Here's an early update because I'll be busy with my exam(damn things that they are). Review your views if you like it!
As always :* to Puja and hugs to Shubham for supporting me.
Chapter 2
Lavender sighed looking at the special edition of Witch Weekly that featured the wedding of the decade: Draco Malfoy and his beautiful bride, Astoria. It had surpassed Harry and Ginny's wedding in popularity and was quoted as 'the most magical wedding in Britain's Wizarding community'. It was the dream wedding of any bride; the Malfoy garden which was the venue of this wedding was covered in pale pink roses and lovely white roses but there were blossoms of the elusive Death Orchids scattered around the place. There were fairies flitting around and elves in smart tux delivering champagne and canapés. The couple got married under a bower that was covered blooming Blushing Daffodils, Red Poppy, and Orchids of different types. The wedding venue looked like something from a bedtime story. Draco Malfoy looked so smart and handsome in that dark blue robes and so much in love waiting for his bride-to-be. And when Astoria entered to the ballad of sirens, soft red rose petals started falling from the sky. They wrote the music was ethereal and beautifully haunting. What irked Lavender was that there was a page was dedicated saying how Hermione made a lovely maid of honour in her red sundress with a crown of roses on her head and a quirky cat's ears headband and simple make-up which complimented the bride in ivory sweetheart neckline, short train mermaid gown perfectly. As if she was worthy enough. No beauty, no figure to die for, such a plain looking face and yet she had found her Won-Won drooling over that picture.
She huffed and threw the magazine on the floor. Then after a moment, she picked it up and straightened the wrinkled cover. At least she'll have the better deal by drooling at the picture of Draco who looked like a Prince of her dreams. Yes, she loved having her share of fame from Ron's celebrity status by being his girlfriend but which girl in her right mind won't mind ogling Draco and all of his handsomeness. Lavender huffed again remember the day she saw Draco and his wife and Hermione laughing and talking at the poshest restaurant of Diagon Alley having afternoon's tea. As if that Mudblood deserves such company. Just because she had helped Draco during his tough times, Hermione was welcomed else… everyone knows what Malfoy feel about her. Then she sat down in front of her dressing mirror and before she could make out the blur that she spied from the corner of her eyes, her world went black.
Last thing Lavender knew she was getting ready for her date with Ron. She had worn Chuddley Cannon special orange theme dress just for her Won-Won to support his favourite team. She loved Won-Won so much. She was so depressed when she was scarred by that stupid werewolf. But thank Merlin for that marvellous anti-scar cream Healer Greengrass developed. She was so thankful to Draco Malfoy's sweet fiancée. Now she was blemish free and all ready for Ronnikin.
But she found herself lying on the carpeted floor of her bedroom and her head was throbbing with pain. One moment she was getting ready for her date and she was standing in front of her dresser mirror and the next moment she found herself on her floor. She was blinking rapidly, trying to see in the dark and she tried to sit up when she heard a muted thump.
"Wh-who's there?" Lavender asked, her voice quivering a little in fright.
Broken pieces of wood were thrown at her as an answer. She held them in her hand and she recognised that those were the pieces of her wand and the destroyed core.
"How dare you! My wand!" Lavender cried out as she clutched the wand pieces to herself.
"You survived Greyback. My congratulations. Your inflicted scars got healed, thanks to Astoria. You even bagged Ronald Weasley. Good house witch you would have made. But can you just tell me why the hell you have a problem with me? What have I ever done to you?" a deep woman's voice asked her in a deadpan voice.
"Who the hell are you? Show me your face!"
The house was lit up in light as Lavender demanded. A figure was seated on Lavender's dresser's seat, in front of her, in the black cloak that was hooded over that figure's head. The figure removed her hood to reveal herself as Hermione. But there was something wrong with this Hermione. She had cold eyes that seemed to see right through her and her face lacked emotions. It felt like looking at a creepy dressmaker's dummy like the ones Madam Malkin has in her shop.
"Hermione? What are you doing here?" Lavender asked in a small voice.
"I never came in your way," Hermione continued, not paying attention to Lavender's question. "I could have taken away Ron from you if I wanted. I could have disfigured you even more with Astoria's potion and ointment. I could have done many things. But I didn't. Because you meant nothing to me; a worthless face in a sea of faceless people. But you just had to bring my attention to yourself, didn't you?" Hermione asked her, cocking her head to one side.
"I don't know what you are talking about. Look, I am getting late for my date wit—"
"With Ron. I know. That's why I have to make this trip really short. Nothing elaborate, just plain ol' Transfiguration. I know Ron would love to see the new you. Since you so graciously re-introduced my friends to my heritage yet again, let me gift you the burden that comes with that slur. At all, I owe you at least this much."
