The next morning came with a flash of unbearable pain as Hermione shot up in bed. Her head felt as if she was hit by a train and an agonizing burning filled her whole body. As she gritted her teeth the pain only amplified. She let out a blood curdling scream and her nails dug into her scalp as the pain pulsated. She could barely hear the door slam.

As she doubled over, pulling her hair she felt someone crawl onto the bed. One person. No two? She was in too much pain to know for sure until she felt two pairs of hands gab at her. She could hear her name being said, but it only registered as faint whispers to her.

"Mione, look at me!"

Hermione forced herself to raise her head, another wave of pain rushing through her body. She looked towards the voice to see Ginny's worried face. The ginger smiled and Hermiones mind went cloudy. Seeing this, Ginny looked over to the unknown person.

"Pansy, get her water!"

As she watched the scared looking slytherin run out of the room the pain started to ease. Hermione took a few deep breaths. Her body twitched and ached, her ears rang loudly, and her jaw throbbed with pain. She could feel Ginny rubbing her back as she calmed down. She laid her head against Ginny as she started to cry. Ginny laid her head against Hermione's as she tried to comfort her.

"It's okay…"

"No it's not! He's torturing her!"

Ginny jumped at the volume of Hermione's voice as Pansy walked in with a glass of ice water. The slytherin looked at the two of them and sighed. She sat on the bed and placed the water on the table before pulling Hermione up to a sitting position.

"Look at me."

Hermione shook her head, causing pansy to force her to turn her head.

"She can handle it."

"I cant…"

"Why do you think it was so short?... she either played like she was in more pain than she was… or she let something slip."

Hermione's body went stiff at the thought of Voldemort possibly knowing something. Pansy, seeing that she put her on edge, handed her the glass of water.

"No matter which one it is. She cut the torture short because she knows you can't handle the pain."

Hermione gave her a small smile and sipped her water.

Malfoy manor

Chandra cringed as she watched Bella crack her neck. Bella clenched her jaw as she looked up to see Voldemort sneering at her.

"Well that was enlightening."

He shot his cold gaze up to Chandra.

"Well, you two have been busy. I would love to know more."

Chandra backed up a bit, trying to inch closer to Narcissa, who stood a few feet back. Bella stood up and looked at Voldemort.

"Don't touch her, Tom."

Voldemort gave her a look of false surprise and looked to Chandra and back to her.

"I'm simply dealing with a liar and an unloyal blood traitor… or would you prefer I go get your filthy little pet?"

Bella drew her wand and stared him in the eye as he just simply grinned at her.

"You're so fast to defend a mudblood, let alone one of Potter's little friends. Tell me why did her name come up, Bella? Tell me, what have you been doing all these months…"

As he spoke Bella unknowingly shielded her dress pocket, regretting that she kept the prophecy with her. Voldemort, noticing this he moved fast, shoving his hand into her pocket, making the dark witch freeze with fear. He pulled out the blue orb and looked at it with an angry glare. He looked at Bella and offered it to her. Seeing her back up, he grinned.

"I see you did find something when I sent you the first time."

Narcissa grabbed Chandra's hand as Voldemort advanced towards Bella, her stepping back the whole way.

"Take it Bella. I insist…"

Bella stumbled back, almost falling when she felt Chandra's hand Grasp her shoulder. Bella didn't have time to register what was happening before they disapparated, leaving a seething Voldemort behind, grasping the prophecy.

The three women landed in a familiar place. Bella looked around at the twisted tree roots and dark trees before realizing it. She looked at her sister with a confused and angry expression.

"Why are we in the forbidden forest! We can't be here, he's going to come for her!"

Narcissa looked at her sister, and chose not to react to her screaming.

"Our plan obviously didn't work. We need to talk to Minerva… and as for Hermione, Hogwarts is the only safe place right now."

Bella let out an irritated grunt and clenched her jaw.

"No! You talk to Minerva! You and her were the ones who came up with this plan and now he knows!"

"He doesn't know what the prophecy says…"

"No, but he knows enough to know that he needs to get his hands on me or her to hear it! Who do you think he will go for, Narcissa!"

Narcissa got quiet and Bella glared at her for a moment before storming off. Chandra stood there quiet for a moment. She knew she was a target too and that meant Luna wasn't safe either. She gave Narcissa an apologetic smile before running after Bella.

Bella and Hermione's dorm

McGonagall handed a vile to Hermione as pansy rubbed her back. Luna sat in the armchair looking at her with a worried expression. Hermione quickly drank the foul tasting liquid and placed the vile on the table. McGonagall smiled lightly, trying to mask her worried face.

