Chapter 21

Alice gave the girls in front of her a pleasant smile. It hid her real intentions, giving them a moment to think themselves safe.

Once, when Alice had been a girl, she had been envious of girls like Pansy Parkinson and her fellow mates. Not for their looks or their old money. But because they seemed to care for each other.

Alice had never before experienced that until she had met Lily Potter.

All too soon, the friendship had been ripped apart by Lily's death. Alice had been left alone. Frank had helped so much in those dark times. The loss of their daughter, Lyra, had made it ten times worse.

Alice had buried herself in work and kept Neville safe. Frank had taken care of the household while she worked. He had stayed home with Neville for the first couple of years. Alice had stayed away from home as much as she could. Sweet Neville hadn't seen anything wrong with it.

Neither had Frank. He understood why. He had sheltered Neville from the world until he couldn't. Alice hadn't neglected her son.

But she hadn't been able to be near him without pain.

Time had helped.

Then she had fallen pregnant with Ezra. It had been a shock to find herself with a child, especially since they hadn't planned on having more kids.

Frank had stepped back with her, away from the Order and the Ministry.

But as soon as trouble had stared, Alice had stepped away, driven by the need to destroy which that threatened her family.

None of the females in the Order had understood her need to fight and kill. Even Dumbledore had asked her why she did what she did. But Alice had only given him part of her answer.

Duty.

What she didn't tell, was that a part of her wanted to end the war with blood. To avenge the little girl that had ripped a hole in Alice's life and heart. Her baby girl.

Frank had known, from the very beginning, why she wanted what she did. He understood it. But didn't carry the same desire; which was for the best. One bloodthirsty parent was enough.

She might not be able to kill Riddle, but there were other ways to appease it. Death Eaters were one.

Alice broke out of her thoughts when the Veela, Dalilah, walked up to her. The gentle sway of her hips drawing the eye of her not so innocent son.

Neville blushed and looked away from the Veela.

Alice hid a smile. Her boy was curious about women.

However, he was too shy and self-conscious to do anything about it. Not that Alice wanted him to play with a woman like Dalilah. She would eat him alive.

"Hermione has been sleeping for an hour now. We should let her rest for the rest of the night."

Alice agreed with Dalilah. The last time she had seen her, the brave girl had looked like a strong wind would tip her over. But looks could be deceiving.

The girl wasn't weak. Alice knew something the others didn't suspect. Hermione Granger was even more dangerous than she let on. Even while dog tired.

"Let her be. Molly and her family will be bringing supplies and food for everybody. We'll straighten the house out for Hermione so that she won't worry about it when she wakes."

Nobody protested.

Alice glanced around the room slowly. Aside from her son and Harry, there were quite a few faces that surprised her to see.

Three Slytherin girls, Pansy Parkinson being the one Alice recognized from the Ministry. The girl's mother was a piranha when it came to the twenty-eight pureblood families.

Rosella Parkinson was a maneater. One that Alice had to take down a notch or two; mostly because the woman had once wanted Frank.

Alice turned, noticing Theo by the open doorway that led out to the hallway. He had his arms crossed, a frown on his face. She knew Theo was struggling with losing Hermione. The one that he had known and cared for deeply.

Draco Malfoy.

A face she hadn't expected to see amongst the group. Alice wondered how he felt with her being here. Considering she was the one who killed his father a year ago. He wasn't looking at her. He was standing far from the group and his body turned towards the large arched window.

"Where is your mother, Malfoy?"

He turned, leaning back against the window. "She's in the kitchen, making tea for everyone. She brought what she could with Kreacher."

So, Narcissa was here.

"Alright," she inspected the semi-clean room. "Frank will be bringing Molly, so one of you will wait outside for them. Harry, where's Ronald?"

Harry stood up, the armchair skidding back several inches as he did so. "He stayed behind. He wanted to help McGonagall and take note of students that wanted to stay and train. Most can't or don't wish to endanger their families by leading Death Eaters to them."

"Percy and Kinglsey are dealing with personal information on those students that fall under that category. Tonks and your father were almost finished with the list of muggle families when Riddle hit Azkaban."

Dalilah stilled and looked up the open doorway, alerting Alice. The Veela didn't look at any of them as she swiftly walked out of the room.

Malfoy tracked the women's movements, but not with male interest.

The sound of Dalilah's steps on the stairs echoed, drawing everybody's attention.

"One of you, go outside and wait for Molly." She turned away from them and followed after Dalilah.

Alice walked up the stairs and at the top of them, caught a glimpse of Dalilah's dress before it disappeared behind the first door in front of the stairs.

The shuddering gasp gave Alice a clue as to what was wrong. Concerned, she pushed open the large wooden door.