"What do you mean?" Lavender started crawling backwards as Hermione got up from the seat and started walking towards her.
"Shut up."
'Lavender was never late for their dates,' Ron thought. Sometimes, ten minutes delay occurred due to her zealous effort of dress up but this was the first time she was a glaring one hour late. They had a double date with Harry and Ginny today. Ginny's last outing before she gave birth to little James in five weeks. Ron was already sitting at their table waiting anxiously for Lavender. Today he was going to ask Lavender to be his wife. Ron knew despite being a war hero he would not be able to give her a wedding like that bloody ferret gave that Greengrass girl. Most probably the wedding would be held at the Burrow like Weasleys of every generation have done. He knew her fascination with a society wedding. He knew she wanted her pretty face in a wedding gown on the covers of the Witch Weekly. Again his attention drifted to Lavender's lateness. He could almost feel himself trying to pace the restaurant floor like Hermione does. But today he could feel something was wrong. His instincts were screaming at him. He stood up from his seat and made his way to the door when Harry caught his arm.
"Mate, where are you going?"
"Harry, something bad has happened to Lav-Lav. I can feel it in my guts. Something is really wrong. If she's late, she usually sends me a Patronus. But nothing has come from her yet. I can feel something is wrong."
"Okay. Let me accompany you. I'll send Ginny home and then I'll come with you. You better not go there alone."
"Right. Do it fast. I can't wait any longer."
When they apparated to Lavender's flat, it was plunged into pitch black darkness. They tried to light up the house but somehow 'Lumos' just didn't work there. It was dead silent and the whole house was exploding with the smell of lavender.
"Find her now!" Harry shouted, slipping into Auror mode immediately.
"On it."
Ron rushed into Lavender's bedroom and stumbled into something lying in the dark. But he didn't pay attention to that. He was focused on the figure lying on the floor looking bloated to the point that felt like it would explode.
Lavender's whole body was swollen. Her skin seemed like it would burst if you someone pricked her. There was some sort of spillage from her mouth and nose.
"Lavender? Lavender? Look I am here. Open your eyes, sweetum," Ron said to a dead Lavender while shaking her softly.
"Lavender. Lavender! Wake up! You can't leave me like this! LAVENDER!" by now Ron was screaming at Lavender's body.
"Ron! Mate, let her go! We need to take—"
"LAVENDER!"
Ron was admitted to St. Mungo's for treatment. His shock at Lavender's death had jolted him so much that he had to be administered Draught of Peace, Draught of Dreamless Sleep. And yet Ron was tossing and turning in his hospital bed, moaning Lavender's name. Harry's heart filled with guilt and sorrow. He couldn't watch his friend in pain anymore. So he left the premises and went straight to his home to cast more active wards on it to protect Ginny and the coming Potter. This killer was hitting home now. And Harry vowed to nab this killer and send him straight to Azkaban.
Harry couldn't concentrate on daily routines anymore. He went to his office to check on the information of this killer again, in case there was some clue that he was missing. He even called Hermione for help. He needed every help possible. He would help provide justice to Lavender.
An owl with a file from St. Mungo's came to Harry. He quickly retrieved the file and fed the owl some treat. As the owl went away, he opened the file started to read.
Name: Lavender Brown
Status: Deceased
Cause of death: Transfiguration of blood into mud
Time of death: sometime between 7:30pm to 8:00pm, today.
Forensic analysis conclusion: No sign of struggle, Petrification spell was cast on the person before death. Death caused by transfiguration of blood into mud.
More details followed the report along with pictures of the now dead Lavender, but Harry couldn't read anymore. One thing was clear to him. This killer is a muggle born. And he is taking revenge for all the wrong-doings ever done to him. All these killings are revenge killings.
All the murdered magical people had too many enemies to count. But what could Lavender have done to be killed in revenge? This case had Harry's head in a tizzy. Nothing was making sense to him anymore. Harry desperately wanted a break. This situation felt like the Horcrux hunt all over again. This helplessness and all those deaths.
"You called?" Hermione asked Harry standing at the doorway of Harry's office.
"Hermione. I am so glad to see you," Harry began.
"Yes. In times of need after all," Hermione replied, annoyance colouring her tone.
"Sorry, Mione. It just that you are so brilliant that we always call upon you when we are stuck," Harry explained sheepishly.
"And when you are not stuck? Mione is non-existent in your happy world," Hermione sneered.
"Hermione, don't say that. You are misunderstanding it," Harry replied.
