''You are a monster.'' Augusta said. A shield sizzled around her. Her knees were beginning to shake underneath her.
Bellatrix met Augusta's tearful eyes. They were the same colour as Frank Longbottom's, as that child she'd seen loitering about her ancestral home. A child she'd orphaned in every sense but the most literal one.
''Who taught you that word, Lady Longbottom?'' Bellatrix took a step forward. There was tenseness around her black eyes. The way her fingers curled around her wand was stronger than a woman needed to press on a windpipe.
''Excuse me?''
''Monster. Who taught you that word?''
''What are you playing at, you madwoman?'' Augusta's mind was running through a list of spells she could do wordlessly, a list of spells with a short pronunciation, and a list of spells that she wanted to hit Bellatrix with more than anything.
Bellatrix wobbled. They'd been duelling since the beginning of all of this cacophony. She shared a look with Avery, who looked like he would not be able to fall back asleep even when all of this calmed down. Having him with her was a present. She was thankful.
Augusta took a step backwards and held onto the fireplace with one of her hands. She leaned her weight on it and glared. ''Where are my children, Lestrange?'' Her voice was broken. Her wand was wavering. Even she could understand that two against one was going to result in failure. ''They told me you went to St. Mungo's with Crouch Jr.'' How brave one needed to be, Bellatrix wondered, to have the guts to go through with asking this. ''What did you do with the bodies?''
Avery caught Bellatrix when she finally fell. Second in command of the Dark Lord or no -she'd spent eighteen years in Azkaban. She would never be what she was.
''I didn't kill them, Lady Longbottom.'' Bellatrix confessed. She was looking at Avery. His eyes were so soft when he looked at her. No one in her life had ever looked at her like this.
Rodolophus' eyes were brilliant and depraved. He only ever saw her as a means to and end. It was fine. That was their thing.
Voldemort's eyes were dejected and uncomfortable. He only ever saw her as a tool. It was fine. She was his General, not his wife.
Fawley's eyes.
''I had it planned to kill them all together that night.'' Bellatrix continued. ''I couldn't bring myself to do it.''
Augusta tried to move, but Avery, using both of their exhaustion against them, stole their wands to hold onto. This was why he'd survived the war. Bellatrix smiled at him. He was the most annoying person she'd ever met.
''Give me back my wand.'' Augusta outstretched her hand as if to cast a spell wandlessly.
''Hear us out, you daft woman.'' Avery had no tact. Bella's head was splitting. Her muscles were weaker than she'd thought. It was cold. It was very cold. Her hands clutched around Avery's robe. There was no one around her. Bella breathed laboriously. Her eyes were shot open. The air was filled with the stench of death. Bodies falling of frostbite, shells of the people they were, seeking out the Dementors to end their misery - to rid themselves of the self-awareness.
Avery was speaking. ''We're against the Dark Lord. He betrayed us so we went to the Order to pool our resources. Your side struck first.''
Augusta had struck first, at the sight of Bellatrix. She had been ready to see a murderer, a torturer, a monster - but she'd seen all of that and a traumatized woman to top it.
Augusta was observing Bellatrix fighting through these memories, through these shakes, and emerging victorious.
''Where is my son?''
''Not your daughter...'' Bellatrix hissed. Clarity began to come back to her black eyes. ''Fawley was never your daughter. That night, Lady Longbottom, she begged me to spare her -did you know? Begged me to do it, because she never wanted you anywhere near her child.''
Augusta flinched back as if burned. ''I … liar!''
Bellatrix cackled. ''I knew her better than her husband did. Better than any of you!''
Fawley was a brilliant young girl. One had to be in order to be Black's most treasured companion. She was giggling at something Black had said. ''No,'' she exclaimed, but giggled even louder when Black repeated what she'd said. This time she did it so everyone could hear her: ''Lestrange asked you out. Though, he asked me out first. I need to clarify that.'' Black's brows danced. She placed a hand to her chest and lurridly whispered: ''I am of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, as you are well aware.''
''Why would he ask us both out then?''
They were inseparable and they were well connected. ''Lestrange doesn't mind whichever one of us should have him. These are his words, mind you!''
Fawley cried out. Her voice was going to give out from under her laughter. ''As if either of us fancies him!''
Black's laughter was coarser than Fawley's. It was also louder. She said she'd inherited it from her scary aunt walburga.
Across from them sat their least favourite roommate: Rita skeeter. She was sitting on her bed and reading a book with Charms, all while actually listening in. Black and Fawley stood up and on their way out, Fawley slapped the book out of Rita's hands and said with a very mean girn: ''Skeeter, you know what you could do for me?''
''What Fawley?''
''Get a life outside of me and Black.''
''It's Black and I.'' Rita corrected.
Black guffawed: ''You wish, Skeeter.''
Lestrange had one objective in mind and that was to woo the two most influential Slytherin girls into falling in love with him. He didn't care much if his wife ended up being a Fawley by birth or a Black. All his parents cared for was that she was Sacred Twenty-Eight.
He approached them at the dining table at the Great Hall and smiled at Black first, ''Hello, ladies,'' then at Fawley, ''would you like some company?''
