A/N: Finally! This was suppose to be updated like four days ago, but between formal dinners, homework and throwing up, ugh, it's amazing it's finally here. I had wanted to update earlier then usual too, but sadly didn't get to do that. I can't wait for spring break, enjoy guys. (And thank you as always to all my readers and reviewers for the support that keeps me going. Especially a special thanks to my ginger-haired best friend whose text messages of 'Have you updated yet?' remind me well of my duty, I love you :] )
Chapter Thirteen
"Is it worth it Draco?" Bellatrix giggled madly as she continued to curse me.
I was beyond screaming, having long ago lost my voice due to the yells that came with the earlier pains. The Cruciatus curse erupted through every vein in me, setting my very soul ablaze. I was waiting to black out, any moment now was all I could plea for. I wanted to answer my Aunt, that yes, Hermione is in fact worth it. Better me then her, that's how I could endure the excruciating pain.
"Answer me!" Aunt Bella shrieked, I felt the pain somehow increase.
I couldn't take it, my body forced a loud enough answer, "Yes!!"
In an instant the pain ceases, and everything was silent. My heart was rapidly beating in my ear, I was breathing as if I hadn't ever breathed before. My body was stiff from as an after affect of the torture.
"Yes?! She is worth it?!" Bellatrix stared at me with disbelief.
"Yes." I repeated between breaths.
I watched as my Aunt literally turned red with fury, my own safety was no longer in question, because I knew that look. I didn't move though, I knew that would do me no good yet, instead I let my strength steadily return. Bellatrix was glaring at Hermione, the clicking from the heels of her boots was the only sound throughout the basement as she creeped toward Hermione. I wanted to attack Aunt Bella right then, but I knew I couldn't, after all I had yet to regain use of my legs. So I watched helplessly, angrily, and regretfully as Bellatrix held her wand directly at Hermione's forehead.
"You disgust me Mudblood. You and those little friends of yours have given my Lord too many problems." Hermione's face scrunched in pain from the force of the wand as my Aunt spoke, "Nasty little spell you used the other day against my dear Rodolphus, did Draco teach it to you?"
I could only assume that the Death Eater that had been hit by Hermione's Sectumsempra curse, was my Uncle Rodolphus. However, it would seem that unfortunately my uncle survived the strike. Hermione ignored my Aunt's question, which only made her angrier.
"I'm talking to you Mudblood!" Bellatrix screamed, I shut my eyes right before her hand made contact with Hermione's cheek.
"No!" Hermione bellowed after the blow, "Harry did, would you like to see?" My eyes re-opened, wide with fear at Hermione's reply.
The bravery of a Gryffindor, is mostly their foolishness. Bellatrix was quiet for only a moment, before her insane laughter overcame her. I still could hardly pull myself up, the Crucitus Curse does vicious wonders to the body.
"I would love to see how it works Mudblood." Aunt Bella shrilled happily, "Don't!" I managed to choke out.
Aunt Bella looked at me from over her shoulder, "Don't what Draco?"
"Aunt Bella please." I shamefully begged her, I was ashamed for this behavior, especially in front of Hermione.
"Oh no, no, no. Now you wish to acknowledge me as family? Now you decide to show me the proper respect?" I mentally cringed as she spoke to me in an all too calm manner.
"I had always shown you respect." I tried to argue, but my crackling voice gave away my fear.
"Oh really?" Aunt Bella casually walked away from Hermione and stood directly in the middle of us, "Draco, how the bloody hell is disgracing this family by helping a Mudblood, showing me respect?"
"I said 'had', not 'have'." My infamous Malfoy sarcasm at this moment surprised each of us.
I had decided on focusing Aunt Bellatrix's anger on myself instead of on Hermione. The sudden courage to do so, despite the situation, made me feel confident. Bellatrix appeared to be fuming because of my attitude.
"Serpensortia!" The familiar spell rang out from my aunt.
I hadn't heard the spell since my second year, when I myself used it against Potter. It was Aunt Bellatrix who had taught it to me, and now it was Aunt Bellatrix who would use it against me. I watched as the long grayish-brown viper slithered from my aunt's wand toward me.
"The Black Mamba," Bellatrix said warmly, "Its venom is 100 percent lethal, oh, but it is so adorable! Don't you agree Draco?"
