Thanks to everyone who reviewed, this is the long awaited 11th chapter. The next one won't take so long, I promise.
Chapter 11- Insanity
Firing off every offensive spell she could remember that didn't kill, Hermione let go of her mum's hand and ran forwards with a growl of frustration heralding her attack. Her hair was bushier that normal, because for the last few days she hadn't been taking care of her self properly, and as she snarled and lunged at the Azkaban aurors she looked quite bestial. For a moment Bellatrix froze as she saw a unmistakable resemblance between herself and her daughter...insanity transformed them both.
Everything had built up inside of Hermione, the war, losing Fleur, realising it was her fault Fleur was gone, finding out Fleur was somehow related…everything had built up and built up and it seemed she had snapped under the pressure. Her face was contorted in a animalistic snarl, and Bellatrix watched in horror as the past seemed to be replaying before her eyes. The pain, the rage, the crazed eyes and wild hair. The only difference so far was that Hermione wasn't trying to kill and torture people yet.
Bellatrix was snapped out of her daze as a flash of blue went flying just past her, waking her up enough to start running towards Hermione, who was currently blasting multiple aurors through the air as they came near her. Sweat beaded her forehead as she ran back and forth, avoiding each spell thrown at her and retaliating with pinpoint accuracy.
It was getting harder for Hermione to avoid the increasing amount of hostile spells being cast in her direction, and if it wasn't by a sudden shield cast by Bellatrix, she would have been hit by a particularly nasty hex. Giving a yell of anger Hermione tried to lunge forwards, incensed that someone could nearly hit her, her mind starting to fracture and unwind at the seams.
"Snap out of it Hermione, you're not me, this isn't your path!" shouted Bellatrix, grabbing Hermione by the collar and slamming her down to the ground in a vicious attempt to knock some sense into her. Hermione could suddenly hear Fleur's words replaying in her mind 'You chose a path very different to zat of your muzzer'. The effect was instant, Hermione's face becoming more Hermione-like, as she reminded herself that she was not her mother, and her path was a different one.
Clambering to her feet, Hermione signalled to Bellatrix and then started running as fast as her legs could carry her. She'd finished fighting for now, she'd had enough of her day, rather she was fed up of her life. She was always running, first from the fact she loved Fleur, then from telling anyone, on and on and now she was running from angry prison officials with itchy wand hands and a twenty to one advantage at least. She was beginning to get tired of all the running, but it was times like this, when she realised running was not always the best choice, that running became her only choice.
"Duck Mimi!" shouted Bellatrix, barrelling into the back of Hermione and knocking her over just in time, as a streak of red light sailed through the area only just vacated by Hermione's head. The brunette gave a frustrated groan as the aurors started to close in on her and her mother, and she mentally started plotting how to break back out of Wizard Prison, when one of the aurors shouted "Get them before they disapparate!".
One little sentence and then Hermione had grabbed Bellatrix and was gone, vanishing into thin air within a instant…and leaving the aurors to glare at the loudmouth.
Hermione and Bella landed in a sprawled heap in the stands of a Quidditch pitch with the sun beating down on them. Sitting up slowly with a disorientated expression on her face, Hermione ran a hand through her overly bushy hair and noticed the Bulgarian National Team walking into a tunnel, obviously just finished with practice. Bellatrix had a slightly different reaction, she sat up with a dazed expression, and on seeing her surroundings wondered what on earth had possessed her daughter to bring them to a public area. In fact her wondering was quite vocal.
"Hermione Jean Black, are you out of your mind?!" she screeched, the expression on her face pure anger and confusion, "We're running from a squad of aurors and you bring us to a Quidditch pitch! Are you insane? Has the stress befuddled your mind? Are you completely delusional? You help me escape and are you now going to help me back to prison?!" she yelled, her face showing briefly the insane expression that Bellatrix Lestrange had been infamous for, it was the expression that showed things were starting to get to her and she was getting ready to blast things into oblivion.
Hermione looked at her mother blankly for a moment, her face impassive to the squawking of her mother as she waited for a moment where Bella had to take a breath, a small smile on the bookworms face as she informed her mother of one critical piece of information, "Mum, this is a Bulgarian Quidditch Pitch…we're in Bulgaria," explained Hermione with a small self-satisfied smile, and the tirade Bellatrix had been about to launch into died on her lips. The Ex-Death Eater stared at her daughter in complete bewilderment, if she hadn't been confused before she was now. She could understand fleeing the country, but why Bulgaria, and why a Quidditch Pitch?
In a tone of voice that implicated slightly more stability, or at least with less similarities to a erupting volcano, Bellatrix took a deep breath and then spoke, "Why…in the name of Merlin…are we in BULGARIA!?" Bellatrix said, erupting at the end of her sentence, which was a shame because at first she'd seemed almost calm. Hermione examined her mother and decided that the stress of so much fresh air after being in a cramped cell must be getting to her.
"You never read anything Rita Skeeter wrote a few years ago did you?" asked Hermione in a tone of perfect tranquillity, after all the turmoil suddenly feeling quite numb inside. It was as though everything had built up to such a uncontrollable level that Hermione's mind had just tuned it out, leaving her emotionless and empty. All she could feel was a dull throbbing ache around her heart area, a reminder of the pain waiting when the numbness was gone.
