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The brunette sat stunned. Surrounded by the three sisters she was speechless. What could some one say to what she was just told. The bond, the blood, had passed her the darkness too. Now she had to learn to live with it, control it. Was she supposed to just accept it? She had been the one who decided to go ahead with the ritual. There was no one to blame, Bella didn't know. Andi did, but how was she to know that they were to do it. Hermione sat on the sofa, legs crossed, elbow on her knee and chin resting on her hand. Still as a statue, the only sign of life her steady breathing. She wasn't sure how to feel. Angry? Why? No one could have guessed that dark magic came from old blood, most had always thought it was learnt. Some where in the back of her mind the academic rejoiced at the discovery. But for the moment, she had to focus on how it would affect and change her and how it would alter her future. A sudden thought struck her, the sharp intake of breath making those around her jump. "What about our children? How will this affect them?" she asked looking between the three.
"I suppose there is a chance..."
"It's more than a chance Bella. Since Draco's discovery of the conception spell, I knew that the children you and mis.. Hermione would have, would hold the darkness with in them. After all, it would be your magical essences mixing together. The child would be part Black therefore affected by our...condition too. That is the reason I asked to be as involved with their teaching." the voice of Narcissa travelled quietly to each person in the room. "If they are taught from a young age, it shouldn't hold them back in life. Look at Draco, he is arrogant, cheeky and cocky yes. But not evil. Luscius and I worked with him everyday from the moment he was old enough to understand. He learnt to manage and control it. Know one would even know that there was such darkness laying dormant in him.
Hermione groaned at the thought of them having a little Draco running around the house. "You could have just told me about all this, your suspicions. There would have been no need to go through the bloody dinner thing. You know I owe Draco a car don't you?" she said to the women not waiting for an answer. "If you two knew, why didn't you tell Bella? She could have.."
"In case you hadn't noticed, our sister can be a little, erratic at times. How could we predict her reaction? She may have reacted very differently to how she did this evening. Almost did, until she thought of you." Andromeda defended herself and younger sister. "How did you expect us to tell her that her whole life had been a lie? She believed the dark lord had taught her, she trained and strived everyday to please him."
Silence followed while Hermione thought it through. It was true, Bella could have fallen apart, could have raged and let her darker side take over. Her sisters had said she had stayed calm, accepted it. But why? There were so many why's.
"Why now? If you were happy to keep this a secret for so many years, why tell her now?" Hermione asked, she couldn't find the anger she knew she should be feeling toward them. They had kept it from Bella and her, but they were here trying to help. Trying to make it right. She couldn't be angry at any one. It was nobodies fault.
"When she came to us tonight, we could see she was upset over something. She didn't want to tell us but we got it out of her eventually. She had noticed changes in you. She was worried." Narcissa answered. "After Andi confessed to having the same experiences when she was younger, how could I not? We told her everything and her first concern was you." She finished gently hoping the girl would see things from their point. It hadn't been easy keeping it from Bella. Watching her almost destroy herself over and over for a man she owed nothing to. Through the years it got harder to talk to her older sister. She was ready to die for Voldermort and wouldn't have taken kindly to hearing that he was using her.
"We told her so she could help you, and your future children. Hermione trust me, if I had known that you were planning to share our blood I would have passed on the information earlier." Andromeda said sincerely.
The brunette stood up and left the room. She need some air, walking through the house and out in to the front court-yard. She wasn't angry. She was upset. Not with the sisters, not with Bella. For her children. The struggle they would face everyday. She had felt only a small part of what they would have to go through. She'd seen Bella fighting it and giving in. Could she watch her child fall apart like that? Could she watch the pain and suffering as they fought for control. She didn't know if she was strong enough to do that. With Bella it was different, there was the safe room, the sex. How was she supposed to help a child. It would be cruel to lock them in a room for something they didn't understand. She shook her head as tears dripped down her cheeks.
"Hermione." a soft voice called to her from the porch.
"Go away Narcissa, I need a minute." she kept her back to the woman. Flicking away the tears. It wouldn't do for the blond to see her cry. She already thought she was weak.
"I know this is a lot to understa.."
