Hey guys. So this update too longer than even i anticipated. Weather has gotten nicer here so my kids have been running me ragged not to mention the whole i bought a puppy thing and they suck up about as much time as my kids do. Yikes. Anyways here is the update.

Pretty much im trying to stretch then out a bit more so im involving Minerva 'later' in the story and focussing a little more on the Bellatrix rehab and Hermiones coping with everything thats going on for her.

Reviews encouraged.

"You're pregnant." Bellatrix stated once the two had returned to their shared cottage.

"I know." Hermione says flatly, she didn't have an expression on her face, she was just blankly staring at the coffee table as she sat on the couch.

"I didn't know you were seeing someone." Bellatrix's fishing for information was blatant.

"I'm not." Hermione mumbles.

"But you're pregnant." Bella points out once again.

"Oh! Say it again Belle!" Hermione snaps and finally her expression changes this time to frustration.

Before Bellatrix can respond there was a firm knock on the door that only seemed to frustrate Hermione further as the angry little witch stomped over and threw the door open with a loud "What?" at the men standing there in the doorway. They were wearing Auror uniforms so it was easy enough to guess why they were there which calmed Hermione a little yet concerned her even more.

"Can i help you?" Hermione asked not terribly friendly.

"We require to take Ms. Bellatrix Black back to the Ministry for a trial." One of the two men says seriously.

"I'm sorry we hadnt received any notice of this." Hermione points out with a deep frown.

"That's because if they had arrived and i wasn't here they were allowed to make a scene and arrest me. Maybe sling a spell or two." Bellatrix gets her coat and Hermione's and hands it over.

"Merlin's bollocks, and i thought i might have been given a chance to get through some of this crap on my mind." Hermione sighs annoyed.

Without further word the two women followed the men to the nearest exit point and the four of them blinked out of existence only to reappear at the Ministry of Magic. Once in the Ministry it was clear to see that things there we chaos. Kingsley had been spending the time since the war clearing out and firing or rehiring the workers. There had been so much corruption within the Ministry that Hermione was honestly very happy that this was a thing that was happening. On top of this there were people coming and going and Death Eaters being lead too and from trials.

"Well this place is a mess." Bellatrix comments as she and her companion were following along with the Auror's.

"You're not wrong. Its not calmed down since the battle." Nymphadora seemed to come out of no where, her hair was a flat black, a look of mourning no doubt for Remus.

"Tonks! I need to speak with you!" Hermione had been startled but then pleased to see the other witch.

"About Bellatrix?" Nymphadora asks curiously a slight frown on her face.

"No. Something Transfiguration related." Hermione looks past Bellatrix to the woman niece on the other side of her.

"Well ask away." Tonks urges with a small smile.

"Its uh... its a sensitive subject." Hermione admits softly and Tonks eyebrows raise curiously.

"You'll have to wait to be called as a character witness for Bellatrix." Nymphadora reminds gently and Hermione sighs softly.

"Come to the cottage for dinner?" Bellatrix suggests in a tone that implies she was bored. It was a farce of course, she didnt want the Aurors to know she was sweating buckets and more anxious than a mouse in a cattery.

"You're that confident that you wont be going back to Azkaban?" One of the Auror's leading them asks.

"I wont be going back, it doesn't matter what the ruling is." Bellatrix says so seriously that it makes Hermione's breath catch in her throat.

"Bella..." Hermione says softly looking at the woman who had so easily become such a big part of her life already.

"I can't." Bellatrix says gently and Hermione cant help but understand a little.

"You won't. They've been monitoring you. You've barely used magic and then it's only been domestic spells and transport, usually with Hermione." One of the two Auror's the younger of the two with auburn hair and brown eyes, speaks up.

"I hope you're right." Bellatrix says softly and Hermione takes the woman's hand as they walk. Tonks silently agreeing to dinner.

"Miss Granger, tell us. Is it true you were tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange?" One of the Wizengsmot Members questioned shortly after Hermione had taken the stand.

"it is." Hermione confirms.

"You admit this even as you stand in her defence?" A woman asks next.

"That is correct." Hermione again states clearly.

"Perhaps we should allow her to speak freely in Bellatrix Lestrange's Defence?" It was someone familiar to Hermione, she forgets his name but she had fought alongside him in the battle of Hogwarts, she remembered his face.

"Whilst Bellatrix was torturing me she was almost sobbing, when she carved mudblood into my arm she actually leant down and apologised for it." Hermione explains mildly to the people around her.

"And this tells you that she is a double agent and had actually been reporting to Dumbledore the entire time?" One of the others who had been silent until now scoffs at this.

"No sir but it says she isn't as crazy as we all made her out to be. She was a double agent, a woman put in an impossible situation. She had little choice but to act the way she did lest she risk her own life. We all know Tom Riddle didn't mind killing for no reason. If you must know Bellatrix strongly hinted at where one of the hidden horcrux's was to me while I was in her possession at Malfoy Manor, this put a few things into perspective for me. If you do not believe she is a double agent then mayhaps you should request veritaserum or perhaps examining her memories." Hermione finishes haughtily because she could see these people were trying to condemn Bella and perhaps herself as well.

"Indeed perhaps Veritaserum would be a good idea. Fetch Lady Black and bring her in, I see no reason Miss Granger shouldn't be present while the woman is being questioned further." The Man apparently leading this trial states and it gets rather busy for a short while before Bellatrix is lead in and given a small vial to drain.

"Bellatrix Lestrange-" The lead questioner begins only to be cut off.

"Its Black if you don't mind." The woman corrects with a bored tone.

"Ms. Black... is it true you are a double agent and had been working with Dumbledore the entire time you were in The Dark Lords services?" The woman who had spoken earlier continues where the man had been interrupted.

"Yes, this is truth." Bellatrix informs truthfully, unable to lie at this moment.

"Why did you chose to work with Albus and not Tom Riddle?" A different man enquires.

