Chapter 25

Death was almost a welcome fate as she lay staring up at him. The man who had given her life was about to take it away. Her fingers twitched, stained with blood. One last desperate, feeble attempt to reach for the woman who had left minutes ago. Bellatrix was long gone and the sound of her laughter had died out. She was gone, with their child. The illusions of the love that was never to be came crumbling down. She had always known that she would never love her. Whatever part of her had dared to hope, had dared to desire, had been fooled. She should have known better. Her craving for her, her sickening obsession had destroyed everything she had once known. There was nothing left.

The wand slashed down and her body seized under the sharp pain. She had hoped he would kill her but a taunting smile lingered on his face. He stared down at her like had stared down at Harry. Like he had stared down at all the others he had killed throughout the years. So much more blood than just that of his daughter would forever stain his hands. She forced herself to look up at him, to see his eyes and forever memorise the face of the monster from which she came. And as her eyes finally fluttered shut, too tired and too overwhelmed by pain, she turned her head away and took one last deep breath, ready to face in inevitable absolution of death.

"P-please," she managed to whisper. She tasted her own blood on her tongue, her lips. She begged for him to kill her. She begged for him to let her die.

"My child," spoke her Father almost tenderly and he leant down as if to touch her. His finger was now stained with her blood and he studied her beaten, bruised and swollen face. "Death it often considered a welcome visitor." His wand slowly aimed at her chest. Her stomach clenched and her heartbeat increased. Through her eyelids she looked at him, too weak to move. The pain was excruciating. She desired death. His wand was now aimed at her heart. "So you shall have it."

"EXPELLIARMUS!"

The voice belonged to a man but she could not find the strength to turn her head and look at the door. Voldemort spun around as his wand soared through the air and landed in the outstretched palm of Kingsley Shacklebolt. An angry scream echoed around the house, bounced off the stone walls. The room was suddenly full of voices, full of life. Hermione whimpered and closed her eyes, whishing the images would go away. They were not supposed to be here. She was supposed to be alone; she was supposed to die. A strangled cry left her lips as she heard footsteps come nearer.

"NO!" It was another voice. She couldn't identify this one either. Her eyes were too heavy, she was too tired. Her heart was beating just a little bit slower. The pressure in her chest was mounting as the blood slowly trickled down her throat, into her lungs. She coughed but could not find the strength to fight for air. With every breath it felt tighter and her eyes began to roll back into her head. The world changed into a blur and voices disappeared into the distance. The last thing she saw was a face, right beside her own, and then the world went black.

"We can't wait!" said Minerva as she dropped to her knees beside Hermione and desperately cradled the young brunette in her arms. She placed her fingers on her neck but felt nothing. Scared, emerald green eyes widened at the realisation she could not feel life and she scooped her up into her arms. Around her, people surrounded Voldemort, all with their wands drawn. But it was the lone figure in the door way, the last one to enter, who looked most horrified of all. Narcissa stood in the wide open doors of the house that had once been her home and stared at the wizard, the monster that had taken everything away from her. She saw Kingsley clutch Voldemort's wand but she knew he was almost as dangerous and as strong without it. And she did not think. Whilst the others cast Stunning Spell after Stunning Spell and other bright coloured jets of light destroyed the house in which she had grown up, she slowly raised her arm and aimed her wand at Voldemort's chest.

It seemed too easy.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

At the sound of her voice the whole room turned around. Various sets of eyes were now fixated on the crying woman in the open door. Narcissa did not even watch to see whether her spell hit target. She had turned to Minerva, who walked past her with Hermione in her arms. The young brunette was lifeless, her badly beaten body covered in blood and vomit. Her mouth was slightly open and her eyes closed. Narcissa reached out a hand to brush away a stray curl but could not quite touch her. Minerva merely looked at her and then turned on the spot, taking Hermione with her. Behind them Voldemort cried and Narcissa looked back at him. He stared at her like he had stared at Hermione. Deranged, disillusioned perhaps. But the hatred was still alive in his eyes and as if in slow motion Narcissa watched it die. His red eyes lit up as the spell hit target, right where his heart would be. And then he slumped down, onto his knees, like he had forced his daughter to. A single white hand extended itself and then fell down beside his body. He fell face forward and remained there, motionless.

