FIC: Impossible (23/30)
Title: Impossible
Author: perfect_pride
Pairing: Hermione/Bellatrix
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: It goes without saying that none of the Harry Potter world or its’ characters belong to me, unfortunately. Neither do the lyrics.
Warnings: Mental and physical abuse/torture.
Summary: Bellatrix abducts Hermione and keeps her prisoner, but an ancient magic threatens to change both their lives in ways they never thought were possible.
A/N: This fic begins during the summer months at the start of Deathly Hallows and complies with the events throughout the book. The timeline has been slightly adjusted at the start but it is barely noticeable. It takes into account events from the books and the films, but mainly the books as they are my favourite and provide greater detail. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (film) wasn’t considered as I wrote this beforehand and I feel like the scenes I have written and slotted into the book version work better. I hope that makes sense, if not, please ask. Also, I have tried to keep the characters in-character despite the unlikely pairing. Feedback is welcome. :)
(1), (2) , (3a), (3b) , ( 4), ( 5) , (6), (7), (8), ( 9), (10), ( 11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18), (19), (20), (21), (22),
**
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good
Muse, Feeling Good
**23.
The next week was fairly uneventful, with Hermione and Bellatrix remaining alone in Black Manor for much of the time. Although they hadn’t discussed whether Hermione would stay there on a permanent basis, it seemed as though there was no expectation for her to leave anytime soon considering that Bellatrix hadn’t mentioned that she wanted her to live elsewhere. As a result, Hermione had sent letters to Ron and Harry to inform them of her current whereabouts, and to let them know that she was perfectly alright. She had received a rapid response from Harry, but unfortunately, there hadn’t been so much as a one word reply from Ron. She tried not to feel too upset by this, understanding Ron’s reasons for not wanting to talk to her, but it still hurt regardless. After all, Ron had been one of her best friends before she had become involved with Bellatrix, and she had never wanted to lose him from her life completely.
Ministry officials had arrived to question Bellatrix further one afternoon, and to examine the memories she possessed to make sure they were genuine. As a consequence of this investigation, Kingsley (who had now formally been named as Minister for Magic) arrived the following morning to declare that Bellatrix was free to go about her life, should she abide by the Contract of Expectations he provided her with. The contract stated that she was to attend upon a Soul-Healer for the foreseeable future, she should refrain from using any sort of Dark Magic, and that she was not allowed to curse, jinx or hex any Muggle, witch or wizard regardless of whether she considered that she was justified in doing so.
Bellatrix had been completely insistent that she did not want to see any Soul-Healers, but after half an hour of arguing, Kingsley had informed her in no uncertain terms that she didn’t get to bargain. Once he had informed her that she either signed the Contract of Expectations as it was currently written with no amendments whatsoever, or faced a prison sentence in Azkaban for her refusal to comply with Ministry requirements, Bellatrix did as she was told, and reluctantly scrawled her signature upon the Contract, using the quill Kingsley provided her with.
As of yet, Hermione and Bellatrix hadn’t discussed the Horcruxes or anything specifically related to Voldemort’s death. Hermione had wondered if it would always be this way, or if the topic would eventually be broached. She was happy not to say anything, unaware if Bellatrix, or for that matter anyone else, truly understood the lengths Voldemort had gone to in his bid to achieve immortality. It was by now common knowledge that Voldemort had created Horcruxes; something that Harry had commented upon in his letter, as he wondered whether everyone knowing was wise or not. He was worried that it may lead to unnecessary speculation about any of the terrible events that happened leading up to the war, such as Dumbledore’s death, and if it would create fear that something similar could one day happen again. Privately, as selfish as it sounded, Hermione didn’t care; she was just grateful that the wizarding world was safe at present.
In addition, Hermione was extremely thankful that she finally had a new wand. Ollivander’s was already open once more, and she had joined the queue of witches and wizards (mainly comprised of Muggle-borns) waiting to find a suitable wand on the Thursday that it opened. She was desperate for any wand that wasn’t Bellatrix’s previous one, though she did as promised and handed it back to Bellatrix to keep as a memory, rather than snapping it in two and throwing it away. Fortunately, it didn’t take her too long to get used to her new wand, most likely due to the fact its’ core was Dragon heartstring; the same as her own old one that she lost to the Snatchers had been, and indeed the same as both of Bellatrix’s wands. She was extremely pleased with her purchase, for she found that her magic worked just the same as it used to with her previous wand.
It was the Monday of the week after when Bellatrix approached Hermione in the library, where she had spent pretty much every single day reading when they weren’t together. Whilst Hermione was alone, she had no idea what Bellatrix amused herself with, but she guessed that judging from the bangs and crashes she heard coming from the uppermost level of the house that she was practising spells of some sort. For now she was happy enough to remain in the dark, feeling that there was limited damage Bellatrix could do considering that other than Lemmy, (who by now had fully recovered) they were the only occupants of the house. It was more than likely Bellatrix was merely venting her frustrations, and considering it was probably the healthiest way someone as temperamental as her would do so, Hermione wasn’t going to take issue with this. All Hermione was concerned about was making up for the lost time when she had been unable to peruse whatever book she felt like at leisure, and luckily enough, there were hundreds of books she had so far seen that interested her; possibly even thousands. And so, with Bellatrix’s unspoken consent, she had spent every day sitting in the same armchair, quietly reading.
“I’m going to see Narcissa,” Bellatrix announced, standing in front of her and waiting expectantly. “Come.”
“What?” Hermione said, startled and looking up from her book. “I don’t think bringing me with you is a good idea, Bella.”
Bellatrix rolled her eyes. “She’s not going to do anything to you; especially not if I’m there. Draco neither.”
“Lucius?” Hermione said. “Have you considered him?”
“I am more than a match for Lucius,” Bellatrix snarled. “If he says or tries one thing, I’ll curse him so far that he lands in the middle of a dragon’s nest in Egypt.”
“That might not be the best idea,” Hermione suggested delicately. “You know, considering you want to persuade Narcissa to accept me; I have an inkling that attacking her husband might not be the best way forward. Not to mention the Contract of Expectations that you’ve just signed.”
Bellatrix sighed. “You’re probably right,” she said mournfully, her agreement surprising Hermione. “Still, if he can’t keep his mouth shut and needs be...” Her voice trailed off and she made a violent gesture with her wand.
Hermione grinned. Over the past week Bellatrix had slowly but surely began to relax ever so slightly, possibly having realised that she no longer needed to be on edge anymore. This in turn meant that her mood had greatly improved; she was much calmed and not quite as angry as she used to be. It was the most human that she had ever been, and it was a change that was very much appreciated by Hermione. It had gotten to the stage where she almost didn’t mind being in love with someone like Bellatrix because for the first time, it felt as though the good outweighed the bad. Marginally.
“What are you smiling at?” Bellatrix asked, frowning.
“Nothing,” Hermione said, placing her book down, and rising to envelope Bellatrix in a kiss. It was warmly received, and their tongues danced around each other as Hermione pushed Bellatrix against the table behind her. As a result their bodies pressed flush together, and Hermione felt tingles run through her as Bellatrix gently dragged her nails down the nape of her neck. Gasping, Hermione began to kiss along Bellatrix’s jaw line, savouring the taste of her skin, and smiling to herself as she drew a low, guttural moan from the older witch.
“Hmm... stop, little babe,” Bellatrix rasped. “We’ll never go if you carry on...”
Wouldn’t you rather stay here anyway and just do this?” Hermione said seductively, tracing a finger along Bellatrix’s collarbone.
“Of course,” Bellatrix breathed. “But I have to see Narcissa. Besides, you’ve only left the house twice in the last week and it’ll be good to have a change of scenery.”