"I was young and during my sixth year I attended with a young woman by the name of Yseult Durant, when she vanished she had left me a short story she had written about a girl who chose the dark side and did horrendous things. When some of the earlier things in the short story came to pass I realised it was a telling of my possible future and so I went to Albus as was suggested." Bellatrix divulged to the curious minds before her, all of them skeptical.

"You are saying this woman, Yseult Durant, she could see the future?" One of the younger WM's queried and Bellatrix shrugged.

"That or she was from the future." Bellatrix confirms.

"There are no. Records of this woman, is there anyone who may support your claim that she even existed?" The man leading the trial asks seriously.

"I'll remind you I swallowed a whole vial of veritaserum but if I still have to prove myself further you may try Minerva McGonagall, it came to my attention Yseult was roomed with her the year she was at Hogwarts as she was so unexpected that there were no other rooms for her." Bellatrix explains the ruse Yseult had told her so many years ago.

"We shall confirm with Minerva while further questions are asked." The woman decides after a short bit of conversation between the gamot.

Bellatrix just makes a gesture, it made no real difference to her, she would be left free or she would be sent back, to her this was freedom or death and nothing else mattered until this decision was made. Hermione on the other had was more than a little annoyed by this whole thing, she had just learned something massive and wasn't even sure how to proceed from here in her life. She was supposed to have lunch tomorrow with the woman she was pregnant by and didn't even think she could function around her right now.

"Is it true you fed secret information to Albus?" Bellatrix nodded again and verbalised an affirmative. Hermione wanted to state how pertinent that information had been but they were already moving on.

"What was the turning point in your past that lead you to Albus after this mystery girl wrote you the story?" The woman asks this time and Bellatrix's face scrunched up just slightly.

"The death of Gideon and Fabian Prewett at Voldemort's hand." Bellatrix states though now against her will.

"Why did that affect you so much?" The man who asked about Yseult seeing the future spoke up again.

"I don't think that's relevant." Hermione speaks up finally because she knew this hurt Bella to talk about.

"I think is. Its easier to make a choice when we have all the facts." The woman speaks up though she has a sympathetic look.

"I was in love with Gideon. I was forced to marry Rod. I was there when the twins were murdered, they made me hide." Bellatrix explains with a strained voice the information surprised the gamot.

"And this Yseult, she wrote a story explaining what would happen, that Gideon and Fabian would be killed? This is what changed your course?" The woman asks frowning slight.

"Yes. It was the point that was said to have turned me to Voldemort in the first place. In the story i was with Cissy and not the twins when Voldemort killed the twins, they explained it as a battle that they ultimately won, in this reality it was cold blooded murder as i believe it was in the story only i was actually with the boys when it happened." Bellatrix explains and wipes at a tear, the first she had shed in a long while, from her cheek.

A WM who had left to contact Minerva had returned at that time and moved over to the man leading the trial and knelt to inform him of the most recent finding, there was a pause in the questions and Bella took the moment to compose herself and hoped to all that was pure in the world that she wouldnt have to talk of Gideon any more. Hermione for her part had sat silently since her small outburst and wondered if Minerva had even remembered Yseult. She both hope she did and did not remember.

"It would appear this woman Yseult does in deed exist or at the very least did at some point in time. We are how ever unsure how to proceed from here. You were a double agent but you are also accused of many heinous acts." The man leading the trial explains.

"It is truth you tortured the Longbottoms?" The woman asks curiously more than anything else.

"No, Rabastan and Rodolphus did that, i was hiding Neville Longbottom." Bellatrix states clearly for the first time.

"You what?" The lead man seemed extremely confused by this.

"Look, when we were caught nearly twenty years ago i was still grieving, but i've always hated the Lestrange's, i've always hated Tom Riddle and i've always hated the whole blood purity crap, OK? I was forced into a marriage and i was able to prevent a pregnancy for a while but then Rod realised i was using contraceptives and made me stop. Gideon and i used to talk about running off and having our own family but when the twins were killed i sterilised myself. I would not have that pigs children but that didn't mean i was OK with killing kids. Neville was just a cute little baby, i wouldn't let them kill him so i hid him in the closet in his bedroom. He was so well behaved." Bellatrix explains truthful yet exasperated beyond belief. She had floored the gamot though.

"Bellatrix was in Azkaban for 14 years give or take. She committed dark arts, even used them against some people, but she served 14 years, if you cannot pardon her for her roles as a double agent then at least release her into my custody. We have been living together these past weeks anyway and get along well. She will not go back to Azkaban, ill kill her myself before allowing that to happen." Hermione states when the others seem to be deliberating on what to do with the woman.

"What?" The woman seems shocked by this as does the others.

"I wont go back to Azkaban. I cant stand it there. Its worse than hell on earth. I would sooner be executed." Bellatrix says seriously as answer to why Hermione had said what she said.

"That wont be necessary. We will release you into Miss Granger's custody, she will be required to make a monthly report stating your activities for that month and your state of mind and also telling us who you have been interacting with for that month. It will be a 12 month probationary period and if we deem you fit to return to society without supervision then you may be granted amnesty at such time." The lead man spoke clearly and Bellatrix had to take a moment to ponder this.

"Truly?" She asks a little surprised it was that easy.

"Truly. Dismissed." The man actually cracks a smile. Bellatrix's trial was apparently the last of the day as the rest of the Wizengamot also rise to leave.

"OK. We really need to talk about it before my niece gets here." Bellatrix says finally, she and Hermione were cooking in the cottage as Tonks was due for dinner within the hour.

"Oh my god. I'm pregnant Bella, and its changing everything!" Hermione huffs suddenly and scowls deeply.

"But whose is it?" Bellatrix asks gently.

"Someone i'm still hopelessly in love with but can never have." Hermione actually looked pained and Bellatrix found herself wrapping her arms around the little witch.

"Hermione..." The older woman coos gently and Hermione sniffles a little.

