A stinging jinx to the chest took the breath out of Hermione as she laid unmoving on the cold stone floor of the deserted corridor. Please, someone, anyone, help!
"I'll teach you to humiliate me in front of my sisters. You got lucky earlier Green, but it looks like now I'm the lucky one. Next time don't hesitate when you're the one with the upper hand." Bellatrix stood over a petrified Hermione, curved walnut wand trained to her chest.
Hermione could feel her heart hammering within her chest as she stared up as the dark beauty. Bellatrix's set jaw and wide eyes reminded Hermione of the crazed Death Eater she had fought just weeks prior. Without the extra age however, Hermione couldn't argue just how beautiful Bellatrix could be. Her pale skin contrasted perfectly with her dark hair and wine red stained lips. Her stature, while shorter than Hermione, carried so much poise and confidence to her as well. If It weren't for those crazed eyes, Hermione could easily find herself being smitten over the girl. But, she knew too much, and she refused to let it affect her better judgements.
"What to do with you. There's so much I'd like to do; however, I can't exactly risk expulsion right now." Suddenly Hermione was beginning to levitate, lifting her up to her feet but still frozen in place. "If you know what's good for you Green, you'll learn who your superiors are at this school, and what your place really is. Curfew will start soon. That paedophilic nauseating squib will be by soon looking for students out of bed. And what do we think will happen when he finds a cute fresh piece of meat for him in the hallways? Won't be able to act so sweet and innocent then will you girl? Defiled, and by a squib no less. What would you do if you had his bastard? I bet not even your mud father would care for you then. We can hope at least." A devilish grin spread across the girl's face as Bellatrix levitated Hermione into the doorway of an empty classroom, propped up in the shadows out of the way of being discovered right away.
Another stinging hex, this time to her face and Hermione could feel blood starting to trickle down her nose. A small whimper was all the sound she could make. Thankfully it was no cruciartus, but it did still hurt quite a lot.
Soon Bellatrix was in her face, her wand digging into Hermione's naval as she looked up at the slightly taller brunette girl. "Next time? Mind your own business. I have no qualms in showing you the full extent of my duelling in front of the entire school. You got lucky today, but it won't happen again. Mark my words Green." She sneered up at the Gryffindor before turning to storm down the hall, making her way back to the dungeons before the heads of house would make their rounds.
Frozen stiff against the wall, Hermione was grateful that a few stinging jinxes and threats were all she received. The crazed look in the other girl's eyes was more of a persona than action, and she was happy to have survived the encounter.
While she agreed with Bellatrix on some front that Filch was a bit of a creep, Hermione knew he was no paedophile. Regardless, she'd rather avoid the detention and get back to her dorm as quickly as possible.
As she laid against the rough stone wall, her limbs slowly beginning to regain feeling and movement, she reminded herself as she mentally chanted the counter, that she needed to practice her wandless and wordless magic a lot more as well. While she wasn't under constant threat of Voldemort anymore, there were still plenty of other issues lying in wait, and she didn't feel like waiting until they were full fledged Death Eaters to be able to protect herself.
Another set of chimes rung through the castle, and instantly Hermione knew that she was late. Regardless, there was still a chance to avoid trouble as long as she could get free, sneak through the castle and back into the common room unseen. If only she had Harry's invisibility cloak, it'd have been so much easier to sneak around, but James Potter wasn't even in school yet, and honestly, Hermione hoped she never got to meet him, it'd be too hard to explain that to Harry.
While the bushy haired girl had silently cursed the emptiness of the untraveled hallway earlier, she was starting to become grateful for it now.
Slowly Hermione was able to move her arm. The nerve endings in her finger tips still had little to no feeling and it was hard to figure out when she finally had hold of her wand. Mentally she was heaving with exhaustion as she was able to finally pull her wand free from her robes and mumble the counter loud enough to fully free herself. Luckily the crazed bitch hadn't stolen her wand, otherwise she could have been stuck there half the night. She wiped the sleeve of her robe across her face to clean the blood that had dripped from her nose before it dried in place, she'd have to do some spot cleaning on the robes later, she only hoped her nose wasn't broken or crooked. She disliked her appearance enough as it was.
