Chapter 36

Aurors

Alastor Moody had lived alone for years. He disliked the company of others and couldn't imagine having a wife around all the time, constantly nagging him about one thing or another. He doubted he'd have time for a wife, if he ever tried to have one. Being an auror was a time consuming job. Now, thanks to the bloody war, he doubted he'd have any free time at all.

Moody sighed. Dumbledore had said he'd stop by sometime that evening, things needed to be discussed and plans needed to be made. There was always more work to do.

He had just sat down in front of the fire, to enjoy a few moments of peace and quiet, when there was a shattering of glass behind him. He jumped up, wand at the ready, to see what had caused the commotion. The living room window had been blasted open, and the cool summer breeze was now blowing into the house. Moody swore under his breath and gripped his wand tightly.

There was a second crash from down the hall as another window was broken. He turned towards the sound but stumbled as a curse hit him from behind. He felt a sharp pain in his leg where the curse had hit, but ignored it.

"Stupefy!" Moody roared, spinning on the spot and sending a burst of red light towards the intruder, who blocked the spell easily.

"You'll have to try harder than that." The women laughed, "And you call yourself an auror! Ha!" She sent another curse at him, which he deflected. She dodged his next spell, her black hair whipping around her. Blood was streaming from Moody's wounded leg, and he tried to ignore it as he fought back.

The women laughed as she fought. She was quick, and for several moments the air was full of curses, both aimed to kill.

Moody threw himself behind an armchair to avoid a curse she sent at him, and the chair exploded in front of him. With what remained of his strength he shot a well aimed curse at her, and this time his spell found its mark.

The witch staggered backwards, her eyes wide. But before he could process what was happening, Moody was sent flying through the air, his wand knocked from his hand. He hit the wall with a resounding thud and gave a small moan of pain. He was injured, helpless and wandless, and at that moment prepared himself for death.

Yet it was not death that came to him, it was Albus Dumbledore. The old man's expression was worried as he examined Moody from behind his half moon glasses. He tried to look past Dumbledore to see what had become of the intruders.

"Did you get 'em?" Moody growled, trying to get to his feet, "Did you, Albus!"

"They're gone, Alastor, stay still please." Dumbledore's voice was calm he had pointed his wand at Moody's injured leg and was muttering incantations. Moody collapsed back against the wall, and looked down at his mangled, bleeding leg. He had seen wounds like this before, and wondered if even Dumbledore had the power to heal such a thing. The injury had been caused by Dark, and likely irreversible magic.

"You're not helping!" The auror growled as the pain in his leg increased.

"Perhaps we should take you to St. Mungos." Dumbledore said.

"The healers wont do any better than you can."

Albus frowned and stared down at the wound. "No, your right, there's not time. This is dark magic, the spell is already spreading."

"The little bitch..." Moody groaned, cursing his attacker. "Take it off then!"

"Yes, I'm afraid that seems to be the only option..." Dumbledore said, hesitantly.

"Well than just bloody do it!"

When she awoke, the first thing she felt was pain. She gasped and opened her eyes.

"Bella!"

There was a pair of grey eyes staring down at her.

"Bella can you hear me?" Lucius asked.

She groaned and tried to move, but the pain in her stomach was overwhelming. "Wh-what happened?"

Lucius shook his head, "I have no idea... where did you go? The Dark Lord showed up here hours ago with you and I thought... I thought... well..." He was going to say that he had thought that she was dead, but he stopped himself. "Anyways, he stopped the bleeding, healed you."

"B-bleeding...?" Bellatrix asked.

Lucius gestured to her stomach, and looking down Bellatrix saw that she was covered only by a blanket, her robes had been removed and when she felt where the wound had been, realized that her entire stomach was bandaged. "Is he here?" She asked.

Lucius nodded, and stood up. "I should let him know that you're awake."

Bellatrix nodded and watched as Lucius disappeared from the room. She closed her eyes against the pain, trying to ignore it.

She kept her eyes closed until she sensed the Dark Lord's presence in the room. "M-master." She said feebly, "I failed you." She looked up at him, his expression was not angry as she had expected, but something else entirely, although she couldn't place what it was.

"No Bella." Voldemort said, "Moody would be dead if Dumbledore hadn't arrived."

"Dumbledore?" Bellatrix asked, she had no recollection of Dumbledore being there. The last thing she remembered was Moody flying through the air from Voldemort's curse. "You healed me..." She said after a moment, remembering what Lucius told her.

Voldemort nodded, "As best I could."

"What do you mean?" Bellatrix asked, frowning.

"There may be some lasting damage. It is doubtful that you will ever carry another child." Voldemort said, his face impassive. "But, you will live."

Bellatrix sighed, more from the pain in her stomach than from any disappointment at this news. "Poor Rodolphus." She said, and attempted to smile despite the pain, "He did always want a son..."