"I understand just fine thank you. I have the Black darkness in me. That's something I'll have to deal with for the rest of my life. But I can't force a child to go through it. I won't do it." More tears escaped, her body shook through sobs.
"You shouldn't make a decision about that yet. There are ways to help. Speak to Draco. He will tell you he had a normal happy childhood." Narcissa said as she moved closer to the distraught girl.
"Normal? Did daddy teach him to ride a bike? No... Did you take him for trips to the zoo? Picnics in the park? No, his childhood was learning to control something he had no knowledge of. His childhood was normal to him because he didn't know any different." she sobbed, covering her face with her hands. "That's not the life I want for my child."
Narcissa stepped forward and without hesitation wrapped her arms around the crying girl. Hermione buried her face in the fabric of the woman's dress and sobbed. The blond didn't say a word, stroking her hair and rubbing her back. Offering comfort. Waiting patiently for the girl to calm. The brunette clung to her future sister-in-law and cried for what seemed like an age. She had so desperately wanted a child with Bella. That dream had just been shattered. She couldn't ruin an innocent life for selfish reason's.
"Hermione, there are ways to keep a balance. Your child can have the life you want them to have. A few lessons a week with me and he or she will be ready when it's time for them to go to Hogwarts." Narcissa said quietly as she held the woman close. "It will just be part of a routine. Please don't make this decision in haste. Remember there is also Bella to consider. The day she told us that you were going to give her a child, I've never seen her so happy. The way her eyes sparkled with joy was truly a beautiful and rare sight. Don't throw that all away through anger. Think it through."she pulled her closer hoping she would listen. "Please." she whispered in her ear before letting her go and stepping back.
The others left leaving the lovers alone for the first time since either of them found out about the Black 'curse' as they had taken to calling it. The silence between them was awkward and deafening. Hermione stared in to the fire-place working through her thoughts. While Bella watched her every move and facial expression.
"Talk to me." she quietly when she couldn't take the silence anymore.
"We've talked all night. I don't know what else to say." Hermione responded eyes not moving from the hearth.
"Tell me what you're thinking." she said, moving closer.
"I don't know what I'm thinking Bella. Everything makes perfect sense but it's so confusing." when she looked at Bellatrix her heart softened. This was the woman she loved more than anything. It killed her that she would have to break her heart. She had no choice. It would be cruel to inflict the curse upon a child. She just hoped that the dark witch would forgive her someday.
"What's confusing you? I can help." the older woman said as she sat next to her lover.
"Just hold me Bella." she whispered as more tears threatened to fall. She couldn't tell her yet. She needed to feel her arms around her. To be held and comforted by her protector, her witch. She knew that when she told Bella that she couldn't bring a child in to this, she would react badly. So for now, she laid her head on the woman's chest and allowed the woman to hold her one last time.
It was Bella's last day at the ministry. Fitting that she should end it this way. After a restless nights sleep she'd gotten up to find her lover gone, left for work. Bella hadn't seen her all day. She knew she was there, people were on edge rushing around to finish reports and finalizing paper work that had been ordered to be on Hermione's desk by the end of the day. Whispers the dark witch had heard, suggested that her witch was in a particularly bad mood and was taking it out on everyone in the office. She had sat waiting at her desk, hoping to see her before her meeting. But as the clock struck one she couldn't wait any longer.
Following the corridor round she spied the door she would be going through in less than a minute. Slowing her pace she looked around to see if any one else was in the area. Seeing no one she relaxed a little and waited. The sound of the door opening was her signal. Pressing her back against the wall, she watched Harry leave his office. Her ten minutes had begun. Quickly making her way across, she pushed the door and entered silently. A smirk graced her face as she clicked the lock in to place.
FIVE DAYS EARLIER:
"Bellatrix, I can't. There must be something else." Harry pleaded. Looking over the dark witches shoulder he watched his best friend wrapping her arms around Teddy. "If she found out.."
