A/N: Hey, what's up guys long, long, long time no see - sorry. Any who so like I guessed there were mixed responses for last chapter. This chapter can follow on from either 12 or 13, depends on whether or not you want them to cross that road or if you want the tension that is so frustratingly beautiful you get to a point where you yell at the laptop: Just Get A Room! Or is that just me? This is back to third person, I know people didn't like the change, but I felt it necessary, so without further ado the next installment. I have a feeling you guys will also have a mixed response to this but I wouldn't be the author I am if I made it a walk in a park, now would I?
A big thank you to all those who have been patient, I know how frustrating it is waiting for an author to upload. Also a big thank you to those who reviewed it helped kick me into gear again, I'm working on the next chapter of Turn Time and the next chapter to this. So please review, follow and favourite guys I love those emails I giggle like a little girl.
Also to any authors reading this please update soon, I know how hard it is to get your mojo back!
Disclaimer: Yeah I don't own any recognisable characters of the Harry Potter world, and no money has been made from this.
There are mistakes, I suck at checking my work and I'm a hard person to work with cause I'm impatient.
Third Person again guys!
Enjoy...
Heart Over Mind,
"Granger! Move your filthy ass!" Bellatrix shouts above the sound of fire.
"Go!" Hermione replies, her feet sinking in the snow, she tumbles now and again, as she follows Bellatrix snow tracks.
"Hurry it up muddy!" Bellatrix calls back, a good few feet away from her.
"Is this another test?" Hermione yells.
A look of horror skips across Bellatrix's face before she sets another mask of indifference on. Her eyes sweep across the burning village this time unable to hide her own fear. Eventually her eyes land on the younger witch struggling to catch up.
"This is not part of the trials." She answers glancing to the forest. "But we're not far from our exit, so hurry it up!" She orders.
"Go, I'll catch up." Hermione does not need to tell the other witch twice, Bellatrix is already making her way through the forest. "Well thanks." She grumbles to herself.
Pulling a soaked, jean leg from the snow, Hermione finally makes it to the tree line, where the ground is less wet. Looking behind she sees only smoke and shadows moving between houses, she's unsure if it's the villagers themselves or those who attacked them at night. She should be used to being chased now, but her heart still pounded hard against her chest. Looking around she tries to see where Bellatrix went. Taking a deep breath, she pushes through the dark forest, her ears listening for any movement she was not going to be ambushed again.
Twigs snapping underneath her feet, ice cracking with every step, she watches for any sign of movement. A chill sends a shiver down her spine, and she swallows her fears, there was something or someone in the forest. She could swear anyone nearby could hear her heart beat before they saw her.
A noise ahead makes her duck for cover behind a tree, gaining courage she slowly peeks to see where the noise came from. She can make out two figures ahead of her, creeping forward she moves for a closer look. Her breath catches in her throat and she throws herself behind another tree to hide.
Red eyes turn to where Hermione is hiding; a frown graces his white skin before turning his attention back to the witch at his feet. A sneer permanently fixed upon his face, he glides around the limp figure on the floor, his eyes never straying from his prey.
"You disappoint me Bellatrix." He hisses with a tone of disappointment and superiority.
"My Lord," Bellatrix gasps, clutching her side and daring not to meet her Lord's eyes. "I can explain."
"Explain?" Voldemort echoes. "I always thought you were the most loyal, it seems I was wrong."
"No my lord, I am doing this to aid our cause, I swear." Bellatrix breathes, crawling to her knees; she does not lift her eyes any further than Voldemort's torso.
"It makes me sad to see this Bellatrix, you always hold such promise. It seems those years waiting for me have made you soft." Voldemort dismisses her, trailing round to stand behind her.
Her jaw clenches in anger, all those years waiting. She rotted in hell for him and this is the thanks she gets, a crucio to the back and another to the face.
"What I do?"
Her hands void of any weapons, stripped down to her bare minimum, clothes torn and ripped, like a statue she watches the dark witch in the doorway. The candle light in the bathroom illuminates Hermione's innocent untainted features, a complete contrast to the crazed features of her captor. Bellatrix poised in the doorway to their shared room, wand raised, the shadows bellowing out behind her, utters one reply.
"Crucio."
Swallowing hard at the memory, Bellatrix looks down at the ground ashamed. She had done the same to Granger, with no reason just shot the girl down. Swallowing the bile in her throat, she frowns, yet the girl still got back up, got back to her feet and saved her. Where are you Granger? Don't come here, head to the exit… She cannot apparate; if she does, my curse will kick in. She's stuck here.
