April
It took most of Bella's self-control to keep her elation off her face. However, angering her Father would have been a very bad idea, even though he no doubt knew how happy she was about the situation. But they were in a heavily warded room in Hog's Head Inn, so she didn't have to worry about anyone overhearing her.
"I really have to insist, Father. They have been caught kissing in public on at least four occasions, even if all of those were within Slytherin. Do we really want people to think anyone is allowed to humiliate our House in this fashion and get away with it?"
Her Father half-sighed, more in annoyance than in anger.
"No, we don't. But I will not allow a duel between Rodolphus and you, Bella. I understand why you want it. One, he has insulted you by getting caught with her before our deal got formally canceled. Two, you always hated having to marry him and would be happy to have a chance to beat him just to avenge the stress the engagement caused you when it is his fault it's been for naught. But even though political realities guide our hands, Bella, we love you. People still sometimes die in these duels, or get maimed, despite all the rules to prevent either. I know you're better at martial magic than Rodolphus, honestly you're surpassing my expectations this year, but accidents happen and I will not have my daughter risk her future in this fashion. I will find you a better husband."
Again, she managed to keep her face neutral.
"I'm willing to take the risk, Father. Our other option is using money and politics to punish such an insult to our House. I know, Alecto is almost as good a bride for him as I would be, these changes to existing deals sometimes happen, so the insult is not that bad and we don't have to retaliate that much. But the duel could make both of us happy, Father. You would keep our House in a stronger position, I would get to duel Rodolphus."
Of course, her main reason for wanting to duel Rodolphus wasn't to punish an insult or vent her anger. After all, she was the one responsible for the two lovebirds being seen as an insult to her House. She took her revenge on Rodolphus when she arranged for the love potion to find its ways into the new couple's bodies. She just wanted a chance to show any potential husband what he'd be getting into, so her Father would have a harder time finding her another Rodoplhus. Sure, the temptation to seduce Hermione and move with her back to Australia after their N.E.W.T.s was still there, but she had to set some realistic goals, like finding a gay wizard to marry and making a secret deal with him. She's had no luck on that front so far, no candidates meeting the gay requirement would meet her Father's requirements, but a duel with Rodolphus would buy her even more time.
"No, and that's my final word, Bella. I would rather sacrifice a few thousand galeons than let you risk yourself dueling such a lovestruck failure, honey, no matter your eagerness to beat him up. If he's this lacking in impulse control, he is not a wizard I would want you married to anyway."
****
It took most of Hermione's self-control to keep her elation off her face. But the sight of Bella talking to Ted as if he wasn't a piece of filthy slime about to betray her sister was such a pleasant surprise it made her feel much warmer inside. Sure, her second thought was this was likely Bella grudgingly getting to know him better so she could keep her promise to support Andy, but even that was leaps ahead of what she was like in September. Stepping out of the shadows, Hermione walked into the clearing next to the Forbidden Forest and headed for the picnic the other three had set up.
"Sorry about being late, I know I told Bella to go and tell you I'd join you here but still. However, the thing professor Slughorn wanted to talk to me about was Jobberknoll feathers, apparently somebody mentioned my experience with those?"
At least Andy had the decency to look embarrassed. Bella, on the other hand, simply beamed at Hermione and patted the blanket next to her. And it was Andy who spoke first.
"Uh, that would've been Cissy, I guess, I might have mentioned our talk about those to her? You know how obsessed with Potions she's getting nowadays – Bella, any chance you might finally tell me what secret project she's been helping you with?"
Of course the picnic wasn't set up for four people. It was set up for two pairs and Andy and Ted were happily snuggling on their side of the big blanket. Torn between joy and fear, Hermione headed for the spot next to Bella. The other witch was almost like a new person ever since her engagement to Rodolphus got canceled, much happier but also on the edge of what Hermione wanted to call flirty, which tore at Hermione's mind. There was no point in denying it, her body wanted Bella and Bella seemed nowhere near the path towards becoming the sadistic Death Eater of Hermione's home reality. And Bella also being the other of the two brightest witches of their generation certainly helped Hermione's brain like Bella too. But she was still a blood purist, even if an increasingly uncertain one. The impression that, despite all her dedication to being a proper eldest daughter of a Noble House, Bella was… interested… was both amazing and terrifying. And Hermione certainly didn't want Andy pushing Bella about what Cissy helped her with, so she ignored Andy's question towards Bella.
"No harm done, I guess. Would've been nice to walk here with you lot, though. Well, at least with the two of you, I know Ted had to wait for you in the forest."
And she took her shoes off and sat down, almost leaning against Bella. She wasn't, their shoulders and arms were hardly touching, but it was the most she dared do to placate her desires. Besides, Bella was so duty-bound she wouldn't actually go for Hermione anyway, so maybe this would at least soften Bella's burden too?
Andy apparently had no qualms about showing affection in front of Bella anymore, so she went for a quick kiss first.
