Chapter 2
Surprises Just Keep Coming
"It's Bellatrix. She escaped."
Gasps came from Hermione and Luna who come to check out the commotion. "She left a message. Walls in her cell were all carved out with your name and words like filth and mudblood. She had no instruments at her dispose; she did all this with her nails."
At Harry's words shiver run down Hermione's back. Bellatrix was coming for her, to end what she started at Malfoy Manor.
"No." Brunette gasped out. She franticly looked around as if expecting to see crazy witch or hear her mad cackle. "What are we going to do?"
Harry and Kingsley looked at each other. Their look did nothing to calm her nerves; it just made her more anxious.
"Ms. Granger- Hermione, I think it would be best we would go inside to talk about our options."
When they were sat at the kitchen table with steaming cups of tea in their hands, Hermione's patience was thinning short.
"What options?"
Minister Shacklebot let out deep sight; it was obvious that he was afraid of young witch's reaction.
"We could assign Auror escort for you..."
"No." Hermione interrupted before dark skinned wizard had the chance to end his sentence.
"I said she'd refuse it." Harry added unhelpfully.
"Yes. Yes you did. Well second option is for you to go hiding in one of Orders safe houses. Where are two left - Muriel's house and Shell cottage."
Dread crept out on her. She couldn't stay with Ron's aunt or his brother, not after they took his side and blamed Hermione for hexing Ron. They didn't even want to hear why she did it. No, she couldn't turn to them for protection. Even if she did, how could she be sure they'd agree? There must be something else they could do.
"I don't think it's a valid option. If you don't hear, Wheasleys are not my biggest fans right now."
Kingsley was worried, he couldn't think of anything more to do without going to extremes. In his opinion best thing is to keep low profile, try to attract as little as possible attention and inform just needed few. Big, public actions would only serve to cause mass panic and chaos. But he still wanted to make sure Ms. Granger was as safe as possible in the face of such circumstances. Four people sitting around small table at eclectic looking kitchen were all deep in thought raking their brains for best solution.
Luna, who stayed silent during the conversation, tilted her head to one side thoughtfully. Then she nodded to herself and smiled widely as she found the best thing to do.
"I know! I was thinking about going to America to do a research on shape shifters tribe. It was believed that they were extinct, but recently there were witnesses accounts of horse sized wolves running around Washington's forests. We could go undercover in small town near the place where legends originated."
"Hmmm. I think it's good idea. But I'd suggest impersonating muggles. I know our war was not as pertinent in United States, but you still quite famous in some circles. I'd advise to stay away from magical communities for the time being." Kingsley was already composing plan, thinking who he could fully trust in MACUSA to place safety of war heroine in their hands.
"Fine. It would be good to change surroundings and it would be harder for Bellatrix track me. Luna, have any concrete place in mind?"
Serene blonde send her brilliant smile. And eagerly explained about the place she was planning to visit.
"Oh, yeah. It's small town near La Push reservation. I believe it's called Forks."
Meanwhile in Forks Cullen family's member sat around their house except for Carlisle who was working night shift in the hospital. Rosalie was reading magazine about newest cars, sitting on the sofa next to Emmet who was engrossed into football on TV. Esme was reviewing the blueprints of their house in England, which was due for remodeling. Jasper was reading a book about war tactics, not that he didn't know them by heart already. Edward and Alice were deeply engaged into game of chess, because none other family members play with them anymore. Both only moved one piece each. Alice was concentrating on scanning the future for her brother's next move, who was reading her mind to see her moves.
But suddenly one of the visions was no longer about of Edward's next step but of strangers coming to their little town. It was strange. It was as if she was looking through the mist was surrounding people in the vision and their voices were coming from the long tunnel. Distorted, lacking clarity. Edward seeing this raised his head in surprise. It was something different and new. Even with mutts it was more like static than whatever this was.
Their sudden change was noticed by other members of the family. Vampire with bronze hair could hear concern and worry in their minds. They shared uneasy glances, waiting for explanation.
"Alice saw the vision of some newcomers, but it was blurred somehow."
"Yes. I saw four people coming to town. One man and three women, I think. One woman is older? They look up to her." Cullens were not used to hear uncertainty in petite vampire's voice, and now it caused quite a disturbance.
"When are they coming?"
"Are they are threat?"
"What they have to do with us?"
Questions come from all sides once initial shock wore off. Alice wanted to know answers too, but no matter how hard she tried to see - nothing came. She even scrunched up her forehead trying to call for another vision to gain more information. But only thing she saw was four figures in the cloud of mist and Forks High School in the background.
"I see school and four of them. Nothing else." Frustration was clear in her voice. She always been able to rely on her gift, and now it's failing her.
"Does this means you, Edward and Jasper will go to school with them?" Emmet asked.
"I don't know!" She jumped up and hurried out through the doors, toward the woods. Jasper followed after his wife not far behind.
"She need space, she not used to not getting the answers." Mind reading vampire reassured his family.
He himself knew how hard and frustrating it is for her to comprehend what everything she took for granted so far, fail her. He experienced that with Bella. And even though she can't see the dogs from reservation, this was different. Her Sight was compromised and she needed time to get used to it.
In the ruins of the abandoned house lone woman stood between crumbled debris. Her dull, grey prison uniform was hanging on her wilted body few sizes too big – tattered and shredded in places. Her raven black hair, or more accurately bird's nest on her head, was covered in dust and cobwebs. Woman's skin was sickly colored, sallow. In her eyes madness, rage and thirst for revenge were ablaze; fighting inside her – trying to take over. She was chuckling to herself swishing her wand in the air, sparks flying all around the place. Once in the while she would tilt her head and scratch her arm, the area where was visible faded tattoo of skull and snake.
She would mutter something unintelligible under her breath and then snigger to herself. In front of her stood only intact wall in the room and it was fully covered by clipping from the papers. One common theme dominated - Hermione Granger, the Gryffindor Princess, one third of the Golden Trio.
"Bellatrix," Gruff voice called out from behind. She whirled to face whoever came in. Wand raised and aimed straight to the heart of new arrival. Few flickers of purple light escaped the end of the crooked wand.
"Fenrir," Her voice was much clearer and lucid once she recognized her visitor. Her crazy eyes gleamed with ill pleasure and her lips formed satisfied grimace but her wand stayed aimed at the werewolf. "I'm glad you're here. We have a mudblood to take care of. I'll find her and teach her a lesson of what happens to those who fouls Dark Lord's divine plans. No one can run away from Bellatrix Lestrange's wrath. When I'm done with that filthy girl you can have her as your mudblood play toy and finish her off once you bored of that little whore." She promised to feral wolf. "We just need one more." Insane witch started laugh uncontrollably.
Her mad cackle echoed amongst the abandoned stone walls long into dark night.
I do not own anything, just few books I read about a million times. :)
Alice is frustrated will she able to look past her blurry visions and became friends with new kids in town.
Next time plans are made.
Thank you all who read this story and if you liked it your review will be appreciated.
