"What the fuck?"
Hermione knew it was Narcissa who uttered the phrase and under any other circumstances she would have giggled or gaped at the show of loss of control from the otherwise always poised witch. However, in this situation she found herself onl thinking the same thing. Her lips even opened and closed, silently mouthing the words.
"Is that.. Is she..?" The words were muddled and choked out as she stood shoulder to shoulder with the three other witches.
"My word." Augusta Longbottom gasped, a wrinkled hand coming to cover her mouth.
Moving to action Andromeda lightly shoved Narcissa slightly ahead of them all, leaving her to make the first move while the others steadied their wand hands. Narcissa, clearing her throat, spoke much steadier than Hermione believed she would have been able to.
"Bella? What are you doing, where have you been? We've been looking everywhere for you, I've been worried." The partial lie slipped off her tongue just as they had practiced before.
It was then that Bellatrix turned and acknowledged them for the first time. She looked worse than after her initial escape from Azkaban. Her thin frame should have been weighed down by the massive amounts of tangled and matted curls on her head. The black tresses filthy with dirt and grease as well as bits of cobwebs. Her skin was beyond pale, the blue of her veins showing through. Dark black circles around her eyes from both malnutrition as well as smudged make up from however long before. Although this was noticeable the truly terrifying thing was she was wearing a wedding gown.
The gown hung off her thin frame in waves of ivory lace. The long train was greyed with mud and who knew what else that she dragged along the floor of the old prison with. In her arms she was holding a bundle close to her chest that Hermione was terrified to question what it was. Bellas dead grey eyes locked on them and she smiled. A truly terrifying sight of rotted teeth and blackened gums that would have had Hermione's adopted parents losing their lunch.
"Cissy, I'm so glad you could come!" She squealed in her baby-like voice.
"Of course Bella, like I said I have been worried about you. We all have. I've come to take you home." Narcissa answered calmly, taking a step closer to her deranged sister.
"He will come for me, you know." Bellatrix said, ignoring her sister's questions. "He's been lost before, confused. There are plenty of people to blame, but he will know now." She nodded her large head in agreement with her own words.
"What are you talking about Bella? Who is coming?" Narcissa asked beyond annoyed now at the theatrics she was witnessing.
"There's no way out you know, you can feel it can't you? So I've done nothing but wait. I knew you'd come. You and my blood traitor sister. And I knew you'd bring her, your little pet that you value more than your own blood. But I knew, and I told him. He promised me that after she was out of the way I could move on. He should have married me, you know?" She bent down and picked up a wilted bouquet of flowers.
The other witches exchanged nervous glances. They did in fact feel something when they approached the area Bella was in. It felt weighted, as if a heavy fog was upon their shoulders, making them and their magic feel sluggish.
"Father should have never made me marry Rodolphus. He never wanted me, he wanted Dromeda and got stuck with me all the same. I should have been the one the dark Lord sought out. My blood and my family ties are old and powerful. But instead he went after that foreign whore who didn't want anything to do with him. No, she was nothing but a child who fell for our idiot cousin. I would have supported him, I would have stood by him through it all. I would have LOVED him!" She looked up and glared at Hermione, icy hatred flashing in her grey eyes. "But instead he had you, and he threw away everything to try to make you some important little prophecy baby when all you are is a mistake."
Hermione barely had time to raise her wand when the first curse flew her way.
O.o.o.o..o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o. .o.o
Dracos pale hand pulled a brush through his broom bristled as he sat on the couch. Each stroke was as meticulous as the last while he attempted to straighten them out after a hard flight earlier. He hadn't changed out of his flying clothes given that his mother wasn't home to reprimand him for getting the upholstery dirty. So interested in the task he barely looked up when the floo flared and a figure entered the room.
"If you have come about the betrothal contract you will need to take it up with my parents." He called over. "I honestly had next to nothing to do with it."
The clicking of heels against the floor stopped and after a minute of silence Draco looked up at the witch standing between him and the hearth.
