A/n: Apologies for the delay, house hunting, is so very, very, very stressful. STRESS. Anyway We've found the house we want and now we are in limbo waiting for referencing to finish. I hope you all are well and thank you for all the lovely reviews. Please bear in mind the warnings!
Warning: this story will deal with violence, sexual mentions and rated only for adults. Swearing & death. This story will contain mentions of mental illnesses, self harm and suicide. Please, please read responsibly. I will put the major warning before each chapter so you know what to expect.
Disclaimer: I do not own any recognisable characters and No money has been made from this.
CHAPTER WARNING: Historic Adult Rape and child abuse. Violence.
Enjoy...
Chapter Ten
Conversations in the Night
"Stab the body and it heals, but injure the heart and the wound lasts a lifetime."
― Mineko Iwasaki
The tick ticking of the clock set his nerves on edge, if he were a superstitious man, he would think it to be an omen. A countdown, a promise of their future to come. He, however, is not, superstition was not in his nature. Never the less, even he could not ignore the ever growing presence, the tension that filled the walls of the castle. Filled both walls of the respective kings abode a queen was rogue and no one knew how to deal with it.
He had watched passively the torture of the Lestrange brothers, watched one cry for mercy but the other remains quiet. Silence, anger it spoke volumes Rod wanted revenge, while his brother cried for forgiveness. He idly wondered if he cared? Did he? Care for Bellatrix's wellbeing, she had friends in the Death Eaters, she cared for her own. He wondered just what Rod would do to her when he finally got hold of her because he would get hold of her. If there was anything about Rodolphus Lestrange was his perseverance he would set his hands on his wife again.
Another question bothered him, was the Dark Lord angry because they failed to retrieve Bellatrix a task many thought pointless. Or did his anger span from fear maybe care? Rod had bragged he cut his wife open, promised if she survived from running, she would soon die. Granger was no healer unless they found help and given Bellatrix's reputation, he doubted any would willingly help. Was the witch dead? Had Bellatrix succumbed to her wounds?
It begged another question if she had died, where was Granger? She would be free from the psychotic kidnapper, could easily figure a way to request help or return home. So, where was she? They had all waited with bated breath, the order and the Death Eaters, waiting for the sighting of Granger. Waiting for the young Gryffindor to reach out, to return home. Nothing. Days turned to weeks and nothing. No word from Granger, no word from anyone that Bellatrix had fallen. Did she survive? Granger was resourceful, never the less she would never willingly save the witch, would she?
"Severus, you look troubled dear boy?" Albus spoke softly, reclined in a chair watching Severus thoughtfully. "I hope all is well?"
"As well as can be," Severus replied massaging his hand.
"Would you care to share your worries?"
"Granger."
"Ah," Albus nods reaching for his cup of tea.
"Are we sure she hasn't reached out?"
"Miss Granger has not, there has been no word."
"What does that mean?" Severus asked. "Is Bellatrix alive or are they both dead?"
"We will have to wait, until such time we hear something. I assure you dear boy I am doing everything I can to locate Miss Granger."
He doesn't worry for Granger, he should care, but the bookworm is not his concern. No, his concern rests with Bellatrix, he thought her disappearance would make his work easier. Would make everything easier but it has caused nothing but a headache.
"Draco has been tasked with something."
"To kill me?"
"You knew?"
"Tom cannot move against me himself, it would be foolish to try to. No, it is much more like him to try something under foot."
"Narcissa has asked me to assist."
"You said yes?"
"Of course, as we discussed."
"Good," Albus nods. "Never the less, it would appear the plan will have to change."
"What?" Severus demands as he clutches the chair. "The Dark Lord will kill him if he fails. Draco will die for his failure or worse."
"Draco is not my first concern," Albus answers once more igniting Severus' nerves. "Not with Bellatrix unaccounted for, no the plan has changed."
"Albus…"
"Fear not, Draco will remain safe, Tom would not willingly risk upsetting Bellatrix, not yet anyhow. I wouldn't be surprised if he changed his mind. Bellatrix has caused all plans to change."
"Who would have thought Dark Lord's crazy lieutenant could have such an effect."
"Bellatrix is not crazy, she concerns me more than Tom. The plans can only resume once we have both witches back, with out Granger, Harry will be at a loss."
