Bellatrix was on a mission, one that was not given to her by anyone else, but one she took up on her own accord. She had just finished the day helping Minerva get the 1st years all settled in to Hogwarts after the war finished last year.
It was a very stressful time over the summer when she was announced a Spy for the Light and the one person who took more convincing that anyone else just so happened to be the person she had landed in the Muggle World searching for. Bellatrix had betrayed the Dark Lord for a number of years and she did so even better than Snape which showed when he ended up dead. She was scared into admitting everything when that happened but still pushed through and was able to assist Harry Potter in the final battle.
As she walked up to the entrance, she was recieving funny looks from the muggles as she wasn't afraid to enter the Muggle hospital with her cloak, dress and corset on. Minerva would be scowling at her by now, but she had one goal in her head and was determined to reach it, the consequences could be a tomorrow problem.
You see today was meant to be a great day in Hogwarts when everyone started fresh again. The castle had been rebuilt, and so had a lot of relationships. The year 7s last year were supposed to be returning this year to repeat their exams, well most of them were due back, Potter and the youngest Male Wesley decided to jump straight into becoming Aurors instead.
Bellatrix was astounded to then find Miss Granger had not returned to Hogwarts today like she was meant to. As head girl, she should have been the first person there. Minerva said something had probably came up and the Witch was just running behind. Then their wait turned to hours, and then the feast was held for the First years, again with no Hermione in sight.
The headmistress still was convinced something innocent had happened, however she was also currently unaware of Hermione and Bellatrix's growing friendship, growing flirtation, or the growing sexual tension between the pair which resulted in Hermione and Bellatrix having a midnight kiss at the Burrow a week ago at the celebration party of the reopening of Hogwarts.
It was a very silly drunken kiss which Bellatrix struggled to get out of her head, especially during a time where she was about to start her first year of teaching Defense against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. She should have been panicking about whether the parents and students would accept her, lesson plans and how she would overcome certain obstacles but instead there was a young Woman more than half her age, a student none the less who had a front and center place on the stage of Bellatrix's mind.
Bellatrix had been worried that Hermione did not show up today because she didn't want to face the older woman after what had happened, Bellatrix didn't blame her as they had both been ignoring each other, and every letter Bellatrix wanted to write, she threw in the fire straight after. It was a ridiculous thought that they could begin something and Bellatrix firmly believed the Younger woman would not want her damaged goods and was embarrassed, but something as important as Education could not be sacrificed from a silly kiss. It was a very important thing to Bellatrix and Hermione was such a smart young thing, she wouldn't allow the younger woman's intelligence to be wasted by skipping out her last year at Hogwarts.
She walked past muggles with weird Night clothes on, and even stranger things attached to them which Bellatrix couldn't begin to want to understand. There was a long white desk with a few women behind it all dressed in white and it did look somewhat like what Madam Pomfrey would wear, but it just didn't look right to Bellatrix.
"Hi there Miss, can I help you?"
Bellatrix eyes furrowed straight away at the upbeat personality of the nurse, this was a place people came to die in the Muggle world was it not? Bellatrix was baffled from why this woman was so happy, did Muggle's find people in pain or sick to be happy?
Now is not the time to argue with them Bellatrix...
"Yes... I'm uhh... I'm here to see Granger - Hermione..."
"Okay and just to check are you family?"
"Oh Merlin no, I'm not a mug- Ahem, I mean I am Professor Black, she didn't show up today and we got wind she had been brought here ..."
Bellatrix almost laughed her way telling the nurse she wasn't a Muggleborn but managed to stop herself in time. She had only been to the Muggle World a few times and had no intention of coming here tonight, but as soon as she found out Hermione had been hurt and taken to the hospital, she went to the nearest Floo and took herself to the Muggle World and sought out the younger Witch's magic.
"Okay, do you happen to have contact with the parents? We have been trying to reach them but their numbers seem to be now inactive."
"Sadly no... The Granger parents - they are no longer in the country, Hermione stays on her own, I decided to come check on her myself before her friends arrive to bring her home since there is no other adult really around.."
