Broken Mirror

Disclaimer: I don't own anything and I don't make proffit either.

Chapter 8

"Where are we going?"

"Wait and you'll see, my child."

It was dark. Really dark. The wind blew through the branches and the trees, making the moonlight and shadows reflected on the ground dance. The sound revolved around her, engulfing her, but never quite toutching. She could see, but couldn't define. She could hear, but couldn't point out. She could move, but not with free will.

Her members felt heavy. No, not heavy. Lifeless. Her legs moved, but she didn't feel it. She tried to speak, but no sound came out. She was sure, that the voice responding to her was inside her head.

It felt like the Imperious curse. Years of being under it during importante visits not to embaresse her parents made it easy to recognise. A long time ago had she stopped fighting them. Only that now she was not at a party. She was not in school. She was not anywhere she had ever seen.

That was a lie. She had been here. When? How? Why? It was allways the same answer. A shame she never knew it.

"Don't you feel it?"

She did. It was close. So close. She didn't know what it was, but she wanted it. So badly! That thing! The thing! That's why she kept coming back! Whatever that was would change her! Would change her life.

Oh, it was warm. Suddendly she didn't feel lonelly. Suddendly, everything went brighter and more welcoming. Suddendly, her face didn't hurt from smile. Suddendly breathing wasn't an obligation, moving was a requesition. Suddendly, existing wasn't the same as surviving.

She felt the pull, like so many other times. It urged her to run. Run forward, backwards! It was so close, she could feel it. It was material but at the same time untouchable. It was good! It made forget and remember, but diferent! Diferent prespectives! A diferent story for her life.

Everything still hapenned had the same it had before, but it diferent! She fought for the Dark Lord because she wanted to change the world, not because she wanted her familly to like her. Her banters with Sirius, Andromeda, Narcissa were just that, banters. They weren't words full of spite made to sting! They were jokes!

Whatever it was it was the past and the future. It gave her a diferent prespective on how her life had been. It promised her that when she died, she would be mourned. People would cry. She would have a funeral, and not just have her body dumped in a hole. She had a meaning and meant something.

She reached out! She was running without moving! She was engulfed by it and she almost there. It was calling out for her.

"Bellatrix" it got louder, closer. "BELLATRIX!" she was so so so...

"BELLATRIX WAKE UP! PLEASE BELLA!"

Her eyes shot open!

It wasn't dark anymore. The curtains on what had been her bedroom for a long time now were opne, the sun light shinning on her face. But it wasn't nearly has warm as before.

She let her head fall against the pillows and closed her eyes. It was confortable and peacefull, but not safe. Never face.

"Bella... Are you alright?"

Only then did the dark witch saw she wasn't alonne. Almost on top of her was the only person to whom she could talk. Brown eyes looked open wide with fear back at hers. Not fear from her, but fear for her. Soft hands caressed her arms, one came resting on her face.

"Yeah... sure, wh-why? Are YOU alright?" the dark haired one made to sit but pain shot across her chest. It was less than a second before she was being conforted and fussed over.

"Stay still. Please. You probably have some broken ribs."

"Broken ribs? Wha- How?"

"I don't know Bella." Hermione looked directly in her eyes and the older woman could see she was trully scared. "I was in the kitchen and you weren't coming down so I decided to come and wake you up. But no matter what I did, you wouldn't wake up. You just, just layed there! So still and, and cold! I didn't know what to do Bella... Then I heard your bones cracking, but it wasn't your bones! It was you. It was as if you had become so cold that you could actually break! You were going to fall apart on my hands..." Hermione was holding Bella's hands so tightly she actually felt pain.

But the truth was that she couldn't explain what was going on. Had it allways been like that? It wasn't the first time Bellatrix had that dream, but no one ever told her it looked like that from the outside.

"I... I'm sorry. I honestly don't know what to tell you. I wish you hadn't had to see that." slowly their eyes met again. The brunete extended a hand and caressed her face again. This time, her fingers lingered longer on her cheek, and Bellatrix couldn't help herself from holding them.

"You don't have to apologiese. You were sleeping. It was just a scare, that's all. Maybe we should see if there's more to it, but... now we should... should probably..."

"Yeah, we should..."

Hermione's fingers were still on Bella's face, their hands toutching. The not-so-young Gryfindor was completly lost. Does dark eyes allways got the best of her. It felt like wearing Luna's glasses. It was so obvious, how diferent Bella was from what people believed, and still no one saw it. They were so deep, so detailed... The purplish reflections making them not kind, but inocent.

Bellatrix on the other hand was scared. She wasn't used to these things. People telling her it was okay, looking at her. Not at the crazy maniac she had created to protect herself, but the real. The one that pushed itself harder just to please. Those hazel eyes were so scary, because they could see so deep. But that again, wasn't it safe around Hermione? Never had she been let down, never had she been hurt. There were no expectations. And for one that felt good.

Without realizing, both of them leaned closer and closer, until they could feel eachothers' breaths on their faces. Their eyes never unlocked. The space between them kept getting shorter and shorter until...

"HERMIONEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! C'MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNN! THEY'RE WAITING FOR UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUS!"

