Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the related characters. They all belong to the fabulous mind of J.K. Rowling. No profit is being made from this story, as much as I wish I could get away with selling half-baked plots for adoring fans with wads of cash. ;-)
A/N: Let's see.. Narcissa isn't in this chapter much. She's um, still in the damn bath... but this chapter is completely filled with Bellatrix. And Harry. But it's all innocent. For now.
"Read the articles, Potter."
I flipped back to the front page and began to read. I was somewhat surprised to find that many of the people from Bellatrix's memories were actually Death Eaters that had spent time imprisoned with her in Azkaban, including her husband and apparent brother-in-law. I frowned as I read the article, which stated that even with the heightened security after Sirius had escaped, the weakened prisoners were able to overpower armed Aurors. Nowhere in the article was there any indication that their master might have attributed to this miraculous escape.
And just why was the article so late in coming? Bellatrix had been one of the prisoners who'd escaped well over a week ago, yet the article made it seem as if it had just happened today. Surely, the Ministry would have found their downed Aurors more quickly than this, especially since only a third of those stationed at the prison were found injured or dead? There were several precautionary warnings to the public explaining what should be done if confronted by a convict, which mostly included staying indoors and warning the Ministry. I moved onto the article about my disappearance, my frown still plainly spread across my face.
THE DAILY PROPHET:
Harry Potter Missing!
Article by Rita Skeeter
As an order by the Ministry of Magic, all known residences of witches and wizards are to be searched for any sign of the criminal escapees. Harry Potter, a very likely target of the known criminals made up mostly of the self-proclaimed followers of You-Know-Who, was discovered missing when his high-priority home was searched. Upon entering his home in Surrey, Ministry officials found no sign of the famous boy wizard, or any indication that he'd been there recently. When his family was questioned, they had never even heard of Harry Potter, let alone knew of his current whereabouts. It was later confirmed that his muggle relatives had been subject to a very strong Confundus Charm, which in fact had been placed for several weeks.
Any information about the whereabouts of Mr. Potter is to be immediately reported to the Ministry of Magic's Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Given that Mr. Potter likely went missing before the Azkaban breakout, it is suspected that outside help was given to the escapees.
On a further note, the once esteemed Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus Dumbledore, has confirmed that the breakout and Mr. Potter's disappearance point to the fact that You-Know-Who has returned to power. Ministry officials state that this rumor is false: that for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to return to power is a ridiculous notion that was proven when Mr. Potter defeated him thirteen years ago. The Ministry would like to take the time to assure everyone that the prisoners will be caught quickly and the rumors of You-Know-Who's rebirth are untrue. Precautions will be taken against the -
I stopped reading and threw the paper away in disgust. There was more to the story, discrediting Dumbledore and listing several reasons why it'd be impossible for Voldemort to have come back. How bloody stupid could the Ministry get? Did they truly believe that Dumbledore was lying or that the prisoners escaped without the help of someone incredibly smart, talented, and powerful?
"This is ridiculous!" My arms flew up as I stormed around the room. I didn't have to say more than that because both women knew I meant the Ministry's incompetence.
I glared down at the paper in time to see the pictures of convicted felons flip to Bellatrix. She was fighting off her captives, probably shouting profanities, but stopped and gave a haughty, triumphant grin for the camera. I looked over to where she was standing to see the same expression, almost as if she'd jumped straight out of the paper.
Turning away, I watched as Narcissa eyed her sister before shaking her head and walking into the bathroom. Now that she had vacated the bed, I walked over and threw myself down upon it. Bellatrix followed, placing herself at the edge, casually leaning against my legs and staring down at me. I must have resembled a chair.
"Wait, what was the date of that paper?"
"August eighteenth," she breathed out. "Why?"
I was shocked to find that September first was rapidly approaching, but more so to find I had been fourteen years old for nearly a month now.
"I missed my birthday," I whispered quietly.
"The prophecy matters more!" Her eyes were large. "It is, after all, the difference between you continuing to live and becoming nothing more than another corpse at the feet of the Dark Lord." She moved down the bed, dragging her nails across my cheek and humming contently to herself. "I'll do it."
"Excuse me?"
"I'll kill you for my Lord if he so allows it. You're --" she paused and dragged her nails down my cheek and across my neck, stopping at the base of my collarbone. I flinched as she lowered her head by my ear and whispered, "You're …cute. But you're also a half-blood, the spawn of a line of Blood traitors and a Mudblood, meaning you're filth… disposable trash if the Dark Lord commands it."
