Bellatrix shows up on Hermione's doorstep a cold, bloody mess, seeking shelter for the night from her one-time lover and uneasy ally. A sad, sympathetic smile pulled at Hermione's lips as she looked upon her enemy and her lover, both occupying the same body, sharing the same lips and the same eyes, and she suddenly realized that neither label quite fit tonight.

"I was happy once," Bellatrix said quietly, almost to herself, her voice twisting the words happy until it sounded like anything but. "Mind you, that was a great many years before you were even born." Hermione had to work to keep from rolling her eyes at Bellatrix's darkened tone, knowing the older woman was trying scare her off.

"What the hell is this?" Bellatrix asked, pointing her wand suspiciously at Hermione's tea kettle. "And how does it work?" Hermione's chuckles finally subsided, and she gazed seriously at the woman in black with the wild hair who stood in her kitchen, in awe of the hint of curiosity in her lover's voice. Rated "M" for language (don't worry, we'll get to the fun stuf eventually).

Many, many nights ago she had promised Bellatrix to never make her leave when Bella sought refuge here, but she had reached the point where she could stay strong and force Bellatrix to sleep on the couch. Kinda T for language and the beginning of sexy times.

"I needed to remind myself that you're safe," Bellatrix sighed, stepping forward swiftly to enfold Hermione in her arms, her lips at Hermione's ears. "I'm not. Neither of us are, Bella," Hermione protested, though that didn't stop her from wrapping her arms around Bellatrix's waist and running. Two short scenes illustrating the progression of Bellatrix and Hermione's relationship.

Hermione's heart nearly stopped when she heard a soft rustling sound near her bedroom door; her eyes flew open as she was abruptly pulled from a dreamless slumber, all traces of sleep dispelled by her late night panic. She scanned the room, but as it was just past two in the morning, it was too dark to see much of anything. Takes place slightly out of sync with the story.

"He wants you dead, and you have survived for far too long...He's angry, Hermione. I have refrained from fighting you too many times. There's no way around it any more. I must engage you in a duel...and you must lose."

Without any words of explanation, Hermione handed Bella a sealed envelope. Curious and uncertain what to expect, Bellatrix cautiously opened the letter and began to read.

"Well, before you had your little vanity fit in the bathroom and screamed loud enough to scare the daylights out of me-" glare "-I was in the middle of cooking breakfast for us. I was going to introduce you to a muggle food that I grew up on. But then you went and freaked out about your grey streak, and now the breakfast is dead."

Bella awakes late at night to the sound of Hermione crying beside her in bed.

"You know, I sometimes forget how very young you are," Bellatrix confessed in a whisper, her hands smoothing over my upper arms. "Me, too," I sighed, resting my forehead against Bella's shoulder. "Most of the time, I suppose I just feel so incredibly old." FIRST POV HERMIONE

Hermione turned the corner and took the first step up the stairs, stretching out her hand. "C'mon, Bella," she said softly, and when she revolved to face the two boys again, Bellatrix was at her side. "Hello," Bella nodded curtly, her dark eyes flickering between her partner, Harry, and Ron.

"I love you," Hermione promised, burying her face in the curve of Bellatrix's neck as she settled back down onto her. "I love you even more than they hurt you, and I swear, Bella, they never will again. No one, not ever."