Chapter Nine: Balance.
Screams, that was all she heard; all she ever heard. Screams of the people she had harmed, of the people who had been harmed around her. She saw flashes of faces, some brought her pain but joy; two brothers, both looked so much alike yet so very different. Sisters, one looked like a formed ray of sunlight, while the other had been carved from midnight.
Then the memories, all of them, every single memory of pain, hurt and loss; if it caused a negative emotion then it was brought to light. Who was she, a hollow shell of an evil soul? Maybe, could she be saved….doubtful. She was Bellatrix Lestrange, the right hand of Voldemort; the most feared and loyal of the Death Eaters….right?
That was when she heard it; it was like a howl but not unlike a cry of joy. Suddenly the Island shook, light appeared from her one window and the smell of sulfur waved through the air. Then more screams, yet these screams weren't hers they came from outside.
A small ray of light blew through her door cracks, it was warm…she had almost forgotten what warm was. Then her door creaked, instead of the cold feeling the Dementors had when they entered to give them minor rations.
In the doorway stood a man, his face plagued her mind for years and every night she would look to the sky to see his name sake. His hair was pulled back, he wore a prison guard uniform and was holding himself with pride.
"Sirius?" She whispered, hoarse and dry from screaming and ranting. This was it, she'd finally snapped.
The man walked forward, slowly closing the door behind him; enough to block the line of sight but not enough to lock them in. Sirius took a moment to look her over, he was thin to the point where her ragged clothes looked like drapes, her eyes hollow, glassy and heavy lidded but violet like he remembered. Her raven hair was a mess, tangled and full of lice he was sure and she was shaking.
"Hey, how you doing?" He asked gently.
Bella threw her head back and let out a cold laugh, this went on for a minute leading it to the point of tears "This is it! This is the moment of complete insanity!"
"Answers that question." Sirius mumbled, leaning on the wall.
"What question? Why are you here?" Bella said, her eyes losing that glass effect she had.
"Why am I here?" Sirius asked, hands on his hips and his head cocked to the side "Take a guess, I'll wait."
Bellatrix frowned at him "I don't know, to kill me?" He shook his head "To free me?" He shrugged "What do you want!"
"The truth for starters."
"What?"
"Lestrange."
That made a mark, Bellatrix instantly started to shake and what little color she had was gone. Her violet eyes were looking around quickly, almost searching for him. "W-Why?" She whispered, avoiding his gaze.
"Because, I need to know." Sirius said kneeling down towards her "What did he do to you?"
Bellatrix shuddered for a moment "Siri…the better question is what he didn't do to me…" She whispered looking up at him slowly.
"Did he force you to follow Volde-" His words were cut off by her hand over his mouth and on his throat.
Her eyes crazed "Do. Not. Speak .His. Name." She hissed, looking feral.
Sirius could only nod slowly, she lowered her hands gently. Sirius was bleeding from his neck, her nails were razor sharp. Glancing at the wall told him why, she had been filing them down; most likely to protect herself.
Bellatrix leaned on the wall opposite of him "Yes….to answer the question…I always sort of agreed with his ideals but not his methods." She mumbled, pulling on the loose threads of her sleeves. Sirius could see scar tissue there, jagged cuts and thin lines signs of self-harm, most of them were very old.
That caused Sirius to close his eyes "Come on." That was the tell, the Bella he knew would never harm herself. She was too prideful for that, she cared about her body too much.
"W-What?" She said in a surprised tone of voice, looking at him with wide eyes.
"I'm breaking you out, if you would rather stay here then so be it."
"No! No, No, NO!" She said over and over again, starting to pull on her hair.
"Then come on, that pipebomb isn't going to keep them all occupied forever." He said opening the door again, wand at his side.
"Pipe what?" Bellatrix asked scrunching up her nose, her eyes losing that glassing again.
Sirius already had a good idea that she was slightly bipolar, maybe schizophrenic. This could cause a problem but for the moment it was fine, he was willing to go on faith for now. "Muggle thing, it's amazing what you learn as a criminal."
"Excuse me?" She asked as they started to walk.
