Hey kiddies, I'm a little angry, stressy, depressy, and angry again. Minimum wage jobs are truly the WORST.

Couple warnings for this chapter: suicide, character death, and general insanity

I AM NOT PROFITING FROM THIS. ALL RECOGNIZABLE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND EVENTS BELONG TO J.K. ROWLING

***Guys, I'm currently posting the chapter from my phone because my laptop broke this morning. Unfortunately, I'll have to go on a hiatus before I can start posting again. My little garbage phone can barely run this site as it is. I'm so SO sorry about this, I promise I'll make it up to you guys when I come back.***

Chapter 15

When she woke up, Bellatrix wasn't there, and the bottle was also missing. There wasn't any sunlight coming through the window, just the dim glow of dusk. Sitting up slowly, Rose frowned and held her head.

"Why am I like this?" she asked herself in a mocking singsong voice. All of her problems came crashing down on her again, and she wished that she could go back to sleep forever. She would not go back to Hogwarts; Dumbledore put her in danger, and he would probably do it again if he had to. The Ministry would definitely be after her now, so going anywhere in the wizarding world would have been an awful idea. Should she stay holed up in her house?

"You're awake. Good. Right, get up." Rose didn't notice that Bellatrix had walked into her room and was pushing her off the bed.

"What?" she stuttered and got up and backed away.

"The Ministry is crawling around outside. You need to find a better place to hide, and I need to go back to Hogwarts." she said flatly. Her arms were crossed over her chest and she looked as bored and imperious as ever. Like what had been said earlier didn't even happen. Rose combed her fingers through her hair nervously. Where the hell could she go?

"This would be a good opportunity to run back to America, Damonne." Bellatrix sneered, her voice filled with hurt. The sudden change in mood was like a slap in the face to her, and Rose almost chastised her for thinking that she would abandon her now of all times after she basically rescued her.

"No. Because then Tom will be in America, and I don't want that. I don't want to bring the end times to two separate countries. Also-" she hissed. Somebody knocked on the door downstairs. Both of the girls froze and slowly turned their heads to the sound. Bellatrix turned back to face Rose, who suddenly had a determined look on her face.

"I have an idea. It's foolproof."

"Well I'd love to hear it before Aurors come in here and kill us." Bellatrix drew her wand, but Rose pulled out her own and jumped across the bed, side-apparating them. With a crack they appeared in front of a very familiar forest. It was very dark out, but they could see the dim glow of lights from Hogwarts. Bellatrix landed on her ass and the wind was knocked out of her. Rose whirled and helped the girl up.

"Okay, I'm staying here. You go back to school. I'll come out when I think it's safe." she still held Bellatrix's hand, but the other girl didn't try to pull away. She just gestured wildly at the Forbidden Forest.

"Are you actually mental? You could die in there! Rose even Dumbledore is afraid of this place, it's probably for a good reason." Bellatrix scoffed, her eyes widening slightly with what could best be described as worry.

"Exactly. Which is why nobody will think to find me here. It's perfect."

"There's that positively barmy 'Gryffindor Bravery'. Rose..." she trailed off and looked at their joined hands, stepping a little closer. Rose felt herself go red again, but she held fast.

"Yes?" she asked, her voice breathy. Her heart was pounding now, but not in the way it had when she read those damned books at the Ministry.

"I just want to know...about what you said." she bit her lip before letting go, blood rushing to the spot "You mentioned the amortentia...and I need to be honest." her tone made Rose's blood run icy cold for a moment.

"Did you know sunshine had a smell?" she started, head tilted curiously "It's not as bright as you would think...it's more soothing. Makes you sneeze, but it's such a refreshing thing. And dew, fresh from a cool summer evening glistening on the grass. And with a hint of citrus. Bergamot and grapefruit. That's you." she took a deep breath and caressed Rose's hand with her thumb.

"I'm tired of thinking we're friends, is what I'm basically saying." she sighed quietly when her touch had shocked Rose into silence.

"I thought we both just agreed that we're friends, Bellatrix." Rose said slowly.

"Well, I suppose that's true. And you were sloshed. Who knows what you were saying." she muttered.

"I don't think that changes what I did end up saying though. I mean, I hope it doesn't." Rose whispered.

Then in one daring and deliberate move, she leaned in to kiss Bellatrix. She lightly grazed the Slytherin girl's mouth, and she could've swore she felt a little buzz. Bellatrix stiffened in surprise, but leaned into it a little. Her lips were velvety soft, and she tasted like spices and something sweet. Rose pulled away and looked over the girl's shoulder at the school. Then she looked back at Bellatrix, whose eyes had somehow become even blacker. She gripped Rose's hand tightly.

"I'll miss you. Platonically of course." she whispered with a smile. Bellatrix bit her lip and frowned.

"You're not going to die, right? Because I'll kill you if you do." she whispered back, completely serious.

Rose nodded, and let go of her. With one last look at her friend, she transformed into a lioness and leapt into the woods silently. Bellatrix released the breath she was holding in and gasped. Her heart was racing when she snuck back to her dorm, the sun filtering through the early morning fog. Just as she dove under the covers in her bed, a few of her roommates were beginning to stir.

"Go back to sleep," she hissed acidly "It's bloody Sunday." and they promptly complied. But Bellatrix was more anxious than she had been in her entire life. She just kissed a Gryffindor, a half-blood, a girl. And she actually liked it. She had wanted more. That terrified her to no end.

