"WHERE IS HE!"
She yelled as crossed the doorway. Her hair was crackling with magic and the room seemed to buzz with it. Her wand was drawn as she looked around the room. She had on a simple pair of muggle jean shorts and a white long sleeve shirt that was moving with her magic as if she was standing in front of a fan, and surprisingly she was barefoot. Her eyes were wide glowing crimson as she scanned the occupants of the room.
Another burst of her magic shattered all the windows, and the fireplace jumped to life, flames reaching up towards the ceiling.
Tom had stood up to move to the wall behind them to watch where he was joined by Snape and Lucius, both who knew not to get on the wrong end of her wand. The others were frozen in their seat not knowing how to take the situation. They felt the power but were looking at a teenage girl. So something was missing. Some of them gained their wits faster than others stumbling to their feet and moving out of the way.
"You bastard!" She hissed as she stormed up to the table wand drawn at Dolohov.
With a flick of her wand all the empty chairs started flying one by one in his direction. He was having to quickly dodge or explode them with his own wand as the rest of the room watched on.
"You cursed me! You had to have known it was me and yet you fucking cursed me anyways!" She jammed her wand into his chest.
He rose quickly from his crouched place on the ground to his feet, hands held up in surrender. He didn't know what he expected to see tonight but it wasn't her. He was panting from the exhaustion of fighting off the chairs, sweat was beading across his forehead.
"What was I supposed to do malyshka? You were fighting us, I didn't know that was you, last I knew your animagus form was a fox. All I saw was a wolf coming in for the kill!" He started to raise his voice.
"You shouldn't have been there!" She yelled back. "We wouldn't have had to fight you at all if this daft bitch didn't bring you there." She gestured her head at Bellatrix. Her head jerked up at the mention of her name.
"What? How dare you speak to me that way!" Bella's scream was cut off by the look in Hermione's eyes. It was murderous.
"How dare you speak at all!" Keeping her wand against Dolohov's chest she raised her hand at Bella and she was silenced. She was grabbing at her throat as if she couldn't breath. Scratching at the invisible force. Slowly being drawn back and held against the wall.
"You don't speak to me, and you sure as hell don't raise your voice to me. You almost fucked up a perfectly executed plan because you don't have enough brain cells left in your demented head to follow a fucking order! You brought your brother in law into a situation he had no business being in.. AGAIN!" Hermione hissed at her. "And beyond that you almost burned a cover I have spent the last 5 years securing!" She let her voice drop off as she tilted her head taking in the crazed witch.
"I wonder... Should I burn you?" Her voice was almost sickly sweet.
There were a few gasps as the glow started in her free hand. The purple moved to a corporal form as the fire left her hand in the form of a snake slithering ever so slowly towards the struggling bellatrix. The flame had just started licking at her throat when her father called her off.
"Daughter." He said calmly. "I do believe I have warned you about burning people alive in our home. It takes forever to get the smell out." He chuckled. "Besides I believe our poor Bella has learned her lesson by now. She looks a bit blue."
Hermione heard her father speaking but she made no move to release either spell. It wasn't until she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her from the back that she relaxed even a little. The familiar warmth joined hers and she felt his breath on her neck when he bent down to speak into her ear.
"I've got you princess. You are ok now love." Thorfinn promised her softly.
Sighing Hermione called back her flames. It danced around her skin before absorbing it. Then she ended the hold she had on Bella's neck. The room was filled with whispers and murmurs. She let out a deep breath and sunk back into Thorfinns chest. He kept his arms wrapped around her to keep her upright. She was still shaking with rage and he suspected hurt.
She turned her attention back to Dolohov. She tried to hide the hurt in her eyes but she knew it bled through as one solitary tear rolled down her flushed cheek. His own eyes were blown wide in confusion. He just heard the dark lord refer to Hermione as daughter. Pieces from the last five years were starting to fall in place, he felt like his brain could explode. He barely flicked his eyes up to Thorfinn, his best mate for nearly 10 years and saw him looking at him with fury.
"I'm sorry malyshka, I didn't know. I saw you there with Potter, I thought you left with them. When I heard Black yell your name, and I saw you there hurt, I didn't want to believe it. It all happened so fast." He was trying to convince her to see his side. But he had never seen her this angry before.
It was like she had her own glow. He looked around the room at the others. Obviously Malfoy and Snape knew. Bella didn't nor did his uncles, yet Evan looked not as surprised as Tobias did. Mulciber looked almost turned on by her show of raw power, and Rabastan just looked lost and concerned.
"Look at this Dolly!" She yelled as she held her hand up. The dark purple curse mark started at her hip, stretched across her toned stomach and then disappeared beneath her bunched up shirt. She had stepped away from Thorfinn as if she may come at him again, but he kept a large hand on her shoulder to ground her.