She didn't move and I didn't try to push her away. She wasn't close enough that her chest was touching mine, but the thought that she could hear my heart pounding inside my chest entered my mind.
"You'd kill me if he commanded?" My tone held all my disbelief, even though I knew deep in the recesses of my mind that she was indeed telling the truth.
"I'd kill anyone if he desired it," she whispered, pulling back to meet my eyes, her nails digging into my chest through the robes I'd been given to wear that day. "But don't worry, I wouldn't drag it on."
"And why not?" I studied her face. Her violet eyes, which I had seen appear a dark grey like her sister's several times, appeared almost black. Her black hair was just as long and probably longer than Narcissa's but much more tangled; yet several strands appeared to be fighting to stay away from each other. However, her nose was similar and they shared the same full lips. If you were looking past Narcissa's naturally slim bone structure and Bellatrix's skeletal structure -due to her imprisonment- or their complexions, it was easy to see that they shared the same good looks. It was hard not to focus on her beauty with her so close. She was still extremely good-looking, even with her thin and tussled appearance.
How could you possibly find anyone who just told you they'd kill you if ordered attractive!?
Well, it'd certainly make things more fascinating…
You're sick. Sick, sick, sick!
"The Dark Lord approves of you, for now at least, and I approve of what the Dark Lord approves." She slid her mouth near my ear again and whispered, "Besides, you're a fairly decent student. There are certainly things I could teach you…" She nipped at my ear and pulled back again. I swallowed nervously, unsure of how to react, but not giving a damn about any prophecy or death threat at the moment. She slowly retreated back to the other side of the bed. "I'm warming up to you, Harry." My eyes widened as she purred out my name. "And for you, I'd allow the decency of a quick death."
Quickly changing the subject, I said, "So, this prophecy then. Have any ideas how we get it?" She eyed me before shaking her head.
"Haven't a clue, really, but we better think up something quick. The Dark Lord expects us to go after it tomorrow."
"What? Tomorrow?" I couldn't believe he'd honestly expect us to go after this blasted thing tomorrow. Why did he expect everything would just happen as soon as he commanded it!?
"Yes," she said as she toyed with her wand. "Tomorrow night, to be more exact. It'll be much easier to bypass security at night."
"Will it just be us?"
She nodded. "Yes, but the less people we have there, the less chance we have of getting caught. Besides, the Ministry's security isn't why we should worry." She paused, purely for dramatic effect, I'm sure. "Dumbledore will have his men there, which is the part I haven't managed to figure out yet."
We sat in silence thinking to ourselves.
Shouldn't I want Dumbledore to find me?
So that you can go back to a world where the truth was kept from you? He knew about that prophecy and never said a word!
Maybe he only knew of its existence and not what it says.
Ha! Even if he knew it existed, he kept the fact that there was a prophecy… he doesn't trust you.
Of course he does. I've never given him any reason not to trust me.
Then why didn't he tell you? Don't you think you have the right to know about something if it concerns you?
Well, yes, but that doesn't mean he doesn't trust me. After all, this side hasn't been so giving with their information either.
They've still told you! It might have taken some time, but they've told you what they know. Bellatrix and Narcissa have told you what they know. If you leave now… you'll be leaving them.
So? They treat me horribly. They hate me. They don't give a damn about me.
They treat you bad because they were raised to believe you are less than they are, but they've been getting better.
Yes, but only because Narcissa fell from the Dark Lord's graces-
Still, that doesn't explain Bellatrix.
Bellatrix is a nutter. You can't explain the motives of a crazy person. Dumbledore cares.
Yes, but not about you. He cares about keeping the Dark Lord away.
Voldemort! Dumbledore calls him Voldemort… and so do I.
Give it up, Potter. You're so pathetic! Dumbledore says, Dumbledore cares… following Dumbledore will be the end of you!
Shut up! Just shut up!
"Potter?"
I shook my head and looked at Bellatrix. She was giving me a strange look as if I were mental. She raised one eyebrow, seemingly questioning whether or not I was all right. She was the one who had gone around, before Azkaban, and tortured muggles for the fun of it! And she had the nerve to look at me as if I were the deranged one? It was times like this I wish I were invisible. I wish I had my Invisibility Cloak so I could just disappear for a while…
"That's it!" I jumped up on my knees, causing her to jump and instinctively grab her wand. "I have an Invisibility Cloak. We can use that to sneak past security and whoever else we come across - wait, never mind, I don't have it."
"You have an Invisibility Cloak? Brilliant!" She had begun talking before I finished. She frowned, her face turning ugly as she said, "What do you mean you don't have the cloak?"