Rising from his seat, Albus takes the few steps to stare down at the grounds of Hogwarts. Students have returned to the knowledge that Miss Granger has fallen into the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange.
"Unknowingly, Bellatrix has unravelled years of planning. I have worked so hard to get to this point, to get Tom where we needed him and in one night it has all come undone. My dear boy, this war will not be over quickly, not now. I cannot die, not with the war coming. If only we knew what Bellatrix had planned, what she is doing can we move forward from this limbo."
"What is so important about Bellatrix?"
"She is Tom's most trusted, his weakness as well as his strength. Never the less, it is not Bellatrix that affects us, unknowingly she has taken one of our strongest pieces. Miss Granger is a valuable asset to the Order, to Harry."
"Replace her, use the Weasley girl, Ginny."
"She is not the right fit, she will distract Harry not help." Turning, Albus regards the sorting hat sitting silently in the corner. "No, Miss Granger was intended for more, or perhaps less."
"Did you fix the sorting?" Severus asks.
"Some people are best left alone. Hidden in the shadow of others greatness, as was Bellatrix to Tom Miss Granger is Harry's shadow."
"Your worried she will learn from Bellatrix."
"Neither witch should learn from the other."
"Albus, what are you trying to hide?"
"Another, I am trying to prevent another."
Confused, Severus stares at the old wizard watching the grounds, turning to look at the sorting hat. He always did wonder why Granger never went in to Ravenclaw, did Albus fix the sorting. Has he played a part in Granger's future forced her to become Potter's friend? Engineered her future without her realising.
"What of Miss Granger's parents?" Albus asks.
"Safe, the Auror's are keeping them safe. It has yet to cross the Dark Lords mind."
"Good, they must remain safe. Are there any others?"
"No, she only has parents, her nan died a few years ago."
"Very well, I shall not keep you anymore."
Understanding the dismissal, Severus turns, leaving Albus to his scheming. Frowning as he passes a smashed ring, wondering why Albus has destroyed a valuable air loom. He focuses on one thing and one thing only. He needs to find Bellatrix, end this lunacy before it continues any further. He knows just the person he needs to see the only person she would trust.
~~~~~ ADITM ~~~~~
It's everywhere, that's the only thought running through her mind as she washes in the stream. Bathing in the running water, uncaring she is only in her underwear she couldn't care less. She is parched, her skin greedily accepting the water she basks in the chill. Washing her hair for the unknown amount of time. Normally she would celebrate having a tan, would love coming back from holiday with a tan. Not today however every part of her body aches, it burns under the water. Her lips cracked and peeling, she once more dunks her head.
No number of spells have offered relief she is aware she is greedily stealing the source of the water; aware Bellatrix is just downstream. Could catch sight of a near naked Hermione, but she doesn't care. It's everywhere. The sand clings to her the sun has left a mark. Her bones ache, her muscles stretched.
She ends up sitting under the pouring water, never has she thought she would miss water in all her life. It's the sound of sloshing that makes her look up to the approaching witch who slumps down behind Hermione. Hiding in the shadow of the cove, still beneath the water but not in the light of the sun. Their backs touching, she feels Bellatrix relax against her.
How did they get here? To the point of enjoying each other's company, to needing the reassurance of having the other close. She gives up thinking, resting her head against Bellatrix's. Tiredness rolls of her, five days maybe more they were stuck in the desert. Wandering aimlessly, heading for the mountains, wasn't till the fourth day did they come across one of their markers they had left. They had gone in a circle; their water ran out and the mountains were no closer.
They argued, bickered until they realised the ground was rotating beneath them. Every time they rested at night, they would wake up back at the start walking towards the mountains. It drove them crazy, Bellatrix came up with a very simple idea. Essentially turning Hermione into a giant balloon, without the witch's consent, she tied a rope to her leg. And kicked her. Bouncing along the sand dunes, flying she could do nothing as Bellatrix sent spell after spell at her making her float faster. Until she struck against the mountain rocks, inflated, humiliated and stuck she waited for Bellatrix to catch up. Through the night Bellatrix followed the rope leading to Hermione who by that point had deflated and returned to her usual self.