The scream from downstairs broke them apart. Hermione stood up way too fast, almost falling. Her cheeks were a few shades darker. Without really saying anything, and openning and closing her mouth a few times, the younger witch left.

Less than a minut later, Bellatrix heard the front door closing. She was alonne again.

"What took you so long, you two?"

"Hermione decided to go and wake up Lestrange. Guess the witch didn't want to wake up."

Hermione had decided not to tell anything to anyone. Whatever had hapenned was defenetly not meant to be shared, principly if Harry kept acting like a spoiled child.

"Harry..."

"I know, I know. Don't judge her without getting to know her. But come on, you can't say it isn't anoying!"

"Let's just start with the meeting, yes?"

Two days ago they had received a letter from the Minister convocating a meeting. They being her, Harry, Ginny, Neville, Luna, Draco and, of course, Ron. He had been staring at her from the beginning, without saying absolutly nothing.

"Right. So, the reason I called you here today is because you are the most competent professionals in your fields. Harry and Ron with field work, Hermione with a great preception and diplomatic habilities, Luna with knowledge about diferent creaters and their qualities, Neville with development of Health Care as well as Herbology, Ginny with contacs and Draco with potions and poisons expirience." Kingsley looked at each one of them as he kept going. "You see, for years we have been trying the remaining Death Eaters that we were never able to lock in Azkaban" Ron shot Draco a dirty look "As you all know, it takes a long time, since before devising a plan we must track them down and study their moves."
"We have some of them under surviliance. As we kept tracking through the last months, we have uncovered a patern." at this point the Minister of Magic handed out some papers. "As you can see in those reports, they seem to be moving in groups of four, three if one of them was part of the Inner Circle or a magical creater."

"We don't know what to make of it. We don't know what they're planning, but it can't be good. It has been three years since You-Know-Who was defeated and none of them has atacked or been seen. From what we know, none of them have had any contact with each other."

"So what the Ministry is assuming is that You-Know-Who left some orders before the Batle of Hogwarts in case he lost, and now they've finally come together to execute them."

No one knew what to say. The news that Death Eaters were on the move again brought many memories. Was there the possibility of another war?

"They're bringing him back. That's the only thing possible." even if Ron sounded confident, there was something stoping the dots from connecting.

"I don't think Voldemort would have left any orders behind. He was sure he would win. Sugesting that he would loose is extremelly out of character."

"He did loose Hermione." Harry look back to Kingsley. "I don't want to be throwing suspicions, but do you think it's a coincidence that Death Eaters are all coming back at the same time that the Azkaban program is hapenning?"

"Many of his followers will be set free very soon." said Ginny.

"Wouldn't that mean that there is a spy inside the Ministry too?" at Luna's coment, Ron shot another dirty look at Draco.

"Don't you look at me! If someone should be worried is Hermione." all of them looked to her. "You're living with his second hin hand. If anyone had any orders it's her."

"And it all hapenned at the same time she was freed from Azkaban."

"Maybe we should call her in to interrogate."

The opinons kept flying, the only three quiet in the room being Hermione, Kingsley and Neville. It was obvious that speaking about the dark witch was bothering him.

"That's impossible! Bellatrix has been with me the all time, and she was way too weak to do anything, much less call for the other Death Eaters. We're just grasping for something that'll give us a lead when we should studying their movements."

"Hermione, with all respect. After the Batle of the Ministry in our fifth year she was severely punished. Had it been anyone else they would have died. And she just stood up as if it was nothing."

"Did you go after her?"

"What?"
"Did you go after her? Did you went to check if she really was fine? She was probably just putting up a front for her sister."

"Why would she do that? She doesn't care about them, only her precious Voldemort." it was easy to distinguish the disgust in Giny's voice.

"Look, I'm going back home. If you have any real proof of anything, then I'll gladly help. If not, see you on Sunday for lunch." before closing the door behind her, Hermione turned her head back. "And no, you will not be interrogating Bella."
Hermione wasn't quite sure if she actually heard something like 'so it's Bella already?', so she just kept going.

For one she felt bad for Bella. She wasn't like everyone pictured her. She wasn't a monster or blind follower.

However, Hermione didn't know why she trusted her. She did, undoubtly trust her, but there were some missing pieces. Pieces that would be able to put Bellatrix's story together.

And should she tell Bella about this? How would she react? Badly, probably. Not for being acused, she'd probably be expecting that. More for the idea of Death Eaters doing something.

A dreadfull thought came to her. What if the Skeeters heard of the suspicions of Bella's envolvemnt?! There would be nothing she could do to protect Bella then. She would be given the kiss without trial... Hermione only hoped that no one actually decided to tell them anything.

Soon she was home again. Harry wouldn't arrive anytime soon since he was going out with Ginny. Harry felt that their relationship was goinh down the hill, probably because the ginger just seemed so... off. So now he spent a lot more time out instead of on her home.

That was another problem, though. After that first 'lesson', Harry had started kind of avoiding Bellartrix. Sure, he still trained with her, but Hermione was sure he was more carefull now. Bellatrix didn't seem to have any other injuries either.

Shit! I left her alonne with broken ribs!