Other than the visit to Ollivanders, Hermione had only left the house to go back to her parent’s home and pick up some of her essentials, like clothes, shoes, and the luxuries such as makeup that she hadn’t worn in months. Surprisingly, the house looked exactly the same as the way it had been left, as evidently the protective spells that Hermione had placed on it at the start of the war had held out. However, as expected, there was no trace of her parents other than photographs on the walls of the two of them together. Nevertheless, despite Hermione’s desire to find her parents immediately, she wasn’t ready to search for them, still terrified of what she may possibly find. Anything could have happened to them, and although Bellatrix promised her that as far as she was aware they had not been found by Death Eaters, it didn’t do much to curb Hermione’s fears. After all, there was evil in Muggle Australia where she believed them to be; not just in the wizarding world.
“Fine,” Hermione sighed, knowing that she’d never persuade Bellatrix against seeing her sister and that she may as well face Narcissa today and get the confrontation over and done with. “But at least I’ve left this house twice more than you have.”
“I’ve had no reason to go out. Anyway, if you can handle me, then Narcissa shouldn’t be a problem,” Bellatrix said with a shrug.
“I know it’s stupid,” Hermione admitted, deciding to voice her fear, and part of the reason why she didn’t want to face Narcissa. “But I know you love your sister more than you could ever love me. I suppose I’m just worried that she will succeed in turning you against me.”
“No,” Bellatrix said, shaking her head. “My relationship with Narcissa is entirely different to the one I have with you. Yes, she is my sister, but the fact that I betrayed the Dark Lord for you should speak volumes for the way I feel for you.”
For Bellatrix to say such a thing, it was as good as if the words “I love you” had come from her mouth. The simple reminder of all that she had given up for Hermione made her feel a little better, and she knew that Bellatrix was being entirely honest with her in the same way as she knew she had told the truth regarding her parents. Her spirits lifted, she allowed Bellatrix to lead her towards the fireplace, a hand pressed firmly in the small of her back.
“She is expecting us, so we’ll Floo there,” Bellatrix announced.
Hermione nodded. “Ok. You go first and I’ll follow?”
“Of course,” Bellatrix said, smirking at Hermione. “The saying is witches first, after all.”
“Are you implying I’m a man?” Hermione asked with a frown, trying to work out in her head what Bellatrix meant. “Or a Muggle?”
Bellatrix rolled her eyes. “I was joking, Hermione.” She took a pinch of Floo Powder. “I’ll see you in a moment.”
Placing a chaste kiss on Bellatrix’s mouth, Hermione murmured, “See you.”
“Malfoy Manor,” Bellatrix called once she was in the flames.
Echoing Bellatrix’s actions shortly after, Hermione did the same, closing her eyes as she travelled so that she didn’t feel dizzy. It had been a while since she had used the Floo Network, and much the same as Apparating, it took some getting used to. Her main concern at the moment, however, was the fact that she would have to face Narcissa, and possibly Lucius and Draco if they were around. She felt sick to the stomach, because even though Bellatrix claimed she would protect her and remain loyal; what would she do if Narcissa forced her to choose between them? Hermione didn’t know enough about Narcissa to predict whether this was a possibility or not, but should the situations between the sisters have been reversed and Bellatrix was still a Death Eater, she probably would have killed Narcissa for deigning to have a relationship with a Muggle-born.
All too soon, Hermione arrived at Malfoy Manor. Trying to appear as dignified as possible should she immediately be faced with Narcissa, she stepped out of the flames carefully, her expression devoid of emotion. Narcissa was an unknown entity to her, and so she would to her best to portray a similar image to the blonde witch. No doubt Draco would have whined about her, especially during their younger years at Hogwarts, meaning that Narcissa knew more about her than she did about Narcissa. However, whilst this put Narcissa at a slight advantage, if Hermione was a good enough actress then hopefully Narcissa wouldn’t be able to read her too easily.
The most she had ever seen of Narcissa was when she had been tortured by Bellatrix at Malfoy Manor, which was definitely a memory from hell that she was tempted to have Obliviated. Although throughout her time there Narcissa had not laid a single finger on her, or cast any spell at her directly, she hadn’t exactly jumped to defend her either. If anything, she had just waited for Bellatrix to tell her what to do, and followed instructions, never quite doing enough to have an effect on anything. Still, Narcissa hadn’t gone out of her way to help her at all, and so Hermione was feeling apprehensive about seeing her again to say the least.
Hermione was relieved to note that currently, herself and Bellatrix were the only occupants of what looked to be the hallway. She wondered where Narcissa was, and if she had forgotten that they were supposed to meet. Maybe that gave her time to Floo back to Bellatrix’s? Of course, it was weak to back out now, but she wasn’t feeling a great deal of that infamous Gryffindor bravery at the moment, and so she was unsure if she could stand to do this anymore. So what if she was a coward? She had committed enough courageous acts this past year alone to more than make up for a moment of weakness.
As if she had read Hermione’s thoughts again (and Hermione wasn’t sure if she had, because apparently Bellatrix was good at delving into her mind when she was unaware and not conscious enough of her mind being penetrated) Bellatrix murmured, “Stop worrying. I’ve told you, it’s going to be fine.”
“I’d feel better if you held my hand,” Hermione said, immediately chastising herself for being so idiotic as to actually speak the words. As if Bellatrix was going to do that. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that aloud.”
Surprisingly, Bellatrix grinned. “Please think before you speak when Narcissa is around. She’s far more reserved than I am, and she’ll fail to see the funny side.”
Blushing, Hermione looked down at the floor as she trailed alongside Bellatrix, feeling stupider than ever. She was usually so good at saying the right thing and controlling her emotions, but apparently all of that went to pot the moment she was around Bellatrix. It wouldn’t have mattered if they had been in a relationship for five years; Bellatrix would never go all mushy around her and start showing public displays of affection.
Nevertheless, as Hermione thought this, she felt a hand roughly weave itself around her waist, resting possessively on her hip. Shocked, she gawped at Bellatrix unable to believe that she would touch her like this when Narcissa could appear at any moment from behind one of the doors surrounding. Lost for words, she continued to stare at Bellatrix, wondering if this was a sign that the raven haired witch was willing to sacrifice a little of who she was as a person if it made Hermione happy.
“I’m not going to hold your hand because I find that just a little too odd, but if it makes you feel better, then I’ll do this. Ok?” Bellatrix explained, no trace of sarcasm in her voice.
“Thanks,” Hermione whispered, just as they entered what looked to be a sitting room. Decorated in a Jade Green shade with hints of gold here and there, the rug and soft furnishings made it look a great deal more comfortable than the drawing room that Hermione had been tortured in. There was a large handsome portrait of Lucius, Narcissa, Draco and Bellatrix looming down from one wall, none of them smiling, and all making formidable characters. Despite this, it did serve to highlight how good-looking a family they were, whilst showing their arrogance at the same time. It was this portrait that Hermione focused on in awe for several seconds, before she turned to face the current occupants of the room other than herself and Bellatrix.
Casually perusing a copy of The Daily Prophet, Narcissa was sat on one of the large, black leather Chesterfield sofas next to Draco, who had immediately looked up at Bellatrix and Hermione, a startled expression on his face. He made a sort of whimpering noise which caused Narcissa to also look up from the newspaper, and she too appeared stunned to see the sight of Bellatrix and Hermione before her. Hermione supposed she could understand, especially considering their current position with Bellatrix’s arm around her, which made it perfectly clear just how close they were.
“Cissy,” Bellatrix said, smiling at her sister. “You seem surprised... I thought you were expecting me?”
Narcissa stood. “Not quite like this Bellatrix, as you well know.” She turned to Draco, and said in a low voice, “Draco, you’d better leave us.”
