text stringlengths 12 10.4k |
|---|
"Of course," Hermione assured. "And Ginny...I do care about her a lot. But you’re still my best friend." |
There, a smile broke over the witch’s face. "Well, I know that," she said, but a light-heartedness filled her voice that hadn’t been there before. "Anyway, she suits you, Hermione. Better than my brother. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look at anyone the way you look at her." |
Hermione blushed as she looked away before remembering something else. "Harry looks at you pretty happily." She was pleased to watch as Ginny’s face began to turn a familiar shade of red. |
Quickly, it seemed, the tension had broke between them, leaving them laughing and chatting as they made it to the breakfast table. There, Harry sat gloomily as people continued cast him dirty looks. Despite her feelings towards the situation, Hermione wished people didn’t react out of Harry being barred from Quidditch. |
She was confident that Ginny was a fantastic seeker, and Dean was a decent chaser who worked well enough with the team to fill Ginny’s spot. |
As people began to finish breakfast, Hermione watched as some of the Quidditch team kissed their respective partners. There, Hermione watched as Bellatrix seemed to look away. |
Bellatrix had assured Hermione that they didn’t need to be public, but Hermione wondered if a part of her had been serious about wanting a "good luck kiss’ like the rest of the team. |
Ginny seemed to give her a look, brows raised as if to say... are you going to? But Hermione looked away, mumbling her wishes for the game along with Harry, before he left to wander down to the dungeons with Snape. |
Hermione began to make her way to the stands, her mind going over and over Bellatrix’s look and what Ginny had said. |
Maybe she was being ridiculous. Maybe it didn’t matter what anyone else thought. This was a big match and despite how cool and calm Bellatrix was acting, she knew the witch was eager to win. |
Before the match began, Hermione found a bubble of courage as, instead of following the crowd into the stands, she slipped into the change room and walked over to where Bellatrix was standing on the far side of the room, talking to the other beater. |
Quickly, before Hermione could overthink it, she tapped onto the witch’s shoulder and when she turned to face her, Hermione cupped Bellatrix’s face and kissed her gently on the lips. |
"For luck," she said, before quickly leaving as she heard Ginny give a hoot as the other players began making similar cheering noises. |
Hermione rushed into the stands, her face warm as she waited for the match begin. |
As it was, superstition or not, the luck worked. The match flew by and Gryffindor slaughtered Ravenclaw. At the very end, Ginny and Cho dived for the snitch at the same time, but a trick-shot from Bellatrix hitting the bludger on Cho’s broom diverted her enough that Ginny was able to make the stretch and grab the snitch. |
The crowd went wild. |
Hermione raced down the stands, not caring who saw her as the team walked off the pitch. There were crowds of people, coming to congratulate Gryffindor, but Hermione rushed passed and ran to where Bellatrix stood, watching her face light up as Hermione jumped into arms and kissed her proudly. |
It didn’t matter what anyone said. |
It didn’t matter what they thought. |
She knew in her heart that she loved Bellatrix. And whatever happened next, right now, in this moment, she was happy. No one could take this moment away from them. |
Hermione missed the moment when Harry arrived in the common room––though she’d overheard a few people talking about how he’d kissed Ginny at last. In truth, Hermione had been far too happy, sitting on Bellatrix’s lap as Gryffindor celebrated. |
News travelled around the school about both of them. Mostly, people were focused on Harry and Ginny, but others did speak about her and Bellatrix. |
Hermione caught Daphne giving her a curious look in class more than once. She overheard Pansy make a comment to the effect of, "suppose no boy wanted her, so she had to get with someone." But that had somehow ended up with her in a tongue-tying hex that even Snape had a difficult time removing. |
Although Hermione tried not to show it, she couldn’t help but give Bellatrix a smile when she caught her eye. It wasn’t a hex that hurt Pansy in anyway, after all. Just made her unable to say anything for the rest of the day until Snape managed to finally until do the hex. |
It wasn’t long however, before Hermione was provided with a letter requesting herself to attend Professor Dumbledore’s office. |
Anxiety grew in her stomach as she walked up the stairs to the Headmaster’s office, certain that Dumbledore was going to remind her that it was a breach of her duty and care to allow her heart to be so captured by the witch. |
"Miss Granger," Professor Dumbledore said as she entered the room. "How are you finding this year’s classes?" |
Hermione swallowed, uncertain if she should remain standing or sit down, but as the headmaster gestured for her to take a seat, she moved into the chair before his desk. |
"Good, sir. I know NEWTs are meant to be more difficult, but I admit I underestimated how difficult they would be." |