Narcissa did not hesitate and turned on the spot without even confirming whether Voldemort was dead. She felt nothing, not even the tears trickling down her cheeks. She watched Arthur and Kingsley hurry over to him, wands drawn and ready to respond if he was still alive. It was Kingsley who looked back and their eyes met briefly before she vanished. What she saw in them she couldn't tell.

When she reappeared she was standing outside St Mungo's. She made her way in and followed the signs of the Magical Injuries and Emergencies Department and ignored one of the Healers who asked whether she needed anything. She rushed past patients, Healers and medi-witches carrying trays of potions. Her heart hammered in her chest and when she finally reached the department and pushed open the doors, she found herself surrounded by a strange silence. The Emergency Department seemed abandoned and Narcissa stood frozen for a moment until she registered the sound of voices coming from a room down the hall.

Just when she reached the door Minerva came walking out, staring at the floor. Narcissa grabbed her arms and tried to push past her, into the room, but the Headmistress stopped her and green eyes found dark brown. For a few seconds Narcissa could not speak and she merely stared at the older witch. There was a glimmer of hope flickering in Minerva's eyes and Narcissa let her breath escape.

"They are helping her now," said Minerva calmly and gently pushed Narcissa towards some of the seats across the hall. There the younger witch slumped down and stared helplessly at the floor. "We were just in time, Narcissa. They think she will be all right. Eventually."

"What did he do to her?" Narcissa asked with a constricted voice and fumbled nervously with her fingers.

"He beat her within an inch of her life," Minerva said and there was spite in her words. She sat down beside Narcissa and folded her hands in her lap. "The Healers said there is no sign of defensive wounds anywhere. He either stopped her from fighting back or…" Her voice died out and they both knew what she had been about to say. They sat quietly side by side as behind closed doors the Healers attempted to save Hermione's life. Minutes went by and neither of them spoke.

Minerva cast Narcissa a sideways glance. The younger witch looked tired and forlorn and Minerva reached for her hand and gave it an encouraging squeeze. "How did you know where she was?"

"Bellatrix used to love our family home," Narcissa answered softly and sighed. "It used to be her pride. She came back long after our parents had died. I don't know why I thought of it. It just seemed to fit." She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Minerva. I should have been honest with all of you straight from the beginning but…" She swallowed hard. "Hermione begged me not to tell you. She even attempted to erase my memory, that's how desperate she was. She knew what she was doing was wrong."

Minerva slowly nodded. The night Hermione stormed out of the Burrow was the night Narcissa had told the full truth. She had told them Hermione had been Bellatrix's lover ever since she returned and that her obsessions had taken over her life long before that. She had explained to them that she felt responsible for the deaths of Harry and Ron, even if they were not necessarily directly her fault. And she couldn't turn away from Bellatrix's poison, not even whilst she knew somebody else loved her so much more. It was the darkest trap of love; the one that left a person to destroy themselves. Many good men and woman had died because of love and because of what it had done to them. Love bordered closely onto obsession and obsession blurred the lines of sanity.

"Sometimes we cannot help what happens to us," Minerva said slowly and sighed. The Hermione Granger she had known back at Hogwarts was not the same woman who she had cradled in her arms tonight. Too much had changed. She wasn't the same anymore. "But I feel heartbroken when I think of this child. It is almost as if history repeats itself. Bellatrix left Hermione there to die. She betrayed her not once, but twice and even though Hermione knew, she still went back with her."

"She thought of that child," Narcissa said slowly and a lonely tear found its way down her cheek. "With Bellatrix out there, alone, who knows what will become of it. Unless she seeks Hermione out again, I do not dare think what will happen. I doubt that after tonight, now that her master is dead, we will ever see again."