With a curt nod, Draco swept from the room, his eyes flitting over to Bellatrix in a terrified glance only briefly as he shut the door behind him. Hermione supposed that it was the way many people would react to Bellatrix considering everything she had done; Bellatrix was a frightening character even without considering her past actions. There was something about the way she held herself that put people on edge, and even now that Bellatrix wasn’t a real threat, Hermione still sometimes experienced that feeling when she was with her.
“Anyone would think he was scared of me,” Bellatrix mused, gazing at the door that Draco had just closed. She turned to Hermione. “I’m beginning to wonder why I bothered asking you to save him; apparently he’s as spineless as his father.”
Hermione was saved from a reply by Narcissa, who said coldly, “Stop it, Bellatrix; you have even less right to mock Draco now than you did previously. Lucius too, for that matter.”
“And what exactly do you mean by that?” Bellatrix snarled, her demeanour changing. As she stiffened, she tightened the hand around Hermione’s waist, and though the extra pressure hurt, Hermione managed to hold back a whimper.
“You know exactly what I mean,” Narcissa snapped. “Do you care to explain this?” She gestured towards Hermione.
Bellatrix surveyed Hermione. “She’s my...” her voice trailed off as she searched for the appropriate word. “Partner? Girlfriend doesn’t sound right, does it? Special friend?”
“Bella,” Hermione hissed, no longer able to tolerate Bellatrix’s hand clenching at her waist. “Stop squeezing me!”
Bellatrix grinned before relaxing her grip. “Let’s sit down,” she said, leading Hermione over to the sofa that Narcissa had previously been sat upon. She threw herself down with force, pulling Hermione next to her with a great thud.
“I sincerely hope that this is your idea of a sick joke, Bellatrix,” Narcissa said, taking a seat on the sofa opposite them, and folding her hands together in her lap.
“Hang on,” Bellatrix said. “If Andromeda can run off with a Muggle-born then why can’t I?”
“That’s exactly the point!” Narcissa exclaimed, no longer quite as controlled. There was a hint of wildness and ferocity in her eyes, though of course it was nowhere near the amount that Bellatrix’s orbs sometimes held. “You have spent the last thirty years hating our sister for her choices, and now you’re doing exactly the same thing! Is this the reason you betrayed the Dark Lord? It had nothing to do with concern for Draco and I, did it?”
“Cissy,” Bellatrix said, and her voice was softer now. “I didn’t want this to happen, but it did. We can’t... we can’t live without each other. It’s Semper Amor.”
There was a pause.
Narcissa stared in disbelief as the words sunk in. “Don’t be ridiculous!”
“It is,” Bellatrix insisted. “Don’t you remember us talking about it years ago? Semper Amor has been proven to exist. And... well... it exists between myself and Hermione.”
Hermione processed Bellatrix’s statement, and realised exactly what Bellatrix’s declaration implied. “Wait, you knew what Semper Amor was before I showed you the book, Ancient Love?”
“Yes, Narcissa and I read about it when we were teenagers at Hogwarts,” Bellatrix answered, and then as though she realised what she had revealed, she tried to wave it off. “But that doesn’t matter now.”
“It matters to me,” Hermione said, incredulous of Bellatrix’s reaction. How could she think this wasn’t a big deal? If Bellatrix had been aware of Semper Amor since before Hermione informed her, that meant that she possibly knew when she was torturing Hermione in the cell. At what point had Bellatrix been aware of the unbreakable connection between them? Had she been in denial? Hermione had so many questions flying around her head that she didn’t know what to ask first. She didn’t know what to think. All that was on repeat in her head was Bellatrix knew, Bellatrix knew, Bellatrix knew.
“Yes, I knew when I was holding you prisoner, and no I can’t tell you exactly when because I tried to block it out. Now, can you stop thinking so bloody hard and let me talk to Narcissa for the moment?” Bellatrix said in annoyance.
“Well, stop looking inside of my head!” Hermione retorted, embarrassed that Bellatrix was speaking to her in such a way in front of someone else; her younger sister of all people. “I didn’t ask you to invade my mind!”
“Then practice your Occlumency skills more and learn to close your mind off when you are unaware of someone trying to look inside your head. Or at the very least learn when I’m probing your mind so that you can quickly shut me out,” Bellatrix snapped.
At this point, Narcissa cleared her throat. “Excuse me?”
“Sorry,” Hermione apologised, feeling embarrassed. “This um... it happens a lot. We argue constantly.”
“Does she not use the Cruciatus Curse on you to keep you in your place? I’m sure you’re aware that’s one of Bellatrix’s specialities,” Narcissa drawled, addressing Hermione directly for the first time since her arrival at Malfoy Manor.
Hermione stared at the blonde witch, unable to tell if she was joking or not. She didn’t look as though she was being cruel, but that didn’t necessarily mean that was the case. It may just be that Hermione was truly awful at reading the emotion currently worn on Narcissa’s face, being as it was so well hidden. Whatever the reason behind her words, Hermione was not going to retaliate. Now was the time to be nice to Narcissa unless she had proof that she was being provoked, because she didn’t need to provide her with more ammunition or further reasons for hating her other than her blood status. She does hate me, doesn’t she? Why else would Narcissa be acting this way towards her if there wasn’t at least a little animosity?
“No. Not anymore, anyway,” Hermione said, answering truthfully. Wanting to keep the conversation with Narcissa going, she added, “Why, has she used it on you too?”
Narcissa smirked, and Hermione was struck by how similar a resemblance to Bellatrix she bore. Despite the straight, raven and blonde coloured hair that Narcissa had, they shared the same deep brown eyes, and apparently some similar expressions too. It was unnerving to think about, let alone be faced with. “No; my darling sister would never dream of using an Unforgiveable Curse upon me.”
“Are you sure about that?” Bellatrix muttered. “There’s a first time for everything.” She threw Narcissa a filthy look.
“Calm yourself, Bella,” Narcissa chastised.
“I’ll calm myself when you stop irritating me,” Bellatrix said through gritted teeth.
“I’m not trying to irritate you,” Narcissa said, composed. “I’m simply having a conversation with Miss Granger.”
Weird, Hermione thought. If Narcissa was only comfortable with calling her Miss Granger, then for the moment she would have to accept it. However, should herself and Bellatrix still be together several months down the line (which was looking more and more possible as each day passed without them trying to kill each other) then she would have to say something. After all, it was inevitable that she was going to have to spend some time with Narcissa considering how close she and Bellatrix were. Perhaps if Narcissa continued to be so formal then she could have a word with Bellatrix about it; Hermione doubted very much that Narcissa would pay any attention to her wishes unless Bellatrix asked on her behalf.
“Well, I would appreciate it if you focused a little more on me,” Bellatrix huffed. “I am your sister after all.”
“My sister who has brought her new friend to visit,” Narcissa said promptly. “Can you blame me for being intrigued?”
“We didn’t come here for you to question us!” Bellatrix declared. “I wanted you to know about Hermione because I don’t want there to be any secrets between us.”
“That’s fine,” Narcissa said, and again, Hermione couldn’t tell if she really meant what she said. How frustrating. “Though if that is the case, there is something I should tell you too.”
Bellatrix raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“I have been in touch with Andromeda,” Narcissa announced. “I felt that given the circumstances, it was appropriate.”
“What?” Bellatrix said at once, pursing her lips. “You’re not serious, Cissy?”
Narcissa shook her head. “Yes, I am. And before you open your mouth and start spouting abuse, I’d think very carefully about recent choices that you have made yourself. You have no right to judge Andromeda; not anymore.”
Angrily, Bellatrix balled her hand into a fist. “I have already explained why this is different, and...”
