10:56pm on Christmas Eve, at Andromedas house and Bella is the only one not smiling. Of course she had to be there early to help set up because that’s the consequence of being her sister. Bella was already tired and just wanted to go home.
Bella wasn’t exactly excited to be existing anytime this year. Last time Andy had a get together, Hermione had the absolute nerve to cheat on her with the youngest Weasley boy. A boy. Bellatrix had found Hermione and the weasel both on the roof cuddling together with her…with her head on his chest and their arms wrapped around each other. Bellatrix was aware of their relationship before Hermione and her started dating and was assured by Hermione and the Weasel that they were not dating. So why was she cuddling up with him?
Bellatrix had tried moving on but the festive moment was just a terrible memory of that night. Bella didn’t want anyone know how much it truly hurt her so she just pretended she had moved on.
But deep down she wanted nothing more than to run back into Hermiones arms and ignore what she had seen. The sad thing was that she would, but everyone knows the Black family was far too prideful for that. Bella thought that if Hermione didn’t care about them why should she?
Currently Andy had turned up the Frank Sinatra as more and more guests started mingling and dancing. Bella and Cissy were in the kitchen by the window in a comfortable silence.
“Hermione is here.” Cissy said, she had chanced a neutral glance at her sister.
“This is information of value, why?” Bella had said lazily as if she didn’t care, though the way she downed the rest of her whiskey she was cradling gave her away.
“This is information of value, because you could finally stop being a spoiled brat and fight for what you want, Bella” Cissy had scolded in a sweet voice to make it seem she was having a normal conversation.
“Woo! Tell her Cissy!” Andy had come into the kitchen for another glass of wine. She slurred her explanation, “you didn’t even give the girl a chance to explain herself,” she followed with a hiccup.
Bella was truly impressed Andy was now on her 5th glass of wine and the only signs she showed was a small slur and a slight delay in her processing. Though the way Bella was intending to drink away this wretched get together holiday, she will surely surpass her younger sister.
“I didn’t need an explanation, I know what I saw” Bella had refilled her glass and took it down quickly, “not that it’s your guys bloody business”
Bella had walked off after the statement to find a new whiskey bottle. She saw Hermione and the girl Weasel walking in her direction. Bella was also acutely aware of steps behind her.
As Bella was about to cross the threshold of the dining room into the living room she felt a shoulder shove her into someone.
Before Bella could stop herself she was face to face, hip to hip with the brown haired beauty. Hermione looked startled and started rubbing her arm and shot an accusing look at Ginny who had a stupid grin on her face. But before Hermione could look at Bella, Bella looked behind her to find Andromeda with a similar shit eating grin that the Girl Weasel had. If looks could kill Andromeda would be cremated.
When Bella looked back at Hermione she fell into deep brown eyes. Eyes that she’s allowing herself to get sucked into, just one more time. Bella subconsciously found her fingertips digging into Hermiones arms. She missed the feeling of soft skin there, her smell, her warmth.
After her realization that there were people there and made to back away she hard her damn near drunk sister shout, “Look! Mistletoe!”
Both Bella and Hermione looked up at the same time to find the offending garnish dangling just above them. As the pair both looked at Andy they started hearing wolf whistles and cheering from around the pair telling them they needed to kiss.
Bella missed Hermione, but no one else was supposed to know that. And here she is caught between everyone with the woman who melted and broke her heart in her arms waiting for their kiss. Hermiones face grew red and she had a small panicked look to her. It was now that Bellatrix realized they were still intimately holding each other, as she felt Hermiones fingers dig into her sides and her shoulders tense.
Bella just wanted the situation over and gave a quick kiss on the forehead and promptly walked past a frozen Hermione. She couldn’t see but she didn’t hear Hermione move after, so she assumed Hermione stood there in possible shock.
Bella did her best to remember the feeling of warm skin on her lips before snatching the whiskey bottle from the cabinet in the living room.
Bella had took the whiskey tumbler and whole bottle to go sit down in Andy’s small swing she had in her backyard for her grandson.