"It was Minerva. It was Min and it cant be more complicated." Hermione says unhappily.

"Whoa, wait. What?" Bellatrix looked genuinely surprised and wondered when the new Headmistress even found the time.

"In the past Belle! Yseult and Minerva had a sexual relationship, she was experimenting with gender transfiguration. I don't think either of us realised it would allow her to actually get me pregnant so we weren't exactly cautious about it." Hermione further explains to her friend.

"Oh... You're sure its Minerva's?" Bellatrix asks with a slightly wrinkled nose.

"I've never had sex with anyone else. Its why i wanted to talk to Tonks, she knows more about this transfiguration stuff. I don't think Minerva even knew it was possible. I guess i just want it confirmed or i need to seriously think about how else this could have happened." Hermione sighs softly.

Before Bellatrix could speak there's a knock at the door. Hermione gave a half defeated little smile and heads over to open the door for Nymphadora who also had little Teddy on her hip. Hermione smiles and lets the two come in even going so far as to taking Teddy off the woman's hip and transferring him to her own as she coos a hello to him. Tonks smiled and shut the door behind herself before taking the bottle of fire-whisky she had purchased over to her Aunt who accepted it happily.

"So you're a free woman." Tonks acknowledges looking at her Aunt as Hermione transfigures a seat so Teddy can sit at the table with them.

"It seems so. Im not sure its a good thing or a bad thing though." Bellatrix admits pouring herself and her niece a glass each of whisky.

"Why do you say that?" Nymphadora gladly accepts the whisky but in the back of her mind wonders why Hermione wasn't offered any. Where the two not as close as they seemed earlier?

"Because i have a rather horrible reputation. What kind of fool would give me a job? The Black family assets will run out, the ones i was entitled too, everything is Harry's." Bella reminds with a half shrug, for now she was doing fine and actually Hermione had looked after her well these last weeks.

"That's a valid point. Once you're off parole though i am sure it will go better. Having Hermione as your guardian right now if probably the best thing for you. One of the Golden Trio? That's admirable." Tonks offers seriously because she herself had hope for her Aunt, she had hope she might get a little family back after all she had lost in the last few years.

"She has a point Belle." Hermione agrees as she joins the two women in the kitchen.

"Yeah yeah. We will see. You've been looking after me so for now i don't even have any worries." Bellatrix gives a little smile to the woman who had just joined them.

"Whisky Hermione?" Tonks offers to the little witch who smiles and shakes her head.

"No thanks. Actually that might be a good starting point. I can trust you right? To keep things i say here to yourself?" Hermione asks gently as she didnt want to seem too rude but needed this information kept between themselves.

"Of course, 'Mione. I promise anything you tell me will remain with me." Tonks confirms with an understanding smile.

"Ok great. Because i need to know what you know of two women being able to get pregnant with the use of gender transfiguration." Hermione states seriously.

"Oh... well. Actually its a little more complicated. Its really hard for a woman using gender transfiguration to impregnate another woman. The sperm count in like a 0.0013%. Extremely small chance. But its happened about 6 times in written history." Tonks explains to the best of her ability and Hermione heaves a sigh.

"It was you wasn't it? Yseult Durant. You found a way to go back and change things." Tonks wasn't exactly asking, she was one of few intelligent enough to make this connection between the two women.

"Yes." Hermione states flatly and just waits for the anger she was sure that was coming her way.

"What was it like? The future you had to erase?" Tonks asks softly while Bellatrix was dishing up their meals, even making a small plate that Teddy could pick from.

"Bad. We lost the Battle of Hogwarts. Neville failed to kill Nagini who was harboring part of Tom's soul. Harry died both times and the moment Harry was killed the light side kind of just gave up. Half Blood and pure men who weren't on Voldemort's side were kept in cells and used for stud. Breeding stock, which was the same for women of the same blood status. You and Remus both died in the battle and Andy was unable to keep you and Teddy safe, they were both killed not long after the battle. Any muggle-born found was executed immediately. I left the country, went to Australia where my parents had been but they had been hunted down and killed." Hermione explains with a heavy sigh, it had not been a pleasant time.

"How were you able to go back and fix it?" Nymphadora asks sitting at the small table with her Aunt, friend and son.

"While i was in Australia i began researching as best i could. It lead me to an old native tribe. They remember the old magics, ancient blood magics. It took a long while to gain their trust enough, but finally along with an initiation ceremony they allowed me to create the Blood Opal. The Opal of Time. The practice hasn't occurred in a really long time, the blood sacrifices were taken way too literally along time ago and they stopped using those magics. Voldemort was spreading across the world though so they allowed it." Hermione takes a bite of the chicken and pasta dish she and Bella had made.

"But how did you decide what to change?" Tonks frowns slightly though she was impressed by the knowledge Hermione had seemed to pick up along the alternate timeline.

"I didn't. The opal takes me somewhere that it thinks i need to be. 1963 was the first stop. I wasn't sure why i was there at first but i befriended Bella almost straight away. I learned about her, that she hadn't always been a mudblood hating mad woman, something had made her that way. I also spent a lot of time with Minerva McGonagall. When time brought me back forward it stopped right as Neville was to kill Nagini, a well timed Protego. Then again i was brought to during the Duel between Harry and Tom, just in time to save Bella from Molly." Hermione explains softly. She hated that she couldn't have saved Remus.

"Saving Aunty Bellatrix meant you saved me, my son and my mother. Thank you. You were the one that kept going, kept searching for a way when apparently everyone else gave up." Tonks spoke sincerely and Hermione was definitely very surprised, she expected anger, demands to return and save Remus. She was humbled by the young mother beside her.

"So will you tell her?" Bellatrix was lounging on the sofa while Hermione was fidgeting across from her in the over stuffed armchair.