Black looked at Fawley. She was pretending to examine her nails. Feeling Lestrange's growing impatience, she raised her gaze, levelled it with his, and politely said: ''Black and I are very busy right now, Rodolphus.''
Lestrange's eyes sparked at hearing his first name. This was progress. He bowed and bid them a good day.
''What a fucking idiot.'' Fawley said later. Black shook her head in disbelief at the man's irritating tactics.
''He has a brother you know.'' Black formed a plan. It was ingenious. It was the best laid out plan she'd ever thought of. Hopefully she looked towards Fawley.
Her expression wasn't yet illuminated by the sheer possibilities this presented. ''What of it?''
''We could each marry a brother. It is expected of us to marry. Might as well make it count.'' Black nonchalantly suggested, but her heart was beating fast. She hoped Fawley would not shoot the idea down.
Fawley mulled it over. During Potions she leaned over to Black and whispered: ''I like it.'' Black smiled widely, propriety be damned. They were in their seventh year at Hogwarts and nothing would deter them.
Slughorn was teaching them about amortentia. Black's father told her that he always asked the students what their brews smelled like, but the most recent Hogwarts alumni said that that had fallen out of practise. Fawley wondered who had scarred Slughorn so terribly as to never ask that question again. ''Maybe that someone's potion smelled like dirty socks?'' Black made a disgusted face. Fawley joined her in their mutual loathing for this someone whose amortentia smells like dirty socks.
''Sir, I think I did mine wrong?'' Arthur Weasley raised his hand.
''Yes, Mr. Weasley?''
''My potion doesn't have a distinct smell.''
Slughorn took a whiff of the potion, nodded, and said: ''No, this is perfect. You have done it well. What does it smell like for you?''
Arthur Weasley's face was as red as his hair. Black and Fawley leaned to listen in. Molly Prewett, who was sitting next to Arthur Weasley was looking at him strangely. He began to stammer all while glancing from the cauldron to Molly. ''Um. Well. Sir. Can I be excused -'' without waiting to be excused Arthur Weasley dashed for the door.
And before he made it past the door Fawley began to chant: ''Weasley and Prewett, sitting in a tree!''
Weasley and Prewett did finally hook up. Fawley credited herself for that. ''If I didn't humiliate him like that she never would have cornered him and told him that she liked him, too - ergo I have helped continue the Weasley line for generations to come.'' She pretended to dust her hands off. ''It's kind of fun to do something good for a change. Right, Black?''
''Right.''
''Indulge me, won't you?'' How did Fawley ever expect to be said no to when she used such a tone of voice. It melted like hot chocolate over viola strings that thrummed, ever so gently. Slowly, she took Black's hand and kissed it. Black blushed and closed the space between them. They were alone in their dorm. Skeeter, Parkinson, and Shafiq had gone to see the quidditch game. Slytherin vs. Ravenclaw.
Black and Fawley had much more pressing matters to attend to. Fawley led her gently into a kiss. When they broke the kiss, Fawley was looking at her hungrily. ''If you're worried to get caught…'' She licked her lips and how in Circe's name could anyone say no to her, ''I know a room, Black.''
''Lead the way.''
The Room of Requirement was the best bloody thing to ever be created.
Black and Fawley were unstoppable in DADA, specifically the duelling segment of the class. The only ones that ever came close to posing a challenge were Frank Longbottom and Molly Prewett. Ever since the DADA prof made a grave error and paired Fawley with Longbottom Black began to see the cracks in her perfect life. 7th year was supposed to be the best, NEWTS be damned! But Longbottom and Lestrange began visiting the Slytherin table, specifically the part where Fawley and she sat. They visited to harass Fawley and her.
Except this time when a boy asked them a question, Fawley answered it: ''I'm not sure for Black,but I don't mind.''
How in Circe's name was Black supposed to answer. She forced a dainty smile to her lips and said: ''I don't mind either.''
Lestrange didn't kiss. He fucking inhaled her.
Fawley was happier with him than with her.
Fawley married him. Black married Lestrange. It was expected of them. But she married out of love and not duty. Bellatrix (because she was no longer a Black, but she felt like no Lestrange) could not fathom such irredeemable weakness.
''I love him. That means I'm letting you go.'' Fawley (and she would forever be Fawley in Bellatrix's mind) ''I hope you can understand.''
Andromeda had fled and married out of love, too. That had hurt her.
Bellatrix nodded. ''Of course. I understand. I'm … happy for you, Fawley.''
''Alice. I'm not a Fawley anymore, Bella.'' She had the audacity to wink. But oh. All of that would be forgiven; Hearing Fawley say her name was exquisite. Bellatix nodded again. What else was there to do.
''Is he good to you?''
''Wouldn't have married him if he weren't.''
''That's good. I am happy for you.'' She was convincing herself.
''How about Rodolphus?''
Bellatrix would not speak ill of her husband. ''He has his uses.'' not even in her wildest dreams would she imagine she'd be using him to barter with Dementors in Azkaban.
Fawley took a hold of her hand, like she'd done so many times before and kissed it. ''For old time's sake… I know a room?''