Interjecting, Narcissa said, “Had Andromeda been the one experiencing Semper Amor, you would still have shown her no mercy.” She bowed her head in apparent shame. “And neither would I. But the Dark Lord has gone, Bellatrix, and our families’ reputation is in tatters. It is time for us to build bridges, and I think it is time to start with Andromeda. She has lost her husband and daughter, and now she has to raise her grandchild alone.”
“I doubt that Andromeda is even going to want to set eyes on me considering that I have spent the last couple of years trying to kill her daughter,” Bellatrix said scornfully.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Hermione said, hoping that Bellatrix didn’t turn her fury against her. However, she felt as though she had to tell her what she really thought, because without a doubt, Narcissa was doing the right thing. Maybe it was for all the wrong reasons if she was mainly concerned for her reputation, but if some good came out of it, then who was Hermione to question her motivation? Besides, as far as she could tell, Narcissa was highly logical in many ways; something that she admired and aspired to herself.
Bellatrix shot Hermione a warning look, but directed her attention back to Narcissa as she said firmly, “No.”
Regardless of Bellatrix’s refusal, Narcissa seemed unfazed as she said, “Do you really think that you’re going to be accepted into society? It’s going to be hard enough for myself, Lucius and Draco to build our reputation again, but you’re going to have even more of a fight on your hands.”
“I don’t care what others think of me,” Bellatrix said defiantly. “They can hate me all they want; considering most of them are scum not even worth my time, it really isn’t an issue for me.”
As Hermione considered Bellatrix’s stance, she tried not to feel too upset by her admission. She had known what she was letting herself in for when she agreed to pursue the connection between herself and Bellatrix, and although slowly Bellatrix was beginning to change; it wasn’t going to happen overnight. Unlike Narcissa, Bellatrix was unconcerned with her reputation because for years she had been in Azkaban, away from all of the abuse that people threw around about her. Even afterwards when she had broken free, she had only been concerned with Voldemort, and surrounded herself daily with people who agreed with her views. There was a chance that when Bellatrix had to face people in the street that over time, eventually she would begin to care. Either that or she would attempt to curse people left, right and centre, though Hermione hoped that she would at least attempt to restrain the urge to do that, or else end up in Azkaban again.
“Why are you so against seeing Andromeda?” Hermione asked curiously. At the very least she wanted to understand exactly what Bellatrix’s issue with Andromeda was. “Her husband is dead, and surely the main reason you stopped talking to her was because she had tainted the Black family name, which has now been destroyed for entirely different reasons.”
“Because she turned her back on us without a second thought,” Bellatrix snapped. “Anyhow, we still have a reputation amongst certain groups.”
Hermione gaped. “What, like the remaining Death Eaters who have been put into Azkaban? They probably hate you for your betrayal. Even if they don’t... that’s absurd, Bella! Your mere association with such individuals is probably enough in itself to warrant them throwing you into Azkaban and locking away the key, and this time you won’t survive, because you don’t have the thought of being back with Him to sustain you. He’s gone! You either need to fit into society or face life in prison.” Taking a breath, Hermione finished her rant. “Oh, and Andromeda didn’t turn her back on you without a second thought; Tonks once told me that she still has photographs of you all as children in her home, safely kept in a box that she hides in her wardrobe.” She ignored the pang in her chest as she mentioned Tonks without thinking. Focus on the conversation, don’t think of her now.
Finally having said everything she needed to say, Hermione stopped, looking back and forth between the two sisters. As it frequently was, Narcissa’s expression was entirely unreadable, but Bellatrix, who showed all emotions other than sadness more easily on her face, was staring at her in wonderment. It was strange for Hermione, because she didn’t think she had ever been on the receiving end of such a look from the older witch. Despite not feeling threatened, she couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable as she prepared herself for whatever was to come next.
“What?” Hermione asked when Bellatrix was still watching her half a minute or so later, still not having spoken. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Bellatrix briefly glanced over at Narcissa, before she faced Hermione, and said, “I think I finally truly understand why you’re a Gryffindor.”
“Huh?” Hermione frowned. Where exactly was this leading?
“I don’t think anyone other than you would ever dare to speak to me like that in front of another family member,” Bellatrix said. “Your Gryffindor bravery astounds me.”
Still confused, Hermione said, “So... are you angry?”
Bellatrix appeared to think for a moment. “Surprisingly, no I’m not. I don’t have an overwhelming urge to inflict Crucio upon you at any rate.”
“Does that mean you agree with me?” Hermione tried again to understand what Bellatrix was getting at.
“I agree that what you just said makes sense. And... considering everything, it may be in my best interests to speak with Andromeda at least once.” She directed at Narcissa, “I’ll leave it to you, Cissy, to sort out the arrangements with her?”
Mutely, Narcissa nodded. Her outburst appeared to have had an effect on Narcissa, Hermione noted with pleasure.
“Well, now that’s all sorted, I think it’s time for us to leave,” Bellatrix said, standing up. “I’m sure you have a lot to discuss with Draco and Lucius.”
“Yes,” Narcissa managed, eyes flickering over to Hermione. “It was... interesting to meet you, Miss Granger.”
Hermione smiled, despite the awkwardness that the other witch so obviously felt. “Likewise.” She avoided the use of Narcissa’s name, not wanting to appear too over-familiar.
“I’ll see you to the fireplace,” Narcissa said politely, guiding Bellatrix and Hermione out of the room, even though they knew the way perfectly well on their own. Well, Bellatrix did; Hermione wasn’t sure she would ever get used to large manor houses, for although her parent’s home was spacious, both Black Manor and Malfoy Manor took living space to a whole new level.
As before, Bellatrix left first, apparently not concerned with the fact that now Hermione would be left alone with Narcissa. Not wanting to wait around, Hermione hurriedly took a pinch of Floo powder, but as she was about to step into the fireplace, Narcissa cleared her throat, drawing Hermione back around. Up close, the resemblance to Bellatrix was ever more striking, for their eyes were so uncannily similar that Hermione had to remind herself that this was Narcissa she was standing opposite, not Bellatrix. Focusing on the different hairstyles and clothes worn helped somewhat, but Hermione didn’t wish to appear rude by looking Narcissa up and down, and so she tried to just focus on her face instead.
“I don’t know how you’re able to make Bellatrix listen to you the way she evidently has been,” Narcissa said slowly. “But I have only ever seen her act that way for someone once before.”
Hermione swallowed. “Voldemort.”
Narcissa visibly flinched at the use of the name. “I don’t know what your agenda is, and I don’t particularly want to know. However, you should be aware that Bellatrix is infatuated by you, and should you decide against pursuing things with her, she will not give you up easily. If you are unsure of anything, then now is the time to walk away, before things become any more serious.”
Hermione shook her head angrily. How dare Narcissa question her feelings? “There is no agenda, and in case you haven’t noticed, I’m as infatuated with Bellatrix as she is with me. I’ve risked my friendships and my life to be with her, and have no intention to ever leave. So if that’s a problem for you, then I’m sorry, but I’m not going anywhere.”
Turning back to the flames, she threw the Floo powder and stepped inside before Narcissa could response. She wasn’t interested in hearing any more negativity; she had already dealt with enough of that to last a lifetime. If Narcissa was unhappy with Bellatrix’s choices then simply put, it was too bad. Hermione’s feelings for Bellatrix were so strong that she knew nobody else would ever be able to match up to her, and she couldn’t imagine kissing anyone in the way that she kissed Bellatrix. Granted, she still hated her just that little bit for everything that she had done to good, innocent people over the years, for everything that she had found amusing and for all the pain she caused, but that didn’t change the fact that she loved Bellatrix with all her heart.
And that was the way it was going to stay.
Forever.