"She won't, not until after its done." the women cut it. She had struggled to think of anything to ask from the boy when Hermione had told her he would be the representative. That was until they had gotten the news about who would be joining the rehab program. As much as she loved her witch, at times, she could be naïve. She had lived through a war, witnessed and been victim to the worst of humanity, but the girl refused to see the truth sometimes. Some people were beyond help, some people weren't worth the effort. Bellatrix herself had damaged Hermione, something she had to live with every day. Each time the dark witch saw the scar on her lover's arm she wished it hadn't happened, regretted every drop of blood she spilt, she'd spend the rest of her life repaying the woman. Whereas Ron Weasley would not leave her alone. Bella knew his kind, lived with them nearly every day of her adult life. He would promise to change, swear he hadn't touched a drop. He'd be kind and sweet for the first few weeks, until something upset him. Men like him lived by habit, it wouldn't take much for him to weasel his way back in to her life. Then one day, when she thinks she's safe, believes that he has changed, he'll strike again. Men like him, needed to feel in control, to show their dominance.
"I can't let you hurt him, you'll end up in prison or worse. He wouldn't think twice about reporting you. Bella please, think of something else." Harry pleaded again. He hated Ron for what he did, but the memory of who the red-head used to be stopped him from agreeing. He had beaten the man twice and twice he struggled and fought with his conscience. He told himself Ron deserved it, it was mild in comparison to what he did to Hermione. His best friends physical scars had healed, but he saw her panic every time her eyes caught a glimpse of red hair, her hands shake every time his name was mentioned. He closed his eyes and remembered the night Hermione had fallen in to his study, bloodied and broken. His heart raced and gut clenched. Opening his eyes he looked at his best friend. She was happy now, strong. He couldn't let any one take that from her.
"Think about what would happen if he found out about me and her. What he would do if he managed to get her alone. You may have fooled yourself in to believing that he's changed, that the prison clinic has helped him. But I know what men like him are like, I've seen the real damage they can cause. Is that what you want for her?" Bellatrix hissed.
His resolve was crumbling. He loved Hermione, and he knew she was right. Nothing and no one would hurt her again. "You won't attack him, not physically. Warn him, tell him what ever you need to but you don't touch him." he said voice a low grumble. His terms weren't for Rons sake, he didn't want to lose Bella. He couldn't stand by and watch he sign her own prison sentence. If he could keep the damage to a minimum, if he could prevent any real harm coming to Ron, Bella would be safe and free. And Hermione would stay happy.
"Agreed. If she asks, don't tell her. I will once it's over." the dark witch release a sigh of relief as the privacy charm dropped. Potter was bound now, there was nothing he could do to stop what ever she decided. After all his terms were no physical attacks, he hadn't mentioned her wand.
PRESENT DAY:
"When will I see Hermione?" Ron asked without turning around. A heartbeat of silence past. "Harry, I asked..." as he turned in his chair his mouth dropped open. Scrambling to his feet he pressed back in to the desk. "Lestrange." he spat as if the name were venom in his mouth.
"Weasel." she greeted almost playfully. For anyone who knew her, had seen her during her service to the dark lord would know the tone was anything but.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" he hissed as he stepped to the side moving further in to the office.
"I've come to chat." she replied lightly, taking a few steps forward. She giggled as she watched him move to put the desk between them.
"Harry will be back any second, you'd best leave or you'll regret it." he warned. He didn't know the extent of hers and Harry's friendship. Didn't realise that if he was given a choice between Ron Weasley or Bellatrix Black, Harry would stand by the witch every time.
"That so?" she smiled sweetly. A few more steps and she could smell the fear pouring of the boy. "I best make this quick then."
"Wha...what do you want? I've done nothing to you."
"I've a little warning for you." she said as she slipped her wand from her sleeve and tapped it against her thigh. "Stay away from her." her voice and face darkened.
"Hermione? That has nothing to do with you. Mine and Hermione's relationship is private..."
"Relationship?" she hissed. "Relationship, is that what you call it? Here's me thinking, beating someone half to death, hexing and abusing them was torture."
"You'd know. Besides what happens between me and her is none o.."
"None of my business? Oh but it is. She belongs to another now weasel."
