#bellatrixblacklestrange

The conversation flowed back and forth between the two women like they were old friends catching up. There were no awkward silences or long pauses and Hermione even admitted to being ridiculously hungry when the burgers arrived. “Oh my god,” Hermione moaned at the first taste, sending electricity through Bella’s body. “This is the most delicious burger I’ve ever tasted.”

“I wouldn’t waste my time coming here if the food wasn’t amazing,” she took a big bite of her own burger. Hermione swallowed another bite before picking up a chip and capturing her bottom lip between her teeth. “What is it?’

“I’m almost afraid to ask,” she released her lip and Bella’s immediate thought was to soothe over the teeth marks with her thumb but restrained herself. “How much is the deposit? I really love your work,” she had taken another look through the portfolio and knew that this wouldn’t be cheap. “We don’t have a big budget but I feel like this will be worth it. I can just take on a little extra work if I have to.”

Bella sat back and seemed to be thinking over what she had just said, “tell you what. How about an arrangement?”

“I’m listening,” she ate the chip she forgot she was holding.

“Instead of you taking on extra work,” Bella smirked, “I will only charge for the cost of the flowers if you come help me and my niece prepare all of the arrangements. It’ll take a few days at most to get everything set and ready. I will come up with the plan and order the flowers and the week before the wedding, you are all mine. We will be held up in the shop or my house for two or so days, setting all the arrangements. I won’t charge for the time and labor.”

“Deal,” the word came out of Hermione’s mouth before any thoughts could traverse her brain.

Once the food was long forgotten and the waitress came over to tell them that the diner was closing, Bella paid the bill, grabbed her bag and saw Hermione to the front of the diner. She watched as the brunette pulled her phone out and looked for a close Uber. It seemed from what Bella could see that the closet Uber was over 20 minutes out. “Where are you going?”

“Oh,” Hermione sighed and looked at Bella. “I’m actually just outside of London, not too far from your shop.”

Bella nodded, “not too far then. Would you like a ride? I can drop you off.”

“If it’s no trouble,” Hermione smiled and told her the address.

“No trouble at all. It’s on the way,” Bella started walking toward the parking lot. They were walking with their shoulders touching not because it was cold outside but because of some magnetic force bringing the two of them together. She stopped in front of her motorcycle. “This is me,” she smirked when she saw the excitement and terror on Hermione’s face. “Never been on a bike before?”

“No.”

“There’s no reason to be scared. I’m a very safe driver. I assure you,” she swung her leg around her bike and settled down. She opened her bag and pulled out her helmet. “You’ll be perfectly safe with me,” she threw her head back, curls falling down in unison as she put her helmet on. She put the backpack across her front and reached into the compartment under the back of the bike seat.

Bella pulled out a smaller helmet and handed it to Hermione. The brunette took the helmet and shrugged, “what the hell,” she mounted the bike and slid into her spot behind Bella pressing her front against the older woman’s back an involuntary shiver running through her body.