, you'll be begging for more daggers to the feet." She extended the wand, an evil grin crossing her face, "CRUCIO…."
Bella arrived back at the manor sometime around 5am having spent the better part of the last three hours torturing Weasley to the brink of insanity knowing exactly when to give him a break. She was pleased to see the lights were still out, hoping she would be able to sneak back into her bed before anyone got up. She thought she was in the clear when downstairs was empty. She quietly opened her bedroom door, shutting it behind her, "where have you been?"
"Fucking hell Andromeda… are you trying to kill me on my birthday?"
"Just thought I'd come in for a quick cuddle before your daughters attacked. It's not like you to wake up so early, especially without your birthday orgasms. So, where were you?"
Bella rolled her eyes, "so now you are keeping track of all of my movements? Do you have a journal?"
"If you are going to avoid the question then I'm going to assume you were doing something stupid."
She saw Bellatrix standing next to the bed with a finger over her lips. The lies came quickly, "I couldn't sleep all right. Cass is barely showing signs of improvement, my wife and I aren't speaking, I'm turning 70 for fuck's sake. Jack won't be here for the holiday. There's a lot to process and I'm not having the easiest time doing it." She sat down on the bed next to her sister. " I feel like everything I've worked so hard for is slipping away and there's nothing I can do to stop it."
Andy held her arms out waiting for her big sister to curl up against her, "this is where I would say that everything is going to be all right but I honestly don't know. What I do know is that I'm not going anywhere and I'll be here in whatever capacity you need. If you want me to be here with Cass for all of her therapy… done. If you want me to hate Hermione… done. If you want me to bring you breakfast in bed every morning… done. Seriously, tell me what you need."
Bella sighed, settled deeper into Andy's hold, "I just need a break." She was content to lay sleeping on her sister for what seemed like hours.
"Mummy!!! Mummy!!!! Come quick," she stopped in the doorway when she saw her mother cuddling with her aunt. "Mummy? Aunt Andy? What's going on?"
"Haven't you ever cuddled your sister before?" Andy mumbled trying to wake up.
Minnie shrugged and threw herself on the bed wrapping both women in a hug, "of course I have. I've just never seen mummy cuddle with anyone besides me, Cass and mum before. I should've been invited to the cuddle party. Happy Birthday Mummy," she snuggled in closer to Bella.
"Thank you, bean," Bella finally managed to find her voice. "What time is it?"
"Just past nine."
"And why did you come in here yelling if there isn't any birthday breakfast accompanying you?" Bella rolled over, leaving a space between her and Andy for Minnie to sink into.
"Oh!!" She jumped out of bed, "come quick. It's Cass." She was running to the door without further explanation, "well come on."
"What about Cass?" Bella sounded worried as she threw her robe on and took off after Minnie up to Cass's room. "Minnie, what about your sister?" She yelled after her but all since of movement stopped when Bella walked through the door.
Cass was sitting up on the edge of her bed with her feet on the floor. She had the biggest grin on her face and nodded to Sam who reached down and grabbed her forearms. Cass pushed her body up into a standing motion with minimal support from her girlfriend.
"Kitten?" Bella started walking slowly to her daughter as she watched her oldest take two small tentative steps towards her. "Cass?"
Cass just looked up at her mother having taken her second first steps, "Happy Birthday Mummy."
In her 70 years of life, this was the best present Bellatrix Druella Black had ever received.