Sticking her head around the corner to check if the coast was clear, Hermione started to sneak back down the hallway towards the stairs, casting a silencing charm on her shoes to draw less attention to herself. She'd also have to be more aware in the future to people following her around. Typically, it was she, Harry and Ron that did the following, but it seemed that things were changing.
Slowly the Gryffindor was able to creep her way through the corridors and up the stairs to the seventh floor. Two hallways to go.
A soft kittens meow froze the girl in her tracks. Slowly she turned to see a tiny calico tabby staring at her and meowing.
"What is it Miss Norris? Ya find something?"
You've got to be kidding me. Never before did Hermione ever imagine she could be so terrified of a kitten. Especially one that in any other context she would probably think was adorable, but she knew it could mean only one thing.
Turning the corner, a young man in his 20's reached down to scoop up the kitten in his arms, hair long, greasy and unkempt, it stuck to his skull. He stroked the kitten, causing it to purr as he looked up to find the kittens target.
"Well well well, bit late to be outa bed don't ya think?" The perverse smirk pulling at Filch's lips made it quite easy for Hermione to understand where he might have gotten a reputation of paedophilia. "Come on. Follow me to the Headmaster's office. Hopefully if ya get detention they'll bring back the old punishments. I bet ya can scream a lot." Maybe there was a little more to the reputation than she knew, because he didn't make himself any less creepy the more that he talked.
"Come on, I'm already back to my common room. And I'm not that late." Hermione pleaded, watching the small kitten in his arms.
"Rules is rules miss! Come on now. I need ta get Miss Norris some cream for a job well done don't I?" He said stroking the kittens head. Hermione's stomach churned slightly before giving in with a sigh, following after him towards the Headmaster's office. "You're getting good at this little one. You're her third catch this week. Natural huntress this one."
It was a bit amusing to see the old grizzled cat she grew up fearing as a first and second year as a kitten. She really was cute at least at one point. No Crookshanks, but still. It also amazed Hermione at how old it meant the cat really was.
"Come on, come on!" Hermione was pulled out of her thoughts as Filch grabbed the collar of her robe, gripping it tightly in his fist as he pulled her down the hall towards Dumbledore's office. "Not got all night ta be wasting away on the likes of you."
Hermione followed silently beside him, letting him lead the way but not lagging behind too much for him to pull at her robes. The unpleasant smell of body odour around the man at least was the same, however unpleasant it may be.
In little time they stood at the base of the staircase towards the Headmaster's office. "Chocolate Frogs." The girl sighed softly as the gargoyle slowly slid out of the way before the gruff man was pushing her up the staircase.
As she reached the top of the stairs, the sight of the slightly younger Dumbledore was beginning to become normal to her. He looked up from the journal in his hand, peering over the top as Filch followed in after her. "Headmaster? Got another one for ya. Out after hours like the rest of em."
"Ahh Miss Green." The elder wizard spoke as he laid the book down beside his chair at the fireplace. "Late night plans I assume?"
Hermione's cheeks burned as she looked down "No sir. I was attacked on my way back from the library tonight. I was immobilized and couldn't move until curfew had passed. I was just getting into the dormitories."
"Yeah likely, you aint said nothing about being attacked till now." Filch growled as he looked down at the girl.
Hermione frowned at the rude man beside her. "You didn't exactly ask did you? I've still got the blood on my sleeve if you want to check that." She held up her sleeve to the caretaker who only pulled his own disgusted face and stepped back from her.
Dumbledore smiled and stood, walking towards his desk. "Thank you for bringing Miss Green to my office Argus, I'll be taking care of things with Miss Green from here. Besides, your familiar seems to want your attention. Best to tend to her."
A small grunt sounded from beside her as the man turned down the staircase again. "Aye sir."
As the sound of stone slid back into place at the base of the stairs Dumbledore snapped his fingers, a young Elf dressed in a silken pillowcase appearing in front of him. "Yes Headmaster Dumbledore Sir?"
"Tilly, would you mind bringing up a tray of tea and a few scones and biscuits for Miss Green and I?"
The small elf grinned, bowing his head lowly, nearly hitting the floor. "Right away Headmaster sir!" And was gone in a loud crack.
Dumbledore moved to his desk, sitting in his chair and motioning across to Hermione. "Now Miss Granger, would you mind explaining who it was that attacked you tonight then?"
