Hermione/Bellatrix

Hermione/Bellatrix, also known as Bellamione, is the non-canon pairing between Hermione Granger, one of the main protagonists in the Harry Potter book and movie series, and Bellatrix Lestrange (born Bellatrix Black), one of the most loyal Death Eaters of Lord Voldemort, the series' main antagonist. 
Despite the canonical contrast between their good versus evil inclinations and the infrequency of their interactions, fans are drawn to the pairing because of story parallels between the two characters, and fanon interpretations of either character that strengthen the parallels. The allure of this ship lies in the potential for intense but conflicting feelings between the two characters themselves, and between the reader and the characters. Thanks to a few early popular stories and the varied ways fans explore this pairing, it is one of the top two F/F pairings in the Harry Potter fandom.AS of June 2023, in the category of f/f in the Harry Potter fandom on AO3, the two top pairings are 1900 Hermione/Pansy works and 1850 Bellatrix/Hermione works. 
==Canon==
Hermione and Bellatrix had few interactions in either film or book canon, and each of the interactions were very antagonistic. In Order of the Phoenix, Bellatrix briefly takes Hermione hostage in the Department of Mysteries (located in the Ministry of Magic). In Deathly Hallows, Bellatrix tortures and interrogates Hermione in Malfoy Manor. Bellatrix repeatedly refers to Hermione as "mudblood," and in the film Deathly Hallows Part 1 she carves the word into Hermione's arm. 
==Fandom==
Bellamione shippers often cite the parallels between Hermione and Bellatrix, in spite of their significant differences. Both women are highly intelligent and driven, but also extremely loyal to a male leader. Some fans view Bellatrix as a darker version of who canon!Hermione could be, in a different world. Relatedly therefore, there are AU Dark Bellamione fics in which both engage in torture, killing (similar to Murder Husbands), or other destruction. 
In early 2012, about a year after the release of Deathly Hallows Part 1 movie in Nov 2010, Those Gilded Chains We Wear by KuraiBites began on FFN, building the popularity of this ship. Although the fic is unfinished and has not been updated since 2016, it is so popular it inspired a TVTropes page, a tumblr focused on TGCWW, and other fanworks. Around 2011-2012, there were also several popular stories published by liidgThe WayBack Machine link is an example of their story titles and writing dates, as well as a chapter here or there of the fics, but they have since removed their work from FFN., including Dark Effects and Primal Instincts. As an example of the world-building by liidg, Primal Instincts is notable both for its lore surrounding how Bellatrix and Hermione are connected to their own magic, and being the "hyena dick fic" because both are animagi (Bellatrix a hyena, and Hermione a cheetah).
However fans are drawn into this ship, they tend to remain because they enjoy exploring character dynamics between Bellatrix and Hermione and others, complicated with interplay between the characters' "darker" instincts. Although she is an often-mentioned character on the side of the Dark Lord, her characterization in the books is still mostly open to fandom interpretation.
The popularity of Hermione/Bellatrix has also increased interest in shipping Hermione with the other Black sistersAs of February 2023, the Hermione/Bellatrix tag on AO3 has 1755 works, the Bellatrix/Narcissa tag has 846 works, and the Hermione/Andromeda tag has 258 works., Hermione/Narcissa Black Malfoy and Hermione/Andromeda Black Tonks, even the fan-developed tag Hermione Granger scores a Black Sister Hat Trick.
There is some tension between Ron/Hermione shippers and Hermione/Bellatrix shippers, although it isn't quite a ship war. (Accessed June 11, 2020) There is also a subset of fans who dislike the ship and view it as gross or a glorification of the canonical torture scene.
==Common Fandom Tropes==
* Alternate Universes, ranging from dark ones where Voldemort wins, to fluff ones where there is no Voldemort or no magic.
* BDSM or other kink, including slavefics where Hermione is given to Bellatrix as a reward, in AUs where Voldemort is victorious.
* Canon divergent future fics in which Bellatrix lives beyond the Battle of Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
* Dark!Hermione or Dark!Bellamione, which may also include Lovecraftian elements.
* Professor(s) at Hogwarts, such as Bellatrix as a professor in a teacher/student relationship with Hermione.
* Redemption arcs for Bellatrix, often motivated by her sisters or by Hermione.
* Secret allies:
** Pureblood Hermione Granger, whether secret or not.
** Order of the Phoenix member Bellatrix, a double agent with the Death Eaters.
* Soulmates as an impetus for an unlikely relationship.
* Time travel stories, such as ones where Hermione meets Bellatrix as a Hogwarts student before she becomes a Death Eater.
==Example Fanworks==
===Fanfiction===
* The Promises Beyond The Thunderstorm by MadameCissy, 104k. (2009) The first work posted as Bellatrix/Hermione on fanfiction.net.
* The Black Prophecy by beforeyouspeak, 209k. (2013-2020) Dark AU- Hermione was sorted into Ravenclaw, she lives a life of isolation in search of knowledge. Enter one of the oldest magical families, will Hermione find her place in life and happiness? Includes Black family and character dynamics, worldbuilding, and the tag "Hermione Granger Scores a Black Sister Hat Trick". Rated Explicit. 
* A Dark Bouquet (series) by wynnebat, 3k total. (2014-2015) In a world ruled by Voldemort, Hermione and Bellatrix build a life together. AU where Voldemort wins.
* Sing To Me Your Insanity by ClumsyDreamer, 266k WIP. (2016-2020) AU where both are sirens.