I was immobile, paralyzed from sheer terror. The words '100 percent lethal' repeated in my head over and over again. Being a Slytherin did not in fact mean that we loved all serpents. As the Black Mamba glided toward me with frightening speed, finally I found my legs again, and was quickly backing up until I hit the wall. I heard the snake hiss, it's tongue sliding in and out of its mouth. It bared its teeth as it came closer, my heart was beating too fast, I thought it would explode from my chest in a split second.
Just then, in a period of three seconds, Hermione tackled my aunt to the floor, the Black Mamba veered it's head away, and Hermione snatched up my aunt's wand.
"Expulso!" The spell hit the viper and caused it to combust.
"Mudblood!" My aunt was just as quick, she sneered as she kicked Hermione's feet from under her.
Hermione hit the ground, loosing her grip on Bellatrix's wand. I jumped to my feet without thinking, and practically dove to retrieve the wand. Bellatrix had done the same, together we collided into the hard floor. Everything was happening so fast, I was struggling with my aunt to get back up, as Hermione leaped over us trying to grab the wand. I felt something crush my nose, then everything began to slow its speed.
Aunt Bella had punched me square in the nose, I could feel the warm blood rushing out of it. I tried to hold my nose, the scarelt liquid drenched my hands. Hermione had nearly gotten the wand, until my aunt snatched up the back of her shirt, tossing her to the side. With a triumphant yell, Bellatrix reclaimed her wand. The basement door swung open, as another pair of footsteps bustled down the stairs.
"Bella?" Uncle Rodolphus in the flesh called out to his psychotic wife.
"I've got it dear." Bellatrix recomposed herself as she clutched her wand.
I held my nose, bloody hell it hurt, as well as continued to bleed. Rodolph glared at Hermione and I, then drew his own wand.
"I say we curse this vile Mudblood back to her Maker."
"Oh Rodolphus," My aunt turned to my uncle, "Such a darling you are. But, this Mudblood is mine dear, not yours. So I say that I kill the girl, on my own, when I want." Her tone had flowed form gentle to vicious.
Uncle Rodolph stared at his deranged wife, "Of course Bella."
"Silly man, these children already have claims on their heads. Perhaps when we capture more of these idiots, you may have a claim on them." She continued bitterly, I watched my uncle stare after her warily.
"Mhm."
"What about the Longbottom boy? I had a shot at his parents, you should get a taste of that family tree as well, love." She truely was insensitive, without a care about it.
"I'll see, any way, I thought I heard a ruckus down here." Her sneered over at Hermione and I.
"It's fine Rodolphus."
"Are you sure? I am here as a guard as well Bell-"
"It's fine!" She screeched, stomping her foot into the ground.
It was quiet, I swore Uncle Rodolphus would strike Bellatrix at any moment. However, he wasn't that stupid. It was common knowledge that Bellatrix was the most dangerous of all the Death Eaters, and it was a strong belief that the Dark Lord favored Bellatrix immensely. I'm sure Aunt Bella could protect herself from any wrath from her husband, but Uncle Rodolph may also fear wrath from the Dark Lord.
"I'll be out of your hair then. Come to bed soon, I have been feeling rather lonely at nights without you, dear Bella."
In a split second the atmosphere between them had shifted from tension, to something a bit more disturbing in my eyes. Aunt Bella threw him a wicked grin, he merely cocked his brow before ascending the stairs out of the basement. I felt all sorts of sickness at their gestures.
Aunt Bellatrix's bi-polar mannerisms did not fail her, as soon as my Uncle was well upstairs, my aunt turned to us with a repulsed glare.
"You stupid little things honestly thought you could over-power me?" Her voice had grown deep with fury.
I swallowed the lump of fear that had gathered in my throat, "Obviously."
I caught Hermione's wide eye's, she looked as if she wanted to both scream in protest and smack me across the face. Bellatrix flushed a light shade of angry scarlet.
"I have had about enough of you and your disrespectful comments Draco Malfoy." She slowly advanced toward me, wand at the ready," You are not my sister's son, in fact you are not a part of this family. You are a disgraceful, arrogant, piece of garbage that does not deserve to bare the name of any pureblooded family. In fact Draco, we disown you. You have no family, and after this charade, you have no friends either."
