CHAPTER 2
"I can't get the damn thing to work again!" Hermione shouted, banging her fists against the nearest object, frustrated that after she'd spent an entire day pressing her face into the Pensieve and coming up with no results. The three had each tried looking into another memory. Harry looked at Ron, who knew that if he said anything at all, she'd most likely snap into a rant. Harry began to console her"Hermione, try to calm yourself... What happened that day? Anything unusual... Anything out of sorts?"
Hermione began to think about everything that had happened that day. Ron waking up late... Heading to Hogwarts... McGonagall shaking their hands... Giving Ron the time turner... Looking into the memory. "Nothing I can think of... Everything's been so normal since Voldemort was defeated." They all nodded knowingly, Hogwarts wasn't normal... Being a wizard wasn't normal, but for them it was a way of life. If they thought something was strange, it had to be of great importance "Well, I think it's a sign. If Hermione was experiencing a memory with her in it... There is a reason she can't go back." Ron said, both concerned for her and confused with the purpose of going back. It was just a memory, right?
Ron wasn't the brightest of wizards, but surely thousands of babies would've been born on that day. It seemed strange to just assume that Hermione was that baby. If he was being honest with himself, he was scared. Scared of what she'd find.
"I've brought the butter beer!" Like Harry, the figure walked out of the shadows, giving all but Harry a fright. It was only Ginny Potter. "Maybe it's just me, but I've always loved a pint of butter beer on a cold day..." She said, using magic to hand off the tankards. The group made a toast and began to drink, but before they could, Ron pulled a small flask from his pocket.
Hermione's smile had disappeared, "What a disgusting habit, Ron..." she said. Her husband looked at her with all sincerity, "What? You always nip some in before... Bloody hell woman, I only want a drink." Hermione blushed as the others looked at her questioningly. Ron could be such a goof sometimes and it was her luck that she'd married into that. "Fine.." She murmured, as if she was planning what to say next. "Just don't let McGonagall catch you! How would we explain that?"
"The answer, Mrs. Weasley , is that you couldn't."
There stood Minerva McGonagall, who still looked the same as she ever did. The same pursed lips and ever stern face. Most would be intimidated by her, but the four knew if you looked deep into her eyes, she was as soft as the rest of them. "You three are all here at one time, don't think I've forgotten about your days in Hogwarts... And Ginny." Minerva smiled weakly at Ginny. She had a high spirit, like her husband, but it was never said that Ginny visited Hagrid after six or Ginny was the one who married the boy who... Oh wait.
Indeed, Ginny caused the least amount of destruction (at least on her own free will, there was that one time she'd cause a ruckus) but now, there was no telling what these four were up to. Minerva looked around and seen the vials, "trying to recall something?" she asked, eyes peering at the group. Harry began to speak, "A memory, Headmaster. Hermione claims to have actually witnessed the memory... And interact." McGonogall raised her brow suspiciously. You didn't hear of that happening every day... "Mrs. Weasley, is that true?"
Hermione shook her head solemnly and a glimmer that shone from her necklace caught the Headmaster's attention. "You still have that trinket, dear?" she asked, pointing to the time turner. "Oh yes, it hardly leaves my sight!" Hermione said, taking the necklace off to hand it to Minerva. She looked at it carefully, trying to spot anything unusual. It hadn't even taken her minute to find the small crack on the time turner. "Mrs. Granger, I do believe I've solved you predicament" she said pointing to the slivered hole on the time turner. ''I don't understand, headmaster... I wasn't even wearing the time turner when I looked into the memories!"
"I might be able to explain that..." said Ron, with his head hung a bit lower than usual. "Sorta wiggled the time turner around..."
"You did WHAT?" Hermione said, voice almost screeching. Harry and Ginny's eyes widened as they were quite aware of the witch's temperament. "I can't believe I missed it! How could I? It's so obvious..." Minerva patted Hermione on the shoulders, "Ms. Grange- excuse me- Mrs. Weasley, there are a million things we will never see. That is why we are not alone."
"But if Ron was holding the time-turner, why is it that I went back into the memory and not him?" Hermione asked, dismissing the Headmaster's past statement. It was certainly a fair question. Simple logic wouldn't and couldn't even begin to explain that. Hermione knew Minerva wouldn't know... No one could possibly know why these things happened. She knew Ron or Ginny might call it "fate" or "destiny", but Hermione had a hard time believing in those things. No. Everything was cause-and-effect. Not coincidence, just one event leading to another. Maybe.