If she wasn't relieved to be free from the desert, she might have hit Bellatrix. Instead, they heard a whistle of a train and followed it. Taking a risk, they jumped on to the moving carriages, as the train carried them through the next portal to their current surroundings.
Like rabid dogs they both fell to the stream, drinking until they threw up and collapsing in a heap. Never again does she want to visit a desert, doesn't want to think about it anymore.
"Cannot believe I'm going to say this," Hermione mutters throat aching. "I miss trees."
"I agree." Bellatrix sighs tiredly.
Even now she fears this is one big mirage and she is going to wake up in the sand. Too dehydrated to cry tears and slowly dying a very painful death. She intentionally knocks her leg against the rocks causing a small gash and the reassurance of pain. They are here, this is all real.
"Don't pollute the water," Bellatrix mutters noticing the trickle of red.
"Just making sure this is real not in my head."
"Often think of me naked, do you?"
She chuckles glancing at the witch behind before turning scarlet. She hadn't noticed Bellatrix was stark naked, jolting away as though burnt she tumbles head first into the stream. Breaking the surface, she considers drowning herself to escape the cackle from Bellatrix.
"Why are you naked?" Hermione groans pulling herself to the bank.
"The sand is everywhere."
"So?"
"Everywhere. Every crevice – everywhere."
Wincing, Hermione rubs her eyes that is far too much information and her mind helpfully supplies pictures. Groaning, she finds herself some clothes to wear before setting in for the night, there's a small town nearby, they have somehow managed to find themselves in a local campsite. Hidden at the end, she had turned a blind eye to Bellatrix obliviating the poor man in charge.
They had set up their sleeping bags and a fire a welcome relief from the boiling heat and the freezing cold temperatures they had just come from. It only takes a few minutes but she's asleep not even faintly aware of Bellatrix returning to their camp.
It's early morning when she stirs, the fire has died, the sky a light blue the sun only just rising. She guesses about four am, the birds are beginning to sing. Rubbing her eyes, she never even managed to get into her sleeping bag merely collapsing on top of it. Her arms ache as she shifts slivering into her bag.
The snapping of a branch startles her, she pulls her wand relaxing as she notices Bellatrix trudging back to the camp. Surprised to see Hermione awake, Bellatrix gracefully slips into her bag rolling on to her back.
"Where'd you go?" Hermione whispers.
"Alright mother, I went for a piss." Bellatrix remarks making Hermione snort. "What did you think I was doing tormenting some local muggles?"
"Am I meant to answer honestly?" Hermione quips.
"Suppose it sounds better than going toilet." Bellatrix concedes folding her arms behind her head.
"Can I ask a question?" Hermione asks reaching for her flask.
"You just did, but I'm feeling good natured. What's the question?"
"Who taught you to duel. I mean obviously you went Hogwarts, but who really taught you, was it you know who?"
Drawing in a deep breath, Bellatrix closes her eyes only the sound of the birds and distant traffic. For a while, Hermione waits, but the witch doesn't answer deflated Hermione curls up under the covers. She's not surprised getting information out is similar to getting blood from a stone. Near impossible. They had settled into some sort of routine, both witches asking personal questions during the dead of the night. When neither could look at the other and their voices are carried away by the dark. In the morning they could pretend it wasn't real that the conversations never happened.
Perhaps it's too early they can see one another it's technically morning, this will make everything too raw. Closing her eyes, she dreams of home, to waking up on Sunday morning and going shopping with her parents.
"My uncle." Bellatrix rasps half between sleep and consciousness. "Orion Black, Sirius father. My father was always busy with work, he never had the time. Orion always believed himself to be a great duellist, approved of the Dark Lord but believed himself above him. In reality, he was only ever good at charms. Three times a week he would come to visit us when my father was away with work."
Listening, Hermione swallows when she notices Bellatrix's wand spitting red can see the witch coiled with hate. With anger, she almost wants to retract her question, it's not worth the distress.
He would come in the mornings, through the fireplace in swift movement robes billowing behind him. Bringing with him dread, it dripped from his frame a promise of pain to come. They were to practice until their hands were red and raw. Until the tears streaming down the face meant nothing, in the end, she forgot to cry.
