Bellatrix Oneshots/Drabbles

Hermione almost couldn’t believe it as she walked with Bella through the snowy streets. She wasn’t even dragging her along, she was walking! Enthusiastically! Through muggle London! It was a sight to behold, and many of the muggles seemed to share that thought as they watched the dark witch stride along next to her, standing out in her unconventional clothes and wild mess of raven hair.

Bellatrix had been resolute in not going at first. “Christmas shopping can be done just fine in Diagon Alley. I’m sure your parents would even be thrilled to receive something from a wizarding shop.”

Oh but Hermione wanted her to see the festivities she grew up enjoying. Her excitement was infectious and her puppy eyes were truly… infuriating, Bellatrix thought, as she felt her resolve melting away.

So here they were, slush collecting on their shoes as they trekked through the streets. They constantly made stops, peeking into shops, admiring the decorations. Hermione had been surprised to find that Bella was quite good at ice skating, zooming and twirling in rings around her while she was content to glide peacefully along.

Now they were leaving a small cafe, a cup of hot chocolate clutched greedily in Hermione’s hands while Bella sipped a frappe.

“You know that’s essentially ice cream.” Hermione said.

Bella quirked an eyebrow at her. “It’s not my fault you didn’t cast a heating charm.”

It was true. Hermione’s nose and cheeks were a rosy red from the cold, but she found she enjoyed it. The bite of wind brought her back to earlier Christmases, and it filled her with such great nostalgia that she couldn't bring herself to banish the sensation with a heating charm.

“So what do you think?”

“About freezing your arse off in the cold? Not the brightest move from the brightest witch of the age.”

“Not that.” Hermione laughed, bumping the other witch’s shoulder. Bellatrix pushed back harder and Hermione gave in to avoid spilling her drink.

“I mean this.” She said, gesturing around them. “Did you… did you enjoy it?” Doubt crept at Hermione. Bellatrix had seemed happy all day, but perhaps she was only humoring her. Maybe she shouldn’t have made her come.

Bellatrix was quick to disprove that. “It was wonderful, Hermione.” She said with a smile. When Hermione returned it, she continued, “Absolutely not as wretched as I thought it’d be.”
Hermione rolled her eyes.

“I am confused though…” Bellatrix continued, and Hermione looked at her expectantly. “What’s with the big hairy oafs everywhere?”

Hermione’s eyebrows creased in confusion, and Bellatrix nodded towards a man dressed as Santa Claus. Hermione laughed at first, but it quickly turned to astonishment when she realized Bellatrix wasn’t joking.

“Wait, you really don’t- that’s Santa Claus! You celebrate Christmas but you’ve never heard of Santa Claus?”

“Why on earth would I celebrate a big hairy man I’ve never met?”

“Stop describing him like that!” Hermione said, unable to help the grin on her face. “It’s wonderful. If you’re good, he comes into your house on the night of Christmas Eve and leaves presents under the tree.”

Bellatrix pursed her lips. “Presents?”

“Mhm, but if you’re naughty he only leaves a lump of coal.”

A wicked grin emerged on Bellatrix’s face. “Really? I should think if you’ve been naughty he would leave something a bit more interesting than a lump of coal. Say, for instance, a vibra-”

Hermione hurriedly clapped her hand to her mouth to cut her off as a family passed by. The mother had a disapproving look as she guided her kids around them, and Hermione gave her an apologetic glance before glaring at Bellatrix. The witch’s eyes twinkled mischievously over Hermione’s gloved hand.

“He wouldn’t do that, because he only brings presents to children!” She tried to keep her tone stern, but couldn’t hold back a smile.

Bellatrix removed Hermione’s hand and tugged her close, the warmth of the heating charm washing over her.

“Then I guess I’ll have to play Santa this year.” Her gaze dipped down suggestively and suddenly Hermione wasn’t so sure the warmth was from the charm. She pushed her away, keeping their fingers laced together. It wouldn’t do to start snogging in the middle of the street. As they continued walking, Bellatrix went back to a less steamy topic.

“This Santa does sound rather creepy though. Sneaking into people’s houses.”

“I suppose, but mostly it’s just fun. And it doesn’t really matter anyway, it’s all make-believe.”
“What’s the point of that?”

“Well, as I said, fun. Mostly to make the children behave, I suppose.” She studied Bellatrix out of the corner of her eye. “Didn’t your parents do anything like that?”

Bellatrix seemed to think for a moment. “...Yes, kind of. It was more the opposite though, really.”

“How so?”

“For us it was a goblin named Gristlefunk. If you were good, he’d leave you alone, but if you did something bad, he’d come into your house and steal your presents. And he’d jinx you, accordingly of course. Like if you lied he’d jinx your teeth to melt together.”

Hermione stared, aghast. “That’s terrible!”

Bellatrix cackled. “It doesn’t really matter anyway, it’s all make-believe.” She said, mimicking Hermione. Then she looked at the ground, smiling to herself as she reminisced. “I remember Cissy was always terrified of him, even though she was the best behaved out of all of us. To make her feel better, Andy and I would go around the house and set up traps to stop him, enchanting certain objects and rooms to hex him when triggered. It was quite fun, actually, until Mother ran into one for a bat bogey hex.”

Hermione tried to stifle her laugh, but it bubbled out of her, and Bellatrix joined in. The thought of a prim and proper Druella Black with bats flying out of her nose was hilarious.

When they finally collected themselves, Hermione realized with a start that it was getting dark. The temperature had dropped quite a bit, and she shivered. Bellatrix pulled her close, the heat charm washing over her again, however it was fading now.

“Do you wanna go home, now?” Bellatrix asked.

“Did you have fun?”

“Of course.”

“Then yes.” Hermione leaned her head on Bella’s shoulder as they began their walk home.