In answer to Hermione's question, Bellatrix's face took on a ludicrous expression, seeming once again to question Hermione's mental stability. Hermione gave a soft sigh and shook her head, "Obviously not, if you had you'd have known the rumours about myself and certain Mister Viktor Krum. To a extend they weren't complete fabrication, we did briefly date, though nothing too far for obvious reasons…my mind was elsewhere. He understood luckily, and we kept in contact. He's so far away that it's safe to tell him everything, he already knows I love Fleur, and that you're my mother. He can help us," said Hermione, each word dryly recited like something from a textbook.
That didn't explain to Bellatrix how Hermione knew Viktor would be at the training grounds, but she could tell Hermione wasn't in the best state of mind, and it would be better to not push her anytime soon. Although she didn't say it, Bellatrix was worried about Hermione. Her daughter had gone from a bright and determined young woman, to someone Bella couldn't recognize. Hermione's emotions and temper seemed all over the place, nothing like the cool and collected Hermione Bella had come to know.
All through the war Hermione hadn't lost her composure, but Bellatrix was starting to understand that Hermione was only so strong because she had something worth fighting for. During all of the war, Hermione was fighting to save what she believed in, and to save her friends…and to save Fleur.
When Hermione thought she'd failed in saving Fleur from death she'd broken down, but when she realised she had a chance of saving her beloved, she'd gained a new lease of life. She'd been ready to take on the world and all its obstacles if it meant she'd be back with Fleur, with the promise of Fleur she'd been strong enough.
However, the revelation that Fleur was related to the brunette…it had taken the wind out of the bookwork's sails so to speak. At first she'd been angry at how cruel fate was, playing with her heart and breaking it. She'd fought against it, against everything, against the inevitable. When the fight had gone from her, she was numb and empty, not feeling for fear all she'd feel would be pain and hurt, the anguish at her love being forbidden and taboo. Yet still Hermione went on…carried by the breeze of her promise to free Fleur from the void.
She walked slowly, like doing so was a supreme effort, towards the fan and family entrance to the main building. Unlike most other national teams, the Bulgarian national team allowed visitors to watch them practice, and while the pitch itself had a anti-apparation ward, the stands were open to the public during training times
She entered, followed by Bellatrix, just in time to hear a Ronald-size explosion of temper. The minute she heard the familiar sound of Ron ranting, Hermione snapped to attention, a little bit of anger creeping into her deflated demeanour. She didn't know how or why Ronald had reached Bulgaria, but she could begin to guess it had something to do with Ginny being a blabbermouth.
"I know she's here Krum, don't lie to me, give me my Hermione you stupid bon-bon!" roared Ron, past caring who heard him or what they thought of him. His face was as red of his hair, and Harry's Uncle Vernon would have been proud of the purple starting to enter Ron's complexion.
"Look Veasley, I do not know vhere Herm-own-ninny is," stated Viktor calmly, unaware that both Hermione and Bellatrix were now walking towards him and in full view of Ron. The look on Hermione's face was one of bitter resentment, and almost immediately Ron became quiet.
"Right here Viktor," said Hermione quietly, glaring at Ron sharply. She had specifically told Ginny she didn't want anyone following her, but she should have known that the red-haired girl couldn't keep her mouth shut, or keep her promises, "But me being here doesn't matter…the question is, why is Ron?"
The red haired boy was very quiet, looking at the ground with all the anger out of him, and then looking to Hermione with tears glistening in his eyes. Normally he didn't let his sadness show, most certainly he didn't cry, but he just couldn't help it. Seeing Hermione where Ginny said she'd be, knowing Ginny was probably right about the reason, it broke Ronald's heart.
"You lied to me…why did you lie Hermione?" he asked, and from hiding behind Hermione and Viktor, Bellatrix was touched by the sorrow in his voice, so heavy and hurt. Even Viktor felt some decree of sympathy for the poor misinformed boy. The only person unaffected was Hermione. In any normal situation she would have been compassionate, but in her current state of numbness, she seemed cold and clinical.
"I never lied to you Ronald, I don't know what you think but you're wrong, as usual," she snapped, not in the mood to deal with Ron and his emotional imbalances. Everyone in the room flinched, and Ron looked at though he'd just been slapped.
He felt a bubble of anger start to rise in him. Hermione had lied to him, it was obvious from her being with Viktor, and yet she was being so harsh to him…like somehow he was in the wrong. In trademark Weasley fashion, his temper flared and he spoke without thinking.
"You did lie! Ginny said you love Viktor, and here you are, you're a liar and a cheater!" he yelled angrily, and within seconds of finishing his outburst he felt his cheek stinging, because this time Hermione really had slapped him.
With a deathly quiet voice Hermione spoke to Ron, disdain and venom dripping with every word, "A cheater Ronald? If you remember, I said no…and for this very reason. You're jealous and possessive, and I am not a object to be owned by anyone. Viktor is my friend, and I am at perfect liberty to visit him when I wish. I didn't lie to you, and even if I had you have no right to be here intruding, you don't own me!" she said, and what had started quietly had finished with her screaming at him. Her cheeks were flushed and sparks were flying from her wand.
However, despite the warning signs, Ron didn't know when to give up. Instead of leaving like would have been sensible, or apologizing with would have been reasonable, or even just staying quiet with would have been understandable…he started yelling back.
"I have every right! You're meant to be mine, and if I can't have you then no-one can! Not that stupid Bon-Bon Vicky, not anyone!" he shouted, his voice loud and furious, his wand drawn as Hermione screeched back her reply.
"I'll never be yours!"
"Avada Kedavra!"