"Yeah. That's why I was sent the invitation to your wedding just a week before the wedding. That's why I am always excluded from all your double dates and get-togethers. That's why I am no longer invited to the Sunday brunch at the Burrow. I was even excluded from the baby shower for Ginny," Hermione ranted, her anger slowing growing.
"Hermione, you are talking about the past things. We need to focus on the now. There is a crisis going on. People are getting killed. We need to work on this. Together," Harry explained, "Also, you never liked shopping, nor did you like these double dates because you never brought a plus one and it was awkward for everyone."
"You are right, Harry. I am letting bygones trouble me. Thank you for explaining," Hermione said and from her beaded bag that she was never seen without brought out a book covered in brown paper, "Give this book to Molly. I'll like that."
"Ehh… sure!" Harry looked confused on hearing her and took the gift.
'Why would she say that she'll like that? Is it to usually said- 'they'll like this'? Must be some new flair,' Harry thought.
"So, can we get on with it?" Harry asked.
"Why not?"
Later that day
"How many times do I need to tell you to not leave your books around to be found by just about anyone?" Astoria scolded Hermione when she came back from Harry's office.
"I can't help it, okay?" Hermione replied, shrugging her shoulders.
"And what's with this new habit of yours? Always shrugging your shoulders. Don't shrug!" Astoria huffed, standing behind Hermione's desk picking up the tomes that were scattered all over the office.
"But you have to admit it dear, whoever comes to Hermione's office will die a fatal death by slipping over the scattered books," Draco added leaning against the doorframe of Hermione's office, "Indigenous method, Hermione."
"Thanks, Draco. At least someone understands my master plan," Hermione said, in a conceding manner.
"Please, stuff it you two. Two both are a pair of mischievous…kids. Yes, kids, that's what you are. Don't snicker. No dessert for the two of you," Astoria kept ranting at them.
"Oh my sweetest honey," Draco began as he moved from the doorway and entered the room to wrap his arms around Astoria's shoulder, "You wouldn't do that to us now, would you? We listen to everything you say after all. Obey all your words."
"I don't know about you, but I still steal the peanut butter right from the jar. And I love it," Hermione said, seeing Astoria relax into Draco's embrace.
'That girl needs her rest; God knows the stamina she holds. My mind is getting into gutter city thinking of stamina.' Hermione thought.
Suddenly Astoria swayed on her feet and fainted. Draco clutched her to his chest and shot Hermione a look of despair. Hermione soundlessly made her way to the Floo and called for St. Mungo's Emergency Healer while Draco laid Astoria on Hermione's plush couch.
"She needs rest. She looked exhausted when she entered the office. She may have a good amount of stamina but you have spent more than half of it before she even came here," Hermione said, in a nonchalant manner.
"What do you mean?" Draco answered in a panic tone.
"You are keeping her up all night," Hermione said as she sported a mother of all Slytherin smirk on her face.
"And wha-what makes you say that?" Draco sputtered his question.
"You will see," Hermione sang.
The Healer tumbled out of the fireplace and immediately took to work. After all, a Floo call for the newest Malfoy is no small thing. After casting few diagnostic spells on the fainted patient, the Healer hesitated to give the conclusion in front Hermione. Draco's glare at his behaviour quelled the Healer's hesitation.
"Congratulations, Mr Malfoy. Mrs Malfoy is expecting," the Healer declared.
While a small smile graced Hermione's face, Draco's face was sporting a scowl.
"What is she expecting?" Draco barked.
The healer was caught unaware by Draco's question. As the Healer paused to answer Draco in the politest way, Hermione solved the dilemma.
"That means, you knucklehead, is going to a father," Hermione said with a smile on her face.
"Really?" Astoria quipped, now that she was awake.
"Yes, Mrs Malfoy. You are four weeks pregnant," the Healer informed.
There was awkward shuffling on the part of the married couple as they had gotten married just a fortnight back. By the time the Healer could guess their strange behaviour of the two of them, Hermione distracted the Healer with questions about the needs of the mother to be. As the married couple settled their emotions, Hermione bid the Healer a good day for his service.
"So?" Hermione asked.
"So what?" Astoria snapped defensively.
"I am not blaming or anything, you know. I am, in fact, glad," Hermione placated her.
"Why is that?" Draco asked suspiciously.
"I am an impatient girl. I like the fact I can get to see the fruit of this crazy union faster than I expected. I would spoil him so bad. I'll teach him everything he would need and everything he won't need. I am so excited," Hermione squealed at the end of the sentence.
