Of Love and War

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The Eighth Horcrux
By xxbubblelovexx

Author's Note ~ Okay, so I'm giving a shot at the Eighth Horcrux idea and the era Harry Potter's children had to grow up in. So I really hope you like it. Oh, and please review! It means a lot to hear my readers thoughts so just a quick note would be great, thanks!

And a few more things that I should add...

The two people that are with the main character are Maya Lestrange and Lord Voldemort. Maya is Bellatrix's daughter. And don't worry, I did my research: Bella doesn't have a daughter in the Harry Potter series. Yes, I know. But I had to have someone that helped Voldemort, and since Bellatrix is dead and was his most faithful follower, I thought it would be a good idea to have her daughter follow in her mother's footsteps.

Okay, that's all! Enjoy! *And remember to review!*

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Harry Potter except for the characters that I made up. All credit goes to the brilliant J.K. Rowling!

Prologue

I writhed on the floor in pain next to the huge glowing cauldron. Every memory I had was passing though my head with alarming speed – from the moment I turned fifteen back to when I turned eleven. I couldn't focus on them long enough because of the pure agony I was going through. The taste of blood was in my mouth, and I knew that in my attempts to not scream and beg for death by biting my tongue, I had bit through the pink flesh. There might have been someone standing in the shadows of the cold room I was in, but I couldn't be sure nor did I care. I just wanted the pain to stop and since they were just watching me roll in pain, they meant nothing to me.

Slowly – very slowly – the pain receded. My entire body was sore and I couldn't move a muscle. My every breath came out shallow and ragged; I couldn't get enough air. I watched as the pale man in the shadows came forward, my chest heaving. I wanted to scream and run as far away as possible and go home when I saw his horrifying, snakelike face, but my bones felt broken and twisted and I couldn't find the strength to even move a single finger when I was using it all to get gasps of air.

As he came closer, I didn't care if he had just watched me cry and writhe in pain, I just wanted help. But I couldn't open my mouth and no sound could be made.

Hi black robes hung on his white, bony body while he took each step towards me. He had red, blood red, eyes that sent waves of fear though me.

He stared at me for what seemed like hours, observing me in my pitiful state, twisting and turning his head for a different view. I couldn't take his burning gaze anymore, but there was nothing I could do but wait for my ability to move to return while he stared at me.

Suddenly, doors opened from somewhere I couldn't see and light poured in. That was when I realized how dark it had been before. But it didn't last long because soon they were closed and I heard footsteps approaching us. The pale man's eyes never left me though, even when the new arrival appeared by his side.

The woman had crazy dark hair that stuck up in all directions all the way down to her waist. Her gaunt face was incredibly ashen, and her eyes were big, never blinking. She glanced down at my body on the floor once before returning to the man beside her who was still examining me. "M-Master… My lord…is the transformation…complete?" she whispered, but the words echoed off the walls.

"Yes, Maya, it is complete," he rasped, finally looking to the woman. "But you must take her to your sister to heal her bones. You need to be able to begin teaching her as soon as possible. Her memory will soon return if we do not replace it with something else soon."

She nodded earnestly. "But…how do I teach her? She's a mudblood, my lord!"

"As far as the rest of the world is concerned, Maya, she is a pureblood and your daughter," he stated clearly and firmly. "She has magic in her blood, it just hasn't been triggered. Do you swear you will teach her, Lestrange?"

"Of course, my lord."

"Then leave. A new era is upon us, and she is our key to victory this time. There is no time to waste."