"But the tear that now burns on my cheek may impart…"
Voldemort stood staring holes into the wall behind where the brown headed witch had just stood moments ago. Rage was pouring through him as her final word echoed through his mind 'dear'. His body began to shake as more of his Death Eaters flooded through the door at the strange disturbance. Draco was standing next to Voldemort staring at the same spot as if something had just exploded in his face.
Feeling the tension in the room tighten around them from their lord's rage no one spoke and some stopped breathing subconsciously. Bellatrix, Rodolphus, and Snape pushed through the crowd of black robed men to stop before Voldemort and follow his gaze to mid air. Mustering her courage Bellatrix took a step closer, "milord, is everything alright?"
Bellatrix's words brought him out of his furious stupor and increased his fury ten fold, "Alright," his voice was low and they backed up, "ALRIGHT!" He turned on the Death Eaters and raised his wand to Dolohov sending a silent crucio his way, "No Bella everything is not alright!" Dolohov was rolling around on the floor, "isn't that right Dolohov?"
He removed the curse in order for him to answer with his lie, "I know not what you speak of milord," the other Death Eaters thought he was sincere until Bellatrix and Rodolphus swung around and glared at him.
"You dare lie to our lord?" Bellatrix growled at him allowing Voldemort to compare the lioness that was in the room earlier with his most trusted female snake. Bellatrix was pale and radiating in her desire for him to notice her, raven black hair that stuck out around her in curls adding to her insane beauty, eyes of chocolate brown that gleamed with her cruelty and loyalty, posture declaring that she would obey him with the slightest movement but would tear into the first other who tried to control her, her voice was cold and dangerous that ranged from a soothing calm to a hysterical scream. She was the darkest beauty he's ever seen. The lioness, Hermione, had tan skin that seemed to glow in her innocence, sharp golden hazel eyes carried the wild fire of her spirit and the brilliance of the mind behind them, framing brown hair that he was positive had been a completes rats nest now was only slightly frizzy and wavy crackled with her rage, a posture that screamed defiance and courage, a voice that ranged from deathly calm to a roar of rage, and those crystal tears that coursed down her flushed cheeks only fueled her to make the woman before her crumple in fear of being pounced upon. She was…he hadn't decided what she was…he had seen all of Bellatrix's moods and they all orbit around him…but this other woman's was different and he new she was going to be a pain.
Dwelling in his thoughts he had not realized that Bellatrix had begun to pry the information from Dolohov's shaking form with her husband, Rodolphus, "enough you two," it was a command and they stepped back so that he could reach Dolohov, "you are my ministry informant, Dolohov, are you not?"
Dolohov was shaking with the pain but nodded in recognition of his position and spluttered something incoherent.
"Hmm that's odd. Now how does it come that, my ministry informant, who has recently received a very honorable rise in status to stand next to Scrimgeour did not inform me of this preposterous plan of theirs? Hmm?" He knelt down next the man's cheek, "no answer, Dolohov? Well, then I believe I have no more use of you seeing as you can't answer a simple question nor do your job!" The last three words bellowed from deep within Voldemort's chest causing all of them to flinch away from him except for Draco who was still staring at the spot in disbelief.
"Milord I was sworn to secrecy and kept away from the project when I tried to sabotage it. They found out I was a Death Eater then. That is why I was unable to inform you. I tried everything but nothing would work milord!" He was desperately speaking the truth and Voldemort knew it.
However, he was far to angry to care and needed to keep his Death Eaters wise, "You were discovered," Voldemort laughed as he stood, "that makes everything better," sarcasm was unmistakable and the crowd back farther away from Dolohov who looked up completely frightened and ready to beg, "hold your tongue! Like I said I have no more use of you, Dolohov! Avada Kedavra," the spell was cast with so much ease that he didn't even raise his voice above a slight lover's whisper before he looked up, "the war will be on a stand still until Draco and I have been married to our chosen brides! It is the Law of Olde so do not question it or my power!Remove this filth from my sight and all of you leave! Rodolphus retrieve Narcissa for me! Bella, Severous take a seat!"
