I would like to thank my wonderful beta Ariel. As well as JK Rowling for introducing us these wonderful characters. I own nothing.
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Hermione was screaming while lying on the floor of the manor. I'm watching myself cringe as I see Aunt Bella torture Hermione as she carves the word mudblood into her arm. I will myself to stop Bellatrix, to risk everything for her; the woman I love, but no words escape my lips. I watch on with a facade of cool indifference. I look on in inner turmoil as Hermione's gaze connects with my own. She opens her mouth to utter a bloodcurdling scream. And then I wake, drenched in sweat.
I quickly sit up and toss the blankets off feeling suddenly claustrophobic. I run my fingers through my sweat soaked hair as I take a glance at the time. It's 6:23 so I decide to go ahead a get up and take a shower. I can already hear the sounds of death eaters scuffling around and talking in loud voices downstairs, especially Aunt Bella's who seems louder and more sadistic than usual.
I walk into the bathroom to shower and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Eyes sunken in with dark shadows underneath, pale, lines marking the corners of my eyes and on my forehead. I look as if I haven't had a good night's rest in weeks, and I haven't had one since 6th year. It's been worse since that night. I've had that same nightmare since then. The night that I should've saved her. The dream runs continuously through my head as I shower, dress and head downstairs. I let it torment me. I hit the bottom of the staircase as I overhear Aunt Bella talking about that night with vivacity.
"That little Mudblood got what was coming to her. Those screams were tauntingly and viciously wonderful. Too bad."
"Too bad? You kill her?" A deep voice replied, sounding an awful lot like Fenrir.
"It was tantalizing. Gave me quite a high. A high I haven't had since those lousy Longbottoms."
I can't listen anymore and quietly do headed back upstairs. I feel a heavy weight in my chest, like I can't breathe. There is a sharp pain with that weight that I can't describe. I don't even realize I've walked back into my room. I sit in the chair by my desk in a daze. I lean forward and put my head in my hands and say the only thing in my head. "She's dead."
