Twin Dragon Heartstrings:
CHAPTER THREE: The Darker Side Of Light
Same Disclaimers. JK Rowling owns this, not I. I also don't own Amazon or anything else commerical mentioned. All non-profit fun.
Warning: Some DubCon/NonCon in this chapter—just this chapter, though. Don't panic.
A/N: Also, to answer the question of AnonJustine : the connection between the two will be revealed in a few chapters…patience, Grasshopper.
Finally, thanks to my "Harry Potter Beta," chrisdenvl…who is ensuring I am more factually accurate than Sybil Trelawney, going forward. Also, I should mention, the first four chapters are somewhat exposition & preamble…going forward, there will be a little less talk and a little more action, Elvis. Enjoy!
XOXOXOXO
Hermione awoke with a happy sensation on the last weekend before departure for Hogwarts. It meant Ron and Harry were coming home for two days, and secondly, she would be going back to school soon, the only place she really felt at home. Hogwarts, she anticipated, would be much better than going out in the general public. Most of the students knew Hermione well before she became the Golden Girl, many had fought alongside her, and her recent celebrity was less exciting to the Hogwarts's population than to the wizarding world, in general.
The single exception being the first years- but she would deal with that when the time came. Potential candidates to the school begged to be put on a "wait list," if they weren't initially selected, after Hermione's announcement she would return to school for her final year.
And deal with it she would, as Minerva had appointed her "Head Girl."
Professor McGonagall had rationalized, in her owl to Hermione informing her of the position, that she would have been her first choice, regardless; however, she had considered someone else like Luna, or Cho's little sister, simply for the fact Hermione needed a break. The Headmaster further explained that –fortunately or unfortunately - the entire world looked to Hermione as a leader, and so, even if she didn't have the title, she would have the expectations on her as Head Girl. Minerva decided she might as well have the title, since she had all of the expectations, anyway.
Logical, really.
What wasn't logical, however, was the choice of "Head Boy." Minerva had chosen Draco Malfoy as the Head Boy, and Hermione gritted her teeth when she heard that news. Ron and Harry nearly lost it, on a rare weekend home from Aurors' apprenticeship training, when they heard that news.
"What the bloody hell is McGonagall thinking? There's not a damn Slythern that should be allowed to attend Hogwarts!" Ron bellowed.
Harry grimaced, obviously displeased as well. After a measured moment, he spoke. "Ron, Narcissa Malfoy saved my life. "
"Yeah, only to save her own's kids' ass!" Shouted Ron.
"Well," Hermione said, in equally measured tones as Harry, "regardless of the motivation, isn't it important that the actual correct action happened? When someone does the ethical, you know, the 'right thing,' should the motivation that caused it to happen be judged as valid or not valid? Or does the action just speak for itself?"
Ron grumbled.
"Hermione's right, Ron." Harry said, looking to Hermione in solidarity. "Anyway, let's talk about more important things than that git, Draco. "
The Boy Who Lived turned to face the brunette, with a somber look. "Hermione, this is very hush-hush, but those blokes weren't 'rogue' or random terrorists, who attacked you,back at Diagon Alley."
"I suspected as much. That equipment looked…expensive."
"Its technology we've never seen, really." Harry continued. "Although they are adamantly denying it, it looks like it came from the country … you know the one…"
"The one near Durmstrang Academy?" Hermione finished. Involuntarily, they both looked at Ron.
"Yes." Ron said, glumly. He feared he had caused this to happen, as retaliation.
Hermione looked deep in thought.
"A galleon for your thoughts, Hermione." Harry grinned, recognizing the wheels turning in his friend's head.
"The metal…that alloy deflected every spell that was cast…It bounced right off of it! It was stronger than any protégo charm, that's for sure. Isn't that country, in the eastern region, a big mining area? If it were me, I would analyze the metals specifically inherent to the mines there for starters…but I'm sure the Ministry is doing that already."
"They are, but all they've been able to do is melt it at high temperature with fire, and that's it. Maybe the need to take a look at what is being refined specifically from that region…I'll check into it."
They sat silently, for a few minutes.
"Bertie Botts, anyone?" Ron finally offered.
"No, thanks." Harry and Hermione said in unison.
"Jinx!"
"Jinx!"