"They can be to those that aren’t focused," he said and Hermione felt her stomach clench. "Though your marks show that you remain focused. And Miss Black’s, too, have improved over the year." |
Hermione had noticed that over the last few months, Bellatrix had made more of an effort in her written work. Though, she was uncertain if she was being scolded or not at this stage. "She’s working hard. She’s really trying to be a good student, and she’s making friends and did really well in Quidditch and––" |
"Miss Granger, I’ve brought you here because I understand you’ve become quite close with Miss Black." |
Hermione kept quiet as her hands clenched against her robes. |
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair. "Last year, when Miss Black first came to be with us, it was clear she’d formed some sort of imprint on yourself. You were the first person she witnessed in her tabula rasa state, and as such, the first connection she made. I was hopeful that a friendship would form from that and I was pleased to see you work diligently in helping her to become the person she is." |
Hermione didn’t speak, sensing a but. |
"But I’m afraid to say that it has come to the attention of Voldemort that Miss Black is alive. He is not aware of the circumstances around her disappearance, but I don’t expect it would take long for him to work out what had occurred." |
"Professor––" |
"I do not say this to be unkind, Miss Granger, but to provide you a warning. I expect that Mr Potter has been talking with yourself and Mr Weasley about our lessons?" |
Hermione nodded. |
"Then you can understand that I am gravely concerned that things are moving quicker than I anticipated. I expect the Voldemort’s forces to move in, soon. He will come for Bellatrix as he valued her as an asset, and to learn that she’s no longer under his control will put her and those she cares about in great danger. He may even take it as a particular challenge to re-shape her into his tool, once more." |
"Is that possible? Without her memories...she’s only a girl. Like me." |
"Alas, she was once only a girl when Tom first came across her, if you recall." |
Hermione swallowed, realising what was being said. "She’s not dangerous," Hermione assured. "And she’s made real progress...she has friends who care about her, and—" |
"And family," Dumbledore reminded her. "Not all who may be so happy with her newfound life." |
Hermione’s shoulders sank. While she was not afraid of Narcissa Malfoy, she could understand that the witch could become a threat in more ways than one. "It sounds like you’re warning me away from Bella." |
"Warning you away? No, rather, I wish to make you acutely aware of the situation. Bellatrix will likely confront the very same people she once called allies, and while she may not be able to recall specific memories, it seems that events have their mark on her soul. She may irreparably be drawn to the same dark magic she once was." |
"She may be drawn to dark magic, but this Bellatrix won’t choose that path. She may be drawn to dark magic. She may occasionally use magic for selfish reasons, but she’s not inherently bad. She’s a good person, sir. There are depths of kindness to her that are real and there." |
"Miss Granger, I am not trying to dissuade you from your friendship with Miss Black, only to warn you that her fate may not be what you hope for. Voldemort will come for her, and those who have received special interest from him tend to fall into one of two fates." |
Hermione paused, taking in a moment to understand before she looked up at Dumbledore. "But she doesn’t want to go with him. If he realises that, he’ll..." oh, Hermione realised. |
Dumbledore provided her with a sad look. "I would urge to think about the greater good. Should Voldemort capture her...your priority may not be to needlessly spend resources to save her." |
Hermione realised now what the conversation was truly about. Dumbledore was reminding her that her priority was to Harry first and foremost. To ensure he was able to fulfil the prophecy. Not to creature an imaginary future for herself with Bellatrix. |
In the event she went to Voldemort, whether voluntary or not...Hermione was to abandon her. |
"I understand that it may seem unfair of me to ask this of you, but I fear that time is short," Dumbledore said, and there, Hermione found herself glancing to the cursed arm. "Miss Granger, please take time to think on what I’ve said." |
"Sir," Hermione whispered. "I...I love her. As much as Harry and Ron. She could come with us." |
"I don’t wish to repeat myself. I trust when the time comes, you will make the correct decision," Dumbeldore said, his tone serious. |
Hermione found herself going over different plans. Her first was to see if Bella would be happy staying at the Order of the Phoenix headquarters, and then quickly decided against that. The witch would not be content in lying low and remaining hidden. |
Her second had then been to disregard what Dumbledore said. Whatever the future held, she knew that it would likely involve herself, Ron and Harry hunting these so-called horcrux before coming up with a plan to take down Voldemort. |