"Ah that's so wonderful you came then! It would be great if every teacher cared for their students the way you do! I will walk you up to her room and I can explain briefly what happened!"
Bellatrix gave a false smile to the nurse who began leaving the desk to walk her towards the stairs. Bellatrix was left thinking if the nurse would think the same way if she knew the thoughts Bellatrix had been having about her new student. She knew there was nothing illegal about the kiss as she wasn't her student yet, but Bellatrix still felt bad pining after someone who had her whole life ahead of her, so she intended on just popping in to check on her then leaving again. Nothing else needed to happen. Nothing else could happen. The reason why Bellatrix cared enough was still fuzzy in the woman's head but she knew there was something that just had to keep drawing her in.
"So how long have you been teaching Hermione?"
"Not very long at all.. But you could say she's always had a habit of catching my attention in school for the past year..."
"Ah a trouble maker? Well that does explain the trouble she caused London this morning! There was a standstill for miles, although she truly did a magical thing..."
Bellatrix already knew what had happened. She had knew from the Patronus which was from Kingsley to the teacher's lounge that there was a car accident this morning involving Hermione as a few Wizards living in the Muggle world had recognised her. It apparently was on the news because the driver was a bank robber who had killed 5 security guards, taken a hostage and Hermione had tried to stop him but had to do it in a way no one would see her as a Witch. In other words, with as little magic as possible.
Bellatrix whispered under her breath how stupid the young woman was stopping a criminal like that, but at the same time her heart fluttered at how wonderfully brave the Younger Woman was. It took a special selfless person like Hermione Granger to give herself as a public servant like that, kind of the same way some people now seen Bellatrix Black and maybe that is why the two women had became drawn to each other.
"- so you see, after the car hit her, it shattered part of her leg, so we had to knock her out in order to put a metal rod in her leg to allow it to heal correctly. She had a few cuts and bruises but the leg was the most serious injury..."
Bellatrix was internally rolling her eyes as she was thinking of how annoyed Madam Pomfrey was going to be taking the metal rod back out to fix her bone correctly with magic. These Muggles didn't have a clue and now Hermione was going to be left in pain for days because they couldn't just hand her over to the Wizarding World and say no more about it.
"Also I should warn you professor, Hermione has had a fair amount of Morphine today, so I wouldn't worry too much if she says anything out of the ordinary... She's very drugged right now..."
"The girl normally talks gibberish anyway, so I won't worry too much at all..."
"She has been saying one name since she came in though, I'm assuming this to be a friend or love interest, but the name 'Bella' is on repeat and she did mention earlier about hiding from a kiss. Although being her Professor, I would say you know nothing about it! But maybe her friend will when they get here!"
"Yes... Bella would be a friend to her I suppose..."
Bellatrix was now completely baffled about everything she thought she knew. The woman was talking about her after an accident and said she was hiding from a kiss. Was it their kiss? Or was it another kiss she had with someone new to forget their kiss? But then why did she say her name, why did she say it the way she did when they had finished their kiss? Bella...
Bellatrix felt another migraine coming on.
"Well here she is. Again don't be too shocked by the bruising, it looks worse than it is..."
The nurse who Bellatrix failed to learn the name of pulled back the curtain and there was lying the Wizarding World's Golden Girl with her leg raised in a cast and bruises covering parts of her arms and beautiful face. Despite the colouring on her skin, Bellatrix's breath still caught with how beautiful the young woman still looked. The nurse was still busying herself fussing over Hermione's blanket that she didn't notice the look of pain on the woman's face as Bellatrix could only imagine the pain Hermione must have been in. And for some reason it also really hurt her.
"Well Professor Black, I will leave you to it, and if you need anything please just hit the red button over there and I'll be straight up. I'll also keep an eye for her friend coming to collect her!"
"Yes, thank you..."
The nurse leaves and for a moment Bellatrix feels slightly awkward. Even though Hermione is asleep for the moment, Bellatrix pictured their next meeting to be in a completely different setting, she also didn't expect to be standing in a Muggle hospital with Muggle contraptions surrounding them, Bellatrix just could not understand why they were so disadvantaged in terms of healing. But more to the point Bellatrix was very disadvantage in her feelings for the woman before her.