She learnt to cry meant more pain and it showed weakness. She learnt this at the young age of seven, now at the age of fourteen, she rarely showed emotion. Over the years, he got worse, revelled in the power he had, their father failed to notice, how could he? They all hid it so well, their mother who could not fight him. She had seen it first hand playing hide and seek, she hid in her parents closet. He came early that day their father abroad.
Their mother alone, she snickered as she heard the door open, heard the running feet. Cissy would never find her here, wouldn't dare find her in her parents' room. It's through horrified eyes she watched her mother wail, kick and punch him. One slap and curse were all it took for him to subdue her to push her against the bed. To hike up her dress and have his way with her own mother.
Her mother cried, soundless tears she wanted to scold her, didn't she know tears meant nothing. No one came if you cried. It's her mother's shock to find her eldest daughter watching from the closet shame, disgust it all morphed into one. They had no one to turn to, no one to look after them, their father was away, her uncle was here.
He left her slumped against the bed, crying, she slipped from her hiding place flinching as her mother's weak hand grasped her own.
"Bella," her mother whispered brokenly. "My Bella, cast this from your mind."
How could she, it was already seared in place.
"Crying won't help." Bellatrix reprimanded her mother. "I'll deal with this."
"No Bella, no."
She left her mother crumpled on the floor, too weak to fight back. She would never become her mother, would never let anyone hurt her family. She would rather die.
They practised in the afternoon, in the play room as he called it. Cissy is new to the training she had heard from her sisters though what to expect. To be polite to answer nicely, to always do as he said. Other wise she would be cursed, she would get the poker to the hand, a slap to the face. A kick to the gut. She wouldn't be able to hold her wand for days if she failed.
He was teaching Andy when the poker smacked against her hand making her yelp and cry. Tears once more they ran down her sister's face, as she held her throbbing hand to her chest.
"Aww get over it you spoilt little brat." He sniped smacking her at the back of the head. "This is why witches shouldn't fight. You cannot deal with the emotion. Weak, the lot of you. Narcissa front and centre."
Shakily, Cissy stepped forward, her wand shaking in her grip, her face gave nothing away. Bella's little ice queen. She smiled to herself, Cissy would go far, she already knew the value of tears. Her defence was poor, her attacks poorer. Her foot work wrong, but he didn't remedy her mistakes he slapped her. Drawing blood from her lip, but nothing else. Her sister did not cry, not for the likes of him, never for the likes of anyone below her.
"Listen here princess, or you'll end up like your mother."
Her stomach rolled as the hand gently ran down Cissy's face there was no mistaking her similarity to their mother. Almost a younger version if it weren't for the ice Cissy had in her veins. The idea of him ever laying a finger on her sister spurned the demon in her. Her hand shook uncontrollably. The wand, her new wand it reacted to her touch much better than her old one. The one she broke fighting with Andy, this wand it almost wanted to fight.
The straight of the wand nothing like her old one where the end had bent. Rubbish, she paid Olivander a visit, he promised her something to withhold her magic. Walnut, her father wasn't sure, but Olivander promised it would be the only one that would work.
"Now for some unforgivable work, Princess let's start with you. Andy why don't you practice."
She watched as Andy cast a weak unforgivable, not wanting to hurt her little sister. Another curse made Andy crumple in a heap crying as she crawled away leaving only Cissy and herself.
"Bellatrix, you little whore," He snapped grabbing her elbow. "Prove your worthy of the Black name."
Cissy finally showed fear as Bella lifted her wand, a small shake of the head. Bella smiled. She turned on Orion her wand pointed at her uncle. Her uncle left scars on her abdomen, that left her sisters and her mother crying. Who terrorised them, that left her crying alone at night before she realised no one was coming? No one was going to save her.
"Not me, you stupid bitch," He sneers. "Her."
"Why?" Bella asks calmly cocking her head to the side. "You're the weakest here, what use are you?"
"You filthy little…"
She deflected his curse, anger it vibrated in every muscle of her body she reacts. Crucio leaving her lips, the shock as he crumpled screaming, begging. She never stopped. Her anger grew at the tears, she sneered, she felt the house shake. The shouting of her sisters, the shouting. She feels something snap, but it's not enough. Never enough, not for the pain he has caused. She wants him to feel every little thing he has done.