The night before had dissolved into lighter conversation. Tonks had invited the two women to have dinner with herself, her son and her mother soon. Bellatrix had scoffed a little as she was certain that Andy wouldn't be interested in that at all. Tonks had just told her Aunt to have a little faith in her powers of persuasion and left with her son and a laugh and Bella promised not to hold her breath simply so she would be there when Tonks had to apologise and retract the invitation.

"I can't Belle. Minerva doesn't know it was me she was sleeping with back then. She didn't know she could get me pregnant. She's going to hate me and it makes my heart ache." Hermione sighed heavily, she was due to lunch with Minerva in less than two hours.

"She might, but Hermione... Minerva was rendered sterile the first time there was a war with Tom. They had captured her and tortured her. The amount of things they did to her. She cant have her own children anymore. It was part of why she was so reluctant to marry Elphinstone. She may be really confused and even hurt. But she is going to want to know about this Hermione. She deserves it." Bellatrix explains slowly, she hadn't been present for the torture of Minerva, she had head about it. Seen it from Lucius and Rodolphus both, she had been busy contacting Albus to give him the location of the woman so she could be rescued.

Hermione heaves a big sigh, of course Bellatrix was right about this, why wouldn't she be. It pained Hermione to learn that Minerva was sterile though. Children had been a topic of conversation before the two women so many years ago. It seemed that Tom had inadvertently been immensely cruel to the two women Hermione felt closest too these days. Both had wanted children and neither could carry there own now.

"I'll tell her." Hermione says softly. This was just too big and too important to keep to herself. To keep from Minerva.

"Good girl. No matter what happens, you have to remember that this isnt entirely your fault OK? No matter how she reacts, i'll be here with you." Bellatrix tells her friend sincerely.

"You're too good for the life you had." Hermione responds seriously because it felt like a truth.

"And we both know it. Now go, buy some ginger newts to take with you, maybe some chocolates. Tell the truth." Bellatrix smiles gently at the young woman.

"Bye! I'll see you in a while." Hermione smiles and get her wand and purse and leaves, going to do exactly what Bella suggests.

"Hermione! Come on in." Minerva smiled opening her door to the young witch before her, they werent in the office but in Minerva's living quarters.

"Hello Headmistress. Nice day?" Hermione asks politely as she moves into the room and sets the tin of newts and chocolates on the coffee table that already had a tea service sitting on it.

"Can't complain. Better now i have pleasant company." The older woman smiled sincerely and moved over and set down on the couch before offering Hermione a cup of tea which was taken graciously. "What about you? You look like you haven't slept well."

"I haven't. Bellatrix had a surprise trial yesterday, shes been given a kind of parole under my guardianship. Monthly reports to the Ministry for the next twelve months Its better than her going back to Azkaban obviously. She would have found a way to end herself before going back." Hermione explains slowly to the woman before her between sips of the sweet hot beverage.

"Yes i could only imagine. I believe Albus helped Hagrid when he was freed from Azkaban, lessening the effects the memories had on the man." Minerva nods slowly, she had always rather enjoyed Bellatrix until she assumed that the woman had gone to the dark side. "That's not all that's been troubling you. You went to see a Mediwitch yesterday i recall, what was the verdict?"

"Ah yes... that's what's really been troubling me. Minerva... do you have an open mind?" Hermione sets her cup down on the coffee table and faces the woman before her.

"I would like to think so. What's happened?" Minerva sets her own cup down, giving Hermione her full attention even with concern written on her face.

"I... I want ask you first. Gender transfiguration. You're aware that a female to male gender transfiguration allows for the caster to get the female partner pregnant?" Hermione asks not entirely sure where to start but needing to know what Minerva knows first.

"I am aware of this though i wasn't until fairly recently. The chances of a pregnancy occurring that way is extremely low." Minerva frowns because she isnt sure what the relevance is.

"Ok... so hear me out. The Battle of Hogwarts is a loss and the Dark Lord wins, Harry and Neville are both killed along with countless others. That the men with appropriate blood status' were kept and forced to breed women similar status, those not loyal to the dark lord were kept as breeding stock. Muggle-borns were killed without hesitation. The blight that was Voldemort and his followers spread across most of Europe and began to branch out for the America's and Africa alike." Hermione says slowly watching the woman beside her.

"Then i'd be very thankful that this isn't our reality but i'm not sure i understand." Minerva was openly confused.

"What if it was? What if one the DA fled before capture or death, spent months searching for a way to fix things and found it. What if said person went back in time and changed a few small things, manage to save the crucial lives and turn the tides for the light side? Except she went back a long way and things were different then and more changed than she expected them to. She developed feelings for someone she shouldn't have and now back in this time there are complications." Hermione was beginning to ramble and sweat and freak out.

Minerva stared at the young woman before her for a long moment, she had watched Hermione grow from a scruffy haired 12 year old until now, she was going on 20, but she hadn't really taken the time to look at this mature young woman before her. Now that she was looking she was beginning to get even more confused and she couldn't help drawing parallels. Yet the thing that really confirmed these new suspicions was when she reached over and without asking, pushed Hermione's left sleeve up to reveal the ugly red scar there, almost exactly the same as it had been 34 years ago. Yseult Durant. Hermione Granger was Yseult. Minerva had sex multiple times with her favourite student.

Hermione waited patiently, letting Minerva figure it out and not pulling away when her sleeve was pulled up. Minerva's touches had always soothed the constant dull ache. How ever when the woman dropped her arm as if she was burned she cringed softly and her insides twisted horribly. The way that Minerva's expression shifted from confused to understanding to intense anger. Hermione was surprised that instead of being met with the magic end of Minervas wand the woman instead stood up and scowled at her.

"Get out." Minerva demanded quietly.

"Minerva-"

"Get out. Now." Minerva actually growled softly this time and Hermione's heart sank. Getting up the little witch moved to the door.

"I'm sorry, Min." Hermione whispered before the door was slammed in her face.