**
(( CLICK HERE for part 24 ))
Author: perfect_pride
Pairing: Hermione/Bellatrix
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: It goes without saying that none of the Harry Potter world or its’ characters belong to me, unfortunately. Neither do the lyrics.
Warnings: Mental and physical abuse/torture.
Summary: Bellatrix abducts Hermione and keeps her prisoner, but an ancient magic threatens to change both their lives in ways they never thought were possible.
A/N: This fic begins during the summer months at the start of Deathly Hallows and complies with the events throughout the book. The timeline has been slightly adjusted at the start but it is barely noticeable. It takes into account events from the books and the films, but mainly the books as they are my favourite and provide greater detail. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (film) wasn’t considered as I wrote this beforehand and I feel like the scenes I have written and slotted into the book version work better. I hope that makes sense, if not, please ask. Also, I have tried to keep the characters in-character despite the unlikely pairing. Feedback is welcome. :)
(1), (2) , (3a), (3b) , ( 4), ( 5) , (6), (7), (8), ( 9), (10), ( 11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18), (19), (20), (21), (22),
**
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good
Muse, Feeling Good
**23.
The next week was fairly uneventful, with Hermione and Bellatrix remaining alone in Black Manor for much of the time. Although they hadn’t discussed whether Hermione would stay there on a permanent basis, it seemed as though there was no expectation for her to leave anytime soon considering that Bellatrix hadn’t mentioned that she wanted her to live elsewhere. As a result, Hermione had sent letters to Ron and Harry to inform them of her current whereabouts, and to let them know that she was perfectly alright. She had received a rapid response from Harry, but unfortunately, there hadn’t been so much as a one word reply from Ron. She tried not to feel too upset by this, understanding Ron’s reasons for not wanting to talk to her, but it still hurt regardless. After all, Ron had been one of her best friends before she had become involved with Bellatrix, and she had never wanted to lose him from her life completely.
Ministry officials had arrived to question Bellatrix further one afternoon, and to examine the memories she possessed to make sure they were genuine. As a consequence of this investigation, Kingsley (who had now formally been named as Minister for Magic) arrived the following morning to declare that Bellatrix was free to go about her life, should she abide by the Contract of Expectations he provided her with. The contract stated that she was to attend upon a Soul-Healer for the foreseeable future, she should refrain from using any sort of Dark Magic, and that she was not allowed to curse, jinx or hex any Muggle, witch or wizard regardless of whether she considered that she was justified in doing so.
Bellatrix had been completely insistent that she did not want to see any Soul-Healers, but after half an hour of arguing, Kingsley had informed her in no uncertain terms that she didn’t get to bargain. Once he had informed her that she either signed the Contract of Expectations as it was currently written with no amendments whatsoever, or faced a prison sentence in Azkaban for her refusal to comply with Ministry requirements, Bellatrix did as she was told, and reluctantly scrawled her signature upon the Contract, using the quill Kingsley provided her with.
As of yet, Hermione and Bellatrix hadn’t discussed the Horcruxes or anything specifically related to Voldemort’s death. Hermione had wondered if it would always be this way, or if the topic would eventually be broached. She was happy not to say anything, unaware if Bellatrix, or for that matter anyone else, truly understood the lengths Voldemort had gone to in his bid to achieve immortality. It was by now common knowledge that Voldemort had created Horcruxes; something that Harry had commented upon in his letter, as he wondered whether everyone knowing was wise or not. He was worried that it may lead to unnecessary speculation about any of the terrible events that happened leading up to the war, such as Dumbledore’s death, and if it would create fear that something similar could one day happen again. Privately, as selfish as it sounded, Hermione didn’t care; she was just grateful that the wizarding world was safe at present.
In addition, Hermione was extremely thankful that she finally had a new wand. Ollivander’s was already open once more, and she had joined the queue of witches and wizards (mainly comprised of Muggle-borns) waiting to find a suitable wand on the Thursday that it opened. She was desperate for any wand that wasn’t Bellatrix’s previous one, though she did as promised and handed it back to Bellatrix to keep as a memory, rather than snapping it in two and throwing it away. Fortunately, it didn’t take her too long to get used to her new wand, most likely due to the fact its’ core was Dragon heartstring; the same as her own old one that she lost to the Snatchers had been, and indeed the same as both of Bellatrix’s wands. She was extremely pleased with her purchase, for she found that her magic worked just the same as it used to with her previous wand.
It was the Monday of the week after when Bellatrix approached Hermione in the library, where she had spent pretty much every single day reading when they weren’t together. Whilst Hermione was alone, she had no idea what Bellatrix amused herself with, but she guessed that judging from the bangs and crashes she heard coming from the uppermost level of the house that she was practising spells of some sort. For now she was happy enough to remain in the dark, feeling that there was limited damage Bellatrix could do considering that other than Lemmy, (who by now had fully recovered) they were the only occupants of the house. It was more than likely Bellatrix was merely venting her frustrations, and considering it was probably the healthiest way someone as temperamental as her would do so, Hermione wasn’t going to take issue with this. All Hermione was concerned about was making up for the lost time when she had been unable to peruse whatever book she felt like at leisure, and luckily enough, there were hundreds of books she had so far seen that interested her; possibly even thousands. And so, with Bellatrix’s unspoken consent, she had spent every day sitting in the same armchair, quietly reading.
“I’m going to see Narcissa,” Bellatrix announced, standing in front of her and waiting expectantly. “Come.”
“What?” Hermione said, startled and looking up from her book. “I don’t think bringing me with you is a good idea, Bella.”
Bellatrix rolled her eyes. “She’s not going to do anything to you; especially not if I’m there. Draco neither.”
“Lucius?” Hermione said. “Have you considered him?”
“I am more than a match for Lucius,” Bellatrix snarled. “If he says or tries one thing, I’ll curse him so far that he lands in the middle of a dragon’s nest in Egypt.”
“That might not be the best idea,” Hermione suggested delicately. “You know, considering you want to persuade Narcissa to accept me; I have an inkling that attacking her husband might not be the best way forward. Not to mention the Contract of Expectations that you’ve just signed.”
Bellatrix sighed. “You’re probably right,” she said mournfully, her agreement surprising Hermione. “Still, if he can’t keep his mouth shut and needs be...” Her voice trailed off and she made a violent gesture with her wand.
Hermione grinned. Over the past week Bellatrix had slowly but surely began to relax ever so slightly, possibly having realised that she no longer needed to be on edge anymore. This in turn meant that her mood had greatly improved; she was much calmed and not quite as angry as she used to be. It was the most human that she had ever been, and it was a change that was very much appreciated by Hermione. It had gotten to the stage where she almost didn’t mind being in love with someone like Bellatrix because for the first time, it felt as though the good outweighed the bad. Marginally.
“What are you smiling at?” Bellatrix asked, frowning.
“Nothing,” Hermione said, placing her book down, and rising to envelope Bellatrix in a kiss. It was warmly received, and their tongues danced around each other as Hermione pushed Bellatrix against the table behind her. As a result their bodies pressed flush together, and Hermione felt tingles run through her as Bellatrix gently dragged her nails down the nape of her neck. Gasping, Hermione began to kiss along Bellatrix’s jaw line, savouring the taste of her skin, and smiling to herself as she drew a low, guttural moan from the older witch.
“Hmm... stop, little babe,” Bellatrix rasped. “We’ll never go if you carry on...”
Wouldn’t you rather stay here anyway and just do this?” Hermione said seductively, tracing a finger along Bellatrix’s collarbone.
“Of course,” Bellatrix breathed. “But I have to see Narcissa. Besides, you’ve only left the house twice in the last week and it’ll be good to have a change of scenery.”
