Monday came around rather quickly and Hermione was rather excited to spend the entire day with Bellatrix, they had offered an invitation to Narcissa who had to decline despite her sheer disappointment, she'd insisted they all go out for a girls weekend this Saturday though, despite Bella's objection.

"Ready?" Hermione calls, knocking the woman's door. Bellatrix opened it and offered a smile.
"I suppose." She grabs her cloak.
She wore a knee length black dress with a round cut neck and a silver chain with a little stone resting just above her breasts. Her hair was loose, flowing freely down her back and on her feet a pair of black heels.
"You look nice." Hermione smiles, the woman stopped dead in her tracks staring at the girl.
"What?" Hermione swallows, she'd not seen anyone reacted like that to a compliment before.
"Ah, I...I said you look nice." Hermione repeated. The woman cleared her throat, the compliment startled her, completely knocked her off guard and she could feel the heat rushing to her cheeks. She mumbled something as she hurriedly walked past Hermione, who hid a smile, she had indeed caught the woman blushing.

The pair walked side by side as they left the house, Narcissa was having another meeting with her friends and wasn't all that impressed she didn't get to go shopping with them. Hermione glanced at the woman and felt slightly underdressed compared to her...then again they were only going to the book shop, she always wore jeans and a jumper why is she over thinking this?

The pair entered Hogsmeade and Bellatrix already began regretting her decision, eyes turned in her direction. She inched closer to Hermione who unexpectedly linked her arm with Bella's and dragged the woman along.
"Oh Bellatrix look!" Hermione instantly left the woman go and made her way to the cat at the pet store, Bellatrix followed silently behind, an amused expression on her face.
"It's a cat Hermione."
"But look at that face." Hermione gushed, Bellatrix didn't quite understand what the girl saw, it was simply the most ugliest cat the woman had ever seen. Not to mention it's missing one eye and his facial expression just looked blank.
"Isn't it just the sweetest."
"I'm not going to lie dove, that's got to be the ugliest cat I've seen." Bellatrix came to stand beside her.
"Don't say that, you'll hurt its feelings."Hermione frowns at the woman.
"Just ignore her, she doesn't really mean it." Hermione said, nodding in the direction of the witch. The cat just began heaving in response.
"See, that's what he thought of you." Hermione responds earning a chuckle from the witch.
"Come on you, or we'll be here all day."
Hermione said her goodbye to the cat before linking her arm with Bella's once more.

Hermione made her way to the book shop happily dragging Bella along. Bellatrix didn't really speak much, she took in their surroundings and the people around them. A few stared, some whispered as they went by. Some women even hid their children, and that hurt. She wasn't a monster
"Hey, you okay?" Hermione stops, eyeing the silent woman over.
"What?" Bella looks to the witch snapping out of her thoughts.
"I asked if you were okay" Hermione repeats unthinkingly tucking a strand of loose curl behind her ear.
"I erm...mhm" Bella swallows, this witch really had no idea what personal space was, she never once hesitated she just went for it.
No one really dared do that to Bellatrix, most people were weary to even talk to her.
"Just ignore them, they're probably just jealous of how pretty you are." The little creature on her shoulder chitters causing Bella to jump.
She'd forgotten he was there.
The woman clears her throat,
"We better get going, that shop will be shut at this rate." She said, turning her attention to the floor. Hermione however, noticed the tint of pink that found its way to her cheeks yet again, it made her wonder about a lot of things. One thing she noticed was the woman couldn't take a compliment.

The pair began their journey once more and eventually they arrived at their destination.
"After you." Hermione smiles opening the door.
"Thank you." Bella offers a smile as she entered the shop, the smell of old books hit her instantly and memories of her time here as a child came flooding back.
The shop was filled with books of all sorts from romance novels to horrors, from fiction to scientific...any book you could ever need.

Hermione came beside the witch and watched her as she took it all in. A genuine smile made its way to the red lips and Hermione found herself smiling at the woman. The way her face completely lit up as soon as she walked through the door. Both women were broken from their trance by a cough.
"Nice to see you back mademoiselle Noir, haven't seen you in a while." The old man smiled, hints of his French accent still remained even after soo many years. He hadn't changed since Bellatrix was a child, still the same grey beard and moustache, his hair still thin and white. He hadn't aged at all, of course that was not true, he was old when Bella was a child but the woman was glad he was still going, he was a sweet old man who often helped her in her search for books, no matter what the hour.
"C'est bon d'être de retour Mr.
Abreo, vous êtes toujours aussi beau que
dans mes souvenirs" Bella smiles, the man
chuckles and rolls his eyes
"Vous êtes trop gentille." He responds.