"My Merlin, you've really done it this time Granger. Not to mention you have me leaving my nice cosy room in the Dungeons of Hogwarts just to come and see you're still alive with my own eyes. In a Muggle hospital of all places..."
Bellatrix holds her head in her hands and shakes it slightly as saying the situation out loud pulls her back on how crazy she was to have came here. It was totally unlike her, she had built and played the character of Bellatrix Lestrange for so long she forgot what it was like to be Bellatrix Black and actually care for other people, and she knew other people were not expecting her to care for them either.
"Bella.."
She heard the small whisper of her name coming from the bed as her back was turned ready to leave the room. She slowly turned around to find Hazel eyes half open staring at her from the bed. The younger Witch had spotted her.. Or so she believed anyway until Hermione started giggling to herself.
"Don't be so stupid Hermione... The great Bellatrix Black would not care enough about you to actually be here.. It's just the drugs again..."
Bellatrix was hurt for a moment. The younger woman honestly didn't believe the Professor was there with her because of her reputation. She wanted to correct the girl, to say she was there and also to tell her she did care a great deal more than she should. Hermione stopped giggling and looked up at Bellatrix again with her eyes slightly wider and her brows furrowed.
"Why aren't you disappearing like earlier..?"
"Because I am actually here Granger..."
A gentle smile lay on Hermione lips as she licked them and closed her eyes for a moment to see if the other Witch would disappear this time. Bellatrix remained in the same spot.
"The Professor Black I knew would have cursed me out by now for being so stupid..."
"I am tempted believe me.."
Hermione laughed again and let out a deep sigh as Bellatrix noticed the water bag attached to the young woman move slightly and something was released. Hermione was letting something go into her veins again and it really was confusing for the older Witch.
"What is that stuff...?"
"Merlin, you're alot more talkative than earlier... Umm well it's what Muggles use to make them feel less pain and it feels real fucking good..."
Bellatrix at this point was convinced the young woman really did not know she was actually there and it made her wonder out of everyone why was it Bellatrix who was at the front of Hermione's mind when she could barely wipe her own nose she was that drugged.
"Do you think she even cares that I'm here right now? I seen Bella the next morning after our kiss and she ignored me.. Why am I still talking to myself...?"
Hermione gave her head a little shake and reached over to grab her water. She seemed to manage okay but Bellatrix tensed up incase she was in too much pain or dropped the glass.
"Why did you do it? Why try to take down that man on your own?"
"He had a kid in the car with him. He stole it outside the bank and took the baby with him as hostage so when I stood in front of the car, I casted a spell to make it stop, but the side of the car clipped me and here I am... I wish that Ginny would hurry up and take me home so they can magic my leg better again... Muggle drugs are great but their healing times suck.."
Bellatrix admired Hermione even more than she did before. There was another reason why Hermione was being brave in trying to stop the car, but at the same time she still had so many questions she needed to ask. Part of her mind was wondering if it was fair to ask while the Witch was doped, but she didn't believe she would get another chance. Before she got her question in, Hermione was not done with her own rambling or questions to the person whom she thought was a figment of her imagination again.
"Are your tits real? Like I feel they look so perfect they can't be real... But then I see the rest of your body and I'm like it's all so perfect it would make sense her tits were to be real as well, if you get me? Of course you get me, you are me in my imagination after all..."
Bellatrix can't help the smile that comes to her face with Hermione's logic. It was actually the grope Hermione had given Bellatrix's tits that pulled them from their kiss a week ago, and it was because Hermione simply thought they were perfect.
"Do you think Bellatrix will care enough to visit me when I'm back at Hogwarts? I want to talk to her but I don't know how to approach it. I'm sorry if I made her uncomfortable, but I had tried hard all summer not to think about her more than a new teacher or new member of the Order, but my mind just screams at me everytime to jump in and kiss her... So I'm sorry but I'm not really sorry... Do you think the real Bellatrix would understand?"
"Maybe the real one feels the same...?"