Other than the visit to Ollivanders, Hermione had only left the house to go back to her parent’s home and pick up some of her essentials, like clothes, shoes, and the luxuries such as makeup that she hadn’t worn in months. Surprisingly, the house looked exactly the same as the way it had been left, as evidently the protective spells that Hermione had placed on it at the start of the war had held out. However, as expected, there was no trace of her parents other than photographs on the walls of the two of them together. Nevertheless, despite Hermione’s desire to find her parents immediately, she wasn’t ready to search for them, still terrified of what she may possibly find. Anything could have happened to them, and although Bellatrix promised her that as far as she was aware they had not been found by Death Eaters, it didn’t do much to curb Hermione’s fears. After all, there was evil in Muggle Australia where she believed them to be; not just in the wizarding world.
“Fine,” Hermione sighed, knowing that she’d never persuade Bellatrix against seeing her sister and that she may as well face Narcissa today and get the confrontation over and done with. “But at least I’ve left this house twice more than you have.”
“I’ve had no reason to go out. Anyway, if you can handle me, then Narcissa shouldn’t be a problem,” Bellatrix said with a shrug.
“I know it’s stupid,” Hermione admitted, deciding to voice her fear, and part of the reason why she didn’t want to face Narcissa. “But I know you love your sister more than you could ever love me. I suppose I’m just worried that she will succeed in turning you against me.”
“No,” Bellatrix said, shaking her head. “My relationship with Narcissa is entirely different to the one I have with you. Yes, she is my sister, but the fact that I betrayed the Dark Lord for you should speak volumes for the way I feel for you.”
For Bellatrix to say such a thing, it was as good as if the words “I love you” had come from her mouth. The simple reminder of all that she had given up for Hermione made her feel a little better, and she knew that Bellatrix was being entirely honest with her in the same way as she knew she had told the truth regarding her parents. Her spirits lifted, she allowed Bellatrix to lead her towards the fireplace, a hand pressed firmly in the small of her back.
“She is expecting us, so we’ll Floo there,” Bellatrix announced.
Hermione nodded. “Ok. You go first and I’ll follow?”
“Of course,” Bellatrix said, smirking at Hermione. “The saying is witches first, after all.”
“Are you implying I’m a man?” Hermione asked with a frown, trying to work out in her head what Bellatrix meant. “Or a Muggle?”
Bellatrix rolled her eyes. “I was joking, Hermione.” She took a pinch of Floo Powder. “I’ll see you in a moment.”
Placing a chaste kiss on Bellatrix’s mouth, Hermione murmured, “See you.”
“Malfoy Manor,” Bellatrix called once she was in the flames.
Echoing Bellatrix’s actions shortly after, Hermione did the same, closing her eyes as she travelled so that she didn’t feel dizzy. It had been a while since she had used the Floo Network, and much the same as Apparating, it took some getting used to. Her main concern at the moment, however, was the fact that she would have to face Narcissa, and possibly Lucius and Draco if they were around. She felt sick to the stomach, because even though Bellatrix claimed she would protect her and remain loyal; what would she do if Narcissa forced her to choose between them? Hermione didn’t know enough about Narcissa to predict whether this was a possibility or not, but should the situations between the sisters have been reversed and Bellatrix was still a Death Eater, she probably would have killed Narcissa for deigning to have a relationship with a Muggle-born.
All too soon, Hermione arrived at Malfoy Manor. Trying to appear as dignified as possible should she immediately be faced with Narcissa, she stepped out of the flames carefully, her expression devoid of emotion. Narcissa was an unknown entity to her, and so she would to her best to portray a similar image to the blonde witch. No doubt Draco would have whined about her, especially during their younger years at Hogwarts, meaning that Narcissa knew more about her than she did about Narcissa. However, whilst this put Narcissa at a slight advantage, if Hermione was a good enough actress then hopefully Narcissa wouldn’t be able to read her too easily.
The most she had ever seen of Narcissa was when she had been tortured by Bellatrix at Malfoy Manor, which was definitely a memory from hell that she was tempted to have Obliviated. Although throughout her time there Narcissa had not laid a single finger on her, or cast any spell at her directly, she hadn’t exactly jumped to defend her either. If anything, she had just waited for Bellatrix to tell her what to do, and followed instructions, never quite doing enough to have an effect on anything. Still, Narcissa hadn’t gone out of her way to help her at all, and so Hermione was feeling apprehensive about seeing her again to say the least.
Hermione was relieved to note that currently, herself and Bellatrix were the only occupants of what looked to be the hallway. She wondered where Narcissa was, and if she had forgotten that they were supposed to meet. Maybe that gave her time to Floo back to Bellatrix’s? Of course, it was weak to back out now, but she wasn’t feeling a great deal of that infamous Gryffindor bravery at the moment, and so she was unsure if she could stand to do this anymore. So what if she was a coward? She had committed enough courageous acts this past year alone to more than make up for a moment of weakness.
As if she had read Hermione’s thoughts again (and Hermione wasn’t sure if she had, because apparently Bellatrix was good at delving into her mind when she was unaware and not conscious enough of her mind being penetrated) Bellatrix murmured, “Stop worrying. I’ve told you, it’s going to be fine.”
“I’d feel better if you held my hand,” Hermione said, immediately chastising herself for being so idiotic as to actually speak the words. As if Bellatrix was going to do that. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that aloud.”
Surprisingly, Bellatrix grinned. “Please think before you speak when Narcissa is around. She’s far more reserved than I am, and she’ll fail to see the funny side.”
Blushing, Hermione looked down at the floor as she trailed alongside Bellatrix, feeling stupider than ever. She was usually so good at saying the right thing and controlling her emotions, but apparently all of that went to pot the moment she was around Bellatrix. It wouldn’t have mattered if they had been in a relationship for five years; Bellatrix would never go all mushy around her and start showing public displays of affection.
Nevertheless, as Hermione thought this, she felt a hand roughly weave itself around her waist, resting possessively on her hip. Shocked, she gawped at Bellatrix unable to believe that she would touch her like this when Narcissa could appear at any moment from behind one of the doors surrounding. Lost for words, she continued to stare at Bellatrix, wondering if this was a sign that the raven haired witch was willing to sacrifice a little of who she was as a person if it made Hermione happy.
“I’m not going to hold your hand because I find that just a little too odd, but if it makes you feel better, then I’ll do this. Ok?” Bellatrix explained, no trace of sarcasm in her voice.
“Thanks,” Hermione whispered, just as they entered what looked to be a sitting room. Decorated in a Jade Green shade with hints of gold here and there, the rug and soft furnishings made it look a great deal more comfortable than the drawing room that Hermione had been tortured in. There was a large handsome portrait of Lucius, Narcissa, Draco and Bellatrix looming down from one wall, none of them smiling, and all making formidable characters. Despite this, it did serve to highlight how good-looking a family they were, whilst showing their arrogance at the same time. It was this portrait that Hermione focused on in awe for several seconds, before she turned to face the current occupants of the room other than herself and Bellatrix.
Casually perusing a copy of The Daily Prophet, Narcissa was sat on one of the large, black leather Chesterfield sofas next to Draco, who had immediately looked up at Bellatrix and Hermione, a startled expression on his face. He made a sort of whimpering noise which caused Narcissa to also look up from the newspaper, and she too appeared stunned to see the sight of Bellatrix and Hermione before her. Hermione supposed she could understand, especially considering their current position with Bellatrix’s arm around her, which made it perfectly clear just how close they were.
“Cissy,” Bellatrix said, smiling at her sister. “You seem surprised... I thought you were expecting me?”
Narcissa stood. “Not quite like this Bellatrix, as you well know.” She turned to Draco, and said in a low voice, “Draco, you’d better leave us.”