Her hair was down and wilder than he had seen it in years, as if she had forgotten to place a charm on it. She was dressed completely differently than he had seen her that morning, but that was to be expected as she would have changed for dinner. Something was off though he didn't know exactly what.
"Why would I have an issue with any betrothal contract you were part of?" She asked, her brown eyebrow cocked in confusion.
He sighed, putting down his broom, cracking his neck as he stretched out there on the couch in a very unsophisticated manner that spoke of their comfortability between the two teens as it went against his proper pureblood raising. His eyes closed he didn't see her giving him a look of appalled shock.
"Well it's with Astoria Greengrass, I know you aren't a fan of her older sister Daphne, but my mother promises me that Astoria is cut from a different cloth. And I think we can all be thankful that it was anyone but Pansy Parkinson." He shivered in his seat frowning at the thought.
His actions were cut off by a scoff.
"What is wrong with Pansy Parkinson? She is a proper pureblood lady, it would be a boon for your family to be paired with her."
Her response had Draco sitting up and opening his eyes to stare at the little witch oddly.
"Right…" He drew out. "So if this is no about the contract, what brings you here?" He asked not taking his eyes off the witch as he stood and shook out his clothes.
She fidgeted for a second with her hands before putting them behind her back and raising her chin slightly.
"I came to see if Theodore was having dinner here or if the two of you would like to join me at my home." She spoke clearly but something was off with the inflections that had Dracos hackles raised even further.
He gave her a small bow. "We would love to accompany you for dinner, allow me to change into proper attire and I will escort you through the floo."
The witch nodded slightly, turning to take a seat, her wild curls bouncing around her shoulders and back. She never saw Draco draw his wand or cast the spell so she fell forward hard, collapsing against the settee petrified.
Draco sneered down at the brunette using the toe of his boot to turn her over so he could look into the eyes that, while matched the color, lacked any of the fire he knew lied within his friend.
He knew a lot of people saw only the facade he allowed them to see, so it did not surprise him that whomever this was thought they could get one over on him. But, what most forgot, was that he was always right behind Hermione in all of their classes, and both were leagues ahead of the others, even Theo didn't hold a candle to them. It was Draco's attitude and persona that was mentioned amongst their circles, never his brain, and it was times like this that that was an advantage for him.
He flicked his wand and ropes shot out of the end and wrapped around the petite witch. He smiled evilly when he saw the fear flash in her eyes.
"Whoever you are, you are about to learn you have made a grand mistake. No one messes with my family and gets away with it."
O.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o. .o.o.
The door slamming echoed throughout the manor. Antonin entered the dining room in such a flurry that the four men inside had stood and drawn their wands, not having a clue what his issue was.
Thor hustled in behind him trying to keep up and keep him from killing whoever stood in his way. He slid through the door slightly out of breath to see the three wands pointed their way. He quickly held his hands up in surrender.
"Woah woah, it's us!" He called out before they caught a hex between the eyes.
They seemed to come to their senses and as a unit dropped their wand hands and took a collective breath. Harry's hair floating off his glasses and he wiped his forehead dramatically.
"For fucks sake, what the hell was that?" He asked exasperated.
Antonin growled, making them all stare at him oddly.
"Tell me, does it seem a little quiet in the house tonight?" He grit out between teeth so tightly clenched it was a miracle they hadn't cracked.
The two older wizards exchanged a confused glance over Harry's head before tilting their heads slightly and letting their inner animals do the listening for them. When even their heightened senses came back with nothing they quickly looked over at the fuming wizard.
"What's going on, where is everyone?" Sirius asked at the same time Remus said: "The rest of the house is empty."
"What do you mean?"
"My Gran isn't here?"
This time it was Harry and Neville speaking at the same time. Turning towards one another when they realized what they had done.
Thorfinn took a deep breath, reaching out to slowly pull Antonin back before he exploded in suppressed rage. He gestured for them all to take a seat before explaining.
