Bellatrix apparated not too far from Spinner's End. She was unsteady and closed her eyes willing herself not to vomit.
Slowly she made her way to the weather worn house. She could feel the resistance of the wards and drew a small knife from the velvet pouch strapped to her waist. Taking the blade in her right hand, she sliced a shallow line down the palm of the left leaving a trail of blood in its wake.
She started to whisper the incantations and she felt the wards shift granting her entrance.
Between keeping the dunderheads at Hogwarts alive, the Carrow brother in check and his once fellow colleagues from killing him, Severus was exhausted. He apparated into the tiny hall at the front entrance and immediately pulled his wand. Something was not right and he could feel that the wards he had erected were off not by much but enough to make him uneasy.
He slowly made his way around the corner and stopped dead in his tracks. There lying on the couch was a woman who he thought was long buried.
She had her arm over her eyes and Severus noticed her left hand had a blood soaked bandage around it.
She sensed his presence and sat up smirking at the man.
"Hello, Sevvie!"
Severus kept his wand drawn; this had to be the impostor.
"What are you doing here? You are supposed to be dead."
"I know. That is what Toffenald told me. I know it was you Severus who took my body to him," she started to rise from the sofa.
"Don't move," he hissed.
He wasn't one to admit to anything without proof and he wasn't about to start now. There was the possibility that this could be the Dark Lord in disguise and this some sort of twisted test of loyalty.
She rolled her eyes, this game was getting old and boring fast.
She sighed, "it's me; the real me."
"And how would I know that? You could be anybody."
"Well, when you were 15 and I was 17 one night in the Astronomy Tower I let you…"
"I know what happened," he hissed bringing his wand to his side.
He didn't want to hear details about his sloppy first sexual encounter with the then eldest Black sister. He suppressed a shudder.
He sat down heavily in the tattered arm chair and stared at her.
"How?"
She explained to him all she had been told about the curse and his eyes grew wide.
Severus sat for a moment taking in everything the curly haired witch had said before he began to speak.
"Why did you come here then?"
"I needed answers."
He sighed, "I am afraid I don't have any to give you and you need to leave. If anyone caught wind that you were here, both you and I would be tortured and killed before we had time to pull our wands."
"Everyone thinks I'm dead and besides I don't have anywhere else to go."
"No one knows you're dead aside from the Dark Lord, me and your sister."
She looked puzzled at this new revelation.
"You mean no one noticed my absence? And how does Cissy know?"
"You sister was the one to find your body. I was summoned to dispose of the remains and found her over your body. As far as your absence, no one has noticed because you are always present."
She furrowed her brow in confusion.
"After I returned to the manor, I was ordered to brew a six month supply of polyjuice potion."
"That means there is an impostor lurking about in the manor and around Cissy," she placed her head in her hands, "she could be in so much danger." Tears started to well up in her eyes.
"No, Narcissa is well aware of the impostor and I have informed her to be mindful of what she says and how she behaves around you…so to speak."
"Do you have any idea who it could be?"
"No, unfortunately I haven't been summoned nor seen the Dark Lord in weeks so I am beginning to speculate it could be him. But I am doubtful."
She snorted, "when it comes to the Dark Lord no assumption is too outrageous."
"Now, what about Hermione? Is she safe?" she asked eagerly, abruptly changing topics.
"Now, why would I know what the enemy…"
"Save it Severus! Your loyalties have always been with the Order and Dumbledore. Not many people know about Lily."
His face was set in stone and not an emotion flickered across his features.
"Please, if you could tell me something. I need to know," she was on the verge of begging and she didn't care.
He let out a breath. He hoped he wouldn't regret this.
"Does she know I'm dead?"
"Yes, well she thinks you're dead. After I returned, I was given your letters and journal along with a locket to give to her," he looked upset.
"Are you alright you seem…"
"Angry? I am. The Dark Lord knew that you were going to meet her in the forest that night."
The dark witch's eyes bucked in horror.
"Just think if the Dark Lord had wanted to stage an ambush and capture the young woman who has been a thorn in his side for years he would have had her! She could have been killed!"
Bellarix paled and tears began to roll down her cheeks.
"I put her in harm's way."
"Yes, you did. I thought better of you Bellatrix. I thought you were better than flouncing around with some girl young enough to be your daughter and who is seven months younger than your nephew." The man sneered.
Bellatrix held up her hand, "please, I feel bad enough as it is. How can I help?"
He leaned forward, "you can tell me everything you know about the horcruxes."
She smiled, "where should I begin."
Harry sprang into action and hit the goblin with a stunner sending him into the adjacent brick wall. Hermione quickly scanned the peripheral; she heard voices in the distance and saw a red light overhead.