"I - it's inside my trunk with all my other belongings."
"In your trunk?" I nodded.
"Yes, inside my school trunk at the Dursleys." I watched her brows pull together. "I assume no one thought to pick up my trunk?"
"Pick up your --" I turned back to see her give a devilish smirk. "Aw, is this an attempt to go home? Do you miss your muggles? Hawwy wants to see his famiwy!" She thought I missed the Dursleys? I shuddered at the sheer thought that I could ever miss relatives that loathed me as they did.
Apparently, my dislike for them was written all over my face. "Excellent." Confused, I watched her jump up from her position on the bed and walk over to the bathroom. She opened the door and stood in the doorway.
"Bellatrix, damn it, are you ever going to let me --"
"Where are Potter's belongings?" She looked back to see me watching with interest, prompting her to shut the door before I could hear an answer from Narcissa.
She was back out of the room a minute later and headed toward the hall. I watched her walk outside and wondered if she realized she hadn't locked the door. I ran over to the door and pulled it open, only to be thrown forcefully back into the room, landing roughly on my backside.
Bellatrix walked back through the door with my trunk floating in front of her. As I stood rubbing my back, she asked, "Did you like that? It's my own creation, molded off of a repelling spell, but set to function as a jinx. It repels people away from objects rather than objects from people."
"It hurts, actually."
"Well, that was the point. Anytime someone tries to pass in or out that door, they'll be blasted backward." An amused glint sparkled in her eyes.
"What aren't you telling me?"
"Nothing you'll need to know if you don't try going through the door again. I'm the only person who can walk through unaffected."
"Not even Voldemort can pass through?" She shrieked. She sent my trunk zipping toward me in her rage. I felt it graze my hair as I was forced to duck. A mighty crash rang through my ears as the trunk smashed into the wall behind me.
"Do not speak his name!" I saw her wand twitch as if she was going to send a curse my way, but she must have thought better of it.
"I wasn't showing respect earlier. I was trying to get him to curse your sister because you took her wand from me."
Three different emotions flickered on her face. I could tell she was disgusted at my lack of respect, angry that I'd try and have her sister cursed, and interested to hear the story behind my anger with her sister.
In the end, her interest seemed to outweigh her anger. Sending a trunk hurling in my direction must have satisfied her need to discipline me for the moment. She flicked her wand toward my trunk, which up righted itself and unlocked with a clunk to display my belongings carelessly tossed together.
"Grab your cloak."
I walked over and shuffled through the mess of robes and books before finding the cloak tucked beside the Marauders Map. I passed the shimmering, flowing material over to her outstretched hand. She spent a few minutes admiring the design and watching as her hands disappeared beneath the soft fabric. She threw it back to me.
"Follow me." I started to follow behind her, but stopped as I reached the door, eyeing it wearily. She grabbed onto my arm and pulled me through the door. I felt a small pull as we passed through, but I made it without being flung anywhere. I gave her a questioning look.
"I have a hold of you don't I?" I took that to mean I was safe as long as I passed through with her.
"Where are we going?"
"Just walk!"
Ten minutes later, I had followed her out of the manor and onto the grounds. The heat from the warm, sun-filled day that I watched from the window earlier had cooled into a cool breezy night. I took a deep breath and realized how much I admired being outside the manor.
We had had to stop near the stairs to avoid other Death Eaters. She had instructed me to pull on my cloak while she had her wand pointed touching my arm through the fabric. To the other Death Eaters, it merely looked as if she had her wand raised. Luckily, it was only Crabbe and Goyle Senior, so we slipped by without much more than a nod of acknowledgement. I had slipped the cloak off the moment we were outside and clear of the goons.
Staying close to Bellatrix, I noticed a few white peacocks not too far from us. The bathing glow of the moonlight gave them an eerie appearance.
"Peacocks?" My disbelief at the Malfoy family owning peacocks came out in a low whisper.
Nevertheless, Bellatrix heard me and responded, "Ridiculous, aren't they?" She led me along until we reached a small stream that ran into a block of wooded trees. We sat together in silence for a few minutes just watching the stream.
"If you hear anyone coming, slip your cloak back on and don't say anything. You weren't supposed to leave the room."
"Why are we out here then?"
She leant back and rested her weight on her left hand while looking up at the starry sky. I wasn't sure if she heard me. Just as I started to ask her again, she whispered, "I understand better than anyone the need to be outside after being locked away." Her voice was soft and calm. Had my eyes been closed, it would have been nearly impossible for me to distinguish her from Narcissa, which was very unusual. I hadn't ever seen her in such a peaceful state and a small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.
