Sadly, There Is More Than Us

{10} An Unwelcome Guest

AN: Hey guys, just for some context. In this story Bellatrix isn't a wanted criminal right now. She is known to have been/ still be a deatheater, but they cannot prove it so she is allowed to roam free.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The past few weeks have been amazing. Hermione and I have been very... busy. When she's not pestering me to study, I'm "studying" her. It's been a dream. I have no idea why Harry was put into the Goblet. We were terribly stressed as his first challenge came up but he defeated that dragon amazingly. Ron new better than to hold a grudge after seeing Harry do that. 

I wake up on Hermione's chest. Her arms are cuddling me. She is still fast asleep and the book of spells she had been reading to me the night before falls limply by her hands on my chest. I look at her face, trying to stay still as to not wake her. She is so beautiful. I watch as she groans and her eyes open. 

"Happy Christmas Hermione Granger" I say and her face lights up. "Where is everyone!?" she asks. "Downstairs I'm sure" I say and I kiss her softly. We both jump up and run down to the common room where Ron, Harry, Ginny, Neville, Fred and George are gathered by the Christmas tree. "C'mon sleepy heads" Fred shouts. "Ginny wouldn't let us open any presents until ye got up" George adds and Ginny smiles at me. We start with our presents for each other. Sweets and books are scattered around the room. I got Hermione the most beautiful heart-shaped necklace that she promptly put on, and she got me a portable DVD player, with a bunch of muggle movies I've been dying to see. Then we turned to presents from home. As everyone opened their presents I sat patiently and watched Hermione's face light up with joy at every one. Harry looked at me. "You don't have any presents either?", he asked and everyone turned my way in confusion. "Uhhhh yeah... my family isn't... big on Christmas." I say awkwardly and Hermione gives me a sad smile and holds my hand.

"Harry here's your jumper from mum." Ron says, handing Harry a package. "Oh" says Fred, confused, "There's one for Y/N too". Mrs. Weasley, much to the surprise to the others, has knitted me a jumper with my initial on it. "That's very kind of her" I say. There's a note attached to the package:

Y/N, 

Because no one should feel lonely on Christmas,

Molly Weasley.

P.s You are who you choose to be around, not who life saddles you with.

I keep the note to myself. Of course the Weasleys would know my secret, with Arthur working in the Ministry. I'm grateful they haven't told their children.... Mrs. Weasley believes in me. She doesn't think I'm some monster.

As the day turns into night, everyone is excitedly going to the Yule Ball. When I am ready I walk into our dorm rooms to see Hermione finishing her hair in the mirror. "Wow" I say, "You are absolutely beautiful". I see her blushing in the mirror. She turns around and her eyes look me up and down as her mouth hangs open in surprise. "How did I ever get this lucky" She says, and she gets up and kisses me. "You'll ruin your lipstick" I say. "I don't care" She responds. 

When we walk into the ball all eyes are on us. Particularly, again, Professor Moody glares at us. I try to ignore it but now I really wonder what his problem is. 

  Harry has to dance first with his date. It's tradition as champion. Once another slow song starts playing I softly take Hermione's hand. "Shall we?" I ask and we go onto the dance floor. I clumsily waltz with her and she giggles the night away. We steal kisses whenever we can. She stares longingly into my eyes and I into hers. "Y/N," She starts, "I am in love with you". I've never gotten so much joy from a single sentence. "I'm in love with you too Hermio-" Bang! The Great Hall doors shoot open and everyone goes silent. The music stops. 

Through all the commotion, everyone takes a step back from the door leaving me with a clear view of who's entered our beautiful night. 

"Bellatrix LeStrange", People whisper here and there and I feel my heart drop. Hermione grabs my hand in fear. Bellatrix struts up to me in rage and I push her hand away. I can't bare to look at Hermione, I'm sure I've hurt her by doing that. "Y/N, dearest I've been hearing some disgusting rumours back home and I just thought I would come and" she glares at Hermione " see things for myself.". "Hello Mum" I say and the Hall gasps. Whispers erupt again. 

"You're Bellatrix LeStrange" Hermione says in shock an I look to the floor. Hermione pulls my face towards her and I flinch at her touch. "But L/N! You're name is Y/N L/N! NOT Y/N LeStrange." 

"It was my fathers name" I say trying to look everywhere but into her eyes. "He-" I look at my mother before I look back at the ground. "He passed away years ago." Bellatrix sarcastically clears her throat for me to go on. "....but he was a dirty, cowardly, terrible traitor" I add reluctantly. Hermione looks heartbroken. I know she recognises the name now. That she remembers all the news articles about the case, after Voldemort's fall.  

Hermione stares at me still in shock.  "She killed him didn't she.  They found out he was a half-blood.... "Hermione gulps "Not 'perfectly pure' as they wanted...", she is disgusted. "They were both deatheaters weren't they?!" She yells now, tears falling down her face. "Once they found out he was a half-blood  Voldemort asked her to prove her loyalty." 

I can't look at her. Bellatrix playfully puts her finger under Hermione's chin and tilts her head up to her. "Allegedly my dear", Bellatrix says sarcastically with a terrifying smile. She bursts out laughing. "OR ELSE I'D BE BACK IN AZKABAN WOULDN'T I DARLING!" she yells and laughs, "and I wouldn't be here to protect my daughter from filthy, little dirty blooded whores like you", she whispers in Hermione's face as tears fall down her eyes. "COME NOW my beautiful, beautiful child" Bellatrix says as she walks out of the hall and I follow, without giving Hermione another look. 

The party continues downstairs as Bellatrix and I enter the Gryffindor Common rooms. "You told me you got Slytherin!" She yells at me. "And then I hear you lied to me and that you are getting awfully friendly with that MUDBLOOD!" I am shaking before her. "how- how did you-" I try ask.

"I have EYES EVERYWHERE CHILD" she yells. She puts her hand on my cheek and pouts her lip. "I need you to be a good girl for mummy while you are here do you HEAR ME. We do not need another incident AND I WILL NOT HAVE YOU RUIN MY NAME BY SYMPATHISING WITH THAT FILTHY THING" I feel a tear fall down my cheek. "YOU ARE SO WEAK Y/N. You are lucky that I promised my Lord that I'd be on my BEST behaviour, or I'd have that filthy blood  all over the floor of the manor."

With that she disapparated away. Now everyone knows. What have I done?