Claiming Fawley in her own marital bed was just enough of an ego boost Bellatrix needed to survive her own marriage. It was magnificent, perhaps because both of them were aware that this would be their last time together. They made it count.
For a while Fawley and she didn't meet. It was dangerous. There was a war going on, after all. Bellatrix was rising in the Death Eater ranks. She was the Dark Lord's favourite. His second in command even.
But Fawley was much too spirited to ever stand around at home and not fight.
She met Fawley again on the battlefield. She'd become an auror like her husband. The uniform suited her. They looked at one another, sizing each other's weaknesses and scrutinizing everything that made them interesting opponents.
Bellatrix gulped. Could she hurt Fawley? Did she have it in her?
It was Fawley that sent the first curse. It set the tone for the rest of the war. Bellatrix understood. There would be no holding back. They owed each other that much respect, at least.
''I backed off.''
''You tortured them to insanity.''
''Oh fuck off. It was either that or death. Death seemed to final.''
''Too final? You call this MERCY?!''
''It was meant to teach her a lesson. She was meant to go to our side afterwards!''
''You truly are insane.''
''Perhaps.''
At the Dark Lord's orders Bellatrix charged into action. Rodolphus was by her side and at least Bellatrix had chosen right. At least her husband hadn't corrupted her into becoming a blood
traitor.
It was later in the War. Bellatrix had become unstoppable.
She had Frank Longbottom at her mercy. Her wand tip glowed green, but Fawley begged. She'd never begged for anything. Bellatrix turned from her bound target and properly saw Fawley. ''Please, spare him, Bella.''
The Dark Lord called her Bella. She preferred the way Fawley said it to his version. There were more memories. ''Bela, if you ever loved me, you'll let us both go, please.'' she placed a hand over her stomach then. ''Please,'' Bellatrix let them go. It was idiotic to have a child in this mess, but if anyone could pull it off, it would be Fawley.
''Bet she didn't tell you that.''
Avery was away, looking around for survivors. They'd all landed in the Library and boarded themselves up, it seemed. Smart bunch. Even if they were outside to see Augusta Longbottom and Bellatrix Black talking, they wouldn't be able to believe their eyes.
''I will never sympathize with you, you monster.'' If Augusta knew her son would be brought back to her if she lunged for Bellatrix and tore her throat apart with her bare hands, she would not hesitate.
''Fawley called me that.'' Bellatrix's voice was distant. ''A monster.''
Bellatrix would not let Fawley and her husband go the next time she caught them. She hoped that the next time they met would be under similar circumstances, out in battle where everyone could see that they were evenly matched.
The Dark Lord, however, had different plans for Bellatrix. He sent her off to their residence and told her to break in like a thief if she must.
''I do not care what happens to the Phoenixes, but you must kill their child. It poses a threat to me.'' By this point her lord was no more and a shadow stood in his place, coveting ideas and so very little soul to be functional. ''Bella,'' and the way he said it still made her heart dance, ''I entrust you with this. You are my most loyal. You are my best.''
She'd bowed. ''Thank you, my lord.''
That would be the hardest mission Bellatrix would ever be forced into carrying out. It was agony to be caught between the two people she loved most. For the Dark Lord she would do anything, but Fawley was someone Bellatrix was convinced she would have forever in her life.
''I meant to kill them. Barty can tell you.''
''Barty's dead, General.''
Bellatrix turned to Avery sharply. ''No.''
Avery nodded. He offered nothing else. Nor did she ask it of him.
Augusta kept sneaking glances towards Snape's body. It had rattled her, then.
Bellatrix was just so resentful towards Frank Longbottom, that she began with him and didn't know when she became enough of a monster to attack Fawley.
Still, as she watched her writhe and curse her to the ends and back, Bellatrix thought that this was what she deserved.
Slowly, Bellatrix rummaged through her robe pocket and pulled out two marbles. She threw them to the ground and whispered an incantation. They transformed right before Augusta Longbottom's eyes into her son and daughter-in-law.
''I came here to barter with you.''
Augusta didn't hear what Bellatrix was saying. To know that her son was alive and well (as well as one could be under his specific circumstances) was all that mattered.
Fawley wasn't observing how Augusta hugged her husband. No, her eyes burned into Bellatrix's.
''I can undo what I'd done.''
Augusta was crying into her son's shoulder. But she registered this in her mind. Because for the very first time she looked at Bellatrix like she could be of use, like she wasn't just there to cause Augusta boundless grief.
''We came here, Lady Longbottom, in order to gain access to that accursed library. For the knowledge we needed we would in turn hand over our knowledge that would help…'' and for the first time Bellatrix forced herself to say this, ''...Alice Longbottom and your son.''
''Why?''
Avery answered this one. ''Well, we're all very angry at the Dark Lord. Most of the parties on our side hate him for very personal reasons - I'm personally fighting the good fight now because there isn't anything better to do.''
Augusta and Bellatrix both could agree on one thing: Avery Jr. was a piece of work.
Tis the end of the battle chapters. Now they're all gonna sit down and talk and I can finally relax. I did it!