Bellatrix notices that Nagini is moving through the trees, her hearts hammers to a halt. Granger's here in the trees, she watching this. She had to warn her, get her away from Voldemort. She feels Voldemort place his cold fingers against the base of her skull, she knows he could easily snap her neck should he want to. He could finish this here, it was not like him to let disobedience last. Will I ever see you smile? I want to see that pretty face light up, for once I would like to see you look at me. Look at me without fear or hate. Is that possible Granger? Could you ever not despise me?
She closes her eyes waiting for the final curse that made him so famous. She would not quiver, would not cry. She is a Black at heart; nothing the Dark Lord could do would stop that. Yet, nothing happens, Voldemort's hand has moved away, but she knows his standing behind her. Daring to peek, she glances over her shoulder at the wizard; his eyes are on the forest.
"Where is the mudblood Bellatrix?" He questions he meets her gaze.
"Dead my Lord," She whispers lowering her gaze.
"Dead? Greyback informed that she was very much alive when he last saw her."
"That was true my Lord, but the filthy mutt bit her, turned the other night, and had to put her down." She lies, hoping the witch is listening.
"Is that so?" He asks, she can hear the scepticism in his voice and it sends chills down her spine.
"Nagini," He says it softly, but Bellatrix can hear the order in his voice.
Hermione hears the soft name spoken, she listened as Bellatrix begged for life, and she prepared herself to step in, knowing that she was not powerful enough to take on Voldemort, but willing to none the less. Her wand gripped tightly in her hand, she was not sure if Bellatrix had really capped her magic or was lying.
Holding her breath, she prepares to attack, her hand clammy from anticipation, and the spell on the tip of her tongue. A sharp pain makes her gasp, that is when she realises she is falling, something extremely heavy pushing her down into the clearing. Gasping for breath, she has seconds to react as sharp fangs aim for her face. She just manages to catch the head of the snake before it sinks its poisonous fangs into her.
"Miss Granger I believe?" Voldemort gloats, he waves his hand and Nagini retracts her fangs. "Did they not teach you it is rude to eavesdrop?"
Taking her eyes of the snake on top of her, Hermione looks over to Voldemort who is watching her struggle in amusement. Her eyes dart to Bellatrix who is on her knees, she struggles to read the expression on the dark witch's face, but something similar to worry passes through her eyes. She watches her swallow, as they stare at one another lost for eternity in the other's eyes. Before she gasps in pain as Nagini tightens her grip on Hermione's body, struggling against the great s snake her hands trapped by her sides, she tries to reach for her wand.
"I would not struggle my dear, it is useless, and Nagini hasn't had her tea yet."
"My Lord," Bellatrix begins, her eyes trained on Hermione.
"Bellatrix, perhaps now you will talk, or do I have to break your new toy?" Voldemort threatens.
"My Lord," Voldemort looks surprised for a second before turning to the one who spoke. Bellatrix too looks shortly stunned staring at Hermione in confusion. "If I could perhaps I explain." Hermione requests.
"Go on." Voldemort says, gliding across the floor to face both witch's.
Swallowing, Hermione ignores the burning gaze of Bellatrix before continuing. "Madam Lestrange wanted me to be a surprise to you my Lord. She's training me in the dark arts, to infiltrate the Order and to gain their trust."
She dares not lift her head to read Voldemort's eyes; she was treading a thin line as it was. She needed to distract him, buy herself time to escape.
"It's true my Lord," Bellatrix agrees, "It was meant to be a surprise, if I brought her back with us, someone would have found out. However, with us both missing, she could return a victor… Claim she had killed me and send messages to me so I can report back to you." Bellatrix continues.
It's deathly quiet in the forest, two hearts beating uncontrollably in the clearing waiting for the Dark Wizard to say something. Bellatrix grows tired of waiting for a reply and finally looks up to her Lord, his studying her and she shrinks back. He does not believe us.
"It sounds like a good story," Voldemort says slowly. "And that is all it is, a story."
"It is the truth my Lord," Bellatrix pleads her voice full of emotion.
"Nagini," Voldemort commands.
Hermione cries out in pain as the snake begins to constrict, crushing her slowly, she squirms in the grip of it. Tears spring from her eyes, she feels her ribs begin to strain under the pressure, soon they will crack and the bones will pierce her lungs and heart. Bellatrix grimaces at the screams, she tries her best to keep her eyes on the ground but they stray to the crying girl. Anger coils in her stomach, which is when she notices the wand next to Hermione, glancing around the clearing she tries to find her own.
"Nagini," He commands again, gaining Bellatrix's attention as well.