"It would seem that the princess as well as the other ladies did a bit of a disappearing trick this afternoon. I found Toni locked away in her room under a sleeping potion. I tried calling Tully but she hasn't responded, leaving us to believe Hermione told her not to come to our calls until she returned. It would seem whatever plans they enacted this morning they decided to act on are heading to Notts place. Toni believes whatever Hermione had planned, he had some kind of insider information on."
The others were held back from answering by the sound of the Floo and further away apparition in the back garden.
O.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o
The sound of the floo drew his attention as they were not expecting any more guests this evening. Curious to whom it was given that they didn't call out once through,he stood and made his way to the foyer.
Hermione was there brushing soot from her robes when he arrived and he smiled widely at her. She looked up at him curiously before returning a small smile and short curtsey.
"What are you doing here beautiful?" He asked, approaching her arms widening for a hug. His smile falling when she looked at him oddly before approaching stiffly. "I thought I wasn't seeing you till the morning, don't tell me they have already run you off back home. I've been telling you for years you'd be happier here."
"Rodolphus, you flatter me." She said taking a step towards him only to freeze in place before toppling over to the side in a comical plop.
Rodolphus stared wide-eyed in shock between the witch on the floor and the wand pointed in her direction behind her.
Luna Lovegood stood there in all her ethereal beauty. Her normally dazed look vanished as she glared coldly down at the body on the floor that her wand was pointing at unshakingly. Her other hand was clasped in Rabastans who was staring at the scene in absolute shock the same as his brother.
"Luna?" His quiet voice questioned her shaking slightly.
The cold look vanished from her face as she looked over at the youngest LeStrange and gave him a comforting smile, releasing his hand to pat his cheek.
"Sorry to startle you both, but whoever that is." She pointed at the frozen witch. "It is not Hermione. Judging by the amount of buzzing Blimpies around her it is someone who came here with serious bad intentions." She shook her head sadly. "I think we need to go see Sirius and Remus, something is terribly wrong."
O.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o
She reached a hand up to her forehead and brushed away a trickle of blood that was dripping towards her eye. She frowned as her hand came away wet and red. That was too close. She didn't plan on the rock splintering when she dodged that last spell and therefore was covered in debris. She turned slightly from her spot and saw Andromeda and Madame Longbottom both behind similar rock croppings.
Bellatrix was correct earlier when she said they couldn't leave. Whatever it was that was keeping them there was also affecting their magic. It felt odd, like using a borrowed wand. The normally cast spells not having the usual efficiency or potency behind them. That was why she was surprised the bombarda sent by the batty witch actually caused structural damage.
Narcissa had tried and failed to call off her sister, and was now on the other side of the room, trying to determine what wards they had stumbled behind. The other three were simply buying her time to work as they distracted Bellatrix.
"Any ideas of getting out of here if Cissy cant break the wards?" Andromeda asked her as she blindly threw a number of spells over her hiding spot.
Hermione grimaced and shrugged. "Not until she at least tells us what they are. I don't want to risk calling Tully if she would end up trapped here too. I'm beginning to suspect that was why Kreacher dropped us so far away from Bellatrix's exact location."
She would have to convince Sirius to get rid of the elf the next time she saw him, he had to have known there was odd warding and yet did nothing to warn them. She flinched when she thought of Sirius though, he and Remus would not be happy once they learned she had taken off with the other three witches. She sent a silent prayer to whomever was listening that they made it back before Antonin awoke. She didn't even want to imagine the shit show she would be returning to if not. Merlin forbid they end up actually tapped here, between him and Thorfinns anger they would raze this place to the ground to save her only to turn around and murdering her themselves for pulling this on them.
o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o. .o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.
They arrived into the floo room to see the four new arrivals just as the door behind them swung open and crashed into the wall as another new arrival came in levitating a body behind them.
'I hate the bloody snow. I am so over winter, why couldn't we live in a place that stays warm." Draco huffed as he shook his legs to free the snow from his boots as he shivered.
"Why didn't you just take the floo?"