"Dead?" Minerva's eyebrows shot up.

Narcissa looked at Minerva. "Voldemort is dead."

The door swung open and Narcissa's head whipped around. A Healer came walking out. He was about the same age as Hermione and looked at Narcissa and Minerva. There was something calming about his voice. His kind blue eyes rested on Narcissa, as she seemed most distraught. "She is stable. One of you may go in and see her now. I am sure she would appreciate a friendly face when she wakes up. If the other would be so kind as to come with me and provide me with her details?"

"You go," Minerva said softly as they both stood up and pushed Narcissa towards the door. For a few seconds Narcissa seemed reluctant but then she walked towards the room. Minerva followed the Healer down the corridor and glanced back over her shoulder to see Narcissa walk into Hermione's room. She smiled to herself as the door closed and then turned to the Healer and helped him fill out the paperwork.

Narcissa closed the door behind her and then her eyes drifted to the bed. Hermione seemed pale, even against the crisp white sheets of the bed. Her brown curls lay sprawled out across the pillow. The bruising on her face had been reduced, yet she still looked swollen. There were cuts and grazes on her hands and fingers, as far as Narcissa could see. Her chest was rising and falling slowly and she seemed soundly asleep. Narcissa pulled the arm chair nearer to the bed and sat down. She leant forward and took Hermione's hand. It felt cold in her own.

"Silly girl," she whispered softly and rubbed the palm of Hermione's hand with her thumb. "What were you thinking, running away like that? Did you really think that because you made mistakes people would stop loving you? Did you really believe that some of us wouldn't want to be with you anymore? They all know the truth now and they still care, Hermione. They were all worried and scared. All Teddy has done for the last two days if ask his grandmother why she is crying. You hear that? Andromeda has been crying for two days because you were gone. She couldn't bear losing another person she loved. I love you just as much as I did before, Hermione. Mistakes don't make us bad people, Hermione. They make us stronger; they tell us what we have learnt. No one blames you. They want to understand. They want you to get better because they love you too."

There was some movement behind Hermione's eyelids but she did not open her eyes. Narcissa searched her face and tried to see beyond the bruises and the swelling. A sad smile lingered on her face as she held the brunette's hand and she tried not to think about what would happen in the future. She sat back in the arm chair, curled her legs up underneath her and never took her eyes off Hermione's face.

~()~

Hermione did not open her eyes until late the next day. Narcissa lay curled up in the arm chair, her head resting on her arms. She had managed to catch a few hours of disturbed sleep and her body was aching but she had refused Minerva's offer to go home and switch places. Instead she had eaten the food one of the Healers had brought her, which was of the standards expected in a hospital and left her wondering why she did not end up in a bed herself. Her hair fell in thick strands down the sides of her face, having freed itself from the little clip that held it in place. As soon as the brunette stirred, she sat up and reached for Hermione's hand. And she held it as the younger woman's eyes opened and she blinked against the light in the room. Hazel eyes began to take in their surroundings and eventually found the woman sitting beside her. A hesitant smile broke through on Hermione's face.

"I take it I didn't die then." Her voice was groggy.

Narcissa smiled. "Not unless this is your idea of Heaven."

Hermione didn't answer and she swallowed. She searched Narcissa's face and could see the worry reflecting in her eyes. She only had some vague memories of how things had ended up like this. Her memory was mostly a blur and a pained expression spread across her face. "What happened?"

"There will be a time to talk about that but this is not it," answered Narcissa softly and rubbed Hermione's hand. "For now we just need to get you strong and healthy. You know, everybody is desperate to see you. They have been so terribly worried."

"I doubt that," Hermione said softly and averted her eyes.