"Him? How can you be so sure about that, Meow?" Astoria asked.
"I may be pants at Divination but I know, a gut feeling, that it would be Draco Jr. all over again," Hermione replied softly.
"Draco Jr. you say?" Draco leered at Astoria.
"Yes. But much better than your version. He'll be a better person and the sneakiest Slytherin ever. He'll put Salazar to shame," Hermione proudly proclaimed.
"Hermione, do me a favour and be his godmother. Please?" Astoria asked.
"Tori… thank you. I will love to spoil him legally now," Hermione answered.
"Now that the formalities are, my boy and I are going to treat the best girls in our life with a treat. Who wants the sparkle crunch double choco fudge with a splash of melted vanilla ice cream?" Draco asked.
"Me, me, me," Astoria and Hermione chorused.
Harry was softly banging his head on the wall containing all the collected information about the random killer. He was at his wit's end and this thing was going nowhere. Ron was given, in fact, forced to take, an extended holiday to recoup from this mind numbing loss. That fellow truly loved Lavender, despite all her flaws. The poor boy was so broken down. And the re-appearance of one Bellatrix Lestrange had thrown the public into full blown panic. This case was thus shoved into the back stove for the moment. Catching that bitch was of utmost importance for the Aurors Department and also it was a matter of pride for Harry who was the youngest Head Auror ever. He couldn't let down the expectation of the public and the matter of their security.
He had to do something.
Fast.
Maybe he could…
It had just been a week after getting the news about the arrival of the newest Malfoy when Hermione decided to meet up with her friends right at their new married home near Wiltshire. But she was met with pale faces of her friends when she arrived at their home in the morning.
"What happened, Draco?"
"My bloody luck stuck again, that's what happened," Draco lamented, sitting beside Astoria in the sitting room's love seat, with his face hidden behind his hands.
"Tori?" Hermione asked looking confused.
"Bellatrix wants to take revenge on us because we betrayed the laws of the dead Dark lord," Astoria huffed with anger.
"And how do you know about that?" Hermione asked from her place in the ornate chair opposite to the loveseat.
"She sent a threat letter," Draco answered, his voice wavering now.
Hermione simply hummed. Then she stood up and made her way to the kitchen. Draco and Astoria kept sitting in their places. Sometimes, they didn't understand what she did and they knew from experience to not question her when she didn't provide any explanation. Saves the world from a trouble of ethical questions.
Then Hermione came back followed by Bikky, the house elf.
"He'll take care of you. You'll listen to everything he'll say. I know you'll be tensed and troubled, so he'll be your nanny for these days. Rest assured I'll do my best to the kid. Have no worries," Hermione replied determinedly.
"Hermione—" Astoria began.
"No, this is my thing to do. I have laid back on this for long. I should have done this much earlier," Hermione interrupted Astoria.
"Meow, please don't do something…that…donot- you're godmother to our child…" Draco couldn't form coherent sentences.
"Draco, you are going to contact my lawyer. Please solve the legal knots if any. I want my godchild spoilt," Hermione declared.
"And I want you to come back, in one piece," Astoria demanded.
"I'll try my best. But don't forget even if I am stuck, I will be there for the little prince. Just give me an Owl," Hermione said with finality.
"Why are you being so negative about it?" Astoria questioned.
"This is going to hit close to me now," Hermione answered.
"I'll make sure to send you somewhere you can come back from," Draco promised.
"And I'll hold you to that. After all, it wouldn't do my champ to see your pointy pale face as the second face of his life," Hermione teased.
"Woman, this is the face that had the hearts of numerous witches throbbing and had them fainting on me. My wife fainted from the brilliance of my handsomeness," Draco declared with a proud tilt of his head.
"Please, I fainted at the magnificence of my son's arrival," Astoria retorted.
That had the despaired trio laughing.
It had not been difficult to trace Bellatrix. All she had to do was proclaim a challenge for her in the shady parts of the community. And her reply came as a taunt from the crazy doll herself. That was all that she needed to hunt that bitch. And hunt she would.
The hunt had been particularly…satisfying despite edging around the Ministry hounds. Hermione had loved the feeling of sinking the knife deep into Bellatrix's flesh. Some may say she holds grudges a little too tightly, but she just couldn't help herself. She offed people who irked her- after all, she was doing a social service that way- but this kill, this kill was a guilty pleasure. She had cast a sensitising spell on Bellatrix and then got to carving. And carving did she do. To see the same old blood seep from the wounds made her feel no thrill but the feel of the running the sharp dagger into the flesh would a feeling Hermione would cherish forever. Heck, she could cast her Patronus brighter than ever from this memory alone.
