"Will she wake up again, Professor?"
"If -" Professor Dumbledore ripped open a candy wrapper of his favorite treats: "If she doesn't wake up by tomorrow, we'll have to take her to St. Mungo's."
Hermione's entire body trembled.
She stood there again, in the Headmaster's office, wrapped in her heavy robes.
Numerous portraits watched her.
"But she will -"
"I noticed that you've been spending a lot of time with Ms. Black since you arrived. I don't know about the two of you, but you must be concerned about her."
Hermione pulled up a corner of her mouth, "Yes, she's a good - friend."
She ran a hand through her shaggy hair.
Friend.

She would never have thought this of Bellatrix Lestrange.

"That's nice." Professor Dumbledore was once again wearing one of his very special robes.
Today this one was pink.
"What about Rodolphus?"
The Headmaster smiled kindly.
"Mr. Lestrange got his punishment. First of all, he is under dungeon arrest."
He took a short breath: "Ms. Selwyn, Mrs. Black will be coming to the Hospital Wing later -'
Hermione nodded dazedly.
"You may go now."
"Thank you, Professor,"
She let the heavy door slam shut and hurried through the long corridors of Hogwarts.
Straight to the hospital wing.

"Who would you like to see?" asked a young woman in a white robe, casually piling bandages with her wand.
"Black, Bellatrix."
Hermione approached the back bed.
There she lay.
Securely wrapped in blankets, around the head a tight bandage.
Bellatrix's body was covered in bruises.

She leaned over the sleeping girl.
Hermione pulled back the covers and grabbed her hand.
The brown-haired witch slowly ran her fingertips down the face of the born Black.
"Hey, I spoke to Professor Dumbledore. Rodolphus is grounded, you are safe."
"Am I in heaven?" Her dark eyes sparkled.
"You and Heaven?" Hermione had to smirk.
"You're allowed to dream, aren't you, little doll?"
"You've got something." Hermione had to smirk and wiped the blood from her face.
"He – he'll never touch you again, hurt you."
Bellatrix painted the hospital wing with her weary eyes.
"Where are Cissy and Andy?"
Hermione squeezed her hand tighter.
"They – they were here a few hours ago. They both had to go to class, but your mother will come by later."

The black-haired witch sat up in pain.
"Why are you here?"
Contrary to what she thought, Bella took her hand as well and slowly traced the back of Hermione's hand with her delicate fingertips.
"I couldn't – not without you. I've been waiting here for three days and three nights. As long as the healers let me."
Bellatrix shivered and felt her headband.
"I must have slept a long time."
The brown-haired student nodded.
"I - I missed your voice."

Hermione leaned toward her friend.
She could feel her warm breath smelling of roses.
Hermione brushed a lock of hair off Bella's face.
"And I missed combing your hair." She had to smile.
"Miss Black, your mother has just arrived." Professor McGonagall spoke through a crack in the door.
A tall woman squeezed through the gate.
Madame Black had dark hair, she was wearing a close-fitting purple coat, ran and fell into her daughter's arms.
The woman buried her face in her child's thick curls.
"It's fine, my darling. You are – you are safe."
After what seemed like endless minutes, the two women broke apart and Bellatrix turned on her side.

"Mother, may I introduce you, Hermione Selwyn. She is a new student."
Druella Black smiled and offered the student her hand.
"Delighted, I am so grateful for what you have done for my daughter."
"I - what?" asked Hermione.
"You didn't leave her alone - when - when this - this -"
But Madame Black stopped when her daughter rolled her eyes.
"How is father?"
"For once you're worse off than him." Druella's face twisted into a fake smile.
Hermione now knew how it felt when she saw Rodolphus and Bellatrix.
It wasn't disgusting.
No, it was jealousy.
She was jealous of Rodolphus.

A little later the three Black sisters and Hermione sat on the bed of the eldest and drew on posters with colored wax crayons.
Narcissa was scribbling a big green one showing the two friends' faces.
-Choose Black and Selwyn-
or
- Women to power! - that's what Andromeda wrote on a poster at the time.
"Do you think you will win?" Cissy folded the paper.
"We can arouse pity. Evil Lestrange and poor, poor Black." Bella struck a dramatic pose.