He looked up and over at the blonde standing near the floo. He hadn't realized there were so many others there when he stormed in. Luckily his cheeks were pinked from the cold so they didn't notice his embarrassed blush.
"It didn't even cross my mind, Lovegood. Just like the fact that I would have a surprise visitor interrupt my evening didn't either.
It was with that statement that they all had a chance to have a good look around and see what the guest had brought with them.
There were two Hermiones, both dressed identical in dress robes, both tied up and immobilized, dropped on the floor of the Riddle drawing room. Pairs of eyes were flickering back and forth in confusion and surprise, all the sound sucked out of the room as they all waited to be filled in on what happened. It was in the silence they heard Remus inhale.
"Neither are our Hermione, they have a very clinical smell to them, as if they are taking some kind of scent suppressors, they must have assumed someone with heightened senses would be around."
Draco snarled toeing the body next to him. "They didn't plan for everything obviously."
Before he could elaborate a new voice joined the room that was growing more and more crowded.
"Oh good you're all here. Can anyone please tell me what the absolute fuck is going on?" Theo asked as he stormed through the doorway, behind him a body was floating in the air, slamming into the walls and doorways as he was paying it no mind. "Here I was about to head over to Blaises' when whoever this is decided to break into my home and pretend to be my best friend." He flicked his wand and the body slid to a stop on the tile floor.
"Join the club mate." Rodolphus said as he took a seat, rubbing his face in confusion.
"How did you all know it isn't Hermione?" Neville asked shyly, they had moved to look closer at the clones, and had to admit they were spot on.
Theo scoffed, waving a hand at his copy as if that described it. "I have read Hermione's magical aura since first year, I would know her in a pitch black room. Whoever this is." He snarled at the body. "Is a weak imposter who barely has enough magic to make it through my anti muggle wards."
Satisfied with his answer they turned to Rodolphus who shook his head and pointed at Luna. "I didn't have a clue, I mean she acted a bit off, much stiffer than I am used to, but I didn't know what was happening when Luna walked into the room with Bass and stunned her where she stood."
Luna shrugged. "Whoever this is has a horrible nargle infestation, not to mention the buzzing blimpies gave away that whoever they are, they didn't come with good intentions in mind. Hermione hasn't had a nargle around her since she started regularly spending sexual time with Rowle and Dolohov." She smiled sweetly at the two who just stared shocked at the little witch.
Harry was groaning and mumbling about things he didn't want to hear while Sirius chuckled under his breath.
Being the last to explain, Draco finally spoke up.
"She said Pansy Parkinson was a proper pureblood witch, I needed no further proof."
o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.
The space next to her was suddenly occupied by a blonde witch. She startled slightly as Narcissa quickly leaned against the stone next to her, raising her wand in a defensive position.
"The wards are strong." She said to break the silence. "Blood wards not tied to Bella," She explained and Hermione could see the pink scar where she must have tried her own blood to break them. "I don't know who they are tied to but there are quite a few back doors built in. I believe four if I counted correctly, it was hard to tell exactly. None of which were for Bella. WHoever set this up trapped her just as much as us."
Hermione frowned. That was bad news. She was hoping for a definite answer on who was helping her, but now it seemed to be more than one person. And that alone was a problem for them because the only ones who would go with Bellatrix against her father were either traitors or order members, and neither would be easy to dismiss.
"What about elf warding? I know Azkaban is on the ley lines, but if there's a chance.."
Narcissa shook her head no before she could finish her thought.
"No, I checked, they are included in the blood ward. They could meet outside just like Kreacher did but none can pass."
Hermione groaned, her head flopping back against the stone behind her.
"I'm going to have to call them aren't I?" She whined, Narcissa letting out a tinkering laugh despite their current predicament.
"I think so. I think it would be best for us to get out of here before whoever set these wards arrive. And by the look of them they were notified when we crossed them so we won't have much time. I am sure between Lupin and Dolohov they can figure out a way to dismantle the wards from the outside."
Hermione nodded, taking a deep breath and trying to focus her magic so she could cast a corporeal patronus. Afraid that anything less than her all would not materialize under the magic dampening wards. Before she could move there was a crack of apparition inside the wards.