"I have her." I said low and coldly, giving Hermione a half-hearted smile.
The Death Eater was only a yard from me, she barked with more insane laughter. I rose to my feet as if to challenge her, she continued to laugh. I let her words and laughter sink in, on behalf of my family, she announced my disownment. And she was right, I chose to become a blood-traitor, which meant I had no friends left either. . .Just more enemies. I had no family now, and Bellatrix then was no longer my aunt. I stood firmly as her hysteric died down, she was just another Death Eater, I concluded.
"And she will be dead!" Bellatrix announced in a sing-song voice, "Along side yourself."
"I would die before I would ever willingly let her die." I was proud of my statement, confident with my selflessness, and content with the love, yes love, I had for Hermione.
Bellatrix rolled her eye's at my nobility, and looked over at Hermione, "Did you put some ridiculous or cheesy love spell on this boy?" She snorted with sarcasm.
"No."
"Then he really does have the biggest death wish! Next to Potter I suppose." Her wand lay lazily in her hand, while her other hand was secured to her waist.
Another rash, adreniline fuelled action over-came me. I released my no longer bleeding nose, and grabbed the end of Bellatrix's wand, (Very surprised at how one of the best Death Eaters was losing control of her own wand in such a short period of time, by children no less. But she was too prideful at the fact that we were children in her opinion, Hermione and I are more of a threat then she would like to think).
Then again, as I stated, she is in fact a very good Death Eater. Her instincts swept into motion, as her hand held tight to the other end of her wand. I refused to let go, if anything I would snap Bellatrix's wand before allow her to have the ability to over-power us again.
So there we stood, tuggin back and forth on the tiny piece of wood. I tried to shove her backwards, trying to make her stumble over her own feet. However, her stance was as concrete as my own, we both continued to pull on the wand. She hissed at me repeatedly, I merely kept my attention focused on wiggling the wand from her grasp.
"Draco you foolish child!" Bellatrix half chuckled, half yelled, "Do you not realize what end of the wand you are on?!"
"Draco, please move." I heard Hermione order at me, but I didn't budge.
"If that is the what-"
"Bellatrix, wait!"
Everything went completely still to my surprise. Both Bellatrix and I stopped struggling for the moment, and stared at Hermione. Her sudden outburst to LeStrange came as a shock.
"How dare you use my name Mudblood!" Bellatrix shouted enraged.
"Would you honestly wish to bring about the wrath of V-Voldemort," I nearly gasped when she used his name, " By killing the person he has put a claim on?"
Before I could use the distraction to my advantage, Bellatrix beat me to the punch. She yanked her wand clear out of my hand, the palm of her hand connecting with my very strong force. I fell over from the pain, surely my nose was broken now, if it had not been before. I was on my back, trying to fight away the agony, Bellatrix had her wand pointed at Hermione.
"Silencio!"
"Dra-!" Hermione was quieted before she could call to me.
"Never, ever, speak the Dark Lord's name you worthless Mudblood!" Bellatrix smacked Hermione to the ground, "When the Dark Lord finishes his interrigation with you, I shall have my fun Mudblood."
Bellatrix flinched at Hermione, causing the young witch to shrink back slightly. The Death Eater giggled before returning to me. I was having great difficulty standing, my hand didn't leave my nose, I was trying to hold it together as well as hold in the blood. I could have sworn I saw my demise in Bellatrix's glower.
"As for you? I have had enough of your antics Draco. The Dark Lord will be here in a couple of days, but I don't know if I have the patience to deal with you that long." Her words were venomous, Hermione opened her mouth to object, but of course couldn't.
Was this death? I felt cold already, I felt my blood draining. I held on to the image of Hermione, I clung to the love I could feel. Bellatrix LeStrange drew back her wand, I braced myself for probable demise. Hermione, I love you. I repeated in my head again, showing my thoughts through my gaze.
"Duro!" Stone.
......
A/N: Huh, I bet it its hard to have a point of view, much less a thought process when you are turned to stone. I still find Bellatrix Lestrange to be my favorite female villian, next to Poison Ivy. Whoo! I shall start the next chapter now, and hope for a sooner update. Hope I keep you all at the edge of your seats :D