The pressure stops as the snake slivers away from her body, Hermione crawls on to all fours gasping for air. Clutching her sides, she coughs repeatedly, body shaking from the abuse.
"I believe this is one of your favourites Bella," Voldemort sneers pointing his wand at Hermione. "Crucio."
The spell hits with force enough to throw Hermione back a few spaces; she fails to stop the scream leaving her lips. Bella… Please, help me. She begs silently, anything to end this pain.
"My Lord!" Bellatrix demands his attention getting to her feet.
"What I do?"
A scream bursts forth from her throat bouncing of the small confides of the bathroom, deafening herself. Spasms ransack her body as she topples to the floor withering in pain.
"Crucio."
"You dare defy me Bellatrix?" Voldemort growls, his wand fixed on Hermione but his attention on Bellatrix.
"I dare…" Bellatrix retorts, taking a step forward, the anger coils in her veins, hatred so intense it cracks against her very soul. Black eyes meet red. "How about a real challenge… Tom." She clicks her tongue on the name Tom to make it pop.
She has never seen her Lord so angry, even when Potter escaped, he was not this angry. Betrayal leaves a bitter taste in everyone's mouth, even the dead it appears. He glowers at her, lowering his wand from Hermione, she can feel his power vibrate in the small clearing.
"You will die Black!" Voldemort hisses with venom. "You and your mudblood thing, I might even make you watch Nagini eat her."
"Stupefy," Hermione curses taking Voldemort by surprise, the spell strikes his chest sending him back into the trees. "Oh shit…" Hermione gasps; aware she had just knocked the most powerful wizard of his feet.
"Hermione," Bellatrix cries demanding the girl's attention. Running the short distance to Hermione, she grabs the wand from the floor, before swapping them with Hermione. "You okay?" Bellatrix whispers her hand softly brushing Hermione's cheek.
"I've had worse," Hermione murmurs cracking a smile at the witch.
"What can I say it's a speciality?" Bellatrix shrugs turning her attention to Voldemort emerging from the trees. She has never seen such hatred in one person, but she knows there was no way for her to return to his side.
Holding the wand tight in her fingers, this is probably the last stand she will ever make. She feels the girl close behind her, and her heart beats a rhythm. Now I understand Andromeda… Now I understand… Forgive me… She whispers to the stars above.
Someone… Forgive me…
The wand feels clumsy in her grip; her eyes track her old mentor, her friend, her lover and her master. She is aware of the circling snake, aware that this is not her wand. Voldemort knows all her weaknesses, her strengths. She knows he can use Granger against her. She needs the girl safe.
"Find my wand," Bellatrix whispers to Hermione.
"Bella," Hermione pleads not wanting to leave the fight.
"My wand is the only way I can take him."
"I can help."
"I have no doubt, but your wand is capped, do not use it pass defence, now find my wand. Watch for Nagini." She warns before stepping away from Hermione.
"It was foolish of you Bellatrix," Voldemort sneers. "You were my Lieutenant, my protégé and this is how you repay me. Nothing better than your filthy sister."
"Andy may have been a lot of things," Bellatrix acknowledged, "but she was always true, always brave."
"She was foolish."
"As are you!" Bellatrix snaps, raising her voice for the first time against her master. "How many years did I wait for you Tom? You are not the man who died; you are but a shadow of your former shelf."
"You will die!" Voldemort howls.
Spells erupt from both wands, the impact causes Hermione to stumble and fall to the ground. The clearing seems to fill with blistering heat as anger envelops the small surroundings. Scrambling to her feet's, her hands cut against the frost covered ground. She sweeps the clearing for any sign of the wand. She could summon the wand but without seeing it she could accidently summon one of the Bellatrix's or Voldemort's wand and that would not be good.
She hears a cackle of laughter, looking over to the two fighting; she notices they are beginning to circle one another. Bellatrix is obviously enjoying herself, and Hermione struggles to understand the emotion in Voldemort's eyes. Admiration or disgust? She is not sure.
That is when she notices the wand sitting to the side of the forest, moving quickly to get closer, a blast of heat nearly strikes her and she tumbles to her knees.
"Granger!" Bellatrix shouts above the noise.
Hermione looks just in time to see a fierce duel going on. She has a millisecond to move as Voldemort casts a spell from the duel in her direction. She dives out the way scraping her arm on the hard floor, the patch of mud behind nothing but scorched earth.
"Accio wand!" She cries, watching the wand fly across the clearing into her hand. The wand greets her with the usual distrust but she ignores it.