"Yea, I hate the way we have to hide. Sorry, Bella, but he's a better wizard than most of Slytherin."
And Ted joined in before Bella fired back.
"Present company excluded, of course."
Bella sighed first, another positive development in Hermione's book, and there was hope their little spat with a group of Gryffindors some two hours earlier didn't leave Bella too angry. But although her voice leaned more towards vexed than annoyed, it soon became obvious Bella needed to vent a bit.
"Possible exceptions don't invalidate the general rule, Andy, how many times do I have to repeat this? Our society would go down the drain if we didn't guard our bloodlines and if you've picked the only acceptable one, judging by the jerks we've had to deal with after today's lunch, the rest of us will have to stay sensible and not let our desires trick us into going for inferior stock."
That answer seemed too much for Andy and her reply made Hermione's brain pause for a moment.
"You mean like you're being sensible by searching for a gay wizard nobody knows is gay?"
The question was so blatant it managed to get even Bella a bit defensive.
"Look, I know it is not the brightest idea, but have you got a better one?"
Something in Andy must've broke and there was more angered passion in there than Hermione ever saw from her.
"Yes, tell Father to stop hoping he'll find a wizard willing to accept the Black name for himself or your children, and to finally make peace with the fact it'll be Sirius or Regulus to inherit the House! He's got three daughters, Rodolphus being out of the picture is no reason for Father to stick to that old plan, frankly I think his conviction that Rodolphus would actually sign the amendment to the deal was delusional. Maybe, just maybe it'll be enough for him to see reason and let you marry some witch and adopt a pure-blood orphan or two! Honestly, if he really cared for blood purity itself, instead of his own bloodline ruling the House, it'd be his best chance of getting a Black heir from you!"
Hermione sensed Bella getting all stiff beside her but had no idea what Bella's response would be. Sure, tolerance towards non-heterosexual people was one of the few areas where wizarding society was ahead of the Muggle one. Not only were they allowing two witches to marry, Hermione even knew of a few rare cases where even pure-blood politics allowed lesbian marriages. However, Cygnus Black never seemed a wizard willing to let that happen to any of his daughters. And with Andy's words about him wanting his own bloodline in power and always hoping to somehow manage that despite only having daughters, it made sense why Bella never tried to explore the option Andy threw at her.
What Hermione didn't expect was to feel Bella slowly crumple in on herself and then suddenly curl up next to her. Her right hand shot out as if on its own, trying to soothe Bella, and didn't mind the bit of pain when Bella latched onto it and gripped it a shade too tight.
"I'm really just a stupid dyke, I guess."
Shock, both from Ted, who obviously never had it confirmed that Bella was a lesbian, and from Andy, who never saw Bella in such a state before. But no surprise to Hermione, who saw Bella carve those words into her own skin with a goblin dagger. So she bent herself over Bella, to give her the best hug she could manage quickly, and her voice was as soft as she could make it.
"You're the smartest dyke I know, Bella. But Andy has her rare bright moments too, I guess."
A jolt, as Bella's brain tried to defend her sister on a reflex, then a slight relaxation, and then almost a snort. A few more heartbeats and Bella's voice was almost back under control.
"Never thought I'd let such an insult slide this easily, Hermione, and thank you for that jab. Weird way to realize how much I've learned to trust you, though. And I really am stupid for not thinking about this, now I don't have to honor an old deal Father made a decade ago."
Hermione didn't let go, sensing Bella was still on the edge, still a hair's breadth away from falling back into anguish. But she knew Bella's sense of humor and her resilience.
"So do you want to stay like this, or is this too undignified when someone here is muggleborn?"
"Stay like this, he deserves to be at least uncomfortable when he's a primitive who thinks homosexuals are perverts who should go to jail."
Ted cleared his throat.
"Actually, I've been taught you should be burned alive, Bellatrix."
A head under Hermione twisting, turning towards him.
"Are you trying to pull my leg? Mother swears that was last century, now you're just jailing us!"
Hermione wouldn't lift her head to look towards the pair, happy to help Bella recover, and then Andy answered.
"Bella, Ted's older brother is gay and he's a friend, I think you'll have a hard time convincing us all Muggles hate gay people. The situation has been rapidly improving these last few years, I'm told. So yea, he's pulling your leg."
"Knew it! Hope your brother avoids that jail, Edward. So we're not really offending you?"
A slight pause.
"Honestly, you two would look kind of cute, if I wasn't worried you'll break Hermione's fingers, Bellatrix."
The pain in her own hand gone, Hermione was quick to squeeze the retreating other hand, telling it to stay.
"I would never. Are you sure he isn't just waiting for an opportunity to set me on fire, Andy?"
"I'll hand him the torch if you break her fingers, Bella."
There was stirring under her and Hermione reluctantly let go, moving back into her original position. But Bella had other ideas and moved to sit with her forehead resting on Hermione's shoulder, her right hand still intertwined with Hermione's, their legs touching in so many places. And then their hands were being presented to the audience.