Finally with the music faded out she poured another glass and was sipping slightly to allow her body some relaxation and time to process the awkward encounter. She heard a rustling in the bush near the edge of one of the trees. She looked up just a bit to find a small tabby kitten staring down at her. How cute it would to introduce the kitten to Crookshanks. Bella found herself smiling at the idea, then a slight growl at finding herself smiling thoughts drifting to Hermione.
Bella had quickly gone inside to steal a piece of ham for the kitten while trying to avoid any detection. Once she came out she saw the kitten still perched on the tree. It seemed stuck up there. Looking around, Bella had found a metal chair she could climb to get the kitten and bring it to her.
Once she had a hold of the kitten she stepped down the chair and held it. She started gently petting the baby and enjoyed the quiet purring. Though the kitten had started shaking and Bella thought this was the best time to give it a piece of the ham.
“Are you hungry, kitty? I brought you some ham!” Bella had ripped a small piece of ham and fed it to the kitten. It seemed to be hungry and made a mental note to tell Andy she would be taking it.
Bella had since started cradling the kitten in the lapel of her thick black coat.
“What a beautiful coat you have, baby. You like mine?” Bella had said with amusement in her voice. Bella couldn’t do this with crookshanks, he was far too big and furry to comfortably hold…she let out an annoyed huff at the thought of her exes cat.
Bella went to go sit back on the swing and continue sipping her whiskey when she heard the door that lead to the house open and close. She heard two pairs of feet coming towards her but she didn’t look up. One of the pairs was quick and sloppy, Teddy. Bella looked up to see her great nephew with the brightest smile and curios eyes trying to look into her arms.
Bella had still made no move to look at the second person, in favor of showing Teddy the kitten she found.
“Hello Teddy,” Bella said amused at the boy who still hadn’t made eye contact with her or greet her, in favor of trying to see what his great Auntie was hiding.
“Hi Auntie Bella! What’s that? Is it moving? Can I see?” The boy had rambled on, earning an amused giggle from the other pair of feet there.
The sound made Bella’s heart stutter. That gorgeous and beautiful and sweet voice that spoiled Bella. She hadn’t known she was able to go so long without hearing it. Bella felt her stomach fall a thousand feet at knowing she had lost that laughter being brought out by the dark haired witch. Bella made no move to acknowledge Hermione, but she already knew it was her.
“You want to see it? I don’t know…have you been good?” Bella said in a teasing voice, she would show Teddy the world if it meant he wanted to see it. A small brown kitten would be no different.
Teddy excitedly nodded his head up and down. Bella had pulled open her coat and angled her body to the now sleepy kitten in her coat. Teddys eyes grew wide, “can I hold it?” Teddy whispered upon seeing the peaceful kitten.
Bella had gently put the kitten in Teddys hand and showed him how to support the whole body. Teddy asked his great Auntie to go inside and give it a blanket and play with it.
Bella let the boy go, on his way towards the house Bella saw the younger witch that had captivated her heart a few steps away. As if Hermione was trying not to scare her off.
Hermione looked beautiful, she had a pair of blue low-rise jeans and a big puffy jacket on. She didn’t have anything particularly special on, but her face was beautifully flushed, from the cold, or from the embarrassment from earlier, Bella didn’t know.
Bella gave a short nod and went back to looking out into the distance and did her best to ignore the brunette.
“Bella?” Hermione had taken a few steps closer. Though Bellatrix gave no indication she heard her.
Bella’s heart fluttered at her shorted name. Only a few people are allowed to call her that. Once Hermione had started calling her that she never stopped, and Bella loved that.
As Hermione opened her mouth to say something else she got out, “you don’t get to call me that. Not anymore.” Bella got you in a stern tone, though it didn’t sound angry, more like tired.
“Can you look at me? Please? I want to explain what you saw…” Hermione had rasped out, it was clear she was trying not to choke on her words.
Bella finally looked at the brunette beauty and felt her face soften ever so slightly. It was obvious the girl was anxious, her fingers were playing with the cuff of her jacket and she shifting her weight from foot to foot. But she held eye contact.
Bella wished she didn’t, she didnt want to look and fall into those hazel eyes anymore. She needed to move on.