"It should help with the pain. I'm sorry this happened but I assure you everything is going to be fin-"

The professor was cut off by the door being slammed into the wall. She looked over to see a very angry Bellatrix glaring at her.

"You and Cissy ruined everything! He knows… Hermione isn't safe… AND IT'S YOUR FAULT!"

McGonagall didn't look phased by the angry witch.

"Ms. Black, I assure you. We only agreed on that course of action to try to prevent anything happening to everyone involved. I have no control over whatever may have happened after the two of you left."

Bella stared at the calm professor before getting a glimpse of Hermione. She could tell she was still in pain and didn't want to make it worse. She looked back to McGonagall as she took a long breath.

"Cissy should be on her way to Dumbledore's office to speak with the two of you. Things are about to get much worse so I think you should go for now."

McGonagall excused herself from the dorm, pausing to give Bella a soft, reassuring smile before leaving. Bella closed the door and looked at the three girls.

"I figured Ginny would be here…"

Pansy took her hand away from Hermione's back and looked at the dark witch.

"She went to go get her some food… she wouldn't let me and Luna leave, I had to convince Luna to get the professor."

As much as Bella wanted to break every finger on Pansy's hand for touching Hermione, she could tell the girl was trying to help. She let out a sigh.

"How bad was it?"

Hermione shook her head.

"Well Pansy had to carry me to the sofa… so I'd say it was bad. Why are you back?"

Before Bella could answer Luna chimed in.

"Is Chandra okay?"

"She's fine Luna, she should be here."

Bella turned to Hermione.

"And I'm back because of you. Or has something changed?"

"I don't know, we had a great summer but the first chance you get to run back to him, you take it…"

"To keep you safe."

"And how did that work out, now he knows. Right!?"

Bella went quiet as Hermione raised her voice. As she went to speak Chandra came rushing into the room. The redhead scanned the room, smiling when she saw Luna. She went over to her and wrapped her in a tight hug. Hermione seeing this rolled her eyes and looked back at Bella.

"Wow. Twelve hours, you two were gone for twelve hours. And now we're in even more danger. What even happened?!"

Bella looked away from her, blushing a bit. Chandra shook her head and looked at Hermione.

"While she was being tortured she flipped out because she thought about how you were alone and going through the same thing. She let your name slip. I think he put the rest together by my reaction…. And Bella trying to defend me…

Hermione watched her cousin, knowing she wasn't done. Chandra looked down.

"And… her drawing her wand when he threatened you…"

Hermione raised a brow, urging her to continue.

"He...uh… he has the prophecy…"

Hermione looked at Bella who still refused to look her in the eyes.

"You brought it with you?! You didn't think for one second to leave it here? What is your issue?!"

Bellatrix looked her straight in the eyes as she spoke in a low cold tone.

"Last time I left the damned thing somewhere Chandra had to kill someone. I don't know who could have got their hands on it if I left it here. Your friends havent-"

"My friends have proven themselves time and time again!"

Just then Ginny walked in holding a tray of food. She looked at the room full of people, feeling as if she walked into something sensitive. She was proven right when Hermione continued ranting to Bella.

"You are going to have to get over yourself! Half of this happened because you were worried for me, so thank you. But half of it also happened because you have a huge trust issue with people who have proven that they care about me. You are going to have to learn how to trust them… including Neville and Pansy."

Bellatrix shot the slytherin a cold look but Hermione stopped her.

"And there it is. Do you not think I know?"

"When it comes to Parkinson, no you dont."

Hermione gave her a strange look. Despite her anger, she couldn't help but let out a light laugh.

"Really? Do you honestly think I believe Chandra owned a book? I'm not stupid."

Pansy, now with a shade of red on her cheeks, went to get up but instantly sat back down when Hermione grabbed her arm, never looking away from Bella. Hermione released the slitherin's arm before speaking to Bella again.

"Her and Ginny were the ones who helped me today. They came in right when it started. Do you realize what that means?"

Bellatrix looked at her feet. She knew the answer but she didn't want to have to thank pansy. She spoke in almost a whisper.

"They were waiting for it to happen…"

As the dark witch looked up Hermione gave her a stern look and the dark witch groaned. She looked at Pansy, defeated.

"Thank you Parkinson."

Pansy awkwardly smiled and nodded as Ginny sat the food on the table. The group went quiet for a moment before Hermione spoke again.

"So, he knows… did he actually hear the prophecy?"

Chandra rubbed her head as she answered.

"No, he was trying to get her to touch it when we got out of there…"

"Okay… I'm guessing that means he's going to be coming straight after us…"

The two deatheaters nodded and Hermione let out a small groan.

"So whats the game plan?..."