"Merlin's wanker, you two!" Ron grumbled. "You sound like first years' again!"
Harry chuckled. Then, with a serious look on his face, he turned to the brunette. "Here, Hermione…this is for you."
"What is it?" Hermione said, looking at the golden coin he was passing over.
"Think of it as the 'next generation' D.A. coin. I worry about you, you know. Even though Ron and I wouldn't have been able to do anything without you, you…well, despite your many gifts…."
Hermione arched her eyebrows. "Yes?" She said, defensively.
Harry looked red. "Well…"
Interrupting Harry, Ron said bluntly, "you're not exactly the best duelist in the world, Hermione."
"I wouldn't say that, exactly," Harry interceded. "But, hand-to-hand combat isn't one of your strongest traits. If you get into trouble, of any type, just call me and I'll be there."
She paused, rubbing her now familiar wand hidden in her cloak. Drawing comfort from it, she said softly. "I appreciate it, Harry…I really do. Somehow, though, I think…I may have developed the instincts of an excellent duelist…against my will. Maybe the best, actually."
The voice inside Hermione's head spoke. Damn straight, Puppy. The world's best duelist, actually.
Hermione chucked, to herself.
Quizzically, Harry looked at his best friend. "Well, maybe so, that's great if you've been practicing…but just be careful. These guys? I don't think that's the last of them. And they're going to be gunning for you."
"Me? Why me?" Hermione asked.
"Cause you're the most vulnerable, Hermione." Ron offered.
Merlins' gizzard! Bellatrix uttered inside Hermione's head. He is actually the missing link, isn't he?
Harry scowled. "No, Ron, that's not it, at all!" Harry sighed, exasperated. "Listen, Hermione, it's more like …well, you're the most predicable, of the three of us. The whole world knows you're going to be starting back at Hogwarts. The two of us are off the map…no one can find Aurors, theoretically. That leaves…you."
Ron burped. "Sorry, mates."
Bellatrix groaned, her patience wearing thin with Ronald. Were you under the Imperius, Puppy? Bellatrix hissed inside Hermione's head. I mean, really…Weasel had to have been dropped on his head as a baby! What on earth did you see in him? The Imperius Curse is the only logical explanation I can think of!
"Shh!" Hermione admonished Bellatrix.
Ron scowled, thinking she was directing it at him.
Ignoring Ron altogether, Harry continued. "Extra precautions have been taken, of course, Hermione….for your return. The Ministry has set up extra wards, but still….be careful. You're the easiest of the three of us to find, and if someone wants to make a symbolic statement, you're the one with the most obvious location."
Potty is actually making some sense here, Puppy, for once. Listen to him.
As she stood to leave, Hermione smiled. As she left, she causally said, "thanks, Harry. Your concern means a lot to me, really. However, I promise, both sets of eyes will be open, this year. I'll be fine."
Before he could ask her what the hell that meant, she was gone.
XOXOXOXO
Not every dream about Bellatrix that invaded her sleep was as sweet as her most recent; some were practically nightmares. It would disturb Hermione to no end that those were the ones left her even more…aroused, the next morning.
She stopped wearing panties to bed as she had ruined many a pair with her salacious dreams.
The night right before they were scheduled to return to Hogwarts, she was having one of the … rough ones. The ones where she was back at Malfoy Manor, trapped underneath the ferocious female Death Eater, paralyzed, once again. Pinned underneath her, while she helplessly watched her carve the word into her arm:
MUDBLOOD.
In said dream, Hermione would watch, with horror, as Bellatrix licked her arm. She licked it where the fresh blood oozed from the razor thin cuts.
"Mmmmm….You taste good, Muddy, for someone with such dirty, dirty blood!"
With an evil glint in her eye, Bellatrix would take the tip of her knife and trace it, from the center of Hermione's breasts, down towards her navel, until it was pointing directly at her core. Hermione could only watch silently ,in utter horror, praying that the monster wouldn't cut her…there.
Then with a few deft swipes, the dark mistress scissored Hermione's clothes off her midsection, exposing her core to the witch. Bellatrix leaned down; closing her eyes, and took in a long, exaggerated breath.