"Hand me another memory..." Hermione commanded, staring the four down "And turn that time-turner."
She opened her eyes. She was standing over a cradle, peering at a little baby, who's laugh was similar to her own. "Why hello there" she said, as the infant reached for her hand, but never touching. "You and I, we've got a lot in common..." Hermione stopped mid-sentence, she felt an eerie presence in the room. She hid beside the window, behind the curtains."A baby, Bella?" said the presence, making itself known. The Lestranges followed into the room, "Our own little bundle of joy, my lord." Bellatrix said, emphasizing sarcasm on the word joy.
"And what name have you chosen for this?" he asked, pointing to the baby, as if he couldn't tell the difference of a gender. Rodolphus swaggered towards the cradle, "We thought it best to let you decide... After all, it was you who allowed us to bear this child." The man sneered evilly at the couple, "Rightfully so, but you have failed me, Rodolphus. I asked you for a son." The Lestranges were almost too disillusioned to speak. Even Hermione had begun to hold her breath. "Milord, it was not I who birthed the baby. I hardly see how it's my fault.." You-Know-Who held up his hand interrupting Rodolphus, "Are you not the one who planted the seed within Bella? Have you come to bring up the subject of genetics to me?"
Now Rodolphus was hiding behind his wife like a coward. "Get off, Rodolphus!" Bellatrix said, seething with hatred. She looked down at the baby, piercing it's soul with her dark eyes. The child only laughed gayly, motioning to be picked up, but Bellatrix ignored the baby. It began to cry, hoping for some sort of attention. Voldemort bent towards the child and pressed his finger against the baby's mouth. Hermione shuddered. "Hush" he said and to everyone's surprise, the baby stopped crying."Bella, perhaps you should teach your husband some humility. He should think before he speaks." Bellatrix bowed deeply towards the ground "Yes, my lord... Crucio!"
Her wand had been pointed towards Rodolphus, who was now screaming in antagonizing pain. Hermione could see that Voldemort enjoyed this sadistic pleasure more than Bellatrix did. It wouldn't be long though, Hermione thought... Until Bellatrix was just as deranged.
Shortly thereafter, Voldemort gave permission for Bellatrix to stop. Rodolphus lay on the floor, still in pain. Bellatrix had no intentions of helping her husband up. At least, not without the Dark Lord's permission. Rodolphus made his way up and it was apparent that he had learned his lesson as he didn't speak. "Oh Bella... If you keep handling these things as so, you might earn title of my most loyal servant" he said, making Bellatrix almost swoon with delight. She knew that she was working her way up the Dark Lord's latter and she loved every moment of it. She craved it. Almost fanatically. He would be her breaking point.
Hermione felt a lump in her throat "Oh no" she whispered, trying to hold back the sneeze that was about to burst it's way through. There was no stopping it. Immediately, all eyes pointed in her direction. Bellatrix reached for her wand and shouted an unknown spell. Hermione tried to block it but Bellatrix's reflexes were much faster and more advanced than Hermione's. Yet again she was thwarted by the Lestranges and knocked onto the floor."Come to see me again, little girl!?" the woman said ebulliently. Voldemort made no sound and stood to the side. He seemed to be conflicted by the situation. Hermione wondered if he had always been like this... Voldemort wasn't stupid. He would think everything through before saying a word. Which is probably why he'd been so successful in being a powerful wizard, challenging even Dumbledore. Slowly, a smirk crept onto his face. Hermione could feel him looking where the Lestranges had last time. Except, he knew there was no mark...
"Bella... Won't you go over and hold her arm up for me?" he asked and Bellatrix walked over to Hermione, who was still laying on the ground. Holding her arm up, she pulled Hermione's long sleeve back. Almost immediately, Bellatrix removed her hand from Hermione. "She bears no mark, my lord! In facts it appears that we have a mudblood in our midst!"
Bellatrix kept her eyes on the word that had been carved into Hermione's arm. It was doubtful that she had carved it herself, but it also felt familiar. Very familiar. She ignored the thought and looked up to Voldemort, who had silently moved towards the two. "You two share similar features, Bella..." he said speculatively, making Bellatrix's face turn to stone. "I'd say this mudblood might know a little more than we do... How did you get here?"