The duel breaks and she watches Bellatrix stumble backwards. She's losing… I need to get her wand. Thinking of a way to get Voldemort's attention, her eyes catch sight of a slivering snake. Without thinking, she fires a spell straight at the snake. She regrets her action immediately. Four pairs of eyes turn to her. In the direct line of Voldemort's hate, she takes a step back.
"You will regret your existence mudblood." He warns. "I will make you scream just as your parents did."
Hermione's heart stops, her whole body freezes, ice trickles through her veins, slowing her actions down. Eyes trained on the Dark wizard, she feels a piece of her soul slip away.
"You're lying…" She whispers.
"They cried, begged for mercy." Voldemort taunted, a sneer spreading across his snake like lips. "Muggles do not have a very high tolerance level for pain."
"You're lying!" Hermione shouts raising her own wand against the wizard.
"Your mother in particular, cried. I made your father watch her die."
"Granger," Bellatrix warns sparing her a glance, stepping slowly in her direction.
"Tell me his lying," Hermione begged Bellatrix.
Bellatrix had the good grace not to make eye contact, in fact, she kept her eyes firmly on the wizard, but Hermione could tell, Voldemort was telling the truth.
"You promised me they would be safe!" Hermione cries, tears slipping down her face.
"You think the order could protect muggles? They cannot protect their own. Did you forget about the Potters?"
"Shut up!" Hermione snaps. "You vile, snake skinned, self-righteous freak!"
"Granger!" However, Hermione ignores the witch begging for her attention; instead, she steps forward closer to the man that had unrightfully killed her parents and Harry's.
"You know what's laughable?" Hermione demands. "The fact that you are a half blood and have the audacity to prance around pretending you are the saviour of the wizarding world. Does it make you feel more accepted to be in the company of purebloods? Because you are exactly like me! My blood is the same as yours, if anyone has right to lead a pompous mission is Bellatrix, instead she and the rest just join in. Do you know what will happen at the end of this war? Nothing! Purebloods will stay in their houses, muggleborns will still go to Hogwarts, and your cause is for nothing! You were beaten by love for god shake! Moreover, the thing that binds the order, binds us to Harry is love, so it just means you will lose again. We will keep fighting, people will always fight, and you… you will die… Because that is what happens, people die… You cannot out run death… Your legacy will be you died at the hands of a baby that's what people will remember of you."
She expected a bright green light to strike her down, the unforgivable curse to screech her way, to strike her down. She half bet on it, only he did not strike her, she could see Bellatrix tense, ready to strike, but there was no attack.
"You are brave," Voldemort says stepping forward, Bellatrix steps in front of Hermione her body shielding her. Hermione's quick to hand the witch her rightful wand, which she quickly takes. "Brave little mudblood… Even the brave die, die like a little mudblood you are. I want to see your filthy blood fill this clearing, I want the auror's to find your body, so they can march and parade you like a martyr for their cause. I want Harry to be upset and come running into my hands. Because your friends. And he is such an emotional child. How will you feel filth to know that your death will drive Potter into my hands?"
"I'll feel fine about that," Bellatrix agrees happily, earning a glare from both wizard and witch. "The boy moans too much."
"Nagini," Voldemort hisses.
It happens so quick Hermione's mind slows to a stop. A hand presses against her waist pushing her to the side, as Bellatrix protects her from Nagini pouncing at them. She falls to the ground, as a curse springs from Voldemort's wand. Hermione has no way to help Bellatrix. She watches as the spell strikes the witch's side throwing her into the tree line. Hermione's scream filling the clearing. So much hate, despair filling her voice.
"BELLA!" She cries her throat raw.
Tear stricken she hits the ground, her head crashing against the hard floor. Her eyes trained on the body unmoving in the distance. She sees Voldemort move, the snake shifting closer. Her hand lands on a bag, she looks down confused before she realises it belongs to Bellatrix. She wants to ignore it, she wants to shoot every curse she knows at Voldemort, but something shining in the bag catches her eye.
"Nagini…" Voldemort's voice is so far away.
She reaches into the bag aware of the fangs closing in, the lurching body of the snake. Her hand wraps around a familiar touch, she pulls. The sword of Godric Gryffindor, the handle is heavy, the weight pulls her down, but she wields it with strength she did not know she possessed. Nagini aims straight for her face unaware of the danger in the witch's hand. Hermione does not hesitate to use the sword; she drives it through the head of the giant snake. Blood sprays across her face, a howl of anger, pain and hate forces its way from Voldemort's mouth. The snake slumps and she rolls, before she is crushed beneath the snake.