"How did you get Narcissa's wand?"
I sucked in a breath preparing to explain, "Stole it when she tried to slap me." She continued to watch the sky, but I could tell she wanted me to elaborate. I stalled, knowing that this would inevitably lead to her finding out about Malfoy. Finally, I said, "After you were summoned by Volde --" She turned and glared at me, while I rolled my eyes and corrected myself. "The Dark Lord, I confronted her about avoiding me. She wasn't shoving her load off onto you, she was avoiding me because she used Legilimency and saw what Lucius did."
She was no longer looking at the stars. "What did he do that would make her avoid you?"
"Nothing." I knew that she'd get an answer one way or another if she wanted it badly enough, whereas her sister had played coolly for a little while.
"I don't know why you'd expect me to stay out if Narcissa forced it out of you." She turned her attention back toward the sky. "Enlighten me... how did this turn of events land you her wand?"
"Quick reflexes," I said, snorting. "I grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back as she went to slap me. Managed to knick her wand, and forced her to talk to me, until she said something that set me off. I started getting angry when her tosser of a husband stormed in." The silence resumed for briefly before she tried to confuse me.
"You did well," she whispered, her voice still soft and her mind lucid.
"Excuse me?"
"Performing the Cruciatus Curse. Originally, I thought it was only because you were under the Dark Lord's influence, but you have proven your abilities." She turned and flashed a smile. It was genuine, non-mocking, and lacking her usual madness. I found myself returning the gesture. "And to think you're not even of age yet!"
I could feel a blush creeping onto my cheeks. Unfortunately, I saw something sweep through her eyes as the smile on my face grew larger and embarrassed. She scowled at me.
"Quit distracting me, Potter! Think about the prophecy!" The smile dropped from my face as I saw her shift back into a fit of hysteria. At least she had forgotten about trying to discover what Lucius had done.
"Well, we're going in at night. You said security isn't an issue... if we're under the cloak, we won't be easily detected as long as we stay quiet. That'll be the difficult part."
She nodded in agreement.
"And you can't go about cursing everything that moves or hissing insults if we come across anyone because it's bound to get us caught!"
Her eyes burned as she faced me. I flinched, almost as if scolded, as if she was truly burning me with her fiery penetrating gaze. Biting my lip, I spit out, "Well, think how upset the Dark -- Volde-- the Dark Lord would be if we got caught and didn't retrieve the prophecy!"
This seemed to ease her rage. "As if I'm the one stupid enough to get us caught!"
My gaze turned to the star-strewn sky. "I did mean what I said earlier about learning the Dark Arts."
Beside me, she settled her head onto the grass and closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath she said, "Draco was telling me the other day that you're the Golden Boy at Hogwarts." Her eyes opened, focused intently on mine before she said, "Good boys stick to their parlor tricks."
I felt my neck pull tight as I bit back a retort. "You're all about causing pain and destruction. In case you've forgotten, I've been sifting through your memories, I've seen what you've done!"
"Your point?"
"I'm not sure!" I heard her cackle at my obvious frustration. "My point is that I want to learn the Dark Arts. I need to learn them."
She suddenly sat up and grabbed my face in between her hands. Her eyes were once again searing through my flesh, but with determination and not anger. I could feel her nails clawing into the flesh below my ears.
"Listen closely," she said as her nails drew tight enough to break skin, "The Dark Arts aren't something little boys go off to learn for some petty attempt at revenge. You haven't even begun to see some of the things I've done, Potter, because if you had… well, you wouldn't be enjoying my company quite as much."
"I don't under--"
"You're naïve," she spat out at me. My chest tightened up as I felt the sting of her words. I opened my mouth to argue, but she cut me off, "No! Listen to me! You've never really seen the Dark Arts. What happens to one's mind if you hold the Cruciatus Curse too long?"
"I-I don't know."
"Just how long can a muggle hold out under Sectumsempra before they die from blood loss?"
"Sectum- what? I don't know!"
"Exactly, you don't know!" Her tone shifted from high-pitched hysterical screeching to a low, dead pan. "You don't know the seduction of the Dark Arts. Sure, you've tasted the power of the Cruciatus Curse, but you've never truly danced through another's pain or felt the rush of taking another's life! Never has your skin crawled with the intensity of a beast that can only be produced with wanting and needing another's destruction. The addiction of it all hasn't overwhelmed your instincts… you don't need the Dark Arts to stay alive!"
