For the House Cup comp. Prompts used – Pairing: AliceBellatrix, quote: "Monsters are real, and ghosts are too. They live inside of us, and sometimes, they win" – Stephen King, word: heartbeat, dialogue: "That changes nothing."
For Camp Potter – Paintball: write about somebody killing for the first time.
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Alice's hands are tangled in black hair, and Bellatrix's lips are attached to her neck. Her heartbeat is pounding in her chest as they kiss. They aren't supposed to be doing this. They're supposed to hate each other.
Alice is a Gryffindor – so brave, so fiery, so alive – while Bellatrix is haunted by the memories of punishments long over and the idea of marrying someone she hates. But somehow, Alice chases away the ghosts in Bellatrix's chest, giving the girl nothing else to think about besides the feel of lips upon lips.
It's a tragedy waiting to happen; a ticking time bomb that they are expecting to explode. But neither of them care.
Bellatrix is a monster, twisted and molded into the one thing that people fear.
She's standing in front of a man that looks so much like her father that it's almost terrifying; but she knows, as she aims her wand at him, that he isn't her father because he cowers before her. She hesitates.
Her memory recalls her husband whispering, "You have to be willing to do anything for the Dark Lord." But another memory with another voice – one so soft, so passionate – says, "You don't have to be like this, Bella."
Her upbringing will always win, will always overshadow the girl with dark azure eyes and an enchanting smile. She casts, "Avada Kadavra," on the man. There's a thrill that runs through her body as she watches him fall to the ground, his eyes completely lifeless.
Bellatrix reaches out to hold Alice with her blood-soaked hand, but Alice shies away. She gives Bellatrix a look that clearly means stay away.
"How many, Bella?" she questions softly. "How many people have you killed? How much blood is on your hands?"
"Does it matter?" Bellatrix asks. "It changes nothing."
Alice shakes her head. "It changes everything. I thought you were different, Bellatrix. I thought you could overcome the brainwashing like Sirius d-"
Bellatrix's hand lands hard on Alice's cheek, cutting off her statement. "Don't say that blood-traitor's name in front of me," she hisses.
Even though her cheek stung, Alice gave Bellatrix a sad smile. "This is what I mean. The blood of your victims never comes off. It changes you, Bella, and you're a fool to think otherwise."
Alice is a ghost, a shell of a woman that she used to be – so fierce, so strong, so alive.
As she casts Crucio over and over again, all Bellatrix sees is the light leaving Alice's deep blue eyes, sees the familiar become the unfamiliar. Sees a shell forming, a catalyst to protect her own sanity. But, for once, Bellatrix doesn't feel any power in the knowledge that she caused it.
Alice glances up with her unfocused eyes; a few seconds before and she might've seen the remorse in Bellatrix's eyes. "Please," she begs. But she doesn't know what she's begging for anymore as those memories are hidden under the shell. There are tears running down Alice's face.
Bellatrix turns away from Alice and walks to the door. "That's enough. They don't know anything," she says, her voice commanding.
She doesn't spare Alice another look as she exits the house; her husband, brother-in-law and fellow Death Eater following closely behind her.
A/n – so many thanks to Pam for beta-ing this for me. She's a real sweetheart.