On the bed was Dalilah, her arms, and body wrapped tightly around Hermione's body. Gentle hands caressed a trembling body. Alice drew closer, leaving the door somewhat opened.

"Nightmare?"

Dalilah turned her head, swirling eyes of ocean blue met Alice's eyes. "Yes and no. She dreams of Death. She smelled of it, and it drew me like a moth to a flame," she said, sliding a hand up towards Hermione's hair.

Alice crossed her arms, staying away from the bed. "Why don't you wake her up from it?"

The Veela looked away but not before Alice saw the flash of desire. "I should wake her up. But she clings to me, and it makes me FEEL."

Alice understood. The feeling of acceptance and need entwined so damn tightly.

But for a being like Dalilah, it was ambrosia. To Alice, it was something else. Familiar and comforting to know she wasn't the only one. The only being that had ever come close to being like Alice was the girl in the bed.

Oh, Alice had met many others. But those individuals were twisted in ways that weren't natural. Not like Dalilah or Alice.

Hermione Granger was something more. For Dalilah, Hermione was desire and want. For Alice, it was comforting darkness.

Whatever it was that Death had done to the girl, it spoke to Alice. Now, Alice wasn't alone.

"Wake her. She has no reason to suffer when there are potions she can take so that she can sleep peacefully."

Quiet footsteps echoed through the room, and Alice stepped aside, moving to stand right behind the open doorway. Dalilah surprised Alice with her protective stance, covering Hermione with her body.

Dalilah caught the look and smirked. "Until Hermione's claimed, she is mine. Unless she says otherwise. You, on the other hand, want her too. But not in the same way. I did tell her that Death has many faces. You are one of them, Alice Maeve."

Alice kept her face blank. The Veela wasn't saying anything Alice already didn't know.

"Is she awake? I'm told she was sick again. I brought over some soup for her." Molly's voice came from behind the door, drawing Alice's attention.

She stepped forward and opened the door all the way. Alice could hear Dalilah wake Hermione in the background. "She's awake. Come in.''

Alice slipped out, letting Molly pass her. She closed the door and walked towards the steps. Alice had never been a reliable shoulder to cry. Not when she had been a teenager, much less as an adult.

Frank had been there to comfort their children. Alice had been the one to protect them. The one time she had tried, she had seen her child murdered.

A sharp spike of pain in her chest forced her to pause. She swallowed hard, biting her lip, struggling to suppress the violent emotions. Remembering what had happened all those years ago still brought unimaginable fury to her heart.

If only she had been better. Stronger.

A sound from the stairs brought her back from the emotional struggle.

Keeping her face carefully blank, she looked up and saw her son. He grinned affectionately. "Come, we are having an early dinner before we start cleaning up the rest of the house."

Alice nodded. He turned away and headed back down.

That was one thing she loved about her children. They understood her. They held no dark thoughts when it came to her and the way she was.

Clearing her heart and mind, she followed her son.

…

Hermione finished the bowl of soup and set it down on the tray. She did feel better, but she was still tired. Her head didn't hurt but felt somewhat strained. At least magically.

Molly took the tray and came back with two potion veils. "Drink them. They'll help you rest for a few hours. Don't worry about the house, we'll all set it right. Do you need us to get you anything?"

Hermione drank them before speaking. "I need clothes and potion supplies. I'm sure Professor Snape knows what we'll need to stock up. We'll need other supplies and such for those staying here."

Dalilah came forward, having stepped away to let Molly tend to Hermione. "I can get clothes and stuff for you. I have to step out either way. I'll be back before you next wake."

Molly smiled. "That would be helpful. I'll deal with the other stuff. Here," she took away the veils and closed the window curtains. "Rest, and sleep."

Hermione reclined back on the pillows and pulled up the comforter. She closed her eyes and heard them leave quietly. She already felt the potions working, drawing her under.

She didn't fight them. Whatever peace they brought, she wanted it desperately.

…

With a jerk, Hermione woke.

Instantly, she knew something was wrong. It was confirmed when intense knocking at the door came.

"Hermione! It's Harry. He's in pain!"

Hermione quickly got off the bed, forgoing her shoes, and dashed to the door. She wrenched it open to see Neville without a shirt. He had a worried look on his face. He reached for her arm but stopped himself.

"Show me," she said, striding forward. Neville quickly turned around and went down the hallway. They quickly arrived at the open doorway and into the room.

The room, which was lit by several candles, was cold and drafty.

Theodore was up as well, leaning over the bed to the far right. On the bed lay, Harry curled up into a ball. Hermione rushed forward and pushed Theodore aside. She climbed the bed and leaned forward, pulling Harry's hands away from his face.