I could do nothing more than stare at her in shock and fear. Her grip on my head was as strong as ever. Combined with the darkness surrounding us, the moonlight shining around us, and the mad shine in her eyes and the quickness of her breath, she was truly terrifying.
"To feel alive," she whispered it so quietly I was quite she I imagined her doing so, because her lips hadn't even moved.
My chest pulled as something snapped inside of me. I had an overpowering desire to know the feeling of which she spoke so fervently.
"Show me." Her facial features twisted into a sort of twisted awe, as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing; perhaps she really couldn't.
"There is no going back."
I hesitated slightly before saying, "Then show me rather than telling me. Let me see it happening."
She released my head slowly, her nails digging across my cheeks as she pulled away, before giving me a saucy look. Despite everything, I couldn't help but swallow nervously, which had nothing to do with whatever answer she was about to give. Suddenly, her expression was serious once more. Was I imagining things or did she really change her mood so quickly?
"We worry about the prophecy first. If He allows you to live after that… I'll let you enter the ever-changing, dangerous world of the Dark Arts. I'll show you what I haven't before." I nodded, showing I understood her words.
She stood up. "Pull your Invisibility Cloak back on. We've got to get you back inside the room before someone realizes your missing."
"But the jinx, won't it stop anyone from entering the room?" She allowed herself a small smile but didn't answer.
"Come on."
"Get up, quickly!" I clambered to my feet quickly, giving a nervous look around. I had just experienced the most unpleasant traveling method of Side-Along Apparation. Bellatrix had told me to grab on tightly to her arm. Suddenly, things had gone black and it felt as if I was being squished through a tube of some sort. Breathing had become difficult and I was growing frantic. Just as I felt like we'd be crushed to death, I found myself lying on the ground, disoriented with a crazed Bellatrix staring down at me.
She slipped my cloak around the both of us. Looking around, I saw a vast hall lined with dark wood flooring and paneling and several burnt out fireplaces. I could see a large golden fountain with life-size statues of a beautiful witch and noble-looking wizard being looked up to by a goblin, centaur, and a house-elf.
My attention was stolen away from the fountain as Bellatrix pulled me toward a set of golden gates. The place was deserted. We walked slowly, careful not to make noise and alert any guards to our presence. We passed the fountain and through the gates toward a desk to the left that read security. She scanned the area for any sign of life, but we moved past as soon as she was content that no one was there. She reached a set of lifts and rode them until a cool female voice announced, "Department of Mysteries."
I clutched my wand tightly, cherishing the feeling of having it back it my hands. Bellatrix had given it to me just before we'd apparated away from Malfoy Manor. She threatened to skin me alive if I tried to escape her or pulled anything funny. I knew not to tempt her, fearing the truth: she'd be true to her word if I tried getting away. Besides, I couldn't abandon the sisters now...
I looked over to see her excitement was barely containable. I figured we must have been getting closer to our destination. We were headed toward a black door. Suddenly, she stopped, holding out her hand and raising her wand. She pointed toward a group of three people huddled near the entrance of the door.
There was one man and two women standing before us. The man was middle-aged and red-haired. I instantly recognized him as Mr. Weasley. I gulped, knowing there'd be a confrontation of sorts, because there was no way we'd be able to pass them otherwise. I didn't want Mr. Weasley getting hurt. The older woman to his left looked dignified, but kind, and was wrapped in an emerald green shawl. To his right, a younger woman was bouncing on her heels. Her face was heart-shaped and she had spiky bubble-gum pink hair.
I heard a very soft growl issue from Bellatrix's throat. I followed her glaring gaze to see she was staring at the pink haired witch. She guided us over to the shadows, where the torchlight wasn't reaching. We still had a good view of the three before us.
"Really, Tonks, are you sure you're alright here? You've only just qualified as an Auror. Dumbledore said that You-Know-Who might send some of his men this way, it could get right dangerous!"
I felt Bellatrix lock-up as Mr. Weasley called the woman 'Tonks', which seemingly confirmed whatever Bellatrix wanted, or perhaps, didn't want to hear.
'Tonks' turned and looked to Mr. Weasley. "Thanks for your concern Arthur, but I want to be here. I can help."
The other woman spoke quietly, "She's a right good talent, Arthur, she can hold her own. After all, look at her family…cruel as some of them may be, you can't deny they've got a talented cast of duelers."
Arthur nodded nervously, fingering his wand, "Alright, then, Emmeline."
