Dark Waters Require Warmth

Chapter 14 - No Coffee??

Bella was laying down having a hard time breathing. Hermione had still not returned and now she was getting really worried. "Hermione." She croaked as her vision started to get blurry. She heard the door open and felt someone running towards her. "Bella! Stay awake, I'm here, it will be ok." The younger woman yelled for Narcissa who came in a matter of seconds. She looked at Bellatrix and told Hermione to try and just keep Bellatrix upright and breathing and immediately left to go talk to Andromeda. She came back quite fast and told Hermione that Bellatrix was going to have to go upstairs for the next step. Hermione didn't even want to know what came next. She was just too worried about Bellatrix.

Bellatrix was supported by her younger sister and girlfriend to be taken outside on the deck. She was murmuring, asking for Hermione who kept reminding her that she was present. Andromeda told Narcissa that she called Exavier and that he was letting someone come out on a boat to pick up Bellatrix. She came over to her older sister and tried to tell her that it was the only other way she would be transported out without having to go in a helicopter. Bellatrix tried her best to not laugh because she knew she would have killed anyone who put her on a helicopter.

"Does this mean Bellatrix has to abort the mission?" Hermione asked Andromeda who looked at her and nodded sadly.

Hermione sighed and tried to keep telling herself that it was the best thing to make sure Bellatrix got better, but she didn't want to keep doing research without her.

"Since we aren't as far out as last time the boat should be here in at least 15 minutes." Andromeda checked her watch and helped the two holding Bellatrix up set her on a chair. Hermione crouched in front of her girlfriend with tears in her eyes. "Please promise you'll be ok." She held her pinky out to the older woman who looked down at her and held her shaking hand out to seal the pinky promise.

The boat came a bit later than they hoped for but Bellatrix was helped into the smaller boat to be taken to a hospital. The group said one last goodbye and Hermione leaned over the edge of the boat to kiss Bellatrix. "I love you Bella." She smiled back and croaked out "I love you too."

The boat zoomed off into the distance and Hermione was the first one to break down. "What do you think is wrong?" She asked Narcissa who was pacing next to her.

"It could be anything. It could be cancer or bronchitis from COPD. I don't think she's ever been this bad. I mean she used to show signs of asthma as a kid but our parents passed it off as nothing." Narcissa scoffed and Hermione started, "I'm just worried about the blood."

Narcissa nodded and just said that Andromeda needed to call Exavier to see where their plans laid after this incident. Hermione decided to go to her girlfriend's room and take a nap to try and calm down. She laid her head on Bella's pillow and breathed in her scent, sweet dark coffee and smoke filled her lungs. She cried herself to sleep and when she awoke, everything around her became even more real.

Andromeda called Hermione up and talked to her about where this new obstacle put them in terms of the trip.

"Exavier doesn't doubt your abilities, Hermione, but just know that Bellatrix was your main safety net. If anything happens to you, Exavier will have to pull us out immediately and the school will terminate all further research groups. Since a group already went missing, this would be their second and final strike."

Hermione took in all of this information and nodded absently. Andromeda came over on the couch where Hermione was sitting and sat next to the younger woman. "I bet she misses you as much as you miss her, dear. But I do have some better news. We will only be out at sea for a couple more days and that will be the end of the trip. You'll be able to go right over and see her when we get to shore." Andromeda brought her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. "She's the toughest woman I know and she'll be ok."