Silver Chains is a Bellamione fic i've been working on while thinking of a way to further my other fic, Dueller's Legacy. Mostly a fluff with a bit of drama and angst just to keep it lively.
I own nothing.
Reviews are nice.
Bellatrix had never been in a worse place. Sure Azkaban had been horrible but at least there she was kept out of the weather and fed regularly. She even had people to talk to if she felt like, granted she seldom did. Now though, trudging through the pouring rain in the middle of a forest in god only knows what part of Europe she was feeling completely desperate. Part of her was beginning to think that she should have let that spell hit.
It had been almost 9 months since the Battle of Hogwarts, the moment Voldemort died Bellatrix took the chance to run. She had assumed it would be a lot easier to hide than she quickly realised it was. She had hopped from town to village to city, muggle or magical in an attempt to avoid being taken by Aurors. She had only ever managed a few days in any place as both the muggles and the magic folk were aware of her fugitive status.
Now here she is, trudging through mud and undergrowth in a dark forest while being pelted with chilling rain. She was exhausted but couldn't stop regardless of having no idea where she was going or how long it would take to get there. The ex-death eater was just considering turning herself over to be returned to Azkaban when she heard a sound over the rain. It was odd, for a moment she thought it might be a wolf howl but it was too short and not nearly loud enough even over the rain. Listening intently for a few minutes she didn't hear it again and figured she must have simply imagined it.
She had just taken a step when she heard it again this time it lasted slightly longer but still not enough to be a wolf, it sounded almost human. The sound came from somewhere to her left so cautiously she turned in that direction and drew the wand that had been up her sleeve. Making her way slowly she heard the sound two more times before she realised that it sounded like a woman crying out in pain.
With a deep frown marring her face Bellatrix picked up her pace and continued to follow the sound. It was a long minute later that she caught sight of the soft glow of light through the pouring rain. If it had been daylight hours she never would have seen it. Picking up her pace even more she practically jogged to the small, tiny even, cabin. It looked like it was a single room thing, it certainly wasn't big enough to have more than a larger room and a smaller one.
Bellatrix paused outside. What was she doing exactly? Rushing to some ones aid? That was hardly her style. Yet there was something familiar about the cries and groans coming from the cabin. The sounds pulled at her and she was almost certain she had heard the same sounds before. Sounds of pain and agony. Biting her lip Bellatrix shrugged and decided to figure it out once she was in there, she went to step forward only to be met with a repelling charm. It was weak and no doubt connecting to the woman inside. With a wave of her wand Bellatrix silently brought down the meagre wards and stepped up to the door.
Pausing again Bellatrix frowned and turned back out to the forest. If this tiny little cabin in the middle of no where was warded then it had to be because the witch didn't want to be found though she could not for the life of her figure out why. Maybe it was a fellow death eater, except thinking about it Bellatrix realised all but a few of the men had been captured at this point. Regardless the raven haired witch listened to her more sympathetic side and cast her own much stronger wards over the cabin.
Finally she turned and without knocking she pushed the door open and stepped into the room taking the time to cast a drying charm on herself, it had her warm and dry in no time. She took the time to look around and directly ahead of her she saw a door. To the left of the door were cupboards and a wood fired stove, beside that was a counter with a sink built in but no taps for water and more cupboard space below it.
Another cry of pain brought Bellatrix's attention back to the door across the small space. She assumed since a small fireplace and a bed maybe large enough for two took up the other side of the small room that the door lead to a bathroom. Frowning as another much louder shout of agony came from behind the door Bellatrix crossed the space and barged right into the small bathroom. It had naught but a loo a hand basin a small mirror and a claw foot bathtub in it.
The most shocking addition in the bathroom was the entirely dishevelled, sweaty and heavily pregnant Hermione Granger. Bellatrix was stunned, completely and utterly speechless at the sight before her. It looked as though Hermione was in nothing but an over large sweater that really left nothing to the imagination. The brunette still had her eyes scrunched tight as she panted and breathed heavily through the pain that was no doubt radiating through her body.