It had been almost a month since that day in Minerva's office. Hermione had gone home with tears streaming down her face and promptly cried herself hoarse all over Bella's shirt. When finally she had been able to form words she had let Bella know precisely what had happened before she began to cry all over again. She spent the following two days after that she had spent in bed suffering a mostly stress related migraine. The next week had been spent penning a letter only to end up scrunching it up and throwing it away to start over again. Hermione was, for lack of a better word, heartbroken.

Bellatrix had taken steps to reintegrating herself back into society, partly because she wanted to yet mostly because the only way to get Hermione out of the cottage at all was force her out and remain with her. It had been a hard month for both of them, Bellatrix wanted so badly to help her young friend, the woman who had saved her life and asked for nothing in return. Yet without betraying the girls confidence she couldn't do what she really wanted, which was shake some sense into Minerva McGonagall.

Instead, twice weekly dinners with Tonks and Teddy, eventually with Andromeda as well, seemed to be the only away to get Hermione to act at least a little bit normal. Of course Nymphadora knew about the whole fiasco but Andromeda didn't. Hermione would put a front which was both a relief and a pain to Bella and Tonks to see but they would take what they could get. Hermione had bumped into Minerva once at the Three Broomsticks and Bellatrix could do little more than watch as Minerva noticed the little witch, turned and walked away with a look of disgust on her face. Bellatrix hated that defeated look when she knew Hermione was so strong.

"Hermione... can we go to muggle London?" Bellatrix asks slowly one Wednesday lunch time.

Hermione was sat at the kitchen table reading a book. She had been hoping to return to Hogwarts in September but now not only was she pregnant but the Headmistress couldn't even look at her so she had decided she was simply best off studying and taking her test at the Ministry next month. Bellatrix had watched her, no longer trying to write letters but resigned to the fact Minerva would never speak to her again, with her head stuck in a different book each day for the last three. Bellatrix just wanted a way for Hermione to let it all out and stop ignoring it.

"What for?" Hermione asks frowning slightly as she looks up from the book she had been reading for the second time. This time taking notes.

"Lunch. I want to eat somewhere where people arent glaring at me constantly." Bellatrix suggests seriously.

"What did you have in mind?" Hermione asks getting up without argument because really she needed a break from this world.

"McDonalds?" Bellatrix really wasn't that well versed on Muggle delicacies or restaurants really but she had head of those golden arches.

"Well, just so happens that id love to get some extremely fatty and disgustingly delicious food." Hermione smiled, it was small but genuine.

"Perfect." Bellatrix beamed.

The two got ready in companionable silence before leaving the cottage and moving for one of the villages apparation points. Hand in hand Hermione took them to Diagon where they then had to make their way to the barrier between magical and muggle London. Once on the muggle side they decided to walk to the closest McDonalds which really wasn't that far away from the Leaky Cauldron. It was well away from prying eyes though and that was all both witches really needed.

"I wholly hate that i'm 47 and only now trying this stuff. I can practically feel myself gaining weight and yet i dont even care. This is bloody delicious." Bellatrix states seriously, before her she had a big mac, a chocolate shake and a medium fry and had just taken a bite of both burger and fry before washing it down with chocolatey beverage. Hermione laughed.

"Its one of my favourite muggle things that i missed while in the wizarding world i'll be honest. When we were on the run hunting for the Horcrux' this is probably the food i craved the most." Hermione explains with a now full and genuine smile. The little witch herself has a small fry and chocolate shake as well as a double quarter pounder that she was determined to finish.

"I can see why. This is way better than half the crap we have." Bellatrix smirks watching her friend.

"Definitely. Seems the tiny Scot is also fond of the greasy food, i'd been feeling awful until we walked in here." Hermione's smile was softer now a little sad but not nearly as depressing as it had been the last little while.

"You've not been feeling the morning sickness as much lately though right?" Bellatrix queries because obviously she lived with Hermione and hadn't noticed nearly as much vomiting as she had a few weeks prior.

"No i've been feeling much better lately, its kind of been really sporadic for the last couple weeks." Hermione explains smiling softly.

"I... i could talk with her." Bellatrix offers gently but Hermione shakes her head.

"No. Bella i don't... i don't blame her or anything. I betrayed her. I knew exactly who she was and slept with her anyway." Hermione sighs softly.

"To be honest, i really wanted to be mad at her. Furious even. The first letter i scrunched up was full of accusation and blame but. She didn't know, i knew. I used her." Hermione sighs softly and shakes her head.

"My little kitten will know who her parents are one day. I just don't know when that will be." Hermione adds when Bellatrix can only offer a sympathetic smile.

"She will come around." Bellatrix as hoping to inspire some hope in her young friend but she understood too. Hermione did know but Minerva needed to know as well. The past is exactly where it is, in the past. They just had to wait until Minerva figured it out.

Two days after their fast food lunch date Bellatrix was woken by a loud knocking on the door. Hermione had been sleeping later lately and Bellatrix chalked that up to the young woman more often than not being awake until the early hours crying softly. Bellatrix understood, she had been in love once, she had cried herself to sleep silently many a night after Gideon's death. She didn't judge. She did find it annoying that it was barely 7 in the morning and someone was there banging on their door.

Ginny Weasley looked entirely shocked when Bellatrix opened the door. Its not that she didn't know Bellatrix was living there, that wasn't the surprising part. The surprising part was that Bellatrix was obviously sleepy but also dressed in a tee shirt that was about 3 sizes too big for her and a pair of silky boxer shorts with ginger cats all over them. The boxers had been a gift from Hermione.

"It's too early, can you keep it down a little." Bellatrix grumbled even as she stepped back to let the young witch in. Ginny stepped in still with her look of surprise.

Bellatrix just sighed and made her way to the kitchen, she desperately needed a coffee and had a feeling that if Hermione smelt it brewing she would wake and want one as well. With a polite inquiry Bellatrix finally got Ginny to speak if only to affirm she would indeed take a cup of coffee. Of course Molly would probably strangle her daughter for drinking anything Bellatrix gave her but Ginny wasn't so judgemental at her mother was. It was one of the things that helped Hermione get so close to the young witch, enough for the two to become good friends.