With a curt nod, Draco swept from the room, his eyes flitting over to Bellatrix in a terrified glance only briefly as he shut the door behind him. Hermione supposed that it was the way many people would react to Bellatrix considering everything she had done; Bellatrix was a frightening character even without considering her past actions. There was something about the way she held herself that put people on edge, and even now that Bellatrix wasn’t a real threat, Hermione still sometimes experienced that feeling when she was with her.
“Anyone would think he was scared of me,” Bellatrix mused, gazing at the door that Draco had just closed. She turned to Hermione. “I’m beginning to wonder why I bothered asking you to save him; apparently he’s as spineless as his father.”
Hermione was saved from a reply by Narcissa, who said coldly, “Stop it, Bellatrix; you have even less right to mock Draco now than you did previously. Lucius too, for that matter.”
“And what exactly do you mean by that?” Bellatrix snarled, her demeanour changing. As she stiffened, she tightened the hand around Hermione’s waist, and though the extra pressure hurt, Hermione managed to hold back a whimper.
“You know exactly what I mean,” Narcissa snapped. “Do you care to explain this?” She gestured towards Hermione.
Bellatrix surveyed Hermione. “She’s my...” her voice trailed off as she searched for the appropriate word. “Partner? Girlfriend doesn’t sound right, does it? Special friend?”
“Bella,” Hermione hissed, no longer able to tolerate Bellatrix’s hand clenching at her waist. “Stop squeezing me!”
Bellatrix grinned before relaxing her grip. “Let’s sit down,” she said, leading Hermione over to the sofa that Narcissa had previously been sat upon. She threw herself down with force, pulling Hermione next to her with a great thud.
“I sincerely hope that this is your idea of a sick joke, Bellatrix,” Narcissa said, taking a seat on the sofa opposite them, and folding her hands together in her lap.
“Hang on,” Bellatrix said. “If Andromeda can run off with a Muggle-born then why can’t I?”
“That’s exactly the point!” Narcissa exclaimed, no longer quite as controlled. There was a hint of wildness and ferocity in her eyes, though of course it was nowhere near the amount that Bellatrix’s orbs sometimes held. “You have spent the last thirty years hating our sister for her choices, and now you’re doing exactly the same thing! Is this the reason you betrayed the Dark Lord? It had nothing to do with concern for Draco and I, did it?”
“Cissy,” Bellatrix said, and her voice was softer now. “I didn’t want this to happen, but it did. We can’t... we can’t live without each other. It’s Semper Amor.”
There was a pause.
Narcissa stared in disbelief as the words sunk in. “Don’t be ridiculous!”
“It is,” Bellatrix insisted. “Don’t you remember us talking about it years ago? Semper Amor has been proven to exist. And... well... it exists between myself and Hermione.”
Hermione processed Bellatrix’s statement, and realised exactly what Bellatrix’s declaration implied. “Wait, you knew what Semper Amor was before I showed you the book, Ancient Love?”
“Yes, Narcissa and I read about it when we were teenagers at Hogwarts,” Bellatrix answered, and then as though she realised what she had revealed, she tried to wave it off. “But that doesn’t matter now.”
“It matters to me,” Hermione said, incredulous of Bellatrix’s reaction. How could she think this wasn’t a big deal? If Bellatrix had been aware of Semper Amor since before Hermione informed her, that meant that she possibly knew when she was torturing Hermione in the cell. At what point had Bellatrix been aware of the unbreakable connection between them? Had she been in denial? Hermione had so many questions flying around her head that she didn’t know what to ask first. She didn’t know what to think. All that was on repeat in her head was Bellatrix knew, Bellatrix knew, Bellatrix knew.
“Yes, I knew when I was holding you prisoner, and no I can’t tell you exactly when because I tried to block it out. Now, can you stop thinking so bloody hard and let me talk to Narcissa for the moment?” Bellatrix said in annoyance.
“Well, stop looking inside of my head!” Hermione retorted, embarrassed that Bellatrix was speaking to her in such a way in front of someone else; her younger sister of all people. “I didn’t ask you to invade my mind!”
“Then practice your Occlumency skills more and learn to close your mind off when you are unaware of someone trying to look inside your head. Or at the very least learn when I’m probing your mind so that you can quickly shut me out,” Bellatrix snapped.
At this point, Narcissa cleared her throat. “Excuse me?”
“Sorry,” Hermione apologised, feeling embarrassed. “This um... it happens a lot. We argue constantly.”
“Does she not use the Cruciatus Curse on you to keep you in your place? I’m sure you’re aware that’s one of Bellatrix’s specialities,” Narcissa drawled, addressing Hermione directly for the first time since her arrival at Malfoy Manor.
Hermione stared at the blonde witch, unable to tell if she was joking or not. She didn’t look as though she was being cruel, but that didn’t necessarily mean that was the case. It may just be that Hermione was truly awful at reading the emotion currently worn on Narcissa’s face, being as it was so well hidden. Whatever the reason behind her words, Hermione was not going to retaliate. Now was the time to be nice to Narcissa unless she had proof that she was being provoked, because she didn’t need to provide her with more ammunition or further reasons for hating her other than her blood status. She does hate me, doesn’t she? Why else would Narcissa be acting this way towards her if there wasn’t at least a little animosity?
“No. Not anymore, anyway,” Hermione said, answering truthfully. Wanting to keep the conversation with Narcissa going, she added, “Why, has she used it on you too?”
Narcissa smirked, and Hermione was struck by how similar a resemblance to Bellatrix she bore. Despite the straight, raven and blonde coloured hair that Narcissa had, they shared the same deep brown eyes, and apparently some similar expressions too. It was unnerving to think about, let alone be faced with. “No; my darling sister would never dream of using an Unforgiveable Curse upon me.”
“Are you sure about that?” Bellatrix muttered. “There’s a first time for everything.” She threw Narcissa a filthy look.
“Calm yourself, Bella,” Narcissa chastised.
“I’ll calm myself when you stop irritating me,” Bellatrix said through gritted teeth.
“I’m not trying to irritate you,” Narcissa said, composed. “I’m simply having a conversation with Miss Granger.”
Weird, Hermione thought. If Narcissa was only comfortable with calling her Miss Granger, then for the moment she would have to accept it. However, should herself and Bellatrix still be together several months down the line (which was looking more and more possible as each day passed without them trying to kill each other) then she would have to say something. After all, it was inevitable that she was going to have to spend some time with Narcissa considering how close she and Bellatrix were. Perhaps if Narcissa continued to be so formal then she could have a word with Bellatrix about it; Hermione doubted very much that Narcissa would pay any attention to her wishes unless Bellatrix asked on her behalf.
“Well, I would appreciate it if you focused a little more on me,” Bellatrix huffed. “I am your sister after all.”
“My sister who has brought her new friend to visit,” Narcissa said promptly. “Can you blame me for being intrigued?”
“We didn’t come here for you to question us!” Bellatrix declared. “I wanted you to know about Hermione because I don’t want there to be any secrets between us.”
“That’s fine,” Narcissa said, and again, Hermione couldn’t tell if she really meant what she said. How frustrating. “Though if that is the case, there is something I should tell you too.”
Bellatrix raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“I have been in touch with Andromeda,” Narcissa announced. “I felt that given the circumstances, it was appropriate.”
“What?” Bellatrix said at once, pursing her lips. “You’re not serious, Cissy?”
Narcissa shook her head. “Yes, I am. And before you open your mouth and start spouting abuse, I’d think very carefully about recent choices that you have made yourself. You have no right to judge Andromeda; not anymore.”
Angrily, Bellatrix balled her hand into a fist. “I have already explained why this is different, and...”
