2023 Opinion
I used to love this ship, when I was really young. Probably because I'm lesbian and thought Bellatrix was hot (which she is). I don't love it anymore.

Bellatrix is Pureblood fanatic and death eater who abused Hermione for her blood status. She literally carved the word 'mud-blood' into Hermione's skin. Y'know, literal torture. She's a blood supremacist and abuser who's much older than Hermione. It's so gross. There's no way that I'd ever ship them together in the canon timeline.

That being said, I like to keep an open mind and I can see why others ship it: Bellatrix is hot, and their dynamic has potential for enemies-to-lovers tropes and a very dark romance. Or, conversely, the 'Hermione turned evil' trope which is not my thing but probably interesting.

I'd give it a go in a time travel AU, I suppose, since there'd be no tortue or death-eater stuff. It'd be very interesting to see how Bellatrix became the monster that she is, and to explore whether Hermione could change/save her/prevent her from becoming awful or not (not that it should be her responsibility). I've always imagined young Bellatrix as a little mad, but mostly a sad and tortured girl. I don't know. Even then, though, I don't think their personalities could gel: besides their ambition and love for study, they are as different as different can get.

Rating: 2/10.