This notion gets Hermione giggling again and Bellatrix has a smile on her face once more. Maybe the younger woman had been having the same kind of turmoil as her? She's clearly had mixed up feelings the same as Bellatrix.
"What would you say if Bellatrix was really here with you right now?" Bellatrix decided now was a good time to ask.
"I'd probably tell her the truth. I think she's one of the most amazing and bravest woman I've ever met in my short life. And that if we had met in a different time, I would have probably tried to fuck her by now... Or not... No I wouldn't just try to fuck her, I'd treat with the up most respect and take her out a few times - Then I'd fuck her!"
Hermione smiles showing all her teeth and then winces form the bruise on her cheek. She rubs her face softly to try and ease it and once more Bellatrix's heart is pulled as she approaches the side of the bed and sits in close to the young Witch.
"Why can't you be real... Why can't she care for me like I care for her. I've only got to know the real her for a few months, but I already really like the real her, and I want her to like the real me.."
Bellatrix stretches out her arm to gently caress the young woman's bruises to try and take the pain away, even a little bit. Hermione's eyes gently close as she starts fading away back into a deep sleep thanks to the drugs being pumped into her body.
"She already does like the real you Hermione, she's just too scared shes going to ruin you like she ruined everything else... Bella ruined her own life when she agreed her role within the Order all them years ago..."
Hermione softly opened her eyes one more time as she pulled herself out of the sleep to face the Dark orbs of Bellatrix Black and she smiled gently at the woman. She reached up her hand and covered Bellatrix's with as she let her eyes continue to flutter close as she thought she may as well say to her imagination what she believed she could never tell the real Bellatrix.
"She ruined her life to allow everyone else to have a great one... She became an unknown Hero before I was even born, and I don't think I'll be able to love or appreciate another being like her..."
That really did trigger a tear in Bellatrix's eye as she watched the Witch sink back into her sleep properly this time, with her hand gently falling off Bellatrix's and onto the bed. Her head was all mush but full of absolute delight as she had confirmation that the younger Witch did feel a certain way and maybe all they needed to do was navigate themselves in a way that would allow them to enter a new World. Bellatrix believed the same about Hermione, the young woman was thrusted into a war and gave her life for the good of others as well and maybe it was time for them to have their own World of happiness together despite the gap.
Bellatrix reached her head over the younger woman and gave her a gentle kiss on the head and watched in amazement as Hermione's sleeping frown turned into a sleeping smile which was soon mirrored on the older Woman's face.
"Sleep tight Hermione... I'll be having words with you tomorrow, especially about my 'real tits'.."
Bellatrix stood up and straighted herself just in time to find the youngest Weasley coming through the door..
"Right Hermione you silly Witch, the nurses here have been called me Bella for some - Professor Back? Umm why are you here...?"
"Well Miss Weasley, I heard about what happened and wanted to come and see what the damage was so I could inform Madam Pomfrey ahead of time... Maybe let Miss Granger sleep another hour before you take her back, she's had quite a bit of morphine..."
Bellatrix takes a quill and paper from her cloak and writes a note quickly before folding it and handing it to Ginny who takes it without question but still holds the confused look on her face. She knew about the kiss but also knew from Hermione that the professor had been avoiding her and that Hermione was doing the same.
"I will do Professor..."
"Oh and Red, when you hand her that note, tell her I expect to see her tomorrow evening after lessons, its quite important we have a conversation together alone when she isn't so high..."
Ginny just nodded her head this time as Bellatrix's cloak fluttered its way out of the hospital room and down the corridor, and what Ginny could not see was the great big smile that appeared on Bellatrix Black's face as she thought about the teasing she was going to put Hermione through before her plan of kissing the young woman again.
Ginny stared at the note before checking her Professor was definitely gone and opening it.
Get Well Soon
- B xx
The 'x's immediately grew a grin on Ginny's face and she couldn't wait to wake her best friend up to find out what kind of stupid shit she had said while high on Muggle drugs.
"Oh Hermione, you are gonna be in for some amount blushing when you wake up again... And it's a real good thing you have me as a best friend to make sure you'll never forget this!!"