Willing change: revised edition

11

Hermione found herself waking up in Bella's bed more often than not. The days seemed to melt together. They went by much too fast for her liking, she felt as if she hadn't had time to get to know Bella as much as she wanted too. The scared feeling that sat in her chest when she arrived at the manor had been replaced with a warm feeling that made her flustered. The one thing she was sure of was that she was glad she gave this a chance.

As much as Hermione found her time with Bellatrix to be amazing, if not odd, it was coming to an end for now. She woke that morning with a sickening heaviness in her stomach. She didn't want to go back to Hogwarts. She sat up and looked at the woman beside her, who slept with her arm wrapped tightly around her. She smiled and carefully slipped out of her grip, making her way to her room.

She passed Draco on the way, who was buttoning the cuffs on his dress shirt with his tie and robes over his shoulder.

"Good morning, Granger. Ready to go back to hell?"
"Oh it's not that bad?"
"Whatever you say."

Hermione laughed and went into her room, closing the door behind her. She walked to the closet and grabbed her uniform. She started to change into it, her mind kept going back to the woman in the other room. As she finished buttoning her shirt she heard the door creak open.

"You were going to say goodbye, correct?"

Hermione turned to see a tired looking Bellatrix leaning on the doorframe. The shorter woman yawned and looked at Hermione with a weak smile. She almost looked sad, her eyes were dull and it seemed like she was trying to force the small smile. Hermione made her way to her without a second thought and wrapped her arms around her waist, laying her head on Bella's shoulder.

Bellatrix held her tight and Hermione smiled. Bella sighed and spoke in a hushed tone.

"I won't see you until this summer if we're lucky…if I see you before then then I know you didn't listen to me."
"What if I just want to see you?"
"It's not funny, pet. If you sense a trap stay away."

Bellatrix  tightened her grip on the girl and stroked her hair, pressing a kiss on her head.

"I want you safe. You've grown on me, pet."

Hermione smiled at this. It made her happy to know she wasn't the only one to feel that way. Hermione pulled back as she felt bellas body rattle from a small laugh. She looked at the woman who met her eyes with playfulness in her eyes.

"It didn't take us long to start snogging, did it?"

Hermione smiled, shaking her head. Her mind went completely numb while staring into dark eyes. She captured Bellatrix's lips with hers, making Bella jump a bit. As they broke apart Bella smiled and walked into the room.

She walked to the bed and picked up the red and gold tie. She looked at it for a moment before looking at the young witch.

"Me and your cousin have been exchanging letters."

Hermione felt her face heat up and her chest tighten as Bella walked to her, putting her tie around her neck. As she began to tie it she spoke again.

"It's nothing like that. There's a surprise waiting for you at school. Seems your cousin was expelled in her last year… I had Lucius pull some strings with the ministry and she should be privately sorted today."

Hermione's eyes went wide. Chandra had never told her that she never finished her schooling.

"I never knew that. Why did she tell you?"
"Me and her have come to an agreement. Just enjoy her company, I have everything under control."

Bellatrix tightened the tie and placed a kiss on the girl's cheek.

"Just stay safe."

Hogwarts