Hermione had no idea what they were saying, but she found herself fascinated by the woman speaking French.
"I believe you have some books for this one." She smiles, her eyes drifting to Hermione who instantly snapped out of her thoughts when she noticed Bella's eyes on her.
"Oui oui, I'll go get them." He shuffles away into the back.
"I didn't know you could speak French."
"Well There's a lot you don't know about me Dove" Bella smiles.
"I think I'd like to...get to know you more." Hermione said without really thinking.
Bella widens her eyes, not really expecting the girl to say that. No one ever wants to 'get to know' Bellatrix. No one.

"Here we go." The man caught Bella's attention, and she instantly made her way over to the counter finding herself unable to look at the girl.
Hermione made her way over and stopped by the woman.
"Did you want to go look at some books? I'll come find you when I'm done here." Hermione looks at the woman.
"Right." She nods then disappeared into the many shelves.
The older man arches his brow, and amused expression took over his face.
"Might I offer some advice?" He said catching the girls attention.
"I've known mademoiselle for many years, people they lie about her, she like a lamb." He smiles, taking the girls money.
"She's fierce when need be, but she's a lamb." He shrugs at the last part.
Hermione nods and smiles not really knowing how to respond to that, or what he even meant.
"Thank you." She held the books to her chest before scurrying off to find the woman, frowning at the weirdness of that conversation.
She's a lamb? The hell does that mean?

"Sorted your books then." The woman made no effort to look at her, instead she continued flicking through the pages of an old looking book she held.
"Yes, all sorted. Found anything you want?" She came to stand beside the woman, glancing over her shoulder at the book.
"What have I told you about hovering?"
"Sorry." Hermione took a step back, she noticed a few of the books in this section were Greek myths.
"It's the story of Orpheus and Eurydice...I remember reading this as a child." Bella spoke, running her hand across the cover.
"I don't think I've heard of that one." Hermione said, Bella turned her attention to the brunette.
"You wanted to know something about me, I have a soft spot for Greek tragedy's. That's not something I go around telling everyone." The woman picked up another book. Hermione smiles, "I won't tell a soul."
"Good. Now tell me something about you."
Hermione frowned, "what?"
"That's how it works is it not?" Bella looks to the witch.
"I tell you something about myself and in return you tell me something about yourself."
"I uh well okay. What do you want to know?" Hermione shrugged, "I mean there's not really much to know I'm fairly an open book."

Bella frowns at the girl, "Pish posh Granger, now tell me something." Bella turns fully to face the girl.
"Alright..." Hermione thought for a moment, she didn't really know what to say, there was nothing at all fascinating about herself.
"I like running." She shrugs. Bella stared at her for a moment before chuckling.
"What?" Hermione frowns clearly she'd missed something.
"Nothing I just wasn't expecting that." Bella smiles returning her attention back to the shelves.
"What was you excepting?"
"I don't know, something you don't like other people knowing...something you keep to yourself."
"Well not many people know I like running."
"I didn't picture you as a runner I'll be honest." Bella took another book of the shelf.
"It's nice, keeps you fit too...maybe you could join me one time."
Bella turns and arches her brow.
"I didn't mean it like you're fat or anything, because you're definitely not I just meant the company would be nice."
"I gathered you weren't calling me fat, that would of been rather rude." She pulls another book from the shelf.
"I don't like running, it's never been something that caught my attention. I don't like flying either..."
"Seriously?" Hermione couldn't quite believe that.
"Seriously." She looked at the brunette, then to the books in her hand.
"I'm finished, if you'll excuse me I'd like to go and pay." Hermione moved aside for the woman to pass then tagged along behind her. Bellatrix placed the books on the counter whilst the old bookkeeper added them up. Once she payed for them she said her goodbye then went to take her books only to find they had gone. She furrowed her brows then noticed Hermione carrying them and heading towards the door.
Bella quickly caught up and opened the door.
"Oh thanks, I could of got it though." She heads through the door.
"I can carry my books Hermione."
"It doesn't matter, I've got them now. Besides they're not that heavy." The witch shrugs, Bella came to stand beside her.
"Are you sure? They certainly look fairly heavy." Bella arches her brow suspiciously.
"No they're fine honestly." Hermione smiles.