"Andromeda wanted to camp outside your room," Narcissa answered and she watched Hermione's lips curl up into a little smile yet she still did not meet her eyes. Now she smiled herself as the memory of her stubborn sister flooded back into her mind. "I told her that she'd probably be more comfortable in her own bed because believe me, these chairs were not made for sleeping in. Minerva has come to check on you every few hours and Molly was beside herself."

"I lied to them for weeks, months," Hermione sounded bitter and turned her head so she could look at Narcissa. Through the bruises and the swelling it was clear she was upset. "They have no reason to be worried for me. If anything, I had expected them to wish I had died."

"Hermione!" Narcissa corrected her loudly and Hermione's eyes darkened. "I do not ever want to hear you say such a thing again!"

Reluctantly Hermione nodded and she sighed. She felt tired and her body ached all over. She wanted to go back to sleep but there were too many questions, too many things that she wanted to know. She reached up and rubbed her eyes. The sight of the cuts on her hands made her gasp and the first memories began to emerge from the depths of her mind. Her voice was hoarse and weak. "What about him?"

"He's dead," Narcissa said firmly and Hermione's eyes slowly fluttered shut. "It's all over now."

There was a hint of a memory flickering behind Hermione's eyes and her face briefly flinched. Narcissa knew she had remembered something and her fingers closed a little tighter around Hermione's. Just before Hermione drifted back off to sleep, she whispered something else. The words Narcissa had been dreading to hear. "What about Bellatrix? Our baby?"

"She's out there somewhere," Narcissa answered softly and rubbed Hermione's hand until she knew the brunette was asleep. The idea of her sister out there, carrying a child that was as much hers as it was Hermione's, left her worried and she felt for Hermione; the not knowing what would ever become of it. "She's still out there, my love. They are both still out there."

~()~

It was another three days before the Healers felt confident enough for Hermione to leave the hospital. Through her window she had watched the world change. The sun broke through the thick grey clouds and erased the darkness and mist that had been lingering around, pressed against the glass. Now its tender beams fell into her hospital room as she gathered her things. There were several bunches of flowers, some horrible singing card that George had sent her and would sing some rude song whenever it was opened and a box of Chocoballs that Hermione had already promised to Andromeda as soon as she got home. She zipped up her bag and flinched as she tried to pick it up. The Healers had managed to treat the deep gashes on her back but her skin was still raw and sensitive. The door opened and she turned around. Narcissa stood in the open doorway, with Molly Weasley behind her. Hermione had refused to see any of them, too embarrassed to speak to them after everything that had happened. But now that she saw her, a smile broke through on her face and she beamed from ear to ear.

"Hermione!" Molly said and filed past Narcissa and wrapped the brunette up in her arms. When they broke apart she searched the brunette's face. There was happiness in Molly's eyes. "Did Narcissa tell you the news?"

Hermione smiled and her eyes briefly found Narcissa. Only she detected the hint of regret in Hermione's voice when she answered Molly's question. "About Ginny and the baby? Everything went well, didn't it? Cissy says he looks just like Harry. Looks like she left this place a lot quicker than I did." She watched Molly pick up her bag and felt a little forlorn as the red haired woman marched out of her room. She sighed sadly and followed her out. "I can't wait to meet him."

She closed the door to her hospital room behind her and made no effort to catch up with Molly, who was walking ahead and seemed to glow with the pride only known to grandmothers. Ginny had gone into labour on Boxing Day and after ten hours of misery, according to Narcissa, she had given birth to a baby boy. Apparently he looked just like Harry, with the same dark hair and the same bright green eyes. She had been sent home the day after and had been staying at the Burrow ever since. Narcissa had said she suspected Ginny to sell the country house now that Harry was gone.

"Are you ready for this?" Narcissa asked as they walked out of the hospital and into the London Streets. Molly had disappeared and Hermione guessed she had gone straight home. She stood outside, in the cold winter sunshine, and took in a few deep breaths. The air seemed fresher and cleaner and around her she could see the first signs of rebuilding. Everywhere people seemed to be working, both Muggle and wizard alike. Whatever had been destroying their world was now gone. There was a sense of hope in the air. People were smiling again and they walked around the streets, going around their usual business. The world had moved on. She sighed and looked at Narcissa. An eyebrow shot up.

