Dark Waters Require Warmth

Chapter 5 - Time Moves Slower at Sea

They all would have to ride in one Uber to get to the pier so Tonks called shotgun right away and raced into the passenger's seat.

"We weren't going to fight you anyways Tonks" Bellatrix sighed and waited for everyone else to get in. Luckily, there were two more rows of seats so Andromeda and Narcissa quickly took the first two behind the driver and Tonks, leaving Bellatrix and Hermione to sit in the extended seat in the back which could seat three.

"After you milady" Bellatrix pretended to tilt her nonexistent hat for Hermione causing her to blush a bit and Bellatrix helped her in to squeeze past the other two sisters and reach the back seats. Bellatrix quickly did the same and picked the seat next to the window, leaving the middle seat open.

They drove for a bit and Hermione couldn't stop fidgeting from her excitement. She turned to Bellatrix to start a conversation but she was already looking at her.

"Um... hi." Bellatrix seemed to force out as she looked away and scratched her neck. "Are you excited?" She asked Hermione as she looked out the window.

"Extremely. It's like my life is finally starting. I'm just so glad I got picked for this. I thought that I wasn't going to be able to go for a couple years because of the competition, but I guess Captain Exavier saw something in me."

Bellatrix scoffed, "Ya I bet he did."

"Do you not like him? I thought you worked for him."

"Yeah, my dumb mistake. He's a bit of an asshole when you don't have much to offer to him over time. But I'm just glad he picked you for this, you seem to have a lot of potential, Granger."

Hermione smiled lightly, said thanks and added, "So why don't you stop working for him? I bet anyone would love to have you as their employee. You seem to be very well rounded and quite charming when you open up..."

Bellatrix met her eyes and smirked. "So the charm is working? Thanks, but I guess I just like knowing I have a stable job in the city I live in."

"Stable how so? Didn't you say once you have nothing to offer he gets rid of you?" Hermione questioned.

"Well, let's just say he knows what my parents were capable of achieving, and since I have overcome their sorry asses, he is quite afraid of me." Bellatrix seemed to want that to be the end of the conversation so Hermione left it at that. No need to push more than necessary, Hermione would know.

—

When they finally arrived at the pier, they all gathered their luggage and awaited someone who would help them board and settle in.

They looked at the various boats and there was a section labeled Feared Beauties already.

"With Bellatrix's grouchiness, we're gonna need a bigger boat..." Andromeda commented as she looked at the only boat available that looked like a simple fishing boat.

"There is no way in hell you are going to put me out at sea for two months on that monstrosity." If this was a movie, there would have been smoke blowing out of her ears and her face would have been as red as a tomato, but she just crossed her arms angrily.

"Well at least we will all get closer! Physically and emotionally." Tonks looked as if they winked at Bellatrix who turned away from the group completely.

"Hello everyone! Are you..." This random person came up to the group and scrolled down their paper list looking for names. "Hermione Granger's group?"

Everyone looked to Hermione for her to speak, so she did, "Yes we are." She shook the person's hand and did some quick introductions while Bellatrix stood on the outskirts, still listening.

"Amazing! I am Ricardo, I use he/they pronouns, and I will be helping you guys board your vessel!"

"Yes, hi Ricardo" Andromeda stepped up to him, "Please tell me this is not the only boat you have available for" she waved in a circle to everyone "all of us."

Ricardo burst out laughing, but no one else seemed to get the joke. "No silly, this boat is for a student who chose to go on a different schedule than Hermione here, and also will be taking less advisors with them as well."

"Well now that all of that is settled, can we load up the boat so I can see what kinds of food we have?" Tonks grabbed her luggage and stood awaiting an answer.

"Oh my holy god above... are you... Tonks, the most talented chef in all of Britain??" Ricardo squeaked like a mouse and Hermione saw Bellatrix jerk a bit from the noise.

"Well yes I am actually glad to know I am considered as the best chef in all of Britain before I decide to take the world." Tonks flexed their muscles as if that would help add to the experience, and looked over her shoulder to Andromeda who rolled her eyes.

"Yes, yes, yes! Let's get you all settled in the boat and maybe I can get a picture with you Tonks?"

"Anything for my loyal fans."

—

They walked a little bit down the pier only to be met with a beautiful research boat that for sure would be able to fit all of them. Then came the difficult decision... who would room where. Tonks was immediately the easiest to deal with, because everyone decided they should have the room closest to the kitchen, which left two more rooms next to Tonks' room, and two other rooms on the lower level.

"I think it would be quite nice to give me and Narcissa the upper level rooms, mostly because it would be nice for me to be near Tonks, but also so Narcissa can have her morning tea at the ungodly hours in which she wakes."

"Leaving me and Granger with the bottom rooms?" Bellatrix turned to look at Hermione and she seemed to become nervous for some reason.

"I am good with that!" Hermione said a bit too enthusiastically and everyone went on their way to go look at their rooms.

"Sorry if you didn't want to room next to me, I just hate arguing with my sisters sometimes, believe it or not." Bellatrix chuckled as she and Hermione walked down to their rooms.

"Oh, don't worry about it! I think it will make it easier to give you your morning coffee everyday, anyways." Hermione smiled and then entered her room, closing the door behind her. Bellatrix thought to herself, 'What a peculiar woman."

Hermione had settled down a bit and then headed back upstairs to look around more. She found the kitchen, which was packed full of food, and the very small laundry area, which she was very happy to see, even though she knew she could only wash her clothes with cold water.

"Well, I will be on my way, I think Andromeda has already been fully briefed, and can start her journey when she deems everyone ready." Ricardo said goodbye to everyone and headed off the boat.

"Ok, we are going to have to figure out some meal plans just to make sure we ration out everything right for each month." Tonks said to the whole group who all gathered around on the deck.

"Breakfast options are: oatmeal and cheerios. Who wants what for a whole month?" Tonks had a journal and pen in hand and seemed to be taking this as seriously as she could.

"Fuck, I guess I didn't realize I was going to be even more miserable than I thought." Bellatrix sat herself down on one of the chairs and murmured a quick "Cheerios", loud enough for Tonks to hear.

Andromeda, Narcissa and Hermione all said oatmeal and then Tonks went off to go and search the kitchen to start planning meals for the next month.

"So... Cheerios tickle your fancy?" Hermione dared to ask Bellatrix whose composure changed immediately after she heard the younger woman speak.

"Yes, pet. Cheerios tickle my fancy much more than oats that you add water to. You know what else tickles my fancy?" Bellatrix got up out of her chair and approached Hermione until they were only a couple inches apart.

She whispered into Hermione's ear, her warm breath hitting her ear, "Black coffee. Nothing else. Piping hot, at 6:30am sharp." And then she headed inside. 'Fuck, I need to stop getting so worked up around her. With my luck, I'll die because of her and not the sharks." Hermione thought to herself and headed inside too.

—

When they all finally got comfortable with their new environment, Andromeda started up the boat and they headed off into the horizon...