"It could have killed me you bastard! Had I not known the curse just from knowing you I'd be dead right now!" She yelled again.
"You think I didn't know you knew it!" He yelled back. "Why do you think I used that one, we talked about it for months. I knew you knew the counter curse just as well as I did! I didn't want to hurt anyone, not Black, not Lupin, definitely not you. I knew if it was an animagus and not just a wolf that you would know how to help them." He admitted and a few people looked surprised including Hermione.
"Well even if so, I obviously couldn't heal myself immediately, it ate away at my magic. I felt it! Luckily I was able to silently cast the counter curse before I passed out. Otherwise I would probably be laid up in the hospital as a squib right now." She said starting to break away from her anger.
"Wait, you're saying you lost magic and you are still this powerful. Holy fuck.." Mulciber whistled what could have been misconstrued as a wolf whistle earning him a dangerous glare from Dolohov and a near growl from Rowle who pulled her tighter to him.
"I'm sorry malyshka, that's all I can say." He took a step towards them and lifted his hands up to her arms. Rubbing small circles with his thumbs. "Punish me if you need to. Curse me back. I thought I was doing what I could to follow the regime. I didn't know till we left that it wasn't a sanctioned mission. You should know by now I wouldn't ever intentionally hurt you unless I had no choice." He said softly.
"You were supposed to be my friend." She whispered her anger evaporated, a line of tears running down her cheek.
"And I still am, little witch. You know this."
She took a deep breath and collected herself. She squeezed Thorfinn's hand letting him know she was ok. Turning to face her father, letting his hands fall to his side.
"Can I kill the rest of them?" She asked like she was asking to borrow a few sickles. One side of her hip cocked slightly out with her wandless hand resting on it.
"No. You may not." Tom chuckled.
"Can I kill one of them then?" She huffed. "It's been kind of a bad day for me.."
The others were surprised when an honest laugh broke out from Voldemort. Snape and Lucius tried to hide their smirks behind their hands.
"Yes I believe you can have one. Will it be your Russian friend then?" He asked.
She scoffed. "No, I forgive him... for now. And I take it Roddy may be pissed if I kill his wife or brother?"
"Maybe just his brother." Lucius mumbled, earning a glare from still recovering Bella.
"Where is he?" She looked around the sea of faces to find him.
"He just got back from the ministry, doing clean up duty I would assume." Her father answered.
"Tully!" She called and not a second later the little elf appeared. She looked around the room tutting at the mess and destruction before her big eyes landed on Bellatrix. She let out a deep hiss and bared her teeth pointing her boney finger in her direction as if to curse her herself. Hermione hid a chuckle behind her hand.
"Tully, will you go get Roddy please, I need to speak to him. Also, will you bring Nagini to me too, if I have to dispose of a body she should get first dibs."
The elf nodded. "Of course missy Is bring the pretty snake to come eat the ugly witch." Tully said, sounding so pleased as she glared at Bellatrix before popping out.
Nagini popped into the room first hissing as she crossed the floor. Thorfinn, still not perfectly comfortable with the big snake, backed off and took a seat that wasn't destroyed earlier. The snake wrapped herself around her charge squeezing her slightly. She didn't move away from her, merely coiled around her legs protectively.
A few seconds later Rodolphus Lestrange walked in the room and raised his brow at the sight before him. The windows were blown out and the ceiling had scorch marks, broken furniture scattered all over. His brother looked shell shocked. His crazy wife was sitting against the far wall nursing what looked to be burn marks and a bruised throat. The others all shared looks of fear and shock except Dolohov who looked upset.
"Hello all.." he greeted enthusiastically, not sure why he was called for.
"Hello Rodolphus. My daughter has a question for you." Tom said with a smile.
He looked at the little witch in the middle. She was still glowing with magic whatever had happened tonight had pissed her off and she hadn't found an outlet for it yet.
"What can I help you with Ms. Granger?" He purred as he addressed her as if he was still her professor.
"Oh Roddy, it's always so wonderful to see you." She cooed as she approached him half way. "I just need to know if you would be upset if I killed your brother or your wife?" She asked him sweetly, batting her long dark lashes at him. She held up her hand to stop him from answering right away and beckoned him towards her. Taking his hand in her smaller one. Looking up at him pleadingly she continued.
"Now, Before you make a decision, your lovely wife openly attacked us, which ended in me getting hurt, and obtaining a permanent scar... an ugly terribly large one at that. Not to mention the entire order saw her face. It would make it easier for everyone if I just got rid of her." She moved her hands to her hips.
"Let me see.." he said.
She pulled up her shirt again, showing off the thick purple scar that intercepted her midriff. Rodolphus hissed through his teeth when he saw it running just the tips of his fingers down her midriff.
"Yikes, that is a bad one. What a shame to think your bikini days may be through." He said with a wink as she set her shirt right.
