A/N: Could you guys let me know what sort of thing you'd like to see? Bellatrix/Hermione only or make it a triangle and have Hermione with both Bellatrix and Narcissa? I know some of you in the past asked me to write a triangle like that. This story has the potential (even the potential of having Hermione be involved with all three sisters at different times). I want to push my own boundaries as well as the boundaries of what I have written before. I am open to suggestions and ideas. ~Cissy


Chapter 7

"Archangel"

Hermione descended down the marble staircase and found Narcissa waiting in the entrance hall. The blonde witch looked up when she heard the younger woman approach and blue eyes watched transfixed as she came closer. Dressed in simple black trousers and a long sleeved black shirt and with her long brown curls falling freely down her shoulders Hermione reminded Narcissa somewhat of her sister. But as she looked closer she observed the bruises on Hermione's wrists and neck and came to the conclusion that to Bellatrix Hermione had been something else.

"Is there news?" Hermione asked as she reached Narcissa.

"Potter has returned to Hogwarts," Narcissa said. "Draco sent an owl this morning saying he arrived back late last night. It would appear the Order believes the castle is a safe haven."

Hermione smirked. "For now."

She turned when she heard the sound of Bellatrix's boots behind her on the stairs and watched as the raven haired Death Eater made her way down. When Bellatrix reached her, her arm slipped around her waist and warm lips gently sucked down on the side of her neck. Bellatrix ignored her youngest sister completely though she was not blind for the emotions she saw flickering behind those blue eyes.

"Potter is back at Hogwarts," Hermione whispered when Bellatrix finally removed her lips. "We need to talk."

Bellatrix cocked her head. "Potter belongs to the Dark Lord, my love. He is not for us to kill."

Hermione's eyes snapped in Bellatrix's direction and the raven haired witch seemed to be momentarily taken aback by the anger and hatred lingering in Hermione's eyes. Whatever colour remained in her face slowly disappeared and she looked pale as she spoke. "You saw what we can do!"

"Betrayal," whispered Narcissa. "You wish to overpower the Dark Lord?"

"I'll leave that up to Potter," Hermione hissed. "After all, he knows where to find those Horcruxes. At least he thinks he does. Why not let him do all the work and take advantage in the end?" Her eyes darted from Narcissa and Bellatrix. "You don't really think he would be a match for us, do you?"

"The Dark Lord is powerful," Bellatrix said but Hermione laughed. "Truly powerful."

"And what do you call these three wands? A joke?" Hermione asked and shook her head. "Clearly there is some kind of dark force at work here but it has nothing to do with the Dark Lord. Haven't you noticed how he hasn't returned since you brought me here? A man of his talents would know of the myth, Bellatrix. The wand maker sure knew so is to say the Dark Lord didn't?"

Narcissa opened her mouth but she didn't speak. Her eyes merely rested on Hermione. "What are you going to do?"

"Find Potter," Hermione shrugged. "If I can get him to trust me again…"

Bellatrix now openly laughed. "You expect him to be that stupid, Hermione? He knows you chose your side. You betrayed him. You broke away from the Order and defiled the friendship you once had." She paused when the front door swung open and Lucius appeared. It was pouring it down with rain outside but he had remained dry. He slowly closed the wooden front door and his eyes drifted from his wife to Bellatrix and eventually Hermione. He observed that the conversation had fallen silent.

"Potter is desperate," Hermione said once Lucius was gone. Her hazel eyes found Bellatrix's charcoal black and the corners of her mouth curled up into a devious smile. "He knows he can never find the remaining Horcruxes alone. He needs help and like Cissy pointed out, he will never be able to do it without me. He needs me but he never really needed Ron. Surely we can persuade the Order that I was under the Imperius Curse?"

Bellatrix looked from Hermione to Narcissa and back. It was obvious she wasn't sure about Hermione's intentions and when she met her sister's eyes she realised Narcissa shared her concern. Hermione however was blind to their doubt and turned on her heel. She was about to climb back up the stairs when she realised Lucius was on his way back down. She turned and her eyes rested on the two witches. "Meet me in the library. We can talk privately."