It was Ron's signal that somebody was approaching and they needed to vacate the area fast.
"Grab his legs," Harry hissed as he tried to hold on to his wand and lift the upper body of the goblin, "he's a heavy little bugger isn't he."
Just then Ron rounded the corner.
"Bloody hell mate! What's taking so long; there are a group of snatchers headed this way."
"Ok, everybody hold onto him we're going to apparate."
"We can't!" Hermione pointed to the side of the building where a yellow mark was located overhead indicating a non-apparation area.
"Great!" Ron said looking over his shoulder, "okay, Hermione I got his legs you watch and if anyone comes around that corner you know what to do."
She nodded and Ron and Harry lifted the goblin and headed down the alley before they made a quick right.
Hermione stood against the brick wall and disillusioned herself, her wand at the ready as a group of young men no older than herself made their way down the alley.
The appeared to be drunk as several of them wobbled bumping into one another.
Subconsciously, she stopped breathing and tighten the hold on her wand.
They passed right by her, neither of the boys casting a glance in her direction. She relaxed into the wall when the young men went down the alley and took a left heading in the opposite direction of Ron and Harry. She let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding.
If someone had told Severus that Bellatrix Lestrange would be taking a shower in his bathroom he would have thought you mad and recommended a healer or a few potions. But nevertheless, the former adversaries had entered into a truce.
Following their little chat, he had moved from the armchair to his small study and had gone directly to the liquor cabinet.
After Bellatrix told him everything she knew about the horcruxes and the Dark Lord's plans, he needed a drink. He leaned against his desk sighing. If what the dark witch said was true they were in for a shit storm. Severus drained the glass of whiskey in one gulp. He just hoped Potter had a plan and a good one.
Bellatrix let the hot water cascade down her back. She told Severus everything she knew about what the Dark Lord had been planning prior to her departure.
She was surprised to know that Severus, the dark wizard's supposed right hand, was kept in the dark about most of it. The dark wizard was gaining support from the giants, werewolves and had several covens in the Americas, Russia and India that would come to his aid once he decided to attack the school.
The Dark Lord, so sure of his imminent victory, had been working closely with Yaxley on legislation that would call for the purging of the muggleborns from the wizarding world. Then he wanted to initiate a breeding program for half-bloods to purify their bloodline and for purebloods to strengthen theirs.
She cringed.
"How could I have been so stupid?" she banged her fists against the tile as a fresh wave of tears made their way down her cheeks. She was filled with so much regret and rage. She wanted to destroy something, anything but settled for biting her knuckles until she tasted blood. She didn't think Severus would tolerate her damaging his possessions.
They had all apparated back to Shell Cottage. The goblin, Bill identified as Griphook, was in one of the unused bedrooms. Since Luna didn't accompany the trio on their kidnapping escapade, she volunteered to stand watch and would notify everyone when the goblin awoke.
The trio had joined Bill and Fleur in the kitchen for a light lunch.
"You alright mate?" Ron asked taking a large bit of his ham sandwich.
Harry looked up from his untouched plate.
"No, I wish he would wake up already."
"He will. It takes stunners awhile to wear off," Bill said taking a seat at the table. He continued, "I just want to know, when he wakes up then what?"
Harry looked annoyed. "Why are you being so negative about this?" he asked.
Bill sighed shaking his head, "I'm trying to be realistic about the situation Harry. Most people, goblin or wizard alike, are not too keen on helping someone who kidnapped them in broad daylight."
Harry took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, "and I'm not? You can't begin to understand this; you can't begin to understand what I'm going through."
"Harry, what I'm about to say may be a little harsh but you are not the only one here who has experienced pain and heartbreak. We may not be the Chosen One but we understand Harry," he leaned forward placing his elbows on the table.
"As of right now, other than Ron, I have no idea where my family is located. Other than you three," he looked from his brother, Hermione then Harry, "my family is next on the Dark Lord's kill list."
The dark-haired wizard regarded the red head.
"What is your problem? Are you jealous or something? Are you upset because this is not about you?"
"No, what's yours? It must get really old being the martyr all the time. " Bill's temper was starting to rise. "You are so self-absorbed that you are blind to everyone else's problems. Okay. If he wins, things end badly for all of us not just you. This isn't just your fight, it never was. This is all of ours."
Ron and Hermione looked at one another. It seemed Bill had the courage the two of them lacked. Fleur decided it was time to step in and squash things before they got out of hand.
"Dat's enough both of you," Fleur placed her hands on her husband's shoulders.
Harry got up from the table and stormed out nearly knocking Olivander into the doorframe.
Bill sighed and looked at Hermione and Ron. "It needed to be said."
Luna entered the kitchen unaware of what had just transpired.
"He's awake."