"Didn't you know? Apparently I killed Peter Pettigrew, and told The Dark Lord where the Potters were. They gave me life without so much as a trial." Sirius said looking around carefully, he didn't feel any Dementors.
"Pettigrew? But he was the spy, I would have told you." She said closing her eyes and biting onto her lip to much that it started to bleed. She started to pull on her hair again.
"Bella, stop it." Sirius hissed, grabbing her arms "Tell me later, we need to leave now!"
Bellatrix took a few moments and seemed to go back to normal, Sirius opened a door with a set of keys. He wasn't an idiot, maybe reckless but not an idiot; he'd taken the uniform and keys from a guard on his way up, poor guy was locked in a closet.
The pair came face to face with the outside, it was the middle of a storm. It must have blown in when Sirius was setting up and getting Bella out. "Accio Silverbullet!" Sirius called out, it was a long shot with the wind and rain like it was. Wind.
Sirius pulled his wand back, part of his mind still focusing on the Silverbullet; however, for the moment he was waving his wand around "Ventis Tranquilla" He called out, the winds around him started to pick up and fight against the other winds. Sirius' winds pushed back the natural wind, to calm the area around him.
They didn't have to wait long for the broom to arrive, it was soaking wet and battered to hell but a broom was a broom. Without a second thought Sirius jumped onto it and pulled his cousin on next to him.
XX~XX~XX~XX
Escape from Azkaban!
November 24th, 1994. For the recorded Second time in History of our great Ministry, another convict has escaped Azkaban. Insane, Murderer and known Death Eater, Bellatrix Halley Lestrange: Black. She escaped sometime November 23rd, which was also the same time an explosive was placed in the Prison. "We have reason to believe" Cornelius Fudge, our esteemed Minster states "That Lestrange had help from the outside, from none other than Sirius Orion Black." To those who do not know, during the events of early June 1993 Black escaped Azkaban. He has yet to be caught.
To our readers we would also like to state that Lestrange was the only Death Eater freed from Azkaban, should you see Lestrange or Black. Do not Approach, contact your nearest Auror and leave it to them. Lestrange was most famous for the use of the Cruciatus curse, this woman feels no pity or mercy. ~ Luke Day.
Harry read the paper slowly, Sirius must have a good reason for doing this. Andromeda sent him a letter before the post Owls arrived this morning, basically stating that it was all under control and to not worry. Harry was worrying however, he cast a look to Neville. He was pale, shaking with either fear or rage; Harry didn't know.
He cast a look around the Hall, most people had read the paper by now "Hey Potter!" He cast his attention to the Slytherin table.
Draco was holding the paper, he had one leg on the seats and the other on the floor. "Better watch your back, I hear my Aunt has a score to settle with you and you too Longbottom." The arrogant toe-rag said with a cocky smirk.
Neville stood up slowly "Shut up." He muttered, Harry got a good look at his eyes; there wasn't an ounce of fear in them, this was pure hatred and anger.
"What'd you say, Longbottom?" Draco called out, a few Slytherin's starting to snicker around him. Harry noted that Daphne, Tracy and Karin Masaki were not laughing at all but shooting death glares at those who were. Nott didn't seem to care, at all; in fact he was sipping his tea while reading a book.
Neville rounded on Draco, Harry had never seen the normally gentle, kind and slightly lost boy this angry. "I told you to shut your bloody mouth!" Neville roared, that caused everyone to silence. Even the head-table was now quiet, everyone watching Neville.
Neville wasn't finished with that "You think you're special? You think you're the prince of the Slytherin house?" Neville growled, he point his finger to Daphne "She's got more Slytherin traits, than a hundred of you."
Draco raised a brow, he had actually taken a step back; startled by the outburst "Oh? Do go on."
"It's the truth, you don't have to be a bloody taunting jackass to be a Slytherin!" Neville growled out.
Draco didn't really comment, he stood up a little though.
Neville wasn't backing down "Not to mention her father didn't kiss up to a Dark Lord that was beaten by a one year old!" He cast Harry a glance, it was almost like he was asking for help.