She expected Dumbledore would help with this, but as of late, he was appearing more and more frail and Hermione wondered if the reason he’d held such a conversation with her was because whatever curse affected his hand was slowly making its way to his heart. |
Hermione didn’t want to admit that might be the case, but there was the very real possibility that Dumbledore may die within the next year or so. |
Which raised the possibility of what would happen if Bellatrix was captured. Either by Voldemort, or by other means. The reality of the situation was that Harry was prophesied to be the one to either win or die against Voldemort. |
Dumbledore was right to remind her of her duty to Harry. |
Perhaps she was putting the cart before the horse. |
"Hermione?" Ginny prompted. |
Hermione looked up. |
"Bella’s just come through the portrait if you wanted to speak with her?" |
Hermione set down the parchment and quill she’d had out to sketch her different options. There was a mind map of different plans bleeding into one another, but she found herself going back to what Dumbledore said. |
If Bellatrix was captured, Hermione should not pursue her. |
Bellatrix’s face lit-up as her eyes met Hermione, but her brow furrowed as she caught her expression. |
Hermione felt her mouth go dry. "Can we talk?" |
Bellatrix’s eyebrows rose high. "About us?" |
"No! No, not like that. It’s...complicated," Hermione admitted. "And not something I want anyone else to overhear." |
Bellatrix nodded. They went up to the girl’s dormitory, onto Hermione’s bed where Crookshanks shifted on the end of the bed, only enough to cast a disgruntled look before curling up asleep again. |
As the curtains unravelled and a silencing charm was cast upon them, Hermione felt her heart beat loud in her chest. |
"Are you going to tell me what this is about?" Bellatrix asked. |
Hermione nodded. "Dumbledore...asked to speak with me," she began, and then quickly confessed everything that had been spoken about with the headmaster, before diving quickly into different plans she had thought of to protect her. But Bellatrix’s hands rose, clasping around hers as Hermione trembled. |
"He’s right," Bellatrix said. "Voldemort is coming for me, you need to leave me––" |
"I’m not leaving you!" Hermione snapped. "Harry already has a target on his back, it won’t make any difference if you’re there. If anything, you’re a skilled duelist. Something that may help us because...because it sounds like things are going to get a lot worse and I have feeling that we won’t be coming back to Hogwarts next year." |
Bellatrix took a deep breath, look away. "You need to trust that I will get out." |
"No," Hermione said. "No, I will find a way to get you out. I won’t let you get captured, and if you do, if something happens, I’ll find––" |
"Hermione," Bellatrix said, her hands tightening on her wrists. "Listen to me. In the event that I’m captured, you have to let me go. Do you understand?" |
"Please, it’s important. You can’t come for me." |
"No! I’m not going to leave you. I lo–care for you too much––" Hermione pulled her hands free, squashing the almost confession. "No. Okay? I wouldn’t leave Harry or Ron or Ginny. I’m not going to leave you in the hands of any dark wizard. I will come for you. I will find you, I promise you." |
Bellatrix’s head dropped, her shoulders sagging as she drew in a long, deep breath. "There’s something you don’t know," Bellatrix said. "So, please. Hermione. Please. Don’t come for me when it happens." |
Hermione could feel her throat swelling as she shook her head. "When’? That’s a slip, right. You don’t mean "when’?" |
"When," Bellatrix said again, holding her eyes. |
Hermione shivered, her mouth going dry. She could feel her thoughts bouncing wildly as she looked at the witch. Bellatrix said "when’. Bellatrix was asking her not to find her. Bellatrix was aware of Voldemort. Bellatrix–– |
"You’re going to act as a spy for Dumbledore, aren’t you?" |
"Not...exactly," Bellatrix said. "It’s more complicated than that." |
"What then?" Hermione asked, her eyes flicking between between Bellatrix’s. There was a burning feeling coiling in her chest. "Please, Bella. Please tell me." |
Bellatrix swallowed, looking aside. "I can’t." |
"Because I made a vow." |
Hermione sat still, staring at the space between them. Bellatrix seemed so far away from her, now. |
But a fierce anger gripped at her heart as she met Bellatrix’s eyes once more. "I won’t let you." |
"Hermione..." Bellatrix whispered. "It’s a vow." |
"But it’s not fair!" Hermione said. "You’re clever. You can find a way to circumvent the vow and tell me and then the both of us can––" |
"Hermione," Bellatrix said, her hands tight around hers. "If tonight was our last night, is this how you want to spend it?" |
"Are you leaving tomorrow?" |
"Do you want to spend tonight angry at me? I don’t know when it’s occurring, I don’t know if I will need to leave or run away or what...but I know that our time is running short." |
"I am angry with you," Hermione said. "I can’t just change my emotions. I’m angry that I’m going to lose you. I care about you, Bella. I care so much for you. And you’re asking me to let you just be captured or...or worse?" |
Bellatrix smiled, shifting closer on the bed as she reached up and tucked a curl of Hermione’s hair, behind her ear. |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.