Bellatrix's growl became a little more pronounced as she spit out, "Good for nothing blood-traitors!" She seemed to realize her mistake too late. The others were all alert now, holding their wands at the ready.
Tonks took a step forward. With the others flanking her, she said, "Who's there? Show yourself."
Bellatrix raised her wand. She turned to me and mouthed, "Stun." We'd settled out before leaving that since I'd never tried the killing curse and we weren't sure whom we'd encounter, that I stun from beneath the cloak. I'd have the advantage of being invisible to my opponent.
I nodded and raised my wand, awaiting her signal. She slipped out from beneath the cloak with her wand raised.
"Ickle Order members come to save the day, have you?" She took another step forward as the three kept their wands raised.
"Bellatrix Lestrange!" The Tonks woman was openly sneering. Mr. Weasley and the Emmeline woman looked nervous.
Bellatrix cackled. "Little Tonksie has come out to play! And look, she's brought a Weasley and Vance along for the ride."
"Stand down, Lestrange. There are three of us versus only you." Arthur looked around, peering into the shadows as he said this.
"Don't be so sure." She smiled cruelly as she saw fear flicker into their eyes. She took another step closer, twirling her wand.
Tonks dropped the look of fear. "You don't scare me, Lestrange. As an Auror for the Ministry of Magic, I order you to drop your wand now and come quietly, else we'll use force."
Bellatrix gave a loud laugh. "Come quietly? You really think I'm about to hand myself over to be shoved near dementors or forced back into Azkaban!? Use force, then, and we'll see how your dear mummy reacts to finding her daughter dead."
"How dare you speak about my mum!" Tonks roar echoed down the halls, creating a racket that was sure to be heard if there was someone around, but no one else came.
Tired of exchanging words, Bellatrix yelled out, "Now!"
Reacting as quickly as possible, I sent a stunner in Mr. Weasley's direction. The first one missed. He and Emmeline were now throwing curses in my general direction. I ducked as several stunners flew my way, but managed to get another out, as I was unseen. This time, my stunner connected with Mr. Weasley. He fell to the ground unconscious. I swallowed as I realized I'd just attacked my best friend's father. However, perhaps Bellatrix would leave him be... maybe he'd be safe if he wasn't attacking directly.
I ducked forward and ran around to the other side of the hall, avoiding the spells from both Tonks and Emmeline's wands. Tonks and Bellatrix were dueling, while Emmeline was occasionally sending a curse at Bellatrix and simultaneously trying to send stunners at her invisible opponent, while ducking Bellatrix's stray curses.
"Crucio!" I turned and watched Tonks hit the ground, writhing in pain. Emmeline took advantage of Bellatrix's distraction and sent a stunner in her direction. Bellatrix narrowly dodged the red light speeding toward her, but her attention on Tonks was cut and the curse stopped. Tonks, grunting in pain, grabbed for her wand and shouted to Emmeline that they needed to stop playing nice.
Angling her wand near Bellatrix, she shouted, "Avada Kedavra!" I watched, with big eyes as Bellatrix was once again forced to move out of the way of a curse, this one lethal and green.
"No!"
She's bloody lucky she dodged that!
Tonks and Bellatrix were dueling once again. Emmeline had given up on stunners now. Perhaps because she didn't know who she was facing, she sent Petrificus Totalus in my direction. Watching Bellatrix had distracted me. I wasn't quick enough to move out of the way. My body fell rigid against the dark wall behind me. I watched fearfully as Emmeline edged closer, wand raised as she felt around. She stumbled onto my invisible foot and reached out to grab the cloak's material in her hand. Just as she was about to pull it off, Bellatrix let out a howl of laughter. Emmeline turned to see what had happened, a worried look lining her face, but she seemed content that she had hit me, her opponent.
Tonks was leaning against the opposite wall, clutching her bleeding left side, her breathing heavy. She looked up at Bellatrix, defiantly wheezing out, "Kill me, then."
"Avada Kedav--"
"Expelliarmus!"
Bellatrix's wand flew from her hands. I watched, fearfully, as Emmeline advanced on a wandless Bellatrix. She started to send a stunner when Bellatrix did something that shocked all three of us: she pulled a jagged silver knife from inside her robes and flung it toward Emmeline. She had tried to dive out of the way, but it had struck her crookedly through the middle of the neck. I could see the blood-covered silver tip sticking through the left side of Emmeline's neck as she grasped at the knife with wide eyes.
"Emmeline!" Tonks eyes were also large as she clutched at her side, trying to move over and help her injured comrade. I saw Tonks send out a Patronus with her wand, but it went around an unaware Bellatrix and down the hall.