"Harry, look at me. Harry." Hermione whispered, leaning forward and waiting for him to open his eyes. She ignored the commotion coming from behind her. Her focus was on Harry and the broken bracelet that lay by his pillow.

He took a deep, pain-filled breath before opening his eyes. Lines of strain surrounded his mouth and wrinkled the corners of his eyes, "It hurts. He's so mad."

"I know. There was one way to break the connection. Trust me. It's the quickest way."

He nodded hurriedly.

She bent down and met his lips with her own. He stiffened, his body gaining a new kind of tension. But it was the same as before. All it had taken before had been a simple kiss.

When Ron had left them, Harry had been under attack. It had been a moment of emergency and pain. The difference this time was the urge to gorge the very piece of soul that was deep inside of Harry.

Harry quivered as the well of darkness inside of Hermione, responded to the soul made of death that resided inside of Harry.

Using it, Hermione felt the tug and broke contact with Harry's lips, gasping.

But it was too late.

She was inside Riddle's mind.

For a second, Hermione could see through Riddle's eyes.

The pile of bodies in front of him still wiggled with life. The mass pile was being burned alive. Riddle roared with fury and fired more spells.

Cries of agony rang through the air, and the crazy familiar laugh of Bellatrix drew Riddle's eye.

But the link wavered and thrust Hermione back into her own body.

A gasping breath burned her lungs. She could still smell the taste of burning flesh in the air. Her stomach rolled and threatened to heave. Somebody touched her arm gently.

Hermione stiffened and opened her eyes. She saw Frank, and an odd sound left her mouth. Frank leaned forward and drew her into his arms even as he harshly ordered everybody to leave the room.

The sound of footsteps retreating could be heard, and the sound of the door closing broke her.

She gasped out a plea. For what? She didn't know. But Frank seemed to know, and he pulled her deeper into his embrace and patted her head with a gentle but firm touch.

Hermione clutched at his shoulders and glanced over his shoulder.

Alice was there. She was leaning back against the bed next to Harry's. She was looking down at her hands but must have felt Hermione's gaze for she looked up.

The knowing look clicked something inside of her and Hermione slumped forward.

"There there. I have you," Frank murmured, rubbing her back in gentle circles. "You'll be fine. You're not alone."

Hermione shook her head. "I couldn't handle it."

Frank leaned back and looked down at Hermione. Alice came forward and laid a hand on her husband's shoulder.

"What couldn't you handle? We don't know what happened. We came in when Neville shouted for us."

Hermione leaned back, brushing her hands across her face. "I connected with Riddle. I saw...through his eyes. To what he was doing. He was taking it out on some people."

Frank glanced at his wife before looking at her. "What did you see?"

"I saw a burning pile of bodies," Hermione paused, pressing her hands to her stomach as it heaved. After a moment, she continued unsteadily. "They were still alive. Some were buried underneath, screaming. I heard Bellatrix laughing."

"But that is not why you reacted that way, was it, Hermione?" Alice cooly asked.

Hermione looked down, taking a deep breath of Frank's scent. She shook her head and glanced up. "I felt good. Witnessing their pain and desperation. It wasn't just Riddle's feelings. They were mine too."

Frank didn't recoil back in shock or even surprise. Alice didn't either.

"You killed Greyback. You have killed in this world. As a changed person with Death's gift, you will feel things that others wouldn't be able to stand. It's one thing to see and feel and another to do," Frank said, his eyes catching hers. "Do you see yourself doing the same as him and living with yourself?"

Instant denial.

Hermione didn't have to say it. Her answer must have shown on her face for Alice broke into a small smile.

"I know how it feels. To kill somebody that has tormented you or hurt you in some way. Or in self-defense. But to purposely take a life for your pleasure, to feel joy in it, that is when you know you have crossed a line you can never come back from." Alice whispered.

Hermione fisted the sheets covering the bed. "But I can torture-"

Alice sharply shook her head. "It's war. That's to be expected. But that is why we have Severus with us. Truth Serum should do it. However, if we must, we will torture. Dumbledore and the others might not understand, but they won't stop you. We all want the war to end. One way or another."

Frank patted Hermione's bent knee. "We'll make sure you don't cross that line. I know that I can't come close to knowing what it must feel like, but I can accept it. It won't make us leave your side."

Hermione blinked back tears and wordlessly nodded. She believed him. She saw Alice glance down at the broken bracelet and cock an eyebrow.

"Seems like you were right to be cautious about Harry's connection to Riddle," Alice said, bending down to pick up the broken item.

Hermione stared at it. "I had a feeling it wouldn't be that easy."

...o0o0o0o0o...

Thank you for reading! Here is the next chapter that I promised!

Hope you love it. Stay safe and drink lots of water.

Vanee

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