"See? All fingers perfectly fine, wouldn't break the only witch who understands me like you do but isn't betraying me with a muggleborn, Andy."
"What about Cissy, Bella?"
"Doesn't count for now, too young to understand enough and too smitten with Lucius."
"Guess we've found you a wife, then."
Despite her own shock, Hermione could see Andy stiffen too, the moment her brain caught up with her mouth. And she felt Bella twitch too, before her self-control took over. Fuck. And then Bella saved her, despite her voice filling with sadness.
"Nice try, Andy, but I'm out of luck in this regard. I'm sure you would be an amazing wife, Hermione, but even if a miracle happens and Father lets me marry a witch, he'll demand one from a Noble House. Given my luck, he'll push me to some Noble but airheaded Holyhead Harpy to gain some support from their fans. Even that would be better than getting married to a wizard, though."
****
It was official, she *was* just a stupid dyke. Of course there was a chance her Father might let her marry Hermione. All that was needed was for him to consider her worthy of Bella. And not only was Hermione so good the title of the brightest witch of her generation went from Bella alone to being shared between the two of them, there was a not-insignificant possibility there was a Dark Mark on her arm.
Yes, there was the possibility she was hiding an old wound or a scar. And sure, not all witches in Slytherin had enough common sense to really believe in blood purity, Andy's case was proof enough. Honestly, Hermione seemed a bit too Muggle-friendly herself, even if nowhere near Andy's level. But Hermione was smarter than most, maybe the way forward really was to accept the exceptional ones, like Edward seemed to be, and keep the rest in their proper place. Separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak.
Maybe that was one of the secrets behind the growing movement she knew existed outside Hogwarts, even if only as whispers and hints. Maybe joining the movement Hermione was likely a part of, one becoming the most promising defenders of wizardkind, could sway her Father? If the movement wasn't based on just an accident of birth, if it worked due to being based on conviction and merit and good of wizardkind? Maybe her Father could see modern times required modern thinking, even if that required the best of muggleborn being allowed to prove their worthiness. The rest of the muggleborn could be prevented from enacting any dangerous ideas using simple money and politics, they were a small minority once one took a moment to notice raw numbers. And Andy was right, there was next to no chance Father would ever get a Black heir from her even if he married her to a wizard, and the war Bella could feel on the wind would unfortunately create enough orphans for adoption even if it remained in shadows; they might even save some from traitor parents. Maybe Hermione not being a Noble wouldn't be that much of a problem if they could prove their worth to the cause and if their adopted child would be pure? Maybe Father could even later learn to tolerate muggles like Edward to a point he wouldn't disown Andy?
Yes, it was a long shot. Yes, there was still a voice in the back of her head telling her muggleborn were as bad as her parents used to tell her and she was deluding herself into hoping otherwise because she wanted Andy to be happy. Yes, she would have to get so close to Hermione that she'd get invited into the movement. Yes, it could take years. But getting closer to Hermione was hardly an unpleasant thing and Bella sure knew how to spend years waiting when something was worth it.
****
It was official, her stupid brain got into an alliance with her idiotic body to fall for Bella. Of course she checked herself for all the tricks she knew about that might've been responsible for these feelings, she even had Ted run a battery of diagnostic charms on her, but all the results were negative. This was no outside influence. This was her dumb self genuinely craving Bella.
Yes, there were undeniable benefits to such a relationship. And not just the physical benefits that were invading her dreams with increasing frequency, Bella could do a *tremendous* amount of good if she'd switch sides. After all, not all Slytherin witches went Dark, Andy's case was proof enough. Sure, Bella was still a blood purist, but there was a reason Bella too got the title of the brightest witch of her generation. Maybe she could overcome her indoctrination, now she wasn't being crushed by the prospect of having to marry Rodolphus? And yet… Getting too close to Bella was oh so risky, especially with the word carved into Hermione's skin by another reality's Bellatrix being a threat to Hermione's cover and even her life in this world. Sure, she was already close enough that Bella was letting her borrow books from her personal library, but getting skin-on-skin close...
Maybe the secret of how she could change Bella might lie in exposing her to more of Ted and Andy, giiven what just a few weeks managed already? Maybe Bella realizing that a muggleborn wizard can be both magically competent and a far better husband than her Father was could sway Bella's view of the muggleborn? Andy was right, Bella marrying another witch was the most sensible route for both Cygnus and Bella herself, so if Bella could liberate her mind enough to accept that, maybe she could manage to free herself from blood purist nonsense too?
Yes, it was a long shot. But hunting down horcruxes while on the run from Death Eaters was a long shot too and they've succeeded anyway. Yes, it would mean using her talents and smarts to overcome odds that seemed heavily stacked against her. But Hermione sure knew how to help Lady Luck grant her a victory against all expectations.