"Well, you smell good….even though I know that its just as dirty, down below…"
Bellatrix rubbed the flat side of the dagger along Hermione's inner thigh. If Hermione wasn't paralyzed, and if she had the ability, she would have gasped at the shock of the cold steel against her tender thigh. Her eyes drifted away, trying to take herself away from this place…willing herself to disassociate with her present physical reality…
"OUCH! Fuck!" Hermione shrieked, in sudden pain.
She was jarred back into her "dream reality" by a sharpness in her pelvic region. Her eyes darted in horror, to Bellatrix. Then her eyes widened when they took in what she had done.
Bellatrix had bit her! Hard!
She bit her so hard on her inner thigh, she had broken the skin. Bellatrix had drawn blood, with her teeth, in Hermione's most private area.
With a grin, and Hermione's blood on her lips, she said, "Pay attention, Muddy. We're going to have some fun."
Bellatrix mounted the brunette, looking down on her. "I want you to look at me, while I take your …virginity. Pay attention, Granger."
Hermione's mouth opened to protest, to beg…anything, but she couldn't make a sound. Then her features winced as she felt Bellatrix's finger force themselves into her opening, without preamble.
Hermione grimaced as she felt the searing pain tear through her parts; but Bellatrix was relentless. She grinned, clearly savoring the feel of the resistance…and the penetration that opened her up. Bellatrix looked wild with desire as she watched Hermione, daring her to look away, daring the girl, as her three fingers pumped in and out of her fragile opening.
Then, Bella hovered over the younger brunette's ear, growling, "Give yourself to me, Granger! You know you want to….let go. Give in. Let yourself…go."
The pumping of Bellatrix's fingers changed; she curled them up, slightly. Hermione could feel something different, as Bellatrix passed her fingers across the rough surface found deep inside her opening….her body, although not moving outwardly, was trembling with each swipe across the rough surface.
Bellatrix exhaled, as though she was getting drunk on just the feel. "Your G-spot feels so fucking incredible…I'm going to fuck you, Puppy… all night. I'm going to fuck you so hard, little girl…."
Hermione closed her eyes, trembling a little. The pain had broken, and now she was feeling…what? Her eyes went wide. With horror, she realized she was starting to become aroused under the skilled ministration of the dark witch's fingers. Hermione was peaking towards a feeling she had never felt before.
She was rushing to a point…to where?
Hermione let out a silent gasp, and her eyes rolled back as she started clenching with her first ever orgasm. She closed her eyes, losing herself in her own arousal. Lost, that is, until she felt a sharp SMACK! sting across her cheek.
Bellatrix had backhanded her!
Bellatrix raised Hermione's arms above her head, and pinned them down with one hand, albeit unnecessarily so, as she was paralyzed. "I said, eyes open, little girl! I want you to see who took your purity…I want you to see who owns you. I want you to watch who took your virginity from you! I want you to see who is making you come! Me! Me, Bellatrix Black!"
Hermione's looked up at the possessed lady who was currently riding her. She couldn't nod, to show her complicity, but she didn't have to. As Bellatrix resumed pumping her fingers in and out of Hermione's now very wet, and very wide, opening…Bellatrix knew the younger woman was complicit. Hermione felt her arousal grow, as Bellatrix removed her hand from pinning the paralyzed arms of the captive, and felt that hand roughly fondle the most private parts of her body. Kneading her breasts. Gripping behind her neck, to leverage the arm that was pumping in and out of her with a fury.
Again, in her ear, she said softly, "Come for me, Hermione. Come now."
Hermione did, hard. Over and over, she came, waves of pleasure rocking her for the first time. This was the first time she ever she had done this, with another human being. Waves of pleasure came, over and over, as Bellatrix wouldn't stop with just one event…never one. After stripping her virginity, subsequently giving the startled girl her first ever orgasm, the dark mistress kept giving. She smirked, knowing the girl had never had this before, this intense, mind-blowing pleasure…
And it was Bellatrix Black who gave it to her.
XOXOXOXO
Hermione awoke the next morning, oddly refreshed despite her very disturbing dream. She opened her eyes gradually, to the emerging sunlight peering into her cramped room at the Weasley's.
"It's Hogwarts, today!" She said with grin.
The smile faded, somewhat, as her eyes caught something previously unnoticed. There, on her right inner thigh, was the undeniable bruising and fresh imprint of what looked like… a human bite.
"Merlin's beard! What in the holy hell is that?" Hermione said, shocked.