"Where is Hermione?" Ginny asks finally taking the offered seat at the small kitchen table.

"Still asleep. She hasn't been sleeping well so shes been sleeping in a little longer than normal." Bellatrix explains waking up a little more as she makes the three cups of coffee, one piping hot and two sippable.

"Is she alright?" Ginny was full of concern and it warmed Bellatrix that even though the little ginger girl hadn't been around much she was still worried for her friend.

"Somewhat. She will be in time." Bella sighs softly knowing Hermione didn't want people to know too much, of course eventually it would become impossible to hide her pregnancy but even then she didn't want people to know anything other than the obvious.

"She's not going back to school." Ginny pouts softly. Of the people who had wrote her, Ginny was the first.

"No. She wanted too, she just no longer finds it feasible." Bellatrix offers without giving anything away.

"She isnt sick is she?" Ginny worries at the inside of her cheek.

"No. I'm not sick. It's good to see you, Gin." Hermione croaks from the living room, she'd just come from her room as Ginny voiced her latest concern.

"Mione! I'm sorry i havent been sooner. With... with what happened to Fred and all? Its just..." Ginny trailed off when Hermione simply move over and hugged her friend.

"It's fine, Ginny. I... i'm sorry i wasnt at the funeral." Ginny just shakes her head.

"It's ok. Mum would have flipped her lid, she loves you but the whole Bellatrix and Gideon thing? She cant get around that just yet." Ginny says apologetically to her friend before looking at the woman mildly sipping her coffee.

"I made my bed. Now i have to lie in it. I dont regret defending Bella." Hermione shrugs slightly and moves to grab her cup of coffee.

"How come you're here so early anyway?" Hermione asks to change the subject.

"I heard along the grape vine that you're not returning next year like you said you were going to. Why?" Ginny asks sitting back in her seat as she had stood to hug Hermione.

"I'm pregnant." Hermione states matter of factly, it wasnt that she was ashamed of being pregnant. She was ashamed, though, of how her pregnancy came to be.

"You... what?" Ginny was confused.

It was well known that while in school Hermione had been extremely driven in regards to her education, she hadn't had much time for boys, or more so she didn't actually care to make time for boys. It was also known how ever that Hermione had been on the run for several months with Ron and Harry. She knew for sure that it wasn't Ron's child because he would have said something about sleeping with Hermione before now. Just as he had after sleeping with Romilda shortly after Fred funeral. Yet, with the way Harry had been since the Battle had been won she also doubted that it was Harry's.

"I'm pregnant. There's a bun in the oven. Up the duff." Hermione iterates almost playfully.

"Merlin's bullocks, Mione, i get it. But i mean... whose is it?" Ginny was shocked for sure.

"Actually. I hope you'll understand Gin, i don't want people finding out i'm pregnant until its obvious. So i don't think it's necessary to say who got me pregnant." Hermione explains seriously.

"Well... i mean i'd love to know but i guess i can settle for knowing if it... was it consenting?" It actually warmed Hermione, that this was most important to Ginny.

"Yeah Gin, i promise i enjoyed every moment of it." Hermione wasn't joking either, she had, she couldn't regret the act, just the consequences.

"Well... good. We should have dinner some time." Gin suggests after a long moment.

"You're welcome come tonight if you like. Tonks, Teddy and Andy have been coming to dinner at least once a week. Tonights the night." Bellatrix speaks up again finally. She had lazily been watching the interaction between the two friends.

"Could i bring Fleur? She holds no ill will and shes been desperate for some time with people she knows. Bills been away a lot with the bank, helping repair Gringotts and all of that stuff." Ginny asks seriously.

"The more the merrier." Bellatrix says sincerely because she knew Hermione could use more friendly distraction.

"No! Seriously?" Fleur and Ginny were beside themselves with amusement as Andy regaled the with tales of a very young Bellatrix.

Tonks was chuckling between keeping food in Teddy' mouth and Andy and Bellatrix were both grinning, highly amused. Hermione, how ever, was simply sitting with a slow smile on her face and little else. She looked tired, she looked sad, and though only Bella and Tonks knew the it as fact, she also looked broken. No one knew except for three people in all the world at this point, that Hermione Granger was the reason they won the Battle of Hogwarts. She was smart and kind and so courageous that it was almost hard to fathom, and yet she was so broken.

In fact Hermione was so down trodden that the moment her companions, whose company she really had enjoyed even if she hadn't exactly shown it, had left she wilted visibly and mumbled something about a shower and bed. Bellatrix watched the witch disappear into the bathroom with a soft sigh and then moved to the writing desk in the den. Taking ink and quill to parchment she decides to reach out to Minerva. She didn't want to push the pair, but it was clear that if Hermione as feeling this way and Minerva truly reacted the way she had then it was fair chance Minerva was hurting just as much.

With the letter sent along with the owl Hermione had bought the two a couple of weeks earlier, Horatio, a barn owl, the older witch then set the dishes to cleaning themselves before calling a goodnight to Hermione and going to be herself. She slept restlessly for the first half of the night, every night, but come the second half she was sound asleep. Waking up only the next morning because of the incessant tapping at her window from Horatio. Getting up she collects the letter from his beak and replaces it with a treat she had set on a desk in her room.

Bellatrix read the affirmative letter and actually smiles despite the early hour. She then proceeded to get dressed as the Headmistress requested breakfast this morning at the Hogs Head. Once dressed the witch penned a small letter to Hermione in case for some reason the little witch should wake up. Even before her morning coffee Bellatrix made her way to the Hogs Head to have breakfast with Minerva.