Interjecting, Narcissa said, “Had Andromeda been the one experiencing Semper Amor, you would still have shown her no mercy.” She bowed her head in apparent shame. “And neither would I. But the Dark Lord has gone, Bellatrix, and our families’ reputation is in tatters. It is time for us to build bridges, and I think it is time to start with Andromeda. She has lost her husband and daughter, and now she has to raise her grandchild alone.”
“I doubt that Andromeda is even going to want to set eyes on me considering that I have spent the last couple of years trying to kill her daughter,” Bellatrix said scornfully.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Hermione said, hoping that Bellatrix didn’t turn her fury against her. However, she felt as though she had to tell her what she really thought, because without a doubt, Narcissa was doing the right thing. Maybe it was for all the wrong reasons if she was mainly concerned for her reputation, but if some good came out of it, then who was Hermione to question her motivation? Besides, as far as she could tell, Narcissa was highly logical in many ways; something that she admired and aspired to herself.
Bellatrix shot Hermione a warning look, but directed her attention back to Narcissa as she said firmly, “No.”
Regardless of Bellatrix’s refusal, Narcissa seemed unfazed as she said, “Do you really think that you’re going to be accepted into society? It’s going to be hard enough for myself, Lucius and Draco to build our reputation again, but you’re going to have even more of a fight on your hands.”
“I don’t care what others think of me,” Bellatrix said defiantly. “They can hate me all they want; considering most of them are scum not even worth my time, it really isn’t an issue for me.”
As Hermione considered Bellatrix’s stance, she tried not to feel too upset by her admission. She had known what she was letting herself in for when she agreed to pursue the connection between herself and Bellatrix, and although slowly Bellatrix was beginning to change; it wasn’t going to happen overnight. Unlike Narcissa, Bellatrix was unconcerned with her reputation because for years she had been in Azkaban, away from all of the abuse that people threw around about her. Even afterwards when she had broken free, she had only been concerned with Voldemort, and surrounded herself daily with people who agreed with her views. There was a chance that when Bellatrix had to face people in the street that over time, eventually she would begin to care. Either that or she would attempt to curse people left, right and centre, though Hermione hoped that she would at least attempt to restrain the urge to do that, or else end up in Azkaban again.
“Why are you so against seeing Andromeda?” Hermione asked curiously. At the very least she wanted to understand exactly what Bellatrix’s issue with Andromeda was. “Her husband is dead, and surely the main reason you stopped talking to her was because she had tainted the Black family name, which has now been destroyed for entirely different reasons.”
“Because she turned her back on us without a second thought,” Bellatrix snapped. “Anyhow, we still have a reputation amongst certain groups.”
Hermione gaped. “What, like the remaining Death Eaters who have been put into Azkaban? They probably hate you for your betrayal. Even if they don’t... that’s absurd, Bella! Your mere association with such individuals is probably enough in itself to warrant them throwing you into Azkaban and locking away the key, and this time you won’t survive, because you don’t have the thought of being back with Him to sustain you. He’s gone! You either need to fit into society or face life in prison.” Taking a breath, Hermione finished her rant. “Oh, and Andromeda didn’t turn her back on you without a second thought; Tonks once told me that she still has photographs of you all as children in her home, safely kept in a box that she hides in her wardrobe.” She ignored the pang in her chest as she mentioned Tonks without thinking. Focus on the conversation, don’t think of her now.
Finally having said everything she needed to say, Hermione stopped, looking back and forth between the two sisters. As it frequently was, Narcissa’s expression was entirely unreadable, but Bellatrix, who showed all emotions other than sadness more easily on her face, was staring at her in wonderment. It was strange for Hermione, because she didn’t think she had ever been on the receiving end of such a look from the older witch. Despite not feeling threatened, she couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable as she prepared herself for whatever was to come next.
“What?” Hermione asked when Bellatrix was still watching her half a minute or so later, still not having spoken. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Bellatrix briefly glanced over at Narcissa, before she faced Hermione, and said, “I think I finally truly understand why you’re a Gryffindor.”
“Huh?” Hermione frowned. Where exactly was this leading?
“I don’t think anyone other than you would ever dare to speak to me like that in front of another family member,” Bellatrix said. “Your Gryffindor bravery astounds me.”
Still confused, Hermione said, “So... are you angry?”
Bellatrix appeared to think for a moment. “Surprisingly, no I’m not. I don’t have an overwhelming urge to inflict Crucio upon you at any rate.”
“Does that mean you agree with me?” Hermione tried again to understand what Bellatrix was getting at.
“I agree that what you just said makes sense. And... considering everything, it may be in my best interests to speak with Andromeda at least once.” She directed at Narcissa, “I’ll leave it to you, Cissy, to sort out the arrangements with her?”
Mutely, Narcissa nodded. Her outburst appeared to have had an effect on Narcissa, Hermione noted with pleasure.
“Well, now that’s all sorted, I think it’s time for us to leave,” Bellatrix said, standing up. “I’m sure you have a lot to discuss with Draco and Lucius.”
“Yes,” Narcissa managed, eyes flickering over to Hermione. “It was... interesting to meet you, Miss Granger.”
Hermione smiled, despite the awkwardness that the other witch so obviously felt. “Likewise.” She avoided the use of Narcissa’s name, not wanting to appear too over-familiar.
“I’ll see you to the fireplace,” Narcissa said politely, guiding Bellatrix and Hermione out of the room, even though they knew the way perfectly well on their own. Well, Bellatrix did; Hermione wasn’t sure she would ever get used to large manor houses, for although her parent’s home was spacious, both Black Manor and Malfoy Manor took living space to a whole new level.
As before, Bellatrix left first, apparently not concerned with the fact that now Hermione would be left alone with Narcissa. Not wanting to wait around, Hermione hurriedly took a pinch of Floo powder, but as she was about to step into the fireplace, Narcissa cleared her throat, drawing Hermione back around. Up close, the resemblance to Bellatrix was ever more striking, for their eyes were so uncannily similar that Hermione had to remind herself that this was Narcissa she was standing opposite, not Bellatrix. Focusing on the different hairstyles and clothes worn helped somewhat, but Hermione didn’t wish to appear rude by looking Narcissa up and down, and so she tried to just focus on her face instead.
“I don’t know how you’re able to make Bellatrix listen to you the way she evidently has been,” Narcissa said slowly. “But I have only ever seen her act that way for someone once before.”
Hermione swallowed. “Voldemort.”
Narcissa visibly flinched at the use of the name. “I don’t know what your agenda is, and I don’t particularly want to know. However, you should be aware that Bellatrix is infatuated by you, and should you decide against pursuing things with her, she will not give you up easily. If you are unsure of anything, then now is the time to walk away, before things become any more serious.”
Hermione shook her head angrily. How dare Narcissa question her feelings? “There is no agenda, and in case you haven’t noticed, I’m as infatuated with Bellatrix as she is with me. I’ve risked my friendships and my life to be with her, and have no intention to ever leave. So if that’s a problem for you, then I’m sorry, but I’m not going anywhere.”
Turning back to the flames, she threw the Floo powder and stepped inside before Narcissa could response. She wasn’t interested in hearing any more negativity; she had already dealt with enough of that to last a lifetime. If Narcissa was unhappy with Bellatrix’s choices then simply put, it was too bad. Hermione’s feelings for Bellatrix were so strong that she knew nobody else would ever be able to match up to her, and she couldn’t imagine kissing anyone in the way that she kissed Bellatrix. Granted, she still hated her just that little bit for everything that she had done to good, innocent people over the years, for everything that she had found amusing and for all the pain she caused, but that didn’t change the fact that she loved Bellatrix with all her heart.
And that was the way it was going to stay.
Forever.
**
(( CLICK HERE for part 24 ))