No Fate, But What We Make
In Which A Pureblood Heroine Seizes Her Destiny.
Plot Summary:-
Bellatrix Lestrange, The most hated, the most feared, the most insanely murderous witch of all time. Unloved and unmourned when killed at 'The Battle of Hogwarts' fighting for the wrong side. But did that have to be her fate? What if, as a beautiful young woman, she was made to see her future and given the chance to change it? This is the story of that 'other' Bellatrix, Bella Black. Still a haughty, arrogant 'Pureblood' who does not tolerate fools gladly, or indeed at all. But also a brave and phenomenally powerful 'warrior witch', and one who chooses a very different course for her life. This is a very Alternate Universe story, from someone who more usually does 'future projections', from a more 'canon' wizarding world.
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Chapter One. The Duel In The Garden, Part One.
Lord Voldermort approached the house in Godric's Hollow making his way through some children in the street who were out that Halloween Eve, 'trick or treating'. One little boy in costume got in his way, and for a moment for the child's 'presumption' in daring to obstruct Lord Voldermort he thought he would kill the boy, but decided it was not necessary or prudent and instead moved on towards his primary goal, the Potters!
As he got close to the house he entered the state of cold killing frenzy that those who knew him were in stark terror of. In that state he was capable of anything, despite his apparent icy self control. He entered the garden gate of the Potter's cottage and saw that the house lights were on in the front lounge and upstairs in a bedroom. As he approached Lord Voldermort could see through the open curtains of the ground floor room that it was empty and that two wands lay on opposite arms of the sofa. He assumed that the Potters were upstairs putting their baby, Harry, to bed. "The fools have left themselves unarmed, this will be easy!" Lord Voldermort thought. Pointing his own wand at the front door it quietly opened and Lord Voldermort entered the house.
Silently climbing the dimly lit stairway he could see the light from the bedroom spilling out onto the landing above. He reached it, pushed wide the partially open bedroom door. Then stood there, rigidly stunned by what he saw.
"Good evening 'My Lord', a pleasant night for murder wouldn't you say?" Said Bellatrix Black, her voice dripping sarcasm.
Lord Voldermort did nor dare raise his wand hand from his side where, (thinking he would be facing an unarmed James and Lily Potter), he had made the mistake of letting it drop. He knew the witch that faced him, well knew her capabilities and that she had him very much in her 'sights', pointing her own wand directly at his heart.
"Bellatrix, what are you doing here? What is the meaning of this defiance, How dare you?" Lord Voldermort asked her.
The beautiful Pureblood witch, with her hair immaculately styled and as elegantly dressed as ever in a stunning lace trimmed black dress, looked coldly at Lord Voldermort and replied. "I dare, 'My Lord', (the very words a curse as they left her lips), in order to stop you bringing ruin and disaster upon all our kind and besmirching the proud name of Pureblood Witches and Wizards throughout the world, you filthy, murdering, half blood mongrel! Yes I know of your lies, you're no more a Pureblood than Lily Potter is!"
You thought to come here and murder the Potters because of some mad idea about 'your destiny', she sneered. I have no great love of James Potter and his Muggleborn wife, as you must know, but even at my worst, when I was your devoted dupe, I hope I would have baulked at allowing you to murder them and especially slaughtering their innocent child! I had a 'little word' with Peter Pettigrew earlier this afternoon after he left you and following some 'gentle persuasion' he told me your plans. Then I came here and warned the Potters. They've left and are now safely protected by Dumbledore and The Order of The Phoenix, whilst I stayed here and waited to have this meeting with you.
"Now, drop your wand on the floor and go downstairs and out into the rear garden, I shall follow. There you shall be given a fair chance to fight for your worthless life. The choice is yours, but if you'd rather I could kill you right here and now, where you stand. Although I'd prefer not make a mess of the Potter's nice little house, it would be such bad manners to leave bits and pieces of your corpse all over their nursery floor. As even a pseudo Pureblood like yourself should know, good manners, even towards our social inferiors, are something we genuine Purebloods pride ourselves upon."
Lord Voldermort did as he was ordered having been given no choice. Reluctantly he dropped his wand on the floor and Bellatrix made him back off as she picked it up with a flick of her own wand. They then went down the stairs with Lord Voldermort leading and emerged into the garden at the rear of the Potter's home, walking to the furthest end away from the house itself.
When they got to the far end of the garden Bellatrix calmly and simply said, "And now we duel."
Lord Voldermort replied, 'Very well Bellatrix, if this is how you choose to die then so be it, you will be begging for death before I finally kill you!"
With that he held out his hand for his wand but Bellatrix sneered and said, " Oh no 'My Lord', you think me a fool? I know you too well. You pretend to be an honourable man and that you would follow the rules of fair duelling which we Purebloods established, but your every action gives the lie to that! If I gave you your wand right now then you would kill me as we bow to each other. I think not! No, you shall go over there, by that big tree and I shall stay here. Then after we carry out the 'formal pleasantries' I shall throw you your wand and then we'll fight."
"Very well then," Lord Voldermort said, "Have it your own way Bellatrix, no matter, you will die anyway." And saying that he walked off to the place which Bella had indicated. They bowed to each other, then Bellatrix threw Lord Voldermort his wand, he caught it and their duel began.