Harry to this chance to stand up, he was part of this as well. "You're pathetic." He said in a bored voice, looking directly at Draco.
"Me? I'm pathetic, listen here you Half-" He started but was cut off.
Harry started to laugh, it was subtle at first; then it was a full on mad cackle. His head was thrown back as the laugh escaped his lips.
A lot of the people around Harry started to shrink away, Fleur made her way near him; along with Mindy, and Hermione; Neville stayed where he was.
Harry lowered his head for a moment, catching his breath "That's funny." He whispered "You think blood actually matters? Tell me Malfoy…how far back does the Potter blood go?"
Neville rounded on Harry, his eyes wide and he seemed almost impressed. Draco on the other looked confused "I know they 'were' pureblood, but what's your point?"
Harry took a step forward, Draco saw his eyes glowed a bright green color in the shadows "My blood goes back to the Old magic. Same with the Blacks and Longbottms." He growled out, then smirked coldly "I call you pathetic because you can't do anything, you're basically a squib."
A majority of the people in Hall gasped, Snape stood up to tell Potter off but Dumbledore rose his hand. He wanted to see this play out, Harry knew about his heritage which was good. He had moved Harold Potter to an unused part of the School for privacy, should Harry find him; it would be a lot like the mirror.
"ME A SQUIB" Draco roared, pulling his wand and pointing it at Harry.
Harry seemed unfazed, though his hand was extending out. Sirius had gotten him a wrist holster, he didn't want to sit on the bloody thing. "It's the truth, you're only good in Potions and that's because Snape leaves you alone and lets you pass with an O, when most would call an A-level potion." He stated coldly, he had read enough of the book to know what it was to look like. Harry had a feeling that if Snape would get off his back and let him work, then he would pass with an E or O as well. "Defense you've only been good at Curses, likely just review at this point."
Draco's face contorted with rage "I'll show you Potter." He growled "Pull out your wand."
"Why? You think you can beat me?" Harry said coldly, he'd never felt this confident before. Maybe he was this way on the pitch but this was new to him.
"You want to go then? Potter!" Draco taunted "What Mummy didn't teach you how to duel? What about Daddy? Did he teach you how to be a man?"
Harry didn't show any signs of anger, he just seemed to harden. His eyes shifted almost, becoming cold and a flake or two of red could be seen in the iris' "My parents, were more wizards and human beings than your Death Eater of a Father that you look up to!" He hissed, taking strides up to Draco "What are you going to do? Throw a curse he taught you? Hire a thug to beat me up? What will you do when you lose? Beat on a House-elf? Complain to your father?" At this point he was barely a foot away from Draco "Tell me"
Draco didn't say anything, fixed onto Harry's eyes. They were glowing with rage, anger and power. He shifted his wand hand forward but Harry grabbed his wrist, stopping the movement.
"The next time you call me out, harm one of my friends or even boast about how powerful you are." Harry whispered, it was loud enough to be heard across the Hall "I will bury you, it is not a threat." He growled tightening his grip on Draco's wrist "It. Is. A. Promise."
With that Harry let him go, turned on his heels and marched out towards the door. Pointing his hand, with his wand hidden under his fingers; blocking it from view "Accio Schoolbag." The bag few across the hall, nearly slamming into a first year and into his outstretched hand, then Harry opened the doors and walked out.
The rest of Harry's friends gathered their things including, Neville and Daphne. Following him out.
Dumbledore merely started to clap, it was light but it could be heard "A most impressive feat, I dare say that this act of standing up for one's self and others. Is in need of some points, Mr. Potter shall receive twenty points same with Mr. Longbottom; However Mr. Malfoy, fifty points shall be taken for aiming your wand at another student." He said in a grandfather like voice, gazing over at the young Slytherin.
Draco's face was red with embarrassment; he mumbled something under his breath and sat back down. Dumbledore was just glad no curses were thrown, it would have gone bad for more bystanders than the fighters.