It's the hand that pulls her away, snapping her from the trance, pulled into the strong arms of her father. His face is furious as he looks at his shaking daughters and his brother crying on the ground. He had urinated himself.
"What have you done?" Her father snaps her, thinking her responsible for all the pain. "They are your sisters…"
"He raped mother." She answered emotionless, eyes only for the crawling man. "He hit my sisters. Step aside father there is no need for filth such as him."
Turning, her father regards the poor excuse for a man on the floor. Releasing Bella, he pulls his own wand from his pocket.
"Girls leave," He orders.
Her sisters are quick to leave rushing from the room into their mothers waiting arms, Bella remains. Eyes only for the pathetic man.
"I'll send you to Azkaban," Orion spits at Bellatrix. "You little bitch, I will have them strip you from your wand you psychotic bitch."
"No, you won't." Her father promises. "I will ruin everything you have a brother. Bella leave us."
She remains until his cool dark eyes turn to regard her, she always admired her father. But now she wonders is he strong enough to teach his brother a lesson or does she have to finish it.
"Bella," He replies fondly pressing a kiss to her forehead. "you have done enough, let me finish this. Go see your sisters."
Nodding, she withdraws pausing by the door to regard her uncle, coldly she smiles.
"Hide if I were you uncle," She says sweetly. "Because next time I see you, I won't stop our play time. I will never stop."
She stalks from the room closing the door behind her, wondering what her father will do. A hand brushes through her hair, her mother's worried eyes regarding her sadly.
"It is done." She answers simply, she fancies a bath before finishing her homework.
"Your wand," Her mother answers stepping back. "It's bent."
Twisted, Bella thinks regarding her wand that was once so straight now bent in the middle. It held.
"I'm going to take a bath," She announces pocketing her wand. "I'm meeting titch later I don't want to smell."
"My uncle taught us he wasn't very good though. In the end, my father and I would end up training my sisters. Then my Lord taught me more."
"Was your uncle a good teacher?" Hermione wondered.
"Yes," Bellatrix answers rolling on her side to regard Hermione. "But he ran out his usefulness."
Almost recoiling at the pitch-black eyes, Hermione wonders what she missed. Bellatrix definitely wasn't telling her something, however, Hermione doesn't want to know what it could be.
"He preferred the stick over the carrot, it grew tiresome. In the end, I had to teach him a lesson ever since then he hid away never did come back to play."
Shivering, Hermione doesn't think she would like to play either. Not with the way Bellatrix twiddles with her wand. He abused them, her mind helpfully adds. Until she taught him a lesson, Sirius always did comment on the security of Grimmuald place. She wonders if Sirius knew why his father was hiding, or just assumed him to be paranoid.
Wisely she chose not to ask any more questions, choosing instead to feign sleep. The soft snoring of Bellatrix allowed her the means to relax and study the witch. What did Orion do to Bellatrix? Do to the Black sisters, did he abuse Sirius or was it just the girls. Shivering she choses not to dwell on it, choosing instead to get some more sleep before morning.
It's mild by the time they follow the hiking path Hermione enjoying their stroll the conversation was forgotten. Bellatrix in some high spirits, perhaps grateful to be away from the desert. Perhaps she did sneak off somewhere last night, she decides not to dwell. Choosing instead to ideally wander behind the witch, plucking a flower on passing. She admires the flower ignoring the snort from Bellatrix as she places it in her hair.
Grateful to not have anyone trying to kill them or to be stuck in a desert. She doesn't react quick enough she walks straight into Bellatrix's bony shoulder. Rubbing her nose, she almost drops her wand on retrieving it. Pointing it at the man casually leaning against a boulder as he munches happily on an apple.
"Bellatrix, Mudblood." He greets them with a wild smile.
Heart sinking, Hermione glances behind spotting another stepping on to the path behind them. Bellatrix regards the other man before turning back to the one blocking their way.
"Dolohov, you brought a friend?"
"For you Bella, how could I not?"
Staring, Hermione wonders if Dolohov survived the fall does that mean Nour survived or was the witch dead. Hand tightening on her wand she notices the man behind removing his hood. Her heart drops and she cannot help the gasp that leaves her lips.