Out the corner of her eye she sees Voldemort lurch to grab her, she pulls the sword free swinging wildly. Voldemort is quick he ducks the first swing, but is unprepared for the punch to the face. He staggers backwards, as Hermione throws the sword straight at him. The sword catches his side sending the wizard to the floor.
"Welcome to the muggle world!" She spits before grasping her wand and bag and running straight to where the witch disappeared.
She crashes through the trees, following the direction of Bellatrix. A spell sets a light to a tree just where she passed, she can feel Voldemort grow closer. A noise makes her cringe and she chances a look to the sky to see the Death Eater Mark. Reinforcements.
She's unnerved that Bellatrix was thrown this far, there's no way she could of survived if she was hit this badly. That is when she sees the witch passed out on the ground. She crawled some of the way! Hermione notices the witch's finger pointing, that is when she feels herself step through a barrier.
She can escape sliding to a halt next to the unconscious body she quickly feels for a pulse.
"Granger?" Bellatrix stutters forcing her eyes open. "Can't…"
"It's okay," Hermione lies, as the forest around them is set on fire, the flames licking at their small circle. The black shape of Voldemort approaching the cries of Death Eaters in the distance.
"Don't…" Bellatrix tries again.
"You've been hit by a binding curse, it'll wear off."
"Herm…ione. Don't."
Gathering the witch in to her arms, she holds her wand tight and the witch tighter.
"Hold on." Hermione whispers, closing her eyes.
"Don't… Her…"
A roar fills the forest as Voldemort watches them disappear in a cloud of smoke.
"My Lord!" A Death Eater calls pushing through the fires.
"Find them and kill them! I want them killed and erased from this earth! Offer an award for both their heads! I want them gone."
"Of course My Lord, even LeStrange?"
"Especially her, make an example of the mudblood, I want her friends to see what it is we do to filth." Voldemort growls before vanishing into the smoke.
~~~~~~ Caught in the Mist ~~~~~~
Bellatrix woke slowly to the chirping of birds, her arms and legs felt stiff as though they have not been used for days. Her head thumped painfully, moving taut arms, she runs a hand through her hair, but stops when she hits a clump of hair stuck together. Wincing she pulls her hand away to see it bloody. Confused, she struggles to remember the last few hours. They were in a village, when it someone attacked… Voldemort.
She sits bolt up her hands darting for her wand, which is lying beside her. She had gone against her Lord. She stood up for a mudblood. What was she now? She could never return to her Lord's side. Never redeem herself. She had nothing left to go back to, her sisters would be next to face Voldemort's wrath. I have thrown everything away for a quest I do not even know will succeed. Everything she had fought for, gone. No rage has ever consumed her as it had then, such hate directed at her Lord. Burying her face in her hands. Bellatrix LeStrange was lost. She had lost everything in one battle.
The mudblood has also lost everything. Her parents are dead. A tinge of remorse taps against her heart but she ignores it, she was to lose more. She had lost her cause all for the Mudblood. She would have to finish the quest. There was no other question about it… Where was the mudblood?
"You're quiet muddy." Bella grumbles pointing her wand at her own head. She could do with a fire whiskey to get over the battle. Drown her sorrows at the bottom of the bottle. Good job she packed one or two for the journey. "You like fire whisky Granger?" She asks.
Silence greets her question, groaning in annoyance was the girl angry with her for lying to her about her parents. It is not as if she knew she just had to guess that the Order would try to protect them.
"Don't…" Bellatrix tries again.
She did not… Moving so quickly it brings on a dizzy spell she scans the forest near her looking for sign of the girl. What she sees makes her pause. A huddled body lying but a few feet from her. Crawling on all fours, she moves closer, her breath caught in her throat. She gently reaches out, turning the girl to face her.
"Granger," She whispers swallowing at the sight of blood, Bellatrix eyes the wand lying loosely in the girls hand. "Hermione, talk to me." She begs she eyes the cut that runs from the girl's wand hand all along the arm onto her torso.
Blurry eyes land on the dark witch, a small smile graces her lips. "I guess…" Hermione coughs a small bit of blood slipping between her lips. "He got… me."
"No my bright witch this was my doing." Bellatrix says sadly, gently cupping Hermione's cheek. Brushing hair from her clammy head, she presses a soft kiss to Hermione's forehead.
"You're cap?" Hermione asks watching Bellatrix starting to heal her.
"Yes the cap. Sorry, so sorry." Bellatrix hushes.
"Bella…" Hermione breathes.
"Right here."
"Your cap isn't very good."
Bellatrix cackles at that, before panicking as Hermione begins to convulse.
"Hermione!" Bellatrix shouts in a panic. "Hold on! Hermione just hold on!"
A/N: Till next time my friends.