Hermione sighed softly as she took the other seat across the large ornate desk, all she wanted in this moment was to be relaxing in the common room before turning in for an early night. Why did that woman always have to ruin things for her? "It was Black sir, Bellatrix Black. I was walking back to the common room, and she attacked me. I never heard her coming."
As she finished explaining, there was another loud crack that sounded through the room as Tilly the elf appeared again carrying a tray filled with a tea pot, two saucers, two cups and a mountain of scones accompanied with cream and jam. Dumbledore smiled at the elf, thanking her before starting to pour them each a cup of tea. "Milk or sugar Miss Granger?"
Hermione sighed softly as she watched the man work "No thank you sir, I'm not really in the mood."
He smiled, dropping two sugar cubes into a cup to take. "Just the same. You know Miss Green, there was a rumour earlier this evening that a Gryffindor drew their wand on the Black sisters to threaten them outside the Great Hall. You wouldn't know anything about this now would you?"
"I-I" She stuttered slightly, a lump forming in her throat that didn't seem to want to go down. "I did not threaten them sir. Bellatrix had made a threat against myself, Molly, Arthur and Ted Tonks and I was merely being precautious that she didn't push further and attack. She may not be Bellatrix Lestrange yet, but I know who she becomes. I was not going to risk that threat. I did not attack any of them. I was the one attacked instead."
The Headmaster listened thoughtfully as she spoke before smiling. "I see. However, you claim to have been attacked, but you seem just fine to me Miss Granger. I recognize that you have some preconceptions about some of the students such as Miss Black, but believe in the goodness in all of our students. You may see her as one thing, but there is still potential for good within Bellatrix Black."
Hermione stared at the old man before laughing. "Good? Within Bellatrix? Sir, she attacked me! And if you had heard the things she said to me—"
"And as I said, you appear to be in good health Miss Green. Wrongful acts do not evil people make. As long as love and hope persist. There is a chance for all of our students."
Hermione scoffed softly as she sat back in her seat. "Not for Bellatrix. I know her future. And it's filled with torture, murder and darkness."
Dumbledore took a moment, sipping from his cup before setting it back on his desk. "None the less. I have no proof that Miss Black has attacked you, therefore, I can do nothing for it. You however were out after hours. It would seem a bit like favouritism towards Gryffindor if I didn't punish you as such. I'm afraid I'll be assigning you detention this Friday night with Professor McGonagall. Next time, please do try to be in your dorm in time, or at least travel a bit more prepared with friends. Isolation is a dangerous thing Miss Granger. Even in a situation such as your own."
Hermione felt the lump in her throat fall instantly as a rock in her stomach. She had been attacked, she was threatened, and yet she was the one being punished while Bellatrix got off scot free. Hermione's face hardened, she wouldn't allow the man to see how upset she was. "I see. Well if that is all, may I please be allowed to go back to my dormitory now sir?"
The man shrugged, motioning towards the tower of scones. "Would you not like a quick midnight snack?"
She shook her head defiantly; she was more than over her meeting with the Headmaster. "All the same professor, I'd prefer just to go to bed if that's alright."
Dumbledore smiled and nodded down at the girl as he reached for a scone of his own. "Well then, alright. I'm sure I'll see you soon Miss Green, hopefully not under a similar situation. Good night."
She stood, not even thanking the man as she turned to let herself out of the office, walking back towards Gryffindor tower with her marching orders. It wasn't fair. None of it was fair. Her entire existence in this situation was due to Bellatrix, even if not the same Bellatrix, then the one she would become. She was rude and evil and Dumbledore seemed not to care or even believe her! It felt a bit to her like Harry blaming Malfoy for everything, only this time it was true. She'd have to figure something out. Some way to pay the witch back for all the hardships she had put her through so far. She only needed to come up with a plan.
A/N It's not midnight yet! Still getting my shit in before Thursday! Sorry that it's a little bit shorter compared to some of the latest chapters, but I hope it's still as good.
I am so in love with all you lovelies! Over 100 followers and almost 6k views! I love you all so much for following the story so far!
kpop1392as -Dun Dun Dun indeed lol. The old saying goes, it has to get worse before it can get better right?
LazzeEM - I absolutely love you and your reviews/PMs! There's definitely a double meaning between Sybill's dreams and possibly a prophecy in the future? We'll just have to wait and see ;)
Until next time my lovelies!