"Liar. You're lying. She belongs to me. We've been through too much together. I'll make her see that it's meant to be. She'll come around. She's mine." he rambled staring at her with wide eyes. "Who?" he hissed. "Who's the little bitch fucking, I warned her. The whore. It's Harry isn't it. I'll kill him, and her." he paced behind the desk rambling to himself. "There's always been something... Something between them. That time in the woods camping. I left. She was on her knees for him then. I'll show her, the slu..."
A loud band and a blinding light filled the room. Bellatrix stood on the other side of the desk, wand raised, breathing heavy. Fighting for control. How dare the useless waste of flesh speak of her witch like that. She had resolved to not touch or hex the boy. But the vile words he spewed caused her to see red and she snapped.
"Don't you dare say another word. That woman has never belonged to you. She has always been better than you. You vile disgusting vermin." she spat as she stalked around the desk the stand over him.
"Fuck off Lestrange. That cunt has always been mine." he spat as he tried to push himself in to a sitting position.
"SEGMENTUM." she shouted. Blood spurted from several different parts of his body. He fell back to the ground and screamed, clutching at the wounds trying to stop the flow.
"Stay away from her. Or next time, you die." she hissed, watching him scramble across the floor, leaving a red trail on the carpet. She flicked her wand and the blood disappeared, the slices in his skin vanished and the room was silent. As she turned to leave the sound of a deep chuckle stopped her in her tracks.
"It's you isn't it Lestrange. Pansy was telling the truth. You're the one fucking her? You lowered yourself to bedding a mudblood." he laughed as he used the desk to pull himself up. "Is her cunt as tight as I remember?"
She spun towards him wand poised curse on her lips. "Cruci.." a force slammed in to her knocking her to the ground. She scrambled to get to her feet and finish what she started but a weight on her upper body kept her down. Twisting her head she saw Harry holding her shoulders down.
"Bella stop." he growled struggling against the woman's thrashing.
"Get off!"
"Stop he's not worth it. Look at me you need to calm down." he begged as she managed to twist on to her back.
Harry quickly grabbed the wrist of her right arm noticing she still had hold of the wand just in time. "Stop." he slammed her arm against the ground forcing her to let go of the magical wood. "Aurors are on the way. Stay still." she hissed just as the door swung open.
Harry nodded his head to his former friend and the two men secured him between them.
"Take him away. Lock him in the holding cell." he ordered the men.
"What about her?" one asked looking at the thrashing woman under his boss.
"I'll take care of her. Go, secure him." He turned back to Bella and picked up her wand as he released her and stood in front of the door.
"Give me my wand." she growled as she stalked towards him. Her eyes were black and fierce. She wasn't in control.
"I can't do that. Bella you need to calm down. Look at me I'm not going to hurt you." he tucked her wand in the back of his jeans and holstered his own. Showing his hands in a sign of peace. "Look at me Bella. Focus please." he begged as she came closer. "Bellatrix, stop." she was inches away when he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Pinning her arms at her sides holding her in a bear hug. "Bella please." he whispered in her ear. He felt her relax slightly and supported her weight against his chest. Lifting his arm he stroked her hair, shushing her quietly as she calmed.
The sound of the flames in the fireplace made him turn his head. The image that greeted him caused his heart to sink.
"Bring her to my office now Potter." the stern, angry voice of Kingsley ordered.
"Shit." was the last thing the dark witch heard before the world turned black and she slumped to the ground.
CaraCersei: *blush* thank you. Such a lovely review. I am trying to keep the updates more regular. And yes... I love all the black sisters.
Greyella: Was it what you thought? The plot took a life of its own. Glad you're enjoying it still.
Terrorize: :-D... Hope I didn't disappoint you. You might have to wait to see that... If at all.
xAngeloftheNorthx: Um... After this chapter I think you might be a little upset with me..lol
Trix-of-Black: welcome back :-) I'll be honest and tell you that I've missed your reviews. And your updates. Thank you for such a lovely review. Did you guess what she would ask for?
Thanks again everyone. Each review pushes me to update faster.. Your support is greatly appreciated. Xxx
And thank you to everyone who reviewed One Night. happy you enjoyed it.
Until next time...