She disappeared and Bellatrix and Narcissa were left alone. Lucius ignored his wife as he made his way to the drawing room. Once he was gone Narcissa turned to her sister. "What in Merlin's name is she doing? Does she really plan to overthrow the Dark Lord? It will get her killed! It will get us all killed!"

Bellatrix twirled a dark curl around her index finger and began pacing around the entrance hall. The sound of her boots echoed off the marble floor. "She has a point."

"What, gaining Potter's trust and hope that the Order doesn't kill her immediately?" Narcissa said, her voice slightly high pitched. "Bellatrix, I understand why you brought her here and I am sure she was a quite adequate mate last night, but she is a danger to us all. Same wand core or not…"

"I know," Bellatrix sighed. She stopped pacing and her dark eyes fixed on the only window in the entrance hall. "What I don't understand is how I didn't see it. I was sure I had seen all of her." She paused and her eyes searched for those of her sister. Once Narcissa held her gaze Bellatrix crossed the room and before Narcissa could react her sister's hand had shot up and Bellatrix cupped her sister's cheek. The touch would have been tender were it not for the fact that Bellatrix's nails scratched Narcissa's skin. "She is part of this union, Cissy. We have to trust her."

"Even if she is going to get us killed?" Narcissa whispered as she arched an eyebrow. "Exactly how much did you see, Bella?"

"Enough," Bellatrix answered. "I thought that what the Weasley boy did to her was enough to break her. I wasn't wrong. But it is what lay hidden underneath that concerns me. Such rage and anger. I did not see it when I saw her for the first time." She paused and brought her lips closer to her sister's ear. Her breath was warm against her younger sister's skin. "She belongs with us, Narcissa. We cannot let her leave."

Narcissa wanted to object but Bellatrix covered her sister's mouth with her finger before softly kissing her cheek. Then she turned around and made her way to the library. Judging from the sound of clicking heels, Narcissa was right behind her. When they entered the dimly lit library Bellatrix found Hermione standing by one of the tall windows, staring out over the Manor's garden. Thick raindrops slid down the darkened glass and in the distance the sound of thunder approached. A small fire cast a strangely warm glow into the room. Hermione turned when she heard the two witches enter and her eyes snapped up to search their faces.

"You doubt me, " she spoke distantly. "You doubt what we can be."

"I don't doubt you." Bellatrix said a she crossed the room and reached the younger witch. She took her hand into her own and smiled. "What we can be cannot be measured. Three cores, one destiny."

Hermione's eyes darted to Narcissa. "Your sister does not believe it can be done."

"You'll have to forgive Narcissa," Bellatrix whispered and she cast her sister a dark look. Narcissa seemed apprehensive about moving closer even as her sister looked at her. "She has been with Lucius too long. It changes one's mind about what can and cannot be done."

Hermione seemed to think about Bellatrix's words for a little while before walking away from the window. From the small table by the fireplace she picked up a book and gave it to the dark haired witch. "It's right here," she said. "The legend of the Three Cores. They are meant to overpower event he strongest of Wizards as long as they remain together. Separately they are weak and useless but together the world belongs to them."

"And it will," Bellatrix reassured her. "It will."

"Not unless your sister lets go of her doubts," Hermione said and she met Narcissa's gaze. "She has to trust me."

"I trust you," Narcissa said softly and crossed the room to reach Bellatrix and Hermione. Her blue eyes met the young witch's hazel brown. "What is your plan?"

"Get me back to Hogwarts."

"Hermione…"

"It is the only way," Hermione said. "If you want the Dark Lord, you need Potter. If you want Potter, you need me. It's quite simple…" Her eyes found Bellatrix. "The Order will believe me."

"Why?" Narcissa asked. "How are you so sure they will?"

Hermione smirked. "Because I can be quite convincing."

Narcissa looked at Bellatrix. "You really think this is a good idea? Sending her back to Hogwarts, I mean. She'll be surrounded by the Order and the union will be broken. Our wands will no longer be in the same place."

"They will be once I get Potter," Hermione whispered. Her hazel eyes darkened and behind them the first flash of lightening cut through a grey sky. The sound startled the three witches. "Get me back to Hogwarts and I promise you that everything will be fine. You are going to have to trust me." She paused and her eyes fixed on Bellatrix. "Like I trusted you when I came here. I had no reason to believe you. I had no reason to trust you and yet I did. I am asking you to trust me, Bellatrix."

