Pale, gaunt and sickly kept turning in Hermione's mind, mocking her.
Bellatrix, the only woman that made 14 years in Azkaban look fashionably good, looked even smaller tucked up under the white cardboard sheets in the sterile white washed room. Her dark curls laid limp in a lose braid the shine long gone. The pale blue hospital gown laid loosely around her body, hiding her magnificent curves that she was proud of.
Her eyes kept drifting to the large bandage wrapped tightly around her throat covering the gruesome injury that could still cost her, her life.
Tears trickled down her cheeks the harsh reality of her mother was hitting her hard.
"She will hate that" Hermione tearfully whispered, she tore the sheet from her mother, her fingers fumbling to grasp the unflattering gown.
Narcissa shakily stepped up to the bed wrapping her arms around her distraught niece's waist forcing her away from Bellatrix. Soft sobs wracked the young girl's body vibrating through Narcissa, they both collapsed to the floor a slight rocking motion ensued.
"Hush darling".
Her heart was breaking into a million pieces.
"Mom.. won't like.. that gown.. take it off her" Hermione struggled out between her sobs.
Fingers tangled into her curls, the nails scraping soothingly along her scalp. "I will I promise".
Andromeda kept her thoughts locked away, her grey eyes sweeping over her dying sister. Regret and shame filled the middle Black's heart.
Bellatrix was always the strong one, the tough one, the protector out of the three sisters. The one that would use her fists first and ask questions later especially if some foolish imbecile dared to upset Andromeda or Narcissa. She was the most rebellious, she refused to bow down to society's whims, to fit in to what their mother believed young ladies should act and behave. Bellatrix was their glue that once held them together until she took the dark mark and willingly bowed down to the darkest wizard since Grindelwald. Becoming the psychotic witch everyone believed her to be. Death would be her only escape Andromeda knew that deep down but it didn't mean she would accept it.
"Andy?".
Her little sister's pleading voice pulled her out of her thoughts. Andromeda walked stiffly towards the bed, her wand twirling over the hospital gown. Bellatrix only wore the best of the best bordering on inappropriate. The gown disappeared to be replaced by a black lacy mid thigh night gown definitely inappropriate for a hospital environment but Andromeda knew her sister would prefer this to the scratchy hospital attire.
A hand gripped her shoulder, she turned her head to meet the blue eyes of Narcissa. Tucking the sheet back around Bellatrix both sisters stood silently over the bed.
"When we were girls Bella would sing us the most ridiculous song. Do you remember?" Narcissa asked leaning her head upon Andromeda's shoulder.
"Yes I believe she would sing that song when we were upset or angry it would work though" Andromeda replied a lone tear escaping down her cheek.
"When the world turns it back screw them they won't see it coming" she quietly sung snaking her arm around the blonde's waist.
"Dry your tears no one else will" Narcissa sung back. Her chest was hurting, she clung to her sister as if her life depended on it.
"We three shall one day rule the world then.." Andromeda's throat closed up, her body shaking uncontrollably, her legs betraying her unable to hold her weight.
Narcissa smoothly pulled her sister into the visitors chair, taking Andromeda's weight on her lithe form she embraced the trembling witch.
She knew Andromeda was feeling overwhelmed, she blamed herself. Bellatrix and Andromeda were the closest out the three when they were growing up. The betrayal of Bellatrix receiving the mark pushed Andromeda over the edge and ran off with the mudblood Tonks knowing it would hurt their eldest sister.
Hermione removed her shoes, creeping past her preoccupied aunts she gently slipped into her mother's bed, careful not to agitate her injuries, she curled into her mother's side, laying her arm upon the older woman's stomach. Burying her head into the soft neck the faint smell of vanilla wafting from Bellatrix's skin soothed her.
A finger pressed to Andromeda's lips she nodded her head in the direction of their sister. Shifting off the younger woman's lap Andromeda briefly smiled at her niece asleep next to Bellatrix.
"We should leave her for now" Narcissa whispered standing up, smoothing down her robes. Let's go and get something to eat while it's quiet". She linked her arm around Andromeda's elbow guiding her out the door.
Once the door shut behind them Narcissa and Andromeda walked slowly through the bright pristine hallways, their heels clicking in rhythm upon the tiled floor.
With the hour late the two women made it to the cafeteria on the ground floor without meeting a soul in sight. The large room consisted of a dozen round tables scattered around the floor in front of the cosy looking counter that backed on to the kitchen. The warm mouth watering smells of the prepared meals lingered in the air.
Narcissa took charge, grabbing a tray from the stack she moved with ease along the counter.
"Andy what do you want?" she asked the quiet woman hovering behind her. The hot plates enticing them.
"Whatever is fine" she tersely replied.
Rolling her eyes at the childish pout Narcissa ordered the special of the day and two cups of coffee before gliding over to a table.
Gently coaxing her sister to eat the roast chicken was a lot easier than she thought but then again the food was delicious compared to the slop their own hospital served up.
A smile tugged at Andromeda's lips as she gracefully are the roast dinner, a soft hum of appreciation left her throat. A faint blush covering her cheeks.
"You have to give it to the French they sure know how to cook" Narcissa grinned at her sister.
Once the food was consumed, the plates collected by the staff, the two women sat back relaxing with their hot coffee.
They silently watched the few people in the cafeteria going about their business, not a smile in sight. A young man sat by himself softly crying into his food, an elder couple clutched onto each other afraid the other would be swept away.
"Has Bella done a will?" Andromeda suddenly asked breaking the silence.
Narcissa shakily inhaled "not that I know of, why?". She knew why she just didn't want to be the one to say it first.
"Rod will unlikely be able to cope with Hermione on his own" Andromeda gazed into her mug. A look of sorrow flitting across her face.
"Then it will be up to us to take care of her" Narcissa finished.
"You saw how she threw herself in front of the bastard to protect Bella" hysteria was leaking through her voice "she won't cope if we lose her. I know I won't not again". Andromeda
Narcissa sighed, leaning across the table grabbing her sister's hand, their fingers interlocking.
"Together we will find a way to safe Bella, I promise on our Black name we will bring her back" her voice full of conviction and determination.
Andromeda hesitantly nodded.
With their fingers still interlocked the two women walked back to the ward and into Bellatrix's private room to be met with the haunting scream from their niece, two mediwitches pinning her to the floor as Hermione thrashed beneath them and four healers desperately working on their sister.
"We are losing her" healer Lestrange hollered over the screams.