"Mud-pup!" Bellatrix spoke loud and clear and earned a surprised shriek from the brunette that was quickly followed by a pained scream.
"Please no... go away. Leave me... alone!" Hermione panted out as she tried to suck in her breath.
"Well that is hardly a warm welcome." Bellatrix leaned back against the door and twirled her wand between her fingers.
"Fuck you! This is... argh! This is your fault." Hermione screamed both the words and the pain right at the witch invading her bathroom.
It was at this point that Bellatrix noticed the flooding of blood spilling across the bathroom floor. Bellatrix had secretly always longed for children but she refused to have them with someone she did not love and love was an emotion that did not come easy to her. Abuse from her parents and being practically sold into the servitude of a mad man. She had no chance of finding love, she was told over and over that love was weakness and eventually she tuned out became the monster she was supposed to be.
Despite that, she would not simply sit idly by and watch this young woman suffer death while trying to give life to an innocent child. Stepping forward Bellatrix immediately dropped to her knees and tried push Hermione's legs further apart. Obviously Bellatrix had tortured the young witch so she wasn't surprised that the brunette resisted and even tried to push the raven haired witch away. Secretly it frightened Bellatrix that Hermione was so weak that she could barely manage to leave white marks where she had grabbed Bellatrix's wrist.
"Stop. Something is wrong Hermione." Bellatrix's tone was authoritative and she ignored the use of the muggle borns name.
"What's wrong? Is it the baby?" Hermione was suddenly frantic for a whole knew reason.
"How long ago did your water break?" Bellatrix asked ignoring the questions.
"Yesterday, early. Contraction..." Hermione trailed off into a scream of pain as another contraction hit.
"Contractions have been like this for hours. Shouldn't I have had her by now?" Hermione gasps the words out and Bellatrix adopts a concerned look.
"You have to stay calm ok." Bellatrix moves not concerned that she is kneeling in blood. Mud blood.
Pushing the sweater up as best she can Bellatrix places her hands on the swollen stomach of the 18 year old witch. From what she could tell things seemed normal, the baby was in the right position but something wasn't working out. Biting her lip harder the raven haired witch pulled up her sleeves and as gently as she could pushed two fingers into the brunettes core. It seemed that as badly as the baby wanted to greet it mother, the mother wasn't ready. Bellatrix could feel a soft head of hair but mother wasn't dilated enough, the baby was stuck and Hermione's body wasn't giving. The blood must have come from a tear.
"Baby is stuck, child. Your body isn't letting her out." Bellatrix explained looking up at the now frighteningly pale witch.
"Please... you have to help her. You owe it too her." Hermione mumbled, she was no longer screaming and her breathing was getting shallow.
Bellatrix was looking more and more panicked as Hermione lost consciousness. She quickly realised she had no choice but to intervene. Hermione wasn't awake to push and she was losing too much blood. Thinking quickly she laid the brunette flat, vanished the sweater leaving her bare and cast a slicing hex on the swollen stomach. Biting her lip hard the raven haired witch set to work quickly reaching in and finding the small baby.
Lifting the girl out Bellatrix sat her on the sweater that had appeared beside her on the floor and then set about removing what else needed to be removed. Only when satisfied that everything was how it should be did she lift her wand and heal Hermione as best she could. Finally she healed the young woman's stomach and ignoring the screaming infant she knelt down and pressed her ear to Hermione's naked chest. The heart beat was weak and worrying but there wasn't much the raven haired woman could do right now.
"Wait there just a moment cub. I'll give you to mummy in a minute." Bellatrix cooed wrapping the infant in the sweater before levitating Hermione.
While levitated Bellatrix cast a cleaning spell over the woman and then took her out to the bed pulling back the sheets before placing the almost lifeless woman on the bed. Before covering her Bellatrix went back into Hermione's child and cleaned her off before going into the room. Laying the little baby on the bed Bellatrix found a cloth and made a makeshift nappy. Once fastened, Bellatrix laid the baby on the bed between Hermione and the wall and gently rolled Hermione to her side.