"I trust you," Bellatrix said and softly placed her lips against Hermione's. "I trust you."

Narcissa watched as her sister kissed the young brunette and once they parted she moved nearer. She took Hermione's hands into her own and blue eyes pierced into hazel brown. For the first time she saw what her sister had seen and Hermione saw what Narcissa wanted her to see. They were meant to be together, meant to stay together. Only together could they get what was rightfully theirs. The world.

"I trust you," Narcissa whispered and kissed Hermione's cheek, much like Bellatrix had done to her. As she moved away she caught her sister's eyes and Bellatrix nodded in approval. "We have to trust each other."

"No one can know about this," Hermione said and she looked at Bellatrix. A dark twinkle appeared in her eyes as she grinned. "Tell them I ran back to the Order if you must. Tell them I went to help Potter. Let them believe I betrayed all of you. They never believed me anyway but they are less likely to suspect you when they hate me. Just as long as you don't let them kill me." Narcissa nodded quietly and watched as Hermione moved away from her and Bellatrix. Intense hazel eyes now caught charcoal black and she held her head high. "You know what to do."

Bellatrix drew her wand from her sleeve and aimed it at Hermione. There wasn't even the slightest hesitation as she spell rolled from her tongue and the ret jet crashed into Hermione's body. Her knees buckled and she landed on the floor, smacking her face against the wood and feeling the blood begin to poor from her nose. The pain was excruciating. Bellatrix had no mercy. Her body seized and jerked and she felt the bile rise up from the pit of her stomach. She heaved as tears began to flow down her cheeks and laced with the blood. A large bruise began to form underneath her eye.

"Crucio! CRUCIO! Crucio!"

It was Narcissa who eventually forced Bellatrix to lower her wand but not until after Hermione had vomited all over the wooden floor. She crawled back up on her hands and knees, heaving and panting, and with an unsteady hand she reached for her chest where her heart was hammering so fiercely against her ribcage that she believed it was about to explode. Her face was covered in blood, bruises had begun to form and her nose looked like it had been broken in three different places. Blood had seeped into her dress, trickled down her hands and her neck. Strands of hair had fallen in her eyes and as she looked up Narcissa realised that what she had believed to be blood from the cut on Hermione's forehead were actually the burst veins in her eyes. She reminded her somewhat of a werewolf in the seconds before the transformation began.

"Let me go," Hermione whispered when Narcissa rushed to her side and tried to help her up. "Just let me go."

Bellatrix cocked her head at the sound of the pathetic plea and then she smirked. Her eyes found Narcissa's. "Get rid of her."

Narcissa's fingers closed a little too tightly around Hermione's arms, bruising the tender flesh, as she dragged the brunette to her feet. She was too weak to walk and her legs could not yet support her weight. Her body remained limp as Narcissa flicked her wand and she rose up into the air, a few inches from the floor, and Narcissa led her to the front door. As it swung open it revealed the pouring rain and thunder outside. The magic slowly put her back down and Hermione grabbed hold of the doorframe to make sure she did not fall down to her knees. Through the blood still trickling down her forehead and falling into her eyes she looked up at Narcissa.

"Wait for me," she whispered. She could barely speak. She had bitten tongue as well as her lip and her mouth was swollen and full of blood. It tasted sweet and sickening at the same time. "Wait for me…"

"I will," Narcissa answered, though she wasn't quite sure what it was she was promising Hermione.

She watched in a mixture of sadness and shock as the young brunette staggered out into the rain and managed to draw her wand from her sleeve. She looked like she had been tortured for hours on end and as she began to turn on the spot Narcissa wondered whether Hermione had enough strength to Apparate at all. Just as she was about to rush to her side and help, the younger witch disappeared and Narcissa was left standing outside in the pouring rain.

~()~

The front door seemed to be just out of her reach. She staggered, one foot unsteadily in front of the other, and stretched out her hand in a desperate attempt to feel the metal of the door handle under her fingers. She felt nothing. The pounding of her heart echoed through her head and the pain became more intense with every step. Blood still seeped from her nose and her forehead. A few more steps. Four. Three. She paused. It seemed too much. A light was burning behind the small kitchen window. Shadows moved. Two. Just two more steps.