XOXOXOXOX
That morning, Hermione simply compartmentalized the fact she had ususual physical evidence on her body, and put that detail away…for later. Nothing was going to bring her down, today. For today, finally, she was headed home…in a manner of speaking. She was going to finally be back at Hogwarts.
Molly Weasley was doing her usual clucking, this time, over both Ginny and Hermione; she gave them each a bag of her famous PB&J sandwiches for the train ride. It was a wonderful reunion, seeing all of her friends; they stood there in a group with the Lovegoods, the Thomases, and Neville and his Grandmother. Hermione attempted to ignore the staring, and actually relented to a few autographs. Of course, the dirt bags from the paper were there, but everyone surrounded her, so that the paps couldn't get a good shot, much to their chagrin.
While escaping and evading, two figures caught Hermione's eye. Rather, the crowd around the two figures caught Hermione's eye. Standing with her regal posture, and her typically aloof persona, was none other than Narcissa Malfoy. Next to her stood Draco Malfoy, who looked as though he had aged a century. He had dark circles under his eyes, eyes that were darting to and fro, observing the hostile crowd that had gathered around them.
"I can't believe it…. you have the nerve to come back?"
"You suck, Malfoy!"
"I'm going to kick your ass if you get on that train, you Death Eater scum!"
"How's it feel, now, Mrs. Malfoy? How's that air up there, now?"
As these things tend to go, the crowd was feeding onto itself, and Hermione feared the direction it was obviously taking. She looked around; there were no teachers anywhere. The policemen and Aurors were deliberately "looking the other way." Without thinking, Hermione knew what she had to do. She took a breath to steel her nerves, and broke away from her posse, marching straight up to the Malfoys.
The heckles and jeers were getting louder, and a few "Give 'em Hell, Hermione!" and other utterances were issued by the increasingly hostile crowd. Doing a quick survey of where the closest egress was in case of, well, emergency, Hermione proceeded. Draco looked at her, uncertain, steeling his nerves for what he knew was coming….what he deserved, he thought, glumly.
Draco steeled himself for payback, for all those years of cruel teasing he had inflicted on the Golden Girl. He was now going to get his just desserts...
Wasn't he?
Without a single bit of malace or sarcasm, in a deliberately loud stage voice, Hermione uttered, "Draco! It's so good to see you again! I'm so glad we're going to be Head Girl and Head Boy, together!"
She launched herself at the startled blonde, throwing her arms around him in a bear hug. Quickly, she growled into his ear. "Don't just stand there like a git! Hug me back, if you want your mom to get out of here in one piece."
Immediately, she felt his arms around her, reciprocating the hug.
"God, it's been too long, Granger!" He said in a similar stage voice.
"Did you get my letters?"
"Every one!"
The crowd gasped, in disbelief. The jeers, however, had mostly died down, so enthralled was the crowd with the drama unfolding before them. Hermione linked her arm in Draco's, and turned and gave the startled Mrs. Malfoy her million-dollar smile.
"Don't worry, Mrs. Malfoy. I promise to keep an eye on him."
The tiniest of smiles crept across the pureblood's face. "I have no doubt about that. You know, you're of age now, Hermione. I thought we discussed you calling me Narcissa, instead of Mrs. Malfoy, these days."
There were audible gasps from the crowd. What? The Golden Girl gave her stamp of approval to...the Malfoy's?
"Okay…Narcissa."
"Can I call you Narcissa as well? I'm eighteen, too, Mom!"
She turned and gave him a look of mock horror. "No." She said, simply.
"When can I call you Narcissa, then?" He teased.
"Um, let me think…. oh, that's right. Never." Narcissa replied, coolly.
The three of them laughed, and made some small talk, as the crowd dispersed. Hermione's posse had congregated around her, in the event things went awry. Without a single spell, the Golden girl had disbanded the crowd...for now. Despite their gratitude in putting up the front the front for the angry mob, clearly the Malfoy's were very uncomfortable around the show of force of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw families. Draco had yet to see a fellow Slytheryn. There was an uncomfortable silence.
Finally, Molly spoke. "Narcissa, I never had a chance to tell you, but I thought it was very brave, what you did for Harry. I'm…we're all grateful to you, for what you did."