With no other option for the baby Bellatrix settled the baby close to Hermione's chest propping the little baby slightly and adjusting Hermione's breast so the nipple brushed the little babies lips. The tiny life was more than ready for some food and with a little help from Bellatrix she latched on eagerly. Bellatrix stepped back and took in the sight, really it was kind of beautiful and she didn't feel ashamed admitting that to herself. It couldn't last though, Hermione needed help or she wouldn't make it through the rest of the night, especially not with a suckling babe.
Covering Hermione against the cold Bellatrix lit the fire in the fireplace and then turned to a chest of draws near the end of the bed. Walking over Bellatrix fished out a sweater with a hood and a pair of jeans. Changing into the clothes Bellatrix again checked the baby and mother noticing the little girl was content and asleep. Bellatrix hesitated for just long enough to wonder why she was doing what she was about to do before shrugging and appirating right out of the tiny cottage.
Reappearing outside in an alley she was relieved to see it wasn't raining in this tiny little village. There was barely nothing to the small community. Homes a post office a pub and general store. The store was the reason Bellatrix had come here, she needed things for mother and child and this would be the easiest place to rob.
Pulling the hood up over her damp hair the witch strode silently from the shadowed alley an along the small street. Once reaching the dark store she stood outside and looked in only long enough to find a clear space within before appirating again this time appearing within the store. In a hurry the witch found what she needed. Formula, Bottles, Baby soap, diapers and wipes were all found and magically shrunk to be placed in a pocket before the witch was gone again.
When next she reappeared the witch was standing in Diagon Alley. It was so early in the morning it was pre-dawn and though it wasn't raining the air was damp. This was the risky bit as regardless of the time she could still be discovered, every witch and wizard on the continent knew her face. With grit teeth Bellatrix moved out of the dark corner and down the street. Slug & Jiggers Apothecary was her destination.
When she made it outside she knew she needed to be quick, the store was warded so no one could enter magically but Bellatrix quickly and as quietly as possible blow up the locking mechanism in the door and pushed it open. This is where she needed to be quick. Running through the store the witch ran straight to the back storeroom and easily broke in. So many potions for different uses glittered back at her but unerringly she found what she needed. Grabbing the four she could manage she turned to leave the same moment she heard the cracking sound of someone appirating into the store.
This was both a good thing and terrifying as it meant she was about to be caught, well maybe except that they appirated in so she could appirate from where she was. The last thing she saw was black hair and green eyes before she had appirated away. The girls name had just barely been heard whispered from the young Auror before Bellatrix was completely gone. To be safe she appirated to several different places before returning to the middle of the tiny cottage. She had been gone a total of an hour and in that time it seems the mother and daughter hadn't moved.
Checking baby first Bellatrix learned she was still alive and content to be nestled in her mothers warm breast. Hermione was thankfully still breathing though she hadn't seemed to improve at all. With worry creasing her brow Bellatrix rolled the young witch onto her back and tipped her head back a little, she unstopped two of the vials and gently began massaging the unconscious woman's throat. The potions went down well and now Bellatrix could only wait and see it the mother would recover.
At the loss of contact with her mother the little tiny baby girl woke with a faint cry, almost more of a whine. Bellatrix gently scooped up the small child and could feel the soggy cloth, cooing to the little babe which seemed to calm her. Pulling the items from her pocket the ex-death eater returned them to their natural size and got the diapers and wipes. She quickly changed the little girl and then went to Hermione's dresser again. Pulling out a warm wool sweater Bellatrix shrunk it down to fit the little girl.
Once dressed in something warm the woman scooped up the child and set about making a formula bottle. Once done, with baby and bottle in hand, Bellatrix sat in the single rocking chair by the front door and settled in. The little girl didn't take to the bottle in a hurry but she soon got the idea and ended up finishing every last drop. Propping the little girl on her shoulder Bellatrix rubbed the tiny hardy little body's back until a soft burp escaped. Happy the baby was content the witch moved back over to the bed and lay the little thing beside Hermione covering them both.
"You've been through worse Granger, you will survive this." Bellatrix's voice was soft and encouraging as she tenderly brushed locks of brown hair from the young witches face.