"So, what do you think?" She asked.
"Well I can't have you killing my brother. We're the last two Lestranges, and neither of us have an heir. So I need him. Plus, I thought you liked him, you told me last month he was your favorite Lestrange. Now I know you were lying, you have always been sweet on me." He said, wiggling his eyebrows playfully.
Hermione rolled her eyes waving him off. "He won by default. Your wife is my least favorite and you annoy me. Bass is sweet and quiet, he could teach you a thing or two." She then realized what it was that Rodolphus didn't say.
Hermione smiled wickedly. "So I can kill her then?" She nodded her head in Bella's direction.
"You can," he started and Bella wailed from her place against the wall. "But, if you do, to make it even for taking my wife before I've had an heir you'd have to marry me." He smiled at her and winked in Thorfinns' direction. "Rowle is a fit bloke, I am undeniably handsome.. We could be great together, little witch." He said as he came even closer to her, running a finger down her cheek.
The air seemed to hang in the air while they awaited her answer when finally she busted out laughing. Like doubled over hugging her stomach laughter that Lestrange joined her in.
"You're such a git I swear." She playfully pushed him. "Fine keep your stupidly attractive brother and your psycho bitch of a wife. Maybe she'll fall down some stairs or..." she grinned again turning to Bella, her words trailed off completely.
"Ah ah daughter if Bellatrix dies of any... unnatural... circumstances I'll make you take Rodolphus up on his offer." Tom laughed.
She groaned. "Define unnatural."
"Typically snakes don't grow large enough here to devour an adult Ms. Granger." Lucius said snickering when Nagini hissed in his direction. She went to respond by nodding but her eyes went bright again with an idea and he cut her off. "And the good professor here would be able to determine an animal attack from a werewolf attack, so don't call your little attack dog either." He smiled at her.
She looked pointedly at Snape who just shrugged at her smugly.
"Have you decided who will die tonight daughter?" Tom asked, cleaning his nails while leaning against the wall.
She huffed. "No, I can't decide. I'll just keep it as an IOU, if I make a decision I'll just do it. Best to keep them all on their toes. But if you-" she turned and stared at Mulciber. "Don't stop staring at my ass I'll burn your eyes out of your head." She hissed.
Mulciber to his credit just smiled and raised his hands in defeat. The big man chuckled as he sat back in his seat but did not take his eyes from the little witch. He only looked away when Thor sent a stinging hex his way.
"It's been a long day father. Am I to assume you will be holding a meeting this evening?" She asked and Tom nodded.
"Ok, I need a few moments. Thorfinn would you come with me please." She held up a hand and Thor took it, getting to his feet. "Just let me know when it is starting and we will be there." She looked around the room at the others giving a small bow of her head. "Gentlemen." Then she pulled Thor behind her and in the direction of her room.
When Thorfinn heard a pop of apparition come from his living room the last thing he expected to see was Hermione's tiny house elf standing there. She was dressed in a bright pink dress that he knew she must have made herself as Hermione had told him she preferred to be paid in fabrics. It seemed she couldn't convince the little thing to take her money but she never turned down a nice bolt of fabric and would even drop hints of what kind she wanted next.
"Good evening Tully, to what do I owe for this great pleasure of seeing you." He asked and watched as she flapped her ears.
"Tully bes coming to get master Thorfinn. My missy will needs him, she very mad and catchins the fires." She explained rubbing her bony hands together.
Thor startled at her words and went to grab his cloak. He approached the elf ready to leave.
"Did Hermione send you, or was it her father?" He asked, wanting to know how bad it would be before he arrived.
Tully shook her head, her small hands going to her hips in a scolding manner. "Nobodies sends Tully. Tully does as she does cause I knows my missy needs you. Master Thorfinn always makes Missy smile, and she needs that tonights."
Thorfinn took her hand and let her take him through the wards into Riddle Manor. He walked in the room in time to see Hermione holding his best mate at wand point while also slowly suffocating Bellatrix Lestrange. She looked ethereal with the glow of her fiendfyre extending from her person, her eyes were flashing crimson. A testament that she was battling to keep control of herself. Dolly was shaking, his eyes were so full of fear Thor was tempted to come to his aid. He looked around the room and saw that the Dark Lord was standing off to the side watching the display with an amused expression. Snape and Malfoy both stood next to him, neither giving the impression they meant to interfere.
Besides Bella who looked to be suffering under the combined spell and fire licking at her throat he noticed the other four occupants. Antonins two uncles, Evan and Tobias were both watching their nephew being verbally attacked, but were not moving, they looked so confused that it left Thor wanting to know the whole story immediately.
Rabastan Lestrange had his trademark lost look upon his face, but he watched as it flashes with moments of concern and what he could only read as protectiveness. Oddly it wasn't directed at Bella but at Hermione. Ah, Thor thought. He must have come to the realization that Hermione is the white wolf he had bonded to since his release.