Though when Bella looked a little bit up, she saw a smudge of red on the girls forehead. It made Bella’s lips curl at the edges and forget what Hermione just said.
“I wanted to tell you that…I was thinking of proposing to you. The night you saw Ron and I hugging. I kept thinking you…you would say no” Hermione had stopped looking at Bella and opted to look at her feet and stay still as a statue.
Bella froze and felt her heart racing in her chest. Suddenly everything made sense. That night Hermione had been nervous the whole ride over to the Andy’s cottage. Hermione seemed skiddish and jumpy the whole time.
Hermione? Proposing? They would’ve had a big wedding, one with all of her family there…and Bella would invite her sisters. And Hermione would be wearing a white beautiful dress, her skin would be glowing and her hair would be up and she would have the most beautiful ring to give to her…Bella would be wearing a black dress as Hermione wanted her to. Bella would behave that day, behave for her…wife.
Bella slowly looked up at Hermione who was now trembling and was sniffling, though she couldn’t tell if she was crying or just cold because Hermione was still looking down at her feet.
“Really?” Bella had rasped out, finally finding her voice.
Hermione had slowly looked up to the love of her life and slowly nodded, “I was so scared that you would reject me…tell me no. Ron had found me on the rooftop sitting there. He-he told me that you wouldn’t,” Hermione was now trying to force out words as her face became wet with tears. She still maintained eyecontact and hoped that Bellatrix would believe her, “he told me that he would beat you up if you said no,” that there had earned a chuckle from Bella, “and he said that he’d beat me up if I delayed it any longer…and when you had found me, I had fallen asleep…I-I was so tired, I cried myself to sleep, I was so exhausted by thinking you would say no. Bella I love you so much, it hurt me knowing that you thought- that you thought I would ever trade you in, or swap you, with someone else.” Hermione had stopped.
She was now fully crying, and all Bella could hear were soft whimpers and sniffles from where she was sitting now.
Bella felt tears well up in her eyes. Had she really thought that Hermione? Hermione of all people, to do something as sick as cheat on her? Did she really let go of Hermione that easily? How Bella was so angry with herself for not listening to the younger witch sooner. How could she have done that to her and herself.
Bella had slowly stood up and made her way to Hermione. She gently wrapped her arms around her and started rocking her back and forth. Bella couldn’t help but uncontrollably start shaking and crying just as Hermione was.
They stayed in that embrace for what felt like hours, neither wanted to part from another. Bella continued crying into Hermiones shoulder and Hermione did to hers.
“I love you, Bellatrix. I would never ever leave you,” Hermione had said into her neck.
“I-I’m sorry, pet, I thought you broke my heart…I didn’t- couldn’t stand-”
“Can I kiss you once more?” Hermione had interrupted but said it so softly Bella could’ve missed it if she wasn’t so desperate to be close to her
Bella surged forward at this and met soft, smooth, warm lips and earned a soft hum of approval from Hermione. They stood there embracing and exploring each others mouths all over again for what seemed like days to them. When they finally broke apart she said breathlessly, “you don’t ever have to ask…I always want to kiss you,” at that Bella leaned back a small bit to see Hermiones face fully. Bella chuckled a little bit at the lipstick mark she had left earlier. When she went to wipe it off she got an adorably confused frown from the younger witch.
“God they look like teenagers,” Andy had scoffed, “wait do I win? Bella did technically make the first move” Andy was now much more wobbly and reminded Cissy of a newborn deer
“No, I win, Hermione went out and made the first move,” Narcissa held out her hand expectantly But didn’t move her vision from the couple outside, “$20 now, unless you listen to me and stop the wine,” at this Cissy turned to her now slouched over sister who looked like she was trying to gain balance and not throw up into the kitchen sink. The poor woman was frantically looking around for a trashcan.
Cissy withdrew her hand and looked back out the window to find the couple slow dancing to nonexistent music. Love in both of their eyes, as if they didn’t go 2 months without eachother.
Narcissa and Andy were both proud of Bella but Cissy made a mental note to lecture the eldest sister on her hard headed reactions and thoughts.