Bellatrix backed forward and grabbed her wand. "Good riddance, I say." She pointed her wand at Emmeline and shouted, "Avada Kedavra!" Emmeline fell back to the ground, her eyes wide and her body unmoving. She was dead.
"No!" Tonks turned to Bellatrix, shouting, "You bloody monster!" I moved my wand, glad to see I was no longer being contained.
Bellatrix turned toward Tonks and said, "Your turn now, filth!"
Before Bellatrix could say anything more, I leveled my wand and sent a stunner toward Tonks. She slumped unconscious against the wall. Bellatrix turned toward me angrily, giving me a dirty look as I slipped the cloak off. "Why in the hell did you do that? This filth," she said as she stopped to give Tonks a good kick in the injured side, "deserves to die."
I didn't feel a reaction to the death of Emmeline. I wasn't sure who this Tonks woman was or why Bellatrix seemed to have a personal vendetta against her. All I knew was that I couldn't stand by and watch this woman die. She seemed so lively and young. Shaking my head, my resolve hardened. Tonks lived tonight, but I was already responsible for a murder... or being an accomplice. I couldn't prevent anyone from dying anymore than I could outright take a stand against Bellatrix.
"We need to get the prophecy, remember?" She tore her eyes away from me and yelled for me to get my cloak back on. Walking over to Emmeline's body, she grabbed the hilt of the knife and ripped it from her body with a sickening squelching sound. She wiped it on Emmeline's robes to clean the blood off it before pocketing it.
I followed her past our defeated opponents and through the black door. We entered into a large glowing circular blue room. The reflection of the blue flamed torches hanging against the black walls made the room appear as if it was actually made of flames. Several black doors lined the rooms.
"Help me find it."
She'd already told me we were looking for a room full of desks and a bell jar. I walked to the door closest to me and pulled the handle. Peeking inside, I saw nothing but what appeared to be a huge room with some sort of raised stone dais. Upon it set a crackled and crumbling black curtained veil. I started to step inside the room to examine the strange sight before me, but I heard Bellatrix curse behind me. Remembering the task at hand, I pulled out of the room. Trying the door to the left, I tugged at the handle and tried to open it, but the door refused to budge.
"Bellatrix, this one won't open!" She had just opened another door and let out a whoop.
"Never mind that, I've found the one we need! Look for row ninety-seven. Follow me! " I ran after her, the cloak whipping against my legs as we hurried through the room, passing an old glowing bell jar and reaching another door. We entered the room lined with shelves and turned right.
Her pace quickened as we got nearer row ninety-seven. Tearing down the aisle, I collided against her as she made an abrupt stop and was staring at a collection of spheres above. My eyes followed her gaze and connected with an orb that read:
S.P.T. to A.P.W.B.D
Dark Lord
and (?) Harry Potter
I slid the cloak down once more. A brilliant smile lit up Bellatrix's face. "Grab it, Harry!" With an apprehensive look, I stood up on my tip-toes and wrapped my hand against the cool dusty sphere. I held it tightly in my hands.
"Let's go!" She grabbed my arm excitedly and tore off again. I held on firmly to the orb in my left hand, my right hand clutching my wand and cloak, my breathing coming in deep pants. We made it back into the circular room unchallenged.
"Slip the cloak back on and have your wand ready. If something happens to me, run and hide, and take the floo back to the manor. Understand?"
"If something happens to you!?"
She nodded excitedly, her enthusiasm and adrenaline launched into a battle ready stance. "If they've woken and gone for help, they'll be aiming to kill me. Stay low and get back to the manor if something happens. Understand?"
I considered what I'd do if something happened to her, nodding my head before she started shrieking at me.
I'm at the Ministry of Magic. If she dies -
She won't.
But if she does… I'll be away from Voldemort. I'll have the prophecy and I'll be able to go to Dumbledore.
Nothing will happen to her!
"Come on!" I slipped my cloak over my head and prepared myself for whatever was awaiting us on the other side of the door. As we stepped out, I could see the three bodies we'd left only fifteen or twenty minutes before unchanged. I heard her give a sigh of relief and slowly breathed out myself. As much as I knew she loved the thrill of a fight, she was also very intent on delivering the prophecy to her master in a timely fashion. We ran straight for the lifts, wands still raised and rode one back up to the Atrium.