"It's Hermione!" someone shouted. It was a man but she didn't recognise their voice. All she felt was the tip of her wand pressing harshly into the side of her neck. The feeling of the wood making contact with her flesh almost sent her stomach turning. She almost collapsed when a strong hand grabbed hold of her arm.

"Remus!" The voice belonged to a woman. It sounded familiar but Hermione couldn't think of a name to go with it. "What are you doing? Let her go!"

"Molly, the last time we saw her she was with Bellatrix. I don't think I need to remind you of what happened there?"

"Look at her! She has been beaten within an inch of her life!"

"It could be a trick, Molly. It wouldn't be the first time Bellatrix Lestrange would try and fool us."

"If she wanted to trick us wouldn't she send someone that could actually draw their wand?"

"Remus, let her go."

A third voice and this one also belonged to a woman. It was less demanding than the one that Hermione now knew belonged to Molly Weasley. She tried to look up and with what little vision she had left she watched a dark figure move closer; dark hair, and dark eyes. For a second she thought it was Bellatrix. Andromeda.

"Take her inside."

"Andy, are you sure that's wise?"

Hermione felt a soft hand slide up the inside of her waist, patting down along the fabric of her shirt. Her head lulled to the other side as the tender hands moved up to her chest and shoulders before sliding down her arms. She felt her wand being taken out of her sleeve and tried to look up. Her head felt too heavy and she was too tired.

"I have her wand. What harm is she going to do without it?" Andromeda said calmly. "Look at her, Remus. She is practically on death's door. Molly is right. Bring her inside. We'll clean her up and then we'll talk to her."

Remus' strong hand slipped from her arm and Hermione's knees gave in now that there was nobody to support her. She heard him walk away, leaving her scrambling in the mud as she attempted to crawl back to her feet. The soft hands returned and she realised that Andromeda had helped her back up. She attempted to look at the other woman but through the blood in her eyes she could not see her.

"Thank you," she stammered and nearly choked on her tears. "Thank you."

"Let's get you inside," said the voice of Molly Weasley and a second pair of hands took her other arm. "I shall deal with Remus later."

As they brought her into the Burrow's warm kitchen Hermione immediately sensed the presence of more people. Voices died down as they stepped inside and she attempted to stand on her own two feet but found she was too weak to support herself.

"Take her upstairs, Andy," said Molly. "Get her in the bath. I'll be right up to help you." Hermione heard her walk off whilst muttering something under her breath that sounded an awful lot like "'I need to have a word with Remus about his manners."

"What happened to you?" Andromeda whispered as she gently helped Hermione up the stairs. Her hands were gentle but strong as she supported the younger witch's body. When they reached the bathroom Andromeda opened the hot tap and watched as the tub began to fill with warm water and vanilla scented bubble bath. Hermione sensed the light was on but her vision was too blurred to really see. When she felt Andromeda's fingers tug at the hem of her shirt she flinched. Andromeda seemed to remember what she had said back at the Manor.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to frighten you."

"It's…OK…," Hermione stammered.

"Ok," Andromeda answered softly and she once again reached for the hem of Hermione's shirt. Slowly she pulled it over the brunette's head and revealed the horror that lay underneath. Red lashes covered her chest, like someone had whipped her. Large purple bruises covered Hermione's shoulders and almost everywhere all the way down her arms. Some looked like someone had beaten her with a heavy object; others looked like someone had grabbed a tight hold of her. The sight of five perfect finger marks on Hermione's upper arm made Andromeda flinch.

Slowly she helped Hermione step out of her pants and was left with the uncomfortable task of removing the brunette's underwear. Andromeda tried not to look but the horror of what was displayed in front of her took her breath away. She never spoke as she helped Hermione into the bath and sat down on the side. She took the ceramic jug that stood on the side of the bath and began pouring warm water over Hermione's head. The blood began to wash away from her face and slowly some of her vision returned. When she turned to look at Andromeda Hermione could see the older woman's face. She was crying and Hermione cried too.