Chapter 21
A/N: Hello readers, here is part two of the weekend update, and also the last chapter for this part of the story. So a season finale of sorts. Like I said I've already started working on the "second season" of the series. Hopefully I'll have the first two chapters ready for you guys within the next two weeks. Thank you all for the reviews, follows, and faves. They've meant a lot. Anyway, enjoy the season finale and I'll see you all soon!
Hermione woke with a gasp, she looked around. The battle was still raging, and it was hard to tell which side was winning. The events that preceded her blackout came rushing back and she jumped to her feet. Her head throbbed painfully and she groaned slightly. "Are you alright?" Nymphodora asked, her voice still hoarse from screaming. Hermione nodded, she desperately wanted to check on her friend, but she also needed to catch up with Bellatrix and Lilith and put a stop to whatever they were plotting. Noting the conflict in her friend's hazel eyes Nymphadora waved her hand, "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Not many of them are of Lilith's caliber. Or Bellatrix's for that matter. Go, you've got to stop them." Hermione nodded and took off in the direction she had last seen the Death Eaters depart. The hallway was dark and winding, the further she walked the less she could see and sounds from the battle slowly slipped away until all she could hear were her own footsteps and ragged breathing. For several long minutes she was worried that she had missed a turn or had given the two dark witches enough time to complete their task. Her stomach dropped at the thought of failing to save The Ministry. She shook her head trying to clear those thoughts away and kept moving forward. "Shit!" Hermione froze and covered her mouth at the swear, until she realized she was not the one who had said it. Cautiously she continued down the hallway. She saw both Bellatrix and Lilith standing in from of tow massive double doors, their backs to her, wands waving furiously. Hermione's first instinct was to confront them, but she stopped herself. She knew she was good, but she wasn't good enough to take on either of them without back up, not to mention if her attack wasn't strong enough she would have to face off with both of them. So she grit her teeth and decided to wait and see what the witches were up to before taking action. Several more minutes passed before the last ward protecting the doors finally fell. Bellatrix and Lilith pushed a door open and slipped inside. Hermione waited several seconds before following them in.
The room was massive and alight with an eerie glow. Partly from the moonlight streaming in for the skylight above, but mostly from the glow of the golden sand encased within an enormous hourglass. Grains of sand were also floating around the room, some shining like stars against the night sky. Others flowing like ribbons as if they were being pulled by an invisible wind. Bellatrix smiled at the sight, and looked to Lilith who looked just as awestruck. She nudged the slightly shorter witch, who nodded, and both began to breathe deeply.
Hermione watched from her hiding space behind a large pillar, the inaction of the witches was putting her on edge. She bit her lip as grains of sand found their way into the gash on her arm, and took slow and steady deep breaths to try to ignore the pain.
"I can't believe we're actually here." Lilith said softly as she slowly walked toward the hourglass. Bellatrix nodded, and watched as her friend placed a hand on the glass before turning to face her. Bellatrix let her wand slip from it's place in her sleeve and rolled it between her fingers. "I've waited a long time to do this." She said, smiling as she flicked her wand sending a slicing hex directly at the other Death Eater. It landed with such force that Lilith's body caused the hourglass to crack when she was thrown against it. Bellatrix watched as blood poured out of the wound from Lilith's stomach, and readied herself for her next move. Lilith was struggling to stand, any move she made caused searing pain and she could tell she was losing a dangerous amount of blood. Bellatrix flexed her jaw a few times as she watched Lilith finally stand, but said nothing.
Hermione couldn't believe what she was seeing. Had The Dark Lord ordered Bellatrix to take out Lilith? Was this an act of defiance before the curly haired witch switched sides? Her mind was racing with possibilities but none of them made any sense. Her eyes widened as she saw the slightest movement of Bellatrix's wand arm. She moved before she could stop herself, running across the room to push Lilith out of the way. It seemed as if time had slowed, the young witch's heart was pounding as she saw the spell leave Bellatrix's crooked wand. She realized simply running, she wouldn't reach the blue haired woman in time. Using every ounce of strength she could muster she leapt forward, her body colliding with Lilith's. She saw the horror on Bellatrix's face, seconds before the spell crashed into her ankle.
Bellatrix stood in shocked silence at the events that had taken place. She was unsure why she hadn't noticed that they were being watched, or how Hermione had even regained consciousness fast enough to be able to follow them. "Shit." A pained laugh from a few feet away drew her attention to Lilith, who was just laying on the marble floor, making no attempts to move or get up. Bellatrix rushed to her side, "Are you alright?" Lilith nodded, "I'll live, we need to get back to The Manor, Our Lord must know what's happened." Bellatrix grimaced at the thought of his reaction to the news, but nodded and helped Lilith stand. Tossing her friend's arm around her shoulders, they slowly made their way back to the battle. Nymphadora was waiting at the opening of the hallway she had seen Hermione go down with her wand drawn. However, her strong stance and determined face faltered as soon as she saw Bellatrix and Lilith. "What happened? Where's Hermione?" Bellatrix looked at her niece grimly, "If you want to know the truth, then you have to come with us. There's no other way. The war has begun and sitting on the fence is no longer an option." Nymphadora looked conflicted for a few moments before nodding. Lucius was the first to see the trio, and he immediately knew that something had gone awry. He quickly joined then and shot out the signal to retreat.
Word of the return of the raiding party had the entire Manor in a flurry of activity. Narcissa and Andromeda were helping set up the infirmary when Bellatrix and Nymphadora came bursting in holding Lilith, Lucius following a step behind. Narcissa paled at the state of her friend and quickly motioned to the cot in front of her, and quickly set to work murmuring healing spells. Andromeda shook off the shock as well and ran to get blood replenishing potions. Lilith was barely conscious as Andromeda carefully poured the elixirs down her throat. Nymphadora hadn't let go of her mother's hand since she was laid down, she opened her mouth to speak when the doors violently burst open. Voldemort strode through the infirmary, looking at each of his injured soldiers until he saw his Inner Circle at the back of the infirmary. He strode powerfully towards the group, and did not hide his shock to see Lilith laying on the bed unconscious. He looked to Bellatrix, before looking back down to the Death Eater on the cot. "We will have a meeting once she has regained consciousness. Not a minute later. If you're lucky, you both will end up back in the infirmary and not in your graves." Bellatrix hastily bowed, "Yes My Lord, thank you My Lord." Voldemort said nothing further to acknowledge his lieutenant, choosing instead to leave the infirmary in a whirl of robes. Nyphadora released the shaky breath that she was holding and looked at the faces of the rest of her family. By the looks of it, things hadn't gone according to plan. At all.
Hermione grunted as she landed rather ungracefully on her face. She slowly stood up and looked around and was confused to find herself staring at the Hogwarts castle. "What the hell?" She wondered aloud as she walked closer to the school. A figure emerged from the castle, heading towards her with a fast pace. "And just what do you think you're doing being out of bed so late?" The Scottish lilt was a dead give away to the identity of the figure and Hermione found herself feeling relieved. "Oh Professor, something..." Hermione's train of though was halted as she took in the appearance of her favorite professor. She looked several decades younger, her hair had more color than gray. "I pride myself on knowing every student that's walked through the halls of this school since I've been employed here, but I don't know you." Minerva spoke as she eyed Hermione warily. "Professor, would you mind telling me what year it is?" Hermione asked, her stomach rolling at the conclusion that her mind had come to.