The old wizard cast his gaze at the paper, it was troubling. Voldemort hadn't done this or all the Death Eaters would be freed, leaving only Sirius. No one was hurt severely, a few guards with burns and one with a concussion. So why save Bellatrix? Could he perchance have missed something? Dumbledore frowned, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a lemon drop; he popped the sour candy into his mouth and gazed back out onto the students.
XX~XX~XX~XX
Harry threw a water spell at the lake, causing it to ripple and throw waves around. His rage and will causing the tide to pull back a little, without noticing he coughed up a little blood and lowered his arms.
Fleur moved closer to him "Arry.." She whispered softly "Are you alright?"
Harry shook his head, throwing another wave at the water "No."
"Do you want to talk about it, Arry?" She spoke calmly, trying to help him.
Harry shook his head "I just want to be alone…." He whispered back, sending her a mix of pain and anger. It wasn't at her, but it was there.
Fleur nodded her head gently and rested her hand on his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. She walked to the group, who were waiting a little away. She didn't turn around when Harry roared and the waves thrashed.
Daphne looked saddened "That was a low blow…that bit about his parents." She said gently, leaning more to the left. Hermione nodded with her, casting her friend a look of worry.
Neville sighed, running a hand through his hair "I hate him…correction, I hate most of this school…" He said slowly calming down.
Hermione glanced over at Neville "I don't blame you, Nev." She said softly.
"Why the 'atred for Lestrange?" Mindy asked gently.
Neville didn't say anything, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
Hermione sighed a little "Did she hurt someone you care about?" She asked softly.
Neville still didn't answer casting his gaze out to the clouds.
Daphne placed a hand on his shoulder "I know." She said sadly "My dad told me about Lord Longbottom a while ago. I avoided you because of that."
Neville looked over and sighed slowly "Thanks…but I have it easy…Harry's parents were never there…at least I can talk to mine…even if they don't respond." He muttered.
Fleur glanced at Mindy, who was watching Harry. He was on the ground, kneeling and covering his mouth. Without thinking about it she rushed forward, the closer she got the clearer she could see the blood.
XX~XX~XX~XX
"I'm not hungry." Bellatrix said again, as she looked out to the sky. She had asked her hair be basically cut off and thinned out. Andromeda did it, leaving it shoulder length and straight. Though she was clean and dressed properly, she looked sickly and haunted.
Sirius didn't want to push her, sliding the broth to her none the less "You should eat it before it goes cold." He whispered, turning to walk away. She grabbed his hand suddenly.
"Thank you." She said in a voice full of pain "Thank you."
When they had left the prison, Sirius burned the contract in front of her. Freeing her from its binds, because she was influenced to take the Dark-Mark; her magic slowly started to push it's toxins from her body. Bella knew full well it was toxic, making it traceable by the marker and it held a strong compulsion charm onto it.
Bellatrix had taken the highest room, facing west; she liked to watch the sunset, being her cell faced west as well. It became habit. Sirius did what he could to make the room comfortable, he had taken his Uncle Alphard's cabin.
The Cabin was basically in the middle of nowhere, the cupboards had runic enchantments to keep the food fresh and the same with the icebox. Zan, the cabins House-Elf was in better shape than Kreacher had been; though he was still slightly mad from being alone so long.
It was a two story with a small cellar, it was cozy but some of the furniture had to be removed from wear and tear. Sirius had Remus hire more House-Elves in an attempt to clean out Number 12; he wasn't going to remove the Dark Items yet, some of it could be useful or historic.
Bella's room was a dark purple colour, with a standard single; though it was worn and slightly faded with age. It was much better than what she had a day ago.
Sirius sent her a bright smile "What's family for." He said calmly "Andie will come around, when she left your words hurt her."
"Those weren't my words…." Bella said softly, looking up at him "I cried for days when she left, I did the same when I found out who Cissy was marrying…"
Sirius reached over and grasped her shoulder tightly, this Bella was weak and vulnerable; he was going to set her right. "It will take some time, maybe by May or June; you'll get most of your weight back and your mind will get set right. Trust me."
Bella's lips curled into a smile "You are the expert, anyone else you plan on busting out?" She cooed, resting her head on a hand; leaning on the window sill.