The Death Eaters removed the body and Rodolphus left the room at a sprint. Snape sat in the chair that he was directed to but Bellatrix still stood wide eyed and slack jawed trying to decipher the words he just spoke, "m-ma-married?"
Voldemort gave her a side ways glance before walking to Draco and examining the poor boy. He knew of Bella's desire to be in his bed and Rodolphus's undying loyalty to her that said he would participate if allowed. Voldemort's lips curled up at the thought of Rodolphus coming anywhere near his bed with such intentions of bedding a woman with Lord Voldemort. Disgusting. Bella continued to mutter the word as if it would sound differently the more she said it but it never did. He averted his attention to the pale blonde that hadn't moved since their unexpected visitors left, "Draco!" it was his most commanding voice but Draco stilled heard nothing and this worried Voldemort slightly, "Severous come and grab the boy when he comes back to earth," after that Voldemort lifted his wand and cast another silent crucio that wasn't as strong because it's only objective was to wake Draco.
He immediately fell to the floor in a ball but the curse was lifted once Draco had shown signs of coming back to the living. Snape grabbed him under his arms and lifted, "put him in my chair Severous. The boy's had quiet a shock," Snape obeyed then returned to his own chair, "How are you feeling?"
Draco looked up at his master, "angry, queasy, and annoyed, milord!"
"Hmm," Voldemort walked over so that he was standing next to Draco, "thought so."
Draco had followed him and was about to speak when Narcissa and Rodolphus came through the door closing it behind them, "you called me milord?"
Voldemort nodded, "Yes Narcissa. Draco and I require your's, Bella's, and Severous's opinions," Voldemort sighed completely irritated before snapping, "Bellatrix no matter how many times you say the word it will always sound the same!" Bellatrix fell silent and looked up at her master with apologetic eyes, "what…does..um..," he was slightly hung on the words that he didn't want to say, "a…um….woman like…Miss Granger like?"
Bellatrix leapt to her feet, Severous yelled 'what', Narcissa's jaw dropped, and Rodolphus joined his wife looking utterly dumbstruck.
Ginny's and Hermione's strong demeanors crumbled once they reached the Burrow and they fell to their knees crying and shaking. Albus bent down and began to rub their backs in a slow circular motion before Ginny rushed up the stairs and into the bathroom where they could hear her being sick. Harry was about to rush off to comfort her when Albus stopped him, "do not touch her Harry. I don't say this because it will make things easier but because you can't because you love her," Harry starred at him then looked up the stairs.
Ron strutted into the room and saw Hermione crumpled on the floor next to Albus and ran to her, but before Albus could stop him he had touched her arm. "OUCH!" Hermione leapt back from his touch and landed on her bum. She looked down at her bare arm and saw a large hands sized red mark covering her bicep where she had been burned by his touch. She looked up at Ron and realized that he loved her then raced off out the front door where she was sick behind an old barrel a little ways from the house.
Ron was going to follow but Albus stalled him, "you cannot touch her because you love her," Albus had a small silver tear running down his beard, "Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Lupin please go and check up on Miss Weasley up stairs. Lupin, wait with Ron and Harry for the others to arrive. Kingsley come with me to check up on our lioness," Kingsley followed him out.
"Why do you call her that?" They stopped next to the heaving girl who was taking great gulps of fresh air every chance she got.
"What?" Albus held her hair and Kingsley rubbed her back muttering soothing comforts.
"Lioness or Lioness of all Gryffindors? Kind of dramatic don't you think," she began heaving again and he made larger circles.
"No. That's her animagus form, Kingsley. A lioness," he held her hair up higher so the cool breeze could get to the back of her neck and he noticed Kingsley's persistent stare, "I call her Lioness of all Gryffindors because she's always there for them. They are like her cubs, not literally, but she watches them none the less. See how she took care of Umbridge and tried to give up her benefits for Ginny's happiness," Albus sighed, "You already know this Kingsley so why do you ask?"
"I did not know her animagus form was a lioness. I did, however, know that she is a very protective woman of what she loves, Albus," he gave him a pointed stare that spoke a millions words and Albus understood them all.
"Yes, I fear that's true," he whispered as she was sick again.