She kept carving shallow wounds on Bellatrix, not enough to bleed her dry but enough to hurt her. Her body had become a criss-cross of cuts and Bellatrix's glare was something that had her laughing out loud.
"Sorry, Bells. I was just the wrong mudblood to cast the Crucio on. But come to think of it, maybe, I was the right mudblood to cast the Crucio on. Cheers, you got yourself a customised killer," Hermione said with a giggle as she moved away from the bleeding woman.
Bellatrix struggled against her binds.
"Oh you, I am not done yet. No need to fret. My masterpiece is just a moment away," Hermione stood up as she was kneeling over Bellatrix before that.
She brought a white packet and waved it near Bellatrix.
"When you tortured me, I accepted that. after all, what's a war without some sort of torture thrown in? but when you carved this word on me," Hermione said this as she rolled back the sleeves of her work shirt and shoved her scar near Bellatrix's face, "you poured salt over my wound. So now, it is my turn."
Hermione cast the sensitising spell on her for numerous times that she lost count. Now Bellatrix tried to stay very still as the slightest moment amplified the pain from the cuts.
"See you in hell," and Hermione poured salt from the packet into Bellatrix's wound. The screams that issued forth ricocheted in the room of the depilated cottage.
And the screams just didn't see to stop. It only seemed to raise louder.
"I bet your noseless bastard never thought torture could be so simple," Hermione taunted, "I think we are missing something." Hermione tapped her index finger on her chin as she acted to remember something. She snapped her finger and said, "Got it!" and pulled out a green bottle from her pocket.
"This is a muggle thing. I am pretty sure you would have loved the irony. Okay, this is lemon juice. Now let see how well you fare against it,"
And she poured the lemon juice over Bellatrix as her screams began endlessly again. She would take gagged breath and scream again.
"St-sto-stop it!"
"Say sorry first," Hermione snapped.
Bellatrix panted and screamed again as her nerves went wild again.
"S-so-sorrryyyy!" she dragged the word into a scream as a jolt of pain again flowed through her body.
"But what are you sorry for? Say what are you sorry for!" Hermione demanded.
Bellatrix looked at her with terrified eyes.
"Okay, I'll give you a hint. It is related to Longbottom,"
Bellatrix panted and slowly said, " Sor-sorry fo-for tor-torturing… the- the Long-bot-bottoms."
"Aaaaand?" Hermione implored her.
"Sorr-sorry for torturing yo-you."
"And?"
Bellatrix looked at her questioningly.
"Draco? Rings a bell?"
"Sorry- sorry for threat-threating th-them,"
"Good girl. I'll make it stop now, okay?" Bellatrix nodded her head so far gone into her pain that she barely comprehended what she said.
Hermione cast the sensitising spell again. Again, again and again, until the reverberating scream went silent. Hermione cocked her head at the now dead woman and cast the slicing spell on her heart to make sure that the dead remained dead.
She picked out a book from her satchel and placed it near her cooling body. And went towards the doors to walk out, then thought better and placed her wand on her temple and brought out a memory and stored it in a phial and placed it near the book then walked out of the cottage closing the door behind her.
The Aurors reached the crime scene too late or just at the right time, depending on personal perspective. They found the recently dead Bellatrix along with the mandatory book- this time it was War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy- but the unusual thing that they found was a phial of memories addressed to Neville Longbottom. The healer in question was immediately brought to the Ministry to view the content in public. The memory instead of swirling in the pensive played out like a projection on the surface.
Harry had a sinking feeling that just didn't go away. In fact, it got stronger with every passing moment. Neville and Harry's team viewed the memory. It began with a short glimpse of the Longbottoms' torture and quickly morphed into Bellatrix's torture. They saw it all- how badly she was sensitised and cut up, then the salt and lemon torture that finally resulted in her death when the body could no longer handle the pain.
"I am horrified, but I feel a peace. I can't say I condemn the people who did this. I think he justified the murder quite well if you ask me," Neville said to the shell-shocked viewers bar Harry. "I mean he didn't even any illegal spell. A standard sex spell ( yes, a sensitising spell is what that's used for Harry) and another standard house witch spell topped with salt and lemon which frayed her over-sensitized nerves. This killer recreated the effects of Cruciatus using the everyday spell. Brilliant. Scary but brilliant."
Harry could only stare at the healer who nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders when people looked at him with questioning eyes.
Harry cast out his Patronus that seemed dimmer than usual yet it was stable enough. The stag bounded out to deliver it the message. But Harry never got a reply to his Patronus message.
TBC...