Narcissa looked down on the ground. "I could have done…more." Her eyes looked up, and met the brown eyes of the Golden Girl. Hermione then realized how haunted the poor woman looked. She had spent so many nights angry with Narcissa Malfoy, a mother, no less; a mother who stood by, and let her crazy sister torture her while she lay there, helpless…and did nothing! But seeing those eyes, the pain and sorrow within, Hermione knew she had been punished enough.
"Like Maya Angolou says, 'you do what you do until you know better. When you know better, you do better.' You did enough, Narcissa." Hermione said, resolutely.
Their eyes met in understanding.
And just like that, the group fell into chitchat, like friends from a lifetime. The world was too small now to hold grudges; and as it turned out, Narcissa Malfoy could be quite charming.
Hermione smiled, looking back and forth between the group, when suddenly, the voice in her head spoke up.
Puppy! Heads Up! NOW!
The hairs on the back of Hermione's neck stood up. Her fingers went around the base of her wand, instinctively.
Hermione whipped around in a complete 180-degree turn, yelling as she turned, "PROTEGO!"
A huge protective shield went over the entire group, at the exact moment unexpected red jets flew out at them, from an unseen enemy. The group fumbled for their respective wands, but Hermione was on it.
She dodged, she darted; she parlayed and cast counter-curses; she deflected every single one of the killing jets from reaching their target as though she was playing a Sunday afternoon game of tennis. The other wizards were dumfounded; they couldn't see the enemy anywhere! The source of the laser jets were completely invisible!
As she deflected yet another red beam headed straight for Ginny, she muttered to herself, "Think, Hermione! What do you know about this enemy?" She snapped her fingers, recalling her earlier chat with Harry. "Heat! That's it!"
Looking in the direction of where she suspected them to be, she shouted,
"Fiendfyre impedimentus!"
Two beams of light shot out from her wand, creating a circle of fire, that rose up in bars, quickly closing at the top. As the heat of the fire intensified, the invisibility covering on their mysterious assailants began to melt away, revealing their identity to the onlookers. Hermione was looking, once again, at the attackers from Diagon Alley.
"Who are you?" She gasped.
Before she got a response, Aurors rushed up to the group. "Nice work, Granger! We'll take it from here. Listen, they want all the students to get on the train, and get going. There's going to be an early departure, for safety." Said the Squad Leader, panting a little bit.
Families hurriedly said goodbye, and Draco and Hermione talked, this time for real, about how to ensure the entire roster of the returning students was on board. As they got ready to board, Hermione felt a firm hand on her shoulder.
"A word, Ms. Granger?"
Hermione turned around. Seeing that it was only Narcissa, she relaxed. "Okay, but only for a second. This is going to be very anxiety producing for the new students."
Keeping her voice low, so only Hermione could hear, she hissed. "I thought, maybe it was coincidental, as you are still inexplicably using my sisters' wand…."
Hermione looked nervously at the walnut wand, sheathed in her robes again.
"I…I lost my wand, at your house…..that day." Mumbled Hermione.
Narcissa shook her head. "It's not the wand. Forget the wand. Also, the use of the dark arts…I wouldn't have expected Fiendfyre from a Gryffindor, and certainly not from one of the Golden Trio."
"Well, I'm sure these Robot Men found a way to resist ordinary fire…it—Fiendfire- seemed like the right thing to do. Not many people can…um…."
"Cast that spell." Narcissa finished. "You are correct. It was, of course, the right thing to do. It was brilliant, actually. Wand and dark arts aside….Hermione Granger, the real issue I have is this: I have only seen one person—ever-duel like that, in my entire life. Moving as though you had eyes in the back of your head….blocking shots that would have killed a lesser wizard, in an instant. There is only one person so gifted. Do you know who that one person is, Hermione?"
"No…" Hermione mumbled, weakly.
Narcissa arched her eyebrows. "Come on, Ms. Granger. You know who."
With reservation, Hermione raised her eyes to the older blond witch, knowing what the answer would be. Narcissa stared back at her, intently taking in the younger witch. Finally, she spoke as the train whistle erupted.
A realization dawned on the older woman. " It is actually the person I last saw with your wand, in fact…." Narcissa chocked up a little bit, showing actual emotion for the first time that day. A solitary tear fell from her eyes as she spoke.
"It was my sister, Bellatrix Black."