Stormiong trough the door, the brunete was expecting to see something more like a horror movie scene. Instead, Bellatrix was calmly eating a bowl of cereals without a care.

"Hey... uhm, are you alright?"
"Uhm? Oh yeah. Just hungry."

"You're allways hungry." Hermione sat next to Bella. For a minute she just stared at her without knowing what to say. "Look, about this mor-"

"Don't think about it." she put the bowl down. "Nothing hapenned, so there's no use in overthinking it. Whatever hapenned will happen again if it's really meant to be.

Neither of them was sure as to what Bellatrix was talking about. If it was the nightmare or what happened next.

Also, they didn't really know what had hapenned next. It was as if they had float out of their bodies, their minds erased. However, they knew it had to be adressed. Some time.

"By the way, how did it go?"

"About that... just, please promess me you won't be mad."

Bellatrix frowned. Why would she be mad. She was sure that she had donne nothing wrong this time. This time.

"Sure. Unless it's something really bad." Hermione went a litle pale, so Bellatrix placed a hand over hers. "Just tell me. It's probably not even that bad."
"Hah... Kingsley thinks the Death Eaters that were never caught are planning something. He and the rest think that Voldemort left some orders in case he died. And some think it's your fault."

"Well, it's not. I've been here the all time. With you."

"Wha-?! I wasn't saying it was! I swear I didn't doubt of you! I-"

"Hey hey hey, it's okay." Bellatrix caressed her face with a soft hand, imideatly calming the brunete. "I know you wouldn't. You're good. I'm just saying that I didn't, yes? Do they want to interrogate me?"

"Yes..." Hermione sighted, before looking back up with fire in her eyes. "But I won't let them! It will just serve as an excuse to send you back to Azkaban again."

Hermione imideatly regreted saying that. Seeing Bellatrix shiver at the name of that place was allways a terrible sight. Most people feared Voldemort. Bellatrix feared Azkaban. The brunete got closer, engulfing her in a hug.

"I'm never letting you go back, you hear me?" Bellatrix barelly nodded. "I don't care what you did or what people say! I AM NOT LETTING YOU GO! I know you, and I know that you're not insane or maniacal or anything like that. So don't worry, yes?"

"Thank you." Bellatrix's were barelly audible.

They stayed together like that for a while. It was weird how both of them could trust eachother without really knowing. Since the first day they felt it. It was so good, so calming, so soothing. Hearing their voices, their laugths. Crying in eachother's arms, just resting.

The confortable silence. Breakfast and dinners in front of the TV watching cartoons. Going to Diagon Alley, shopping for books. Just the words 'I'm back' meant something.

It was weird for Hermione, because she had never felt like that. She allways prefered to be alonne. To grab a book and read in her dorm, to study in the library, instead of watching Quiditch or gossiping, chatting with her friends. The idea of staying at Hogwarts and have the corridors to herself was what was most apealling to her during christmas breaks or Hogsmead trips.

It was weird for Bellatrix, because she had never like that. She allways prefered to be alonne. To stay in her room, to walk in the gardens, instead of playing with her sisters, talking to other Slythrins. Socializing. Night was her favorite time, because she could be alonne without coments or looks. Trully alonne.

However, when they were together it was diferent. There were no requirements to answer to questions, to talk or to show any kind of interest. They could not answer or just be there without being rude. They were alonne when they were together, without being lonelly.

They spent the night like they did before Harry broke their routine. They dinned together, pizza at Bellatrix's insistence (Hermione was starting to think she had created a monster). Again, Hermione was curious as to why Bellatrix left when the muggle delivery boy showed up, but let it go. There had already been enough emotions for one day. They layed together in the living room, before sleep claimed them

Somewhere deep in a forest, however, some people were well awake.

"Are you sure this is the right way?"

"No you idiot. I decided to come through here for the viewe. Of course I'm sure! Hurry up, we have a lot to do."
"Our new Master seems quite happy about these new findings. Kind off weird don't you think? I mean-"

"For God's sake, do you ever shut up!?" the man turned around pointing a finger under the other one's nose. "We don't ask questions! We don't doubt! We DON'T THINK! Who cares what Master thinks about that Blood Traitor leaving with the mudblood?"

"Calm down, will 'ya? I'm just saying that if it was with me, I would be up-"
"Again, no one cares."

"But she was his right hand! And now she's with Potter's friend! How he can accept i-"

"Well, maybe he didn't! Maybe he's happy because then he can take revenge on her."

"He never liked her anyway. But she would be a great help."

"Tell him that and will see how much help you'll need then."

"Why do you keep threatning m-"

"Shut it. We're here I think. And please, keep those coments for your self."

To be continued...

A.N.: Hey guys! Sorry it's been so loooong... Hope you liked the chapter. Tell me what you thought or any other sugestions you might have.

On another note, I have set up an Instagram account to post some fannart of all the fandoms I'm in, and some random drawings too. I have some Bellamione posted already, so go check out it you feel like. My username is 'Das Shipping Machine'. It's a public account and my bio tells you to check out for me on my account.

Also, I'm starting a Mean Girls fanfiction but in fannart, ReginaxCady. Don't forget to check it out.

Adeus!