When Bellatrix got to the Hogs Head she had to wonder if Minerva had written her from the inn itself because it had taken Bella less than an hour to get to the inn and still there sat Minerva sipping on a steaming cup of coffee with one of Aberforth's mediocre menus before her. Making her way over Bella stopped only long enough to ask Aberforth for a coffee of her own and then went to the table. Minerva gave a slightly strained smile to the woman before her, a past student she had been proud of despite how rowdy she could be.

"Bellatrix, how is everything?" Minerva inquires curiously and politely.

"I cant really complain. Not exactly anyway." Bellatrix smiles more warmly.

"What about you though? Been busy with the school i imagine." Bellatrix furthers the conversation.

"Quite. Everything is in working order for next week, most of the paper work is caught up with and all the students are aware of their lists and what not." Minerva says a little flippantly.

"Fair enough. How are you though. I only ask because well.. the whole Hermione is Yseult thing. Ya know... Mione said you kind of reacted really strongly to that tid bit so i thought i had best see how you're doing since you probably didnt really have anyone else to talk to." Bellatrix decided to cut the chase here.

Minerva stared at the woman for a long time, her expression going from a frown to a scowl to something of defeat only to become a frown yet again. Bellatrix was expecting a dressing down of some sort, to be told to stay out of other peoples business maybe but Minerva simply remained silent for a short while. When she finally did speak her tone as hard but she didn't seem angry.

"That's all well and good Bellatrix except i recall how close you and Durant had been and i know how close you and she are now and i don't feel comfortable telling you things you are likely to go back and tell to Granger." Minerva explains flatly.

"Well i guess that's fair. Can we talk about the fact that like... she saved all of us?" Bellatrix mumbles softly.

"The only other person that knows is Nymphadora and its not like Mione wants the credit or anything... but as far as the original time line is concerned? Hermione Granger saved us, she won this war." Bellatrix honestly had trouble with this. She wanted to be able to show her gratitude some how.

Of course the Golden Trio were credited mostly with stopping the war after it got around that they had hunted down the depraved mans soul shards but still Harry Potter, the man who cast that final spell, was credited most, more than his faithful best friend and the brains of the entire operation. Yet none of that would have even happened had Hermione not found a way to make it so.

"It is incredibly impressive i will admit. How ever, i'm not sure how she found a way to go back." Minerva says thoughtfully.

"The Opal of Time. A blood Opal. She found a traditional tribe of Australian aboriginals. They seem to know very little of modern magics but retain knowledge of older blood magics, particularly the Opal of Time. It took her months to find the tribe and months after that just to gain their trust enough for them to help her perform the magics required to make the opal." Bellatrix scratches her head a little because it was beyond her how Hermione even figured it out.

"It is quite incredible but what more could we expect? The girl is brilliant." Minerva didn't sound upset by the conversation topic, they weren't talking about feelings but about the young woman's ability to solve problems and her selflessness.

"Yeah she is. She isnt much fun at the moment though. She's studying to sit her NEWTS at the Ministry next Monday." Bellatrix wrinkles her nose a little.

"She will do fine." Was all Minerva said to that but Bellatrix took note of the way the woman seemed to stiffen up again.

"Next year if you need a Defence Against the Dark Arts professor or a Potions Professor i'll likely be looking for work." Bellatrix offers playfully.

"Are you still any good on a broom?" Minerva queries and it startles Bellatrix how serious the woman looks.

"Uh, yeah fairly good." Bellatrix wanted it to be a statement but it came out a question.

"Good, i'll possibly hire you next year. Rolanda told me she is willing to work this year but next she wants to retire, something about being too young for this or something." Minerva shakes her head but smiles good naturedly because Rolanda was one of her oldest friends.

"Perfect!" Bellatrix grins at the prospect of this, she had adored her time at Hogwarts growing up.

The following Monday Hermione had been out of bed early and dressed and ready leaving the cottage with a steaming cup of coffee on the counter for Bellatrix who had yet to rise. It was fairly standard for the friends to make their absent companion a coffee in the morning, a stasis spell kept it hot. At the Ministry, Hermione managed to find her way to the test room easily enough, set down with ink an quill and got into her exams. She was so focused that little else mattered to her until after her exams were done.

When Hermione was done she made out way out and along to the Leaky Cauldron, it was just after lunch time and she wanted to sit and have a meal before going back home. She adored Bellatrix just fine and didn't mind her company but she knew she had been moping around something horrible lately and knew it had to be annoying her friend. Hermione was either studying or moping lately and she wanted to collect herself before going home in the hopes she could entertain her friend.

"Have you heard?" Was the first snippet of conversation that Hermione had caught onto after sitting down at a table by herself.

"Heard what?" It was two older gentlemen it seemed.

"Minerva McGonagall, last night she got drunk at the Hogshead and went in the back with Aberforth for a while. Apparently they weren't as quiet as they had thought they were." The first man spoke and Hermione stiffened.

"Apparently shes been doing that a lot lately. The last couple of months at least." The second man informs and Hermiones stomach lurches a little. This is how Minerva dealt with being slighted? Well if Hermione had wondered how Minerva felt about her before she sure knows now.

Without finishing her meal Hermione tossed some galleons on the table and left the Cauldron, she fully intended to go home and weep a little except when she moved out of the establishment she literally bumped into Harry, Ron, Molly and Arthur apparently in the alley for a late lunch after having dropped Ginny off for the train. Hermione had gotten to spend a couple of nights with Ginny, have dinner with her and Bellatrix, the young witch lingering for a while after dinner to talk with the two women.

"Oh, Hello." Hermione says smiling politely at the group. Ron seemed to be proudly sporting a dark love bite on his neck and Hermione was almost certain he turned just right so she could see it.

"What are you doing here?" Ron asks in his usually rude way.

"I was having lunch." Hermione frowns at the boy she had at one time harboured feelings for.

"With that bitch Lestrange no doubt." Molly snips with a solid amount of venom in her voice.

"No by myself. You should give her a chance you know, shes not that bad." Hermione frowns deeply at the woman before her.

