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Under the cover of stars the woman appeared as if by magic in the quiet and lonely thoroughfare. A cold wind rustled brown leaves along the side of the brick fence bordering the footpath. In the distance dogs were barking, all around her muggle families ate dinner together and put their offspring to bed.
Bellatrix Lestrange's lip curled in disgust. Her fingers teased her wand as she considered the fun she could have in this neighbourhood. As quickly as the thoughts came she reminded herself of her mission, her extremities quivered with excitement at the prospect.
Bellatrix ached to be by the Dark Lord's side, just thinking of him sent a shiver up her spine and she closed her eyes to savour the sensation. Just as suddenly as before she snapped out of it.
Her master had charged her with the task of retrieving the mudblood, Granger. He deemed it important. Her brother-in-law's recount of the events the night he killed her filthy muggle parents had intrigued the Dark Lord. A mudblood apparating wandlessly sounded preposterous to her, but she would do anything the Dark Lord wished.
This was her chance to prove herself once again; to stand out above the rest, especially Severus, and have him look upon her with approval. The sooner she caught Hermione Granger the sooner she'd stand by the Dark Lord's side. A tear silently escaped her at that joyous thought.
She swung her wand in a wide arch shooting purple sparks out. Hundreds of tiny rice-size balls of light surrounded her body and one by one fizzled out until one sizzling light remained. It was the size of a grain of rice, and it quickly zoomed straight up into the air.
Bellatrix grinned from ear to ear, her face the picture of madness. She raised her wand and, leaving behind a tail of black smoke, flew into the air after it.
-------------------HG-------------------
The doors to the Billington and Son shoe factory exploded of it's hinges and crashed into some expensive looking machinery. Seconds later Hermione Granger ran through the opening like the hounds of hell themselves were hot on her heels.
The factory was large and the floor was laid out with conveyor belts and bulky iron machinery. Hermione hid behind a spherical machine and listened. Bellatrix Lestrange had been following her now across several counties, without rest for days. It occurred to her that there must have been a break out from Azkaban prison and that left her desperately wanting to know just what was going on in the wizarding world.
In the distance she heard the insane cackling of her pursuer. "Hermione! Hermione! Hiding in the factory." The rhyming drove Hermione mental, Bellatrix was committed to singing. She had no doubt the Dementors had sucked up all Bellatrix's sanity.
Hermione crouched down and peaked under the machine to see worn leather shoes in the door way. Bellatrix was tapping her foot. From what she could see Bellatrix was in desperate need of a razor.
The foot stopped tapping and Bellatrix shifted her weight. "It's okay, Hermione, really. I understand you're nervousness. Meeting the Dark Lord is a heart pumping experience. If it will make you feel better, I'll tell you all about my first time. I was a lot younger back then and he had so much presence." Bellatrix has drawn out the 'so', Hermione wanted to gag but dared not move.
"I showed him I could be better than the boys. The things I would do for him." Hermione felt sick. "Do you know how long muggles survive while their bones are shattered inch by inch?"
Hermione closed her eyes and cleared her mind, letting go of her fear.
"I know where you're hiding, you know." Hermione's eyes snapped open as metal ground against metal and the giant iron door sailed back to it's rightful place in the wall at a terrifying speed. Bellatrix screamed out a spell and for a second the factory filled with light. Hot sparks landed on Hermione's hand and she gasped and yanked her arm away.
In the next second the machine behind which Hermione hid exploded throwing her bodily through the air. She landed with a searing pain in her chest on a conveyor belt across the room. Every machine in the factory came to life and Hermione felt herself carried along the work line. She took gaping lung fulls of air as she fought to stay conscious over the pain.
"I see why the Dark Lord wants you." Hermione could not see Bellatrix but she sounded extremely close. "Petrificus totalus." Hermione felt her limbs snap to her sides and freeze up. She suddenly felt light and was levitated off the conveyor belt, her body rotating through the air until she could see Bellatrix. In this position they were almost standing in front of each other, except Hermione's feet were inches above the ground.
"How I shall be rewarded." Bellatrix whispered with pleasureful moan, wide-eyed. Her wand was pointed directly at Hermione's heart. Bellatrix stepped forward and gently ran her hand down the side of Hermione's face, her mouth closer than Hermione ever wanted it to be. Fury briefly replaced Bellatrix's jubilant expression. Her hand twitched, she looked like she was restraining herself.
"You could have made this easier for yourself. Episkey." With a painful crunch Hermione's ribs snapped back into place and the pain disappeared immediately.
She was smart enough to know Voldemort must want her unharmed rather than believe Bellatrix capable of any kind of mercy. Fortunately this was exactly the kind of opening she needed. Calling up all the mental focus she could she concentrated on apparating away. She could feel the pulse of the energy in her abdomen crescendo and suddenly falter.
"Oh, you didn't think I'd make the same mistake twice, did you?" Hermione realised Bellatrix must have cast an anti-apparation spell. She doubted the field of the spell went too far. Bellatrix didn't have enough time to set it up, so it could only be within a short distance of where they currently stood.
With horror she watched Bellatrix press the tip of her wand against the Dark Mark tattooed on her forearm. Her heart raced, she was terrified. Within the minute the sound of apparating, like fire crackers, reached her ears. Bellatrix hurried to stand in front of Hermione facing the doorway, Hermione could not see her face but it wasn't hard to guess what it looked like.
Footsteps echoed throughout the factory, Hermione was panicking.
Voldemort had arrived.
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