Chapter 34: A Real Family

(Bella P.O.V.)

My nightmares had become a reality. Everything I had ever feared was now standing in front of me, even more frightening in person. He had a sort of face that would make you never want to close your eyes again, because you would see it there staring back at you. He seemed to have a look of superiority on his face that also revealed all the hatred and darkness he held inside himself. All through my childhood, I was always told monsters didn't exist, but here was one standing right in front of me, sneering.

"So, Potter you broke my prophecy?" he said narrowing his eyes even more. I would say he lifted up his nose at Harry, but he didn't really have a nose. Just two slits in the middle of his face, making him seem more snakelike.

"Master!" my mother dropped down to his side, burring her face by his shoes. "I tried my best! I was fighting the Animagos Black when it happened. Please forgive me!" Then she constricted back, as if preparing to be punished.

"I am most displeased with these events. I send my best death eaters to retrieve a single item for me, and they are bested by children" he spat the last word. He brought his wand down under Bellatrix's chin, resting beside her neck. "This was a dreadful mistake on your part; Bellatrix... however… not all is lost."

Bellatrix's eyes opened, and her body relaxed slightly. "At least one good thing came from these events." He said, helping Bellatrix to her feet, "our dear Bella has been returned to us."

My breath caught in my throat. Harry tensed in front of me, and my mother looked to be very distraught. She looked as if she was burning to say something, but was biting her tongue.

My father was now glaring down at me, with a sly smile on his face. He looked almost delighted. I didn't know whether that was a good thing or a bad thing. I did know one thing; I didn't like him looking down on me.

I struggled to put both my arms underneath me to push myself up. My arms began to buckle under my weight, but Harry came to my rescue, catching both my arms and hoisting me to a standing position. "Bella, careful. I've got you." He said allowing me to lean my arms against his shoulder.

Now we were all at eye level. My parents could no longer look down on me, but that didn't make them seem any smaller.

Voldemort's eyes scanned me up and down, taking in the sight of me. "Ah, what a lovely young lady you have become. Even more beautiful than your mother was at that age." Bellatrix flinched, "I am sorry that you were raised in such barbaric conditions. If I had been around you would have had the world. But I'm afraid that wasn't possible, all thanks to Potter." He spat his name like something that tasted awful. "But now things are different. You can come with us," He patted Bellatrix on the head, her face beamed. "I know that you have made some mistakes along the way, but with proper supervision, all can be set right. We can finally be the family that you never had."

My eyes opened wide with shock. In all my nightmares my father had been horrid. Always torturing me, using me, but never anything like this. It was almost affectionate. It was almost tempting. Almost.

It only took a second of doubt for me to remember everything they had done. Everyone they had hurt. They had chosen this life over their own daughter, over everything else. They had left Harry an orphan. They had left me an orphan.

"What a very kind offer," I started. Harry looked stunned. I snaked on of my arms around his back and pulled closer into my side. My father's face dropped. "But I'm afraid I already have a family." Harry's mouth pulled into a smirk.

"YOU INSOLENT GIRL! YOU WILL COME WITH US ONE WAY OR THE OTHER!" He yelled in a tormented rage. Harry pushed me so that I was behind him, hanging onto his shoulders, his wand pointed in my parent's directions.

"You're not taking her anywhere. You may have taken my parents. You may have even taken Sirius, but you're not getting Bella." He said with a great amount of determination in his voice.

"Ha. And how are you going to stop me boy? With a disarming spell? Blow bubbles out the end of your wand? Tickle me to death?"

Harry narrowed his eyes at him. He opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by another voice.

"Once again, I believe you are seriously underestimating Harry's abilities, Tom. Haven't you seen by now where that will get you?" Dumbledore entered the hall, whipping Voldemort's grin right off his face. An expression I hadn't thought he was capable of flashed across his face, fear. Bellatrix looked terrified.

"My Lord." She said, tugging his arm, "Forget the girl. We can deal with her another time. We've already been here long enough-"

"SILENCE" he pushed her aside, "AND GET OUT OF MY WAY."

Bellatrix cowered away. Then her eyes darted to mine. She blasted me a look of pure hatred, baring her teeth. With one last longing look at her master, she scampered to one of the fireplace exits of the ministry, and disappeared.

"For once, I am with Ms. Lestrange, Tom." Dumbledore walked slowly over our direction, looking as if he was taking a nighttime stroll, completely calm. "You wouldn't want your cover blown, now would you? I think enough damage has been done."

Voldemort spoke through his teeth, "my damage will not be done until you are put underneath the ground."

Dumbledore sighed, stopping to stand next to us. "Well now, I am a very old man, but I like to think that I have a while left yet. Also, it is very impolite to speak of a man's age, Tom."

"STOP CALLING ME THAT" his wand wielded, a spell was thrown at them quickly, but Dumbledore was faster. He blocked it with one flick of his wrist, without even the slightest change of facial expression.

"I suppose you are going to choose the difficult way then. Harry, get Bella out of here. I'll handle it from here. Although I think you were doing a brilliant job yourself." He said winking at them.

"But professor the others-"

"Always worrying about everyone else, Harry." Dumbledore said, blocking another spell. "Lupin has already led the others to safety."

"What about you professor?" I asked questioningly.

"Don't you worry, Isabella. The only person I am worried about here is you. You need to get to safety and some medical attention. Harry?"

"Don't worry professor, I've got her." Harry said putting his arm around his shoulders and steading me beside him.

That seemed to satisfy Dumbledore. He put his full attention on Voldemort, and began more than blocking. Part of me wanted to stay and watch, but the other half of me felt myself fading again. Adrenaline slowly wearing off. My head began to feel fuzzy.

Harry had successfully gotten us across the room to an escape fireplace. This was going to be a very unpleasant ride. My head was already spinning.

Before we could enter the fireplace, someone else nearly collided into us. Wearing a very whimsical, striped pajama set (including bunny slippers) stood the minister of magic looking very tired and annoyed.

His eyes went from Harry to me and widened with shock. His mouth began to quiver. Two other ministry officials came up behind him, nearly knocking into him.

"How did you… not possible… I took you there myself…" his ramblings were cut short by the sounds of the battle raging on behind them. His eyes widened with the scene they were taking on. "That can't be… it just can't… it's not…"

"You were wrong Minister. You were wrong about Bella, and you were wrong about Voldemort. Now you have to answer for your stupidity. You tried so hard to keep your position, but now you'll be finished, and I don't feel the least bit sorry for you." Harry pushed past them, "Now if you'll excuse me I have to go take care of an innocent girl you almost got killed in order to fuel your big ego." His mouth was still moving uncontrollably up and down in horror. The two ministry officials behind him looked bewildered. We left them all standing there dazed and continued to leave.

"Just hold on to me, yeah?" he said, maneuvering me so that my arms were wrapped behind his neck and I stood facing him.

I could hear my dad yelling as we stepped into the fireplace. "DON'T THINK YOU CAN HIDE ISABELLA! I WILL FIND YOU! I WILL FIND YOU"

I gripped Harry's shoulders even harder. "Yeah." I said back as we flew up the fireplace. I rested my head on Harry's shoulder attempting to stop the spinning, and for what seemed like the thousandth time that day, everything went black.

Yay! Dumbledore to the rescue! I'm planning on posting another chapter either today or tomorrow! I've already started it so it just depends on how fast i'm able to get through it! This next chapter could potentially be the last for this story, but never fear! I've already got all my ideas ready to go for the sequel that will kind of go along with the plot of the 6th book! i'm super pumped to get started on it, so it should also be up shortly after i end this story! you guys rock! let me know what you think! Stay Magical!

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