"If I say no will you take me somewhere where I never have to see any of them again?"

Narcissa wrapped an arm around Hermione's shoulders and ran her fingers through her brown curls. "No, I am afraid I can't do that. Andromeda will personally lynch me if I don't bring you back with me."

Hermione nodded reluctantly. "Well, I suppose we'd better be going then."

She slipped her hand in Narcissa's as they reached the safe Apparition spot in a small alley between St Mungo's and an empty bookstore. There they turned on the spot and left London behind. When they reappeared they were standing outside the Burrow and Hermione felt her heart sink in her chest at the sight of the house. She had missed Harry's funeral and she had stormed out of this house in anger and yet nobody resented her for what she had done, for what had gone wrong. She hesitated in walking towards the door and Narcissa gently gave her a push in the right direction. She began walking, slowly, and eventually her fingers closed around the door handle and she stepped into the kitchen. Before she could even look at who was there, someone flung their arms around her neck and thick, dark curls tickled her face.

"Andy, I'm afraid you're chocking me," Hermione said after several seconds and Andromeda let go of her. She looked at the darker haired woman and tried not to seek out the resemblance to Bellatrix like she used to. She forced herself to smile and Andromeda's hand briefly cupped her cheek. "It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you too, Hermione," Andromeda smiled and she nodded in the direction of the living room. The strange cooing sounds from Molly Weasley over the new born baby carried into the kitchen and Hermione felt her heart drop. But Andromeda didn't notice and gently took her hand, leading her towards the living room. "I think there is someone who wants to meet you."

Walking into the living room and seeing Ginny sitting on the sofa, cradling a small bundle of blankets, made Hermione's heart freeze. She stared at her friend, who looked so much younger than the last time she saw her. Ginny was smiling as she looked at the little human being she held in her arms and Hermione carefully, almost reluctantly, entered the room and sat down beside her. Without asking, Ginny handed her the baby and Hermione tried to reposition herself, uncomfortably, whilst carefully holding the little bundle in her arms. He was perfect. He had a tiny nose, a small cleft in his chin and a tuff of dark hair peeped out from under the blanket. His eyes were closed but even now she could see how much this little boy looked like his father. She hoped he would one day understand why his father wasn't there to watch him grow up. She felt tears well up in her eyes looking at the baby and wondered instantly about the child growing in Bellatrix. Their child. Would it be a boy or a girl? Who would it look like? Would it ever look at her and know she was his or her mother too? Would she ever hold her own child like she held Ginny's?

"It suits you," Narcissa said smiling from the open door way. Hermione looked up to meet her eyes and Narcissa understood.

It was strange being back at the Burrow. Nobody spoke about what had happened. It was almost like a secret that everybody knew but was not mentioned. Everything seemed to be focused on the baby, named Harry after his father. Hermione sat with the little boy for ages and watched him sleep in her arms. She even accepted Ginny's offer to give him his bottle and throughout all of this, Narcissa watched her. People came and went. Kingsley brought an update on the Ministry's recovery and how they were aiding in the rebuilding of destroyed homes. He also told them that Voldemort's body had not been buried but destroyed. He left with the words that this would never happen again. Hermione had given Harry back to Ginny and rushed after Kingsley and caught him just before he left. He had looked at her as if he had known what it was she came to ask. She needn't say the words.

"I'm sorry, Hermione," he said and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I understand you need to know but nobody has seen Bellatrix."

She watched him leave and stood outside for some time after Kingsley had gone and as the winter sun set behind the horizon and painted the sky in shades of orange and red he she came to the sad conclusion that perhaps there was nothing else she could do but reconcile with the fact that she would never see Bellatrix, or her child, again.