The four crouching witches looked at each other in shock and apprehension.
Bellatrix stopped firing curses long enough to let out a loud cackle of laughter at the new arrivals.
"Welcome!" She clapped gleefully and the women watching moved to see a clearer picture. It wasn't but a minute later when another crack sounded inside the room.
Hermione was now kneeling to get a glimpse of the scene in front of her. There in the room stood two identical copies of herself. Well, maybe of her a year or two ago as the hair seemed bushier and the clothes not in the style of what she would normally wear. She looked beside her to see Narcissa equally as confused and Andromeda looking over to them or some kind of guidance.
"Where are the others? I should have been the last to arrive." One copy of her said as she flicked her hair back behind her back. Looking down in disgust at the ground as she toed whatever she had brought with her with the toe of her boot.
Hermione knelt taller to see the floor better and had to control herself as a gasp threatened to escape her lips. There at the clone of her feet was the incapasitated bodies of the Weasley twins. Both their faces red as their hair as they struggled to break the silencing spell upon them. The rest of their bodies frozen with a petrification spell, noticeable by the awkward angels they were laying in.
"It's only us…. Why is it only us?" The other copy said as it walked angrily closer to the Hermione clone near the twins. "Where is my sister?" It demanded with a stomp.
"Sister?" Narcissa mouthed towards her in confusion as Hermione herself shrugged. Moving to a near stand she finally could see the entirety of the room and saw who the first crack of apparition brought with her.
Rage burned through her veins and for the first time since entering the warded prison she felt her magic building to near normal levels. Tendrils of flame were flickering down her arms and between her fingers as she gripped her wand tightly. She barely heard Narcissa hiss as a gasp fell from Andromedas and Madam Longbottoms mouth.
Narcissa, seeing the reaction, quickly got to her feet to see what had caused it. She glanced over the Weasley twins knowing that Hermione favored them over all of the other Weasleys and had grown into a close friendship with them, but doubted they would elicit such a response. It was then that the two clones of the witch she saw as a surrogate daughter moved and she immediately understood her ire.
There bound, gagged and unconscious at their feet was Gunnar Rowle. His long blonde hair had a streak of red in it that could have only come from a head injury. She was broken from her observation when the real Hermione spoke. Her voice like cold fury, causing the skin on her arm to break out in goosebumps.
"I don't know who you are, or what your plan is. But you have made a big mistake." She hissed. The flames building on her arms as tendrils broke free, drifting off in the air towards them.
One copy looked towards the other and then Bellatrix in surprise. "What's going on, are the power dampening wards not set?"
The other shook her head. "They are, I don't know."
Bellatrix just laughed louder holding out her wand.
"The itty bitty baby is getting mad." She cackled. "I told him she would." She spun around her dirty dress flying out about her ankles. She started humming a tune that no one could place and she continued to giggle. "Strong enough,'' he said. Need her alive he claimed…. We will see about that."
The other two shared a look at the clearly demented rattling of the witch and frowned. Where were the others? Why did Bellatrix not have the real Granger contained. Who else was here with them in the room. And why did it appear that even though the wards were actively suppressing their magics that she was beginning to form fiend fire?
They were driven from their thoughts by the aggressive wand movements of the fuming approaching witch. A bright white light burst from the wand tip and a fully corporal fox leapt out before pausing near her.
She never took her eyes off the two copies of herself as she spoke to it.
"We are in Azkaban. Bellatrix is here as well as at least two others. We are stranded behind a blood ward. Come get us and collect the bodies." She nodded to the fox. "Send that to the family please."
The fox glowed brighter before flying out through the walls. The flames on her hand now fully formed and rolling around her fingers as she flexed her wrists.
"Now, I will give you one minute to explain and release my friends and family before I burn you to a crisp behind these wards." She stepped menacingly towards them.
A throat cleared and a voice spoke far off to her right.
"That won't be necessary Ms. Granger."