Then finally his eyes landed on Mulciber. The mountain of a man was staring at the scene too. His expression though was very different from the rest. He seemed enthralled by the power Hermione was emitting. His eyes were wide as they watched on with excitement and what only could be defined as lust. Thor felt his feet move to come smack the brute on the back of the head when he heard the dark Lord start to speak.
Seeing that Hermione had not ended the spell Thor approached her from behind. He knew from personal experience how hard it was to call back the flames when your emotions were still in turmoil. He wrapped his arms around her small frame letting her know he was there and she was safe. Having heard what she was saying to Antonin he too had to keep control of his emotions lest he crossed the room and pummeled his best friend.
He rolled his eyes when Rodolphus came in. His newest way to annoy Hermione was to pretend he fancied her. He would sit too close to Thorfinn when they were all together and make comments about their future together. Just like tonight it never failed to make her laugh. Thorfinn watched as the wind drained from her sails, she n longer had her intense anger to fuel her fire and was starting to lean heavily. She asked to be excused and he was more than ready to take her hand and get her out of the room.
As soon as they left the room and the door shut behind them he swept her up in his arms and carried her bridal style to her room. Her arms were around his neck as she pressed her face against his chest. He could feel the damp spot forming from her tears. He held her tighter, whispering words of assurance. He sat down on her bed with her still in his arms.
"Is this my fault?" She asked, her voice cracking. "Because I didn't tell him the truth?" She looked up at him, her pretty brown eyes swimming with tears.
Thor shook his head and leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead. "No princess. This isn't your fault. We have talked about this. Toni wasn't ready to know, and his actions tonight prove that. He reacts too instinctively and that would have only caused more problems. He needed to learn to control himself and his emotions. To gain your trust again and have you certain he wouldn't run again. I know that everytime you got close to telling him he bailed and that's not on you." He kissed her again.
"The main fault for tonight lies in Bellatrix's hands. She should have never gotten involved. She is so desperate to prove she is devoted to your father, that she in turn proved she couldn't be trusted. It's ironic. He should have let you kill her."
She snorted a laugh, agreeing fully.
"She tried to kill Sirius. If I wasn't there to knock him out of the way she would have knocked him through the veil. I know Sirius isnt blood, but he is still family. I saw red, I would have ripped her throat out right there at the ministry if Dolly hadn't stopped me."
Thor frowned sensing her slipping further into depression. "Well.." He started with a long exaggerated shrug. "The night is still young who knows yeah? I'm sure Greyback would jump at the opportunity to take her out if you'd ask. I mean Rodolphus isn't too bad." He winked at her and his ploy worked as she burst out laughing.
Antonin sat silently against the wall looking down at his hands. Five years of memories flashed through his mind. The first night they went into the forest the wolf had made a comment about her smell, and how there wasn't anyone quite like her in the woods that night. In his mind he assumed he meant a muggleborn, he didn't think they actually smelled different. But, he also wasn't a werewolf. Then she spoke parseltongue, a notorious skill that dark wizards possessed. Hell she even told him that night to figure it out, that she wasn't the perceived muggle born swot her house had dubbed her to be.
His hands clenched into fist. How many times had she hinted at this to him, and he had just been too stubborn to put it all together. All of the times she accepted and embraced the darkness in him and his family without a second thought. The times she understood completely how he was feeling without him having to explain. She had told him time and time again there were things about her he didn't know yet because she couldn't tell anyone and yet he ignored it. He ignored his feelings for her, and he ran.
Seeing Thorfinn walk up behind her and tae her into his arms really drove the point home. He watched his best mate calm her down and pull her back from the edge. Their magic reaching out for each other the way that it used to for him.
Thorfinn wasn't surprised so that must mean that he already knew. The knowledge of that stung, he wouldn't lie to himself that he was hurt by it. Yet, he couldn't fault them. Thor never made her guess his feelings for her. He chose her time and time again which is what she deserves. He wondered if Thor had been as surprised as he was or if she eased him in to it more. He was curious how the meeting of the dark Lord went when he knew he was actively seeing his daughter.
He almost choked thinking of that. He had been intimate with the dark Lord's daughter more than once. How was he even still alive right now? He had set across the desk from him alone and listened to him say that someone had faith in him to serve him well. If only he knew then that person was Hermione. She vouched for him when he didn't deserve it, and continued her support long after he should have lost it.
He sat up straight. He had to talk to her, he couldn't leave it like this. Even if she never wanted to see him again he had to tell her how he feels. Getting to his feet he excused himself as he made his way to her bedroom. Having been in the house before he recognized where they were and headed her way. However before he could get there the necklace resting against his chest burned.
The dark Lord had called a meeting.