* Reign Down by drD, 185k WIP. (2016-2020) A dark!Hermione AU where Voldemort wins.
* Glass Silence by Zarrene Moss, 270k main part of a series. (2018) In another world, Hermione Granger never attended Hogwarts. Orphaned at age three, she grew up supporting a low-income adoptive family without the means to pay for her education. Post-war desperation and a chance encounter lead her into the employ of the three Black sisters. She finds herself caught in their deadly web, helplessly waiting to see who will reach her first. Canon-related AU, includes the tag "Hermione Granger Scores a Black Sister Hat Trick". Rated Explicit. 
* Huge Small Problem by drD, 5k. (2018) Hermione attempts to call someone from beyond the grasp of Death. What she did not expect to get was a child, nor did she expect that child to be Bellatrix Lestrange.
* Jinx and Counter by Zarrene Moss, 4k. (2018) Twenty years after the war, Hermione confronts an old demon.
* As We Chase the Sun by intheinkpot, 167k WIP. (2018-2021) After torturing the Longbottoms, Bellatrix Lestrange fakes her death to escape the Aurors, her escape aided by a secret: she is an unregistered Animagus. She makes her way to the Forbidden Forest to continue her search for her master, but there is a reason that Animagus transformations are so dangerous. Isolated and without human contact, she loses herself. When Sirius discovers her, Dumbledore hatches a plan. Black family centric. Eventual Bellamione. AU that is divergent from early canon.
* Another Time by TaylorMade, 33k WIP. (2018) In another time, it was an entirely different Wizarding War. What happens when a survivor, a soldier, of that other world finds herself the victim of a cross-temporal displacement? (This term will be explained in the story.) Canon/AU Crossover.
* In the Dead of Night by Lost_my_soul_in_a_black_hole, 180k main part of a series. (2020) Hermione discovers something about her professor that leads her to go knocking on her door, late at night. AU with Bellatrix as professor at Hogwarts.
* Through Sand And Sea by Looktotheedges, 361k main part of a series. (2020 - 2021) Includes a love potion, mermaids, metamorphmagus theory, slow burn, and time travel. 
* light long gone and burning strong by basketofnovas, 5k. (2021) Years after Voldemort's victory, Hermione poses as a foreign research consultant to infiltrate Bellatrix Black's home. She finds Bellatrix unexpectedly sympathetic. AU where Voldemort wins, rated Explicit. 
* LIBERTATEM VINCULA by DreamKissed, 7k WIP. (2021) Every person has their limits. Their strength is finite. Hermione is done running, and not by her conscious choice. Captured and bound to the head of the House of Black, she finds a certain peace however. AU where Voldemort wins, rated Explicit.
* Pas de deux by Lost_my_soul_in_a_black_hole, 109k WIP. Hermione Granger is a ballet dancer, working hard in a coffee and music lounge to make ends meet. When the Madame of her dance school invites famed dancer and choreographer Bellatrix Black to teach at her studio for a week, Hermione is immediately drawn to her. Even better; Bellatrix is in town to cast her new show and is looking for talent in Madame's studio. Will Hermione be her leading lady on and off stage? AU with no magic, rated Explicit.
===Fanvids===
*Bellatrix/Hermione (Bellamione) - Love Struck - TGCWW by lezperv3 (2012). Based on Those Gilded Chains We Wear.
*Hermione/Bellatrix: Broken Love by PurpleNovels (2012).
*Fifty Shades Darker Bellamione - Bellatrix and Hermione by AlphaniaHotel (2017).
===Meta===
* by tigersis
*Bel-ooh-la-la-mione! (Bellatrix Lestrange/Hermione Granger) Care of Magical Shippers Podcast Episode
=== Fanart ===
====Example Fanart====
File:Bellamione rslkam.jpg|alt=A cartoon-ish image of Hermione leaning in to kiss a grumpy Bellatrix on the cheek, mostly greyscale with Hermione's tie is in Gryffindor colors.|Digital art by rslkam.A softer interpretation.
File:Bellamione kiss doodle.jpg|alt=Bellatrix kisses Hermione, pulling up her skirt and revealing her blue panties. Hermione gently touches Bellatrix's shoulder.|A Bellamione kiss by Suika28.A sensual, but not explicit, interpretation.
File:Bellamione ghost.jpg|alt=An older Hermione reaches for a ghostly Bellatrix, who is about to kiss her, in blue-toned dimly-lit Room of Requirement.|Digital art by bgmoth based on a fanfiction (Jinx and Counter).
File:Bellamione by xQUELQUUNx.png|Art by xQUELQUUNx based on the fic Glass Silence by Zarrene Moss.
==Archives and Communities==
Fanfiction Archives
* and the general Bellatrix + Hermione category on FanFiction.net
*Bellatrix/Hermione tag on AO3
On Tumblr
*Bellamione tag on tumblr
*ao3-feed-bellamione
*bellatrix0818 a tumblr blog that shares shitposts, headcanons, and fic recs.
*bellamioneotp
*incorrect-bellamione
Other
*/r/Bellamione on Reddit.
*Bellamione Works on DeviantArt
*Bellatrix-x-Hermione group on DeviantArtArchive Link to front page from May 19, 2020.
*Discord: Bellamione Cult / Bellamione Coven(invite only).
**Associated AO3 tag: Discord: Bellamione Cult
==Additional Links==
*
* by bellamioneotp
==Notes==
==References==
Category:Femslash Pairings
Category:Harry Potter Relationships