Hermione remained silent, but Bellatrix wasn't amused at her silence "Veritaserum!" she shouted and Hermione tried to stop her tongue from divulging the information, but no one could counter Veritaserum once it had been cast. "Time turner..." she said, fighting back the urge to mention anything else. Bellatrix's eyes filled with rage, "Have you come to assassinate my lord?" Bellatrix shouted, demanding an answer. "No." Voldemort began to smile, but his eyes were searching Hermione's body. There was no time-turner. "Why Rodolphus... Won't you check her pocket?"
Rodolphus, who had been hiding in a corner, made his way to Hermione and checked her pockets thoroughly... Once grabbing a bit closer than he should have and smiled. Hermione spat on his face. He backed away in disgust, kicking her in the side. "Nothing, my lord. Nothing at all." he said, running back towards his corner. "IMPOSSIBLE!" Bellatrix expressed with utmost certainty. She too, searched Hermione's pockets, but not once taking a moment to look into her eyes. There was nothing there. Hermione could feel her foe's temper reaching a max point. She placed her wand on her unmarked arm. "Won't you tell us how you're here without a time-turner? Hmmm?"
Hermione could hear herself speak, "It's broken." She could feel the laughter about to erupt from Bellatrix, who would tease her incessantly. "Broken!? My lord, what can we do with her?" she shrieked. Voldemort began to think. Could she leave? If she could, wouldn't she have already left? "I do believe we have a guest of your house, Bella. You and Rodolphus make her feel at home and treat her as... Family." he said, sneering. Rodolphus shot him a moronic look of confusion "What!? My lord, this girl is a spy!" Hermione sighed, feeling the spell weaken "I'm not a girl, I'm a woman. See the ring? Married WOMAN."
Bellatrix peeled her off the floor, sitting her in the closest chair, which was next to the baby's cradle. "Hold it." she demanded and Hermione went to pick up the baby, but as she went to touch it, something veered her hands away. "I said PICK IT UP!" Bellatrix shouted, losing her patience and gaining hostility. Hermione tried again, but this time a bolt of magic ran through her, knocking her out of her chair. She couldn't touch the baby. All she could do was lay there, hoping Bellatrix Lestrange wouldn't remain irritated towards her.
Bellatrix's curiosity had been piqued by Hermione's inability to pick up the child. She reached towards it herself and nothing happened. So why couldn't the other woman pick her up? Hermione could see Bellatrix's cogs beginning to turn and knew she would use her cunning aura to get the answers she wanted. Why even waste time, cut the middle man.
"What do you plan on calling her?" Hermione asked. "Foolish mudbloods, always pointing their noses where it doesn't belong!" shouted Rodolphus from the other side of the nursery. Bellatrix ignored her husband's mouthy remark. The Dark Lord had told her to treat her as family and she would do nothing less. "Hermione" she said, "Hermione Veela Lestrange."
Hermione couln't help but smirk to herself, Veela was reminiscent of Vela, a constellation. Go figure. Another thing she noted was that the Veela were magical creatures. Everyone in the wizard's world had these erratic names. "Honestly, I'd go with something a bit more simplistic. Something a bit more plain-Jane." Hermione laughed, she wished Harry and Ron could have been there to hear her joke. She paused. She had only just now thought of them or had she once before? She couldn't remember. They seemed so distant, almost like a dream.
At once, Hermione began to feel weak in the knees. A small part of her felt strangely attached to this world. Had she created some sort of alternate reality she could visit whenever she pleased or was she ruining her own time-line?
"I'm afraid I must go..." she said, trying to clear her head. Nothing made sense. The time-turner malfunction was having multiple side effects on her and she couldn't very well stay. "Not this time, you filfthy mudblood!" Rodolphus chanted as he grabbed her by her shirttail. "Our Lord has instructed for us to treat you as family... But this is a family of Black and Lestrange. You will comply."
Sorry for not updating in so long! New job plus all the chiropractor appointments keep me on my toes. Anyways, I do hope you've enjoyed this chapter... It's been fun to write and your lovely reviews have kept me interested in finishing this particular fiction. While I'm on the subject, I admit I don't have the best portrayal of Rodolphus, but I'm pretty sure that's the way most fans like to view him. I intend on updating soon without Rodolphus barking and Bellatrix remaining quiet. It seems a bit backwards at the moment. But what are your thoughts?