We met only silence. The fountain water was the only sound coming from around us as we ran back through the golden gates. She stopped near the closest fireplace and grabbed onto my arm. Before she could apparate us away, however, the fireplaces started roaring to life. Several people were running toward us, or just her as they thought, sending curses flying. She took aim and fired Avada Kedavra off once again, taking down some unknown person. Before she spun us away, I saw the long grey hair and beard of Dumbledore.
My heart clenched. I opened my mouth, but it was too late.
With a crack, we landed outside of a building. Looking around, I saw a muggle payphone. I started to ask her what she was doing, before she pointed her wand toward the sky and shouted. Bursting from her wand was a huge green-glowing version of the mark on her arm. We stared at it for several seconds; she was appreciating her work while I was staring in awe as the large snake moved from the skull's mouth.
A cackle rang through the breezy, warm London air as she grabbed my arm we apparated away with a loud crack.
The Dark Mark was shining above in the air menacingly.
"My Lord! My Lord, we've done it! We have the prophecy!" We were standing in a dining hall in Malfoy Manor. Before us, Voldemort held out his hand. I stepped closer and handed him the orb. He tinkered with it for a few seconds. Bellatrix was nearly bouncing on her toes with excitement. I stood back nervously, waiting to see what fate held for me.
He stopped tinkering with the orb with a satisfied smile. "You've both done well. Bellatrix, you'll be honored highly for this. Did you encounter any problems?"
"Thank you, My Lord! Three members of the Order of the Phoenix were guarding the door. I killed Emmeline Vance. Harry managed to stun Arthur Weasley. As we left, another fell at my hand, but I've no idea who it was. I saw Dumbledore."
"Was he seen?"
I shook my head. I was positive I'd been secure under the cloak the whole time.
"The third person?"
"Nymphadora Tonks! I would have killed her, but Harry stopped me before I'd gotten the chance."
She gave me another dirty look.
"Well, I-I didn't want us getting caught."
The Dark Lord rose from his seat and placed a calming hand on Bellatrix's shoulder. "You'll have your chance, Bella. In fact, as your reward, you may have the Tonks family all for your own."
She beamed and cried out, "Thank you, My Lord!"
"And now, we find out the rest of this prophecy." He placed it upon the table and took out his wand. It glowed momentarily before a familiar voice spoke:
"THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD APPROACHES…. BORN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THRICE DEFIED HIM, BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES… AND THE DARK LORD WILL MARK HIM AS HIS EQUAL, BUT HE WILL HAVE POWER THE DARK LORD KNOWS NOT… AND EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HAND OF THE OTHER FOR NEITHER CAN LIVE WHILE THE OTHER SURVIVES… THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD WILL BE BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES…."
We all stood in stunned silence. I didn't understand… I was meant to kill off Voldemort? Me? How?
I raised my eyes to find Bellatrix watching me with a discernible interest. My eyes met the red eyes of Lord Voldemort. His joyful mood at the news that we'd retrieved the prophecy without harm was now shattered. He stood glaring down disdainfully at me.
A/N: Alright. There are about 2,000 more words in this chapter than I've written in any other thus far. I felt I should make it longer since it's been longer than I wanted it to take getting it loaded.
Anyway, I don't feel I did justice to the snatching the Prophecy scene. It is rushed and highly convenient that they didn't run into more problems... Also, convenient that they grabbed his trunk from the Dursleys. Originally, I had Bella and Harry breaking into the Dursleys (where I was going to show a fun little torture scene... I might rework that in later.. I liked it.) but then I figured the Order/ Ministry would certainly be able to overtake one woman and a 14 year old. This scene was replaced by the 'humanization at the creek' scene for Bellatrix... which I'm not sure I like at all. :-/
I was trying to add up the weeks that Harry has been at the Malfoy's Manor. I'm horrible with math, but I looked up on Mugglenet's event time-line that said Harry found out the truth about Sirius on June 6th. A month and three weeks later, plus the three weeks or so he has been at the Malfoy's, I figured it was about August 18th. However, if I'm wrong... please, correct me.
About Harry's reaction, or rather his lack-there-of to the death of two other people. I don't exactly think this is too far from reality. He didn't know them, therefore he didn't feel a reaction. It's like hearing about a death (or murder, yikes) in the neighborhood or city. You hear about it, feel bad, but it doesn't really affect you unless it was someone you know personally.
As for Tonks, I got lucky there.. I almost didn't write her in because I figured she'd still be training to be an auror.. until I remembered that she'd be qualified for a year at the beginning of OotP.. meaning it was the perfect time for my story! She won't really play an important character (at least I don't plan on it yet) but I figured I'd write her in. I love the character.
I've rambled enough. Thanks for reading!