"She claims to be good and everyone forgets all the things she did? Merlins saggy nut, Mione, she tortured you." Ron huffs grumpily.

"She had no choice but to do that and i've forgiven her." Hermione sighs because she didn't know what else to have expected.

"She killed Sirius." Harry frowns deeply.

"She stunned Sirius. She didnt mean for the man to have fallen through the veil." Hermione counters softly.

"What does she have over you Hermione? Some sort of... Stock Syndrome?" Arthur frowns at the young woman.

"Stockholm, Mr. Weasley, and she doesn't have anything over me. I just gave her a chance. See you around." Hermione mumbled the last, calling it quits on the conversation, and jams her hands in her pockets before simply walking away.

Hermione was struggling, with everything. Her eyes blurred with tears as she made her way, head down, down Diagon Alley. Trying to compose herself she knew she needed to turn her mind away from things, her lack of friends was ok except for the fact that her best friends cast her aside so easily. Minerva wanted nothing to do with her and was apparently even filling some of her evening with random men. It cut incredibly deeply and Hermione was feeling shockingly raw in that moment. So raw she almost broke when she bumped into the next set of people in her way. The Malfoys.

"Circe's tit. Not you too." Hermione's voice actually broke when she looked up at mother and son.

"Granger?" Draco actually sounded somewhere between concerned and affronted at her tone.

"I can't deal with this right now." It was getting harder and harder to stem the tears welling in her eyes and she hated that she was feeling like this. Was this hormones or just her emotional range reaching its breaking point.

"Hermione? You need to take a breath." Narcissa was beginning to look worried.

Hermione didn't understand. Take a breath? Why would the Malfoys be looking so concerned? These thoughts were going through her head though really not for long before everything was fading. She was vaguely aware that she was falling and then nothing. Hermione simply slumped, unconscious, into Draco Malfoy's arms and he gently lifted her and moved her to the nearest bench as Narcissa moved into Gringots, she had just come from there and had bumped into Nymphadora on her way out.

Hermione was still unconscious when both witches returned but, Draco noted thankfully, she was now breathing deeply and slowly. Tonks checked her over vaguely before sending a patronus to Bellatrix. It would be several minutes before the woman got there but when she did the gathering crowd parted to let her through. Most of the crowd watched in apparent awe as Bellatrix Black knelt down and gently spoke with Hermione Granger attempting to rouse the young woman. An obnoxiously blonde woman discreetly snapped a photo of the two women before leaving to write an article the Minister would surely love.

When Hermione came too she was back in her own home in her own room and comfortably wrapped up in her own blankets. She was only vaguely aware of what had happened in Diagon, she remembered what had occurred at the Leaky Cauldron, inside and out, and she remembered bumping into Draco and Narcissa as well but after that she couldn't really remember anything. She was half tempted to get up and go and find out what had happened but she didn't want to face anything right now.

Instead Hermione curled up on her side and wrapped her arms around her middle, needing a comfort that she didnt have and also had no desire to look for. Hermione hated learning that Minerva had been sleeping around, hated it for her own selfish reasons. Part of her was almost impressed, not because Minerva was in her late 60's at this point but because the woman was so standoffish usually. Though perhaps that was what she needed the alcohol for. Impressed or not though, it made Hermione ache in the worst kind of way.

"Hey." Hermione was roused from her depressing train of thought by Nymphadora stepping quietly into her room.

"Hey." Hermione soke softly, maybe too soft but it was quiet enough that Tonks heard clearly.

"How are you feeling?" Tonks asks kneeling beside the bed.

"Physically? Fine. Emotionally? Shattered. What happened?" Hermione inquires looking from the door behind Tonks to the woman herself.

"From what Narcissa said you kind of ran into her and Draco, you seemed kind of out of sorts and clearly upset. You said something like 'not you too' but you wasn't breathing and ended up passing out. Draco set you on a bench and Cissy came and got me from the bank. I sent for Bellatrix and when she got there the four of us bought you back here. You've been out of it for about two hours. Narcissa and Bellatrix are making dinner right now and Draco is playing with Teddy." Tonks explains gently.

"Sounds like a happy family." Hermione tried and failed at not choking up.

"Hermione... it's really hard right now i know. But it's going to get better. You should just tell her. I know she told you to leave but what have you got to lose? Pull up your big girl knickers and go tell her how you feel. Just... you know... in the morning or something." Tonks says softly though her smile became playful.

"School has started, it will have to wait." Hermione says after a moment but she had to admit, it was a good idea. She had nothing to lose now.

After a little cajoling Hermione was up and dressed for dinner and shockingly she was having dinner with Draco Malfoy and his mother. It turned out that Lucius had been incarcerated shortly after the battle but Mother and Son had been pardoned due to circumstances. Much like Hermione and Bellatrix, Draco and Narcissa kept out of public for obvious reasons, too much past stigma. Despite their past though Hermione and Draco got along rather well and all conversation was left far away from Minerva McGonagall.

What Hermione didn't know until later how ever, was that Rita Skeeter had been allowed to start writing again. She found out the following morning when there was a picture of herself passed out and Bellatrix was leaning over her tenderly brushing the hair from her face. There was a big article of how it seemed Hermione would be marrying into the Black family unless of course she was sleeping with Draco who was also pictured. Speculation on whether the Black/Malfoy family hadn't drugged her just to make a spectacle and then look like the heroes.

"They're going to lose their minds when they find out you're pregnant." Bellatrix comments completely unphased, she wasn't attracted to women but that didn't mean she was a phobe either.

"I really need to tell Minerva before anyone actually finds out. I'm not sure i need her to think i'm pregnant with anyone but her. I mean on top of everything else. She probably already thinks im some sort of scarlet woman." Hermione huffs and throws the paper in the fireplace before setting it alight with her wand.

"You might be right." Bellatrix shrugs again.

"But i know you're only a slut for transfiguration professors." Bellatrix teases and Hermione cant help but chuckle.