"Nah, no one I like is back there." Sirius said resting against the wall "I could take you back, to kill your husband."
Bella's eyes lit up, she started to bounce like it was Christmas morning. "Can we? Can we?" She asked like a toddler.
Sirius rolled his eyes, chuckling a little "Not likely, it was a pain to bust in and out. I had to plant explosives all around the islands base." He explained; using a mix of Flash and Gunpowder base materials. No one noticed the black blur like dog, sneak in and wait till most of the Human guards were outside.
Bella pouted "Pity…I might not care for murder, but I want to see the light leave his eyes." Her soft voice turned into venom; her eyes hardened as she glare out onto the forest.
Sirius shrugged "I might not like it, but Harry's going to come here for Christmas; being his legal guardian, I can put him with whoever I wish and Andie agreed to look after him." He explained starting to pace a little "I need you to teach him some Dark Arts, he needs to know what he is up against."
"You sure the brat won't hex me?" Bella asked with a raised brow.
"Quite sure."
XX~XX~XX~XX
The curtains shifted blissfully as the Matron Madam Pomfrey walked forward "Being that you are in here so often Mr. Potter, shall I have a plaque installed?" She joked gently, glancing at his chart.
Harry just smirked at her, coughing lightly; which he covered with his hand "Would be appropriate, Poppy." He said dully.
Fleur rolled her eyes and slapped his shoulder gently "Is 'e going to be okay?" She asked softly.
The Matron nodded her head calmly "He's just put a lot of stress on his organs and his right arm, he should have come directly to me." She said with a piercing glare at the fourth year "Water?"
Harry nodded his head meekly, not looking up.
"If that is the case." The Matron said browsing her potions "Here, when you decide to do something foolish. Which will happen, Mr. Potter, I am sure. Drink this." She said handing him a small black vial.
"What is it?" Harry asked looking it over.
Poppy smiled a little "It's designed to help with blood loss." She explained calmly "I would rather you have it, than to not. Mr. Potter, I believe you are free to go; no more Elemental."
"Yes Ma'am." Harry said calmly, glancing over at Fleur.
Poppy looked at the French Woman as well "Should he start coughing up blood, send him back here." She said calmly, turning on her heel and leaving.
Harry slipped back on his hoodie and boots. "Can we take a walk?"
Fleur nodded, with a bright smile "Of course."
Harry led her down to the lake, originally he was going to ask her to the Ball during one of the Hogsmeade breaks. However he was a little afraid that if he didn't ask, she would say yes to someone else. It was kind of funny this was the place they had really connected as friends, now he was going to take it another step.
"So…has anyone asked you to the Ball?" He asked, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
Fleur nodded, pulling her cloak closer "I 'ave been asked by a few, Oui." She said looking out to the lake.
"Did you say yes to any of them?"
"Non, I am waiting for someone special." She said still looking out to the lake.
Harry pulled his hood up to block the light wind "Someone like a Potter?"
Fleur merely grinned "Depends on if 'e asks upfront." She said looking down at him, they weren't that different in height but she was three years older than him.
Harry looked up at her eyes "Fleur Isabelle Delacour, would you do me the honour of letting me escort you to the Yule Ball." He asked bowing a little to her.
Fleur curtsied gently "Oui, I can think of no one better." She said leaning in placing a kiss on his cheek.
Harry grinned a little, touching the spot with his fingers "Merci."
Fleur let out a giggle, Harry then led her back to the castle. It was too cold for the moment to stay outside. Hedwig took this chance to land on her master's shoulders carrying a note.
XX~XX~XX~XX
Hello Hello, So I took all your ideas; needless to say I was impressed with how many wanted Bella to be good. So being that she did just get over a traumatic ordeal, she will be moody, afraid and crazed. Now we've gotten that out of the way, I'll have Harry working on the Egg again soon. Should we time skip to the Ball or have another chapter in between? You guys choose, if I don't get many responses; I'll flip a coin or something. I love the reviews and all the support I'm getting, thank you guys so much~ Sign 'The Demon.'