"I'm the bloody toughest witch in this school. Nothing scares me; I scare it." she tried to reassure herself. But now she was stuck. Her mind jumped from one problem to the next. What she just did went against everything she had been taught, what she thought was right. What would her family say? She was an embarrassment to the entire House of Black, they would burn her off the family tree! She would be destitute. Bellatrix groaned. Why did Rose have to kiss her? It seemed that stupid girl was always mucking something up, wherever she went. Bellatrix grumbled under her breath. Her thoughts were interrupted by Andromeda.

"For Merlin's sake, get up already. You've been in bed for hours." she heard Andromeda chastise, and Bellatrix realized that she must have been lost in thought. Her roommates had left, and her younger sister was standing over the bed with her hands on her hips. Bellatrix sat up with a growl and rubbed her face.

"Andy it's Sunday, and therefore I'm not obligated to go to class, or even remotely grace the halls with my presence." but her sister gave her a look.

"You're still in your dress. And are you wearing your boots still?" she peered at Bellatrix curiously.

"Come to think of it, we never did see you in Hogsmeade after we left the school. Not even at dinner. Bella what have you been up to?" she grinned slyly, and her older sister blushed deeply.

"If I tell you, you can't utter a single word of this. To anybody. Actually I might obliviate you anyway." Bellatrix considered.

"No no, none of that please. Now spill." she plopped herself on the bed, and Bellatrix groaned, holding her head again. She took a deep breath before letting all the words flood out.

"Dumbledore brought Rose to the Ministry and I was suspicious so I followed them and they tried to hurt her so she escaped and I helped and we stayed at her house, but Aurors came so now she's hiding in the Forbidden Forest until this blows over." she gushed. Weirdly, she didn't feel any weight lifted off her chest. Andromeda just gaped at her.

"Bella I'm pretty sure you just committed and actual crime. Why was Rose even at the Ministry?" she exclaimed with great concern. Bellatrix twirled her hair nervously.

"Ah, I'm not exactly sure either. She's explained it to me before. She hears voices you know, and she says somebody named Tom keeps getting in her head and he makes her do things." she shrugged helplessly. Andromeda let out a frustrated groan and grabbed her sister's hand, yanking her out of bed.

"You're such an idiot sometimes Bella. Come on, let's do some research. Maybe you'll figure out what all this means then." then she glanced down at her hand.

"What happened to your hand?"

"It's been there for almost months now, how did you not notice? I'm feeling a little neglected." Bellatrix pouted as they left the dungeons and went upstairs towards the library.

"Okay, I'll grab history books. You go get some newspapers. Maybe this has happened before." Andromeda commanded when they arrived, and they split into the respective sections.

Madame Pince glared at them from behind her glasses but said nothing. Bellatrix sorted through the stacks, looking for any mention of wizards named Tom. She had to go back pretty far to find what she needed, and the dust made her sneeze violently. There were a few articles about a former student named Tom Marvolo Riddle. Apparently he was a pretty stellar wizard. He broke all sorts of records, and was apparently popular with several teachers. From some of his photos, he was quite the looker. Not as nice looking as Rose, Bellatrix thought with a small grin. Satisfied with the stack she had procured, she met back up with Andromeda, who had a small stack of books. They looked at each other for a moment before settling down at a table and poring over the texts.

Rose's paws ached from the cold, and she could feel snow packing in between her toes. If it had been a little warmer when she escaped, this would have been foolproof. Even in the middle of the day, it was still pretty cold, and Rose couldn't repress the shivers wracking her body. Lions were not cold weather animals. She could hear a multitude of sounds; her breathing, the occasional patter of snow falling from trees, the creaks and groans of the ancient pines. She was positive that she wasn't the only creature in the forest right now, but it wasn't her first concern. What she really needed was a place to make shelter.

"Tree? Or cave?" she wondered. The cave was the obvious option, given that it was freezing outside and the tree would only serve as a better vantage point at best. Rose scented for cold stone and damp earth, maybe even old animal scents to help narrow her area of search. It was towards dusk that she finally found a cave. It was a tight squeeze, and she had to dig some snow away from the entrance, but it would otherwise serve its purpose. Rose transformed back and rubbed her arms. The cave was about seven feet high and relatively shallow, much to her relief. There was a small gap between the large rocks that formed the roof of the cave.

"That would actually be a good chimney. Funny how that worked out." Rose shrugged. She set out gathering wood and stockpiling it in the cave, and picked out a few large rocks. The Gryffindor worked into the early hours laboriously transfiguring a decent cot from the stones. She also made a little fire, and set several wards and traps around her cave.

"Oh crap. I forgot about food." she sighed and shook her head, sitting close to the fire. But Rose wasn't really that hungry. She was more concerned about the enormous mess that had been created. She needed a plan, and she needed to face some facts. Rose picked up a twig and scratched in the cold dirt floor of the cave.

1- Tom needs to get out of my head

2- I should clear my name

3- ...

4- Bellatrix

She looked at the name in the dirt and pursed her lips. Bellatrix what? What did she need to say or do?

"You waste your time. And frankly, I feel as if I'm wasting my time as well." Tom muttered. Rose rolled her eyes.

"If you want to leave, then be my goddamn guest. You have caused me so much grief, I think we would both be better off." she snapped. She whipped the stick against the opposite wall in frustration, where it clattered lamely.

"Clearly, you don't know how to use the skills you have, and I grow tired of having to do it for you." he simpered. Rose just let out a roar and hucked a rock at the back of the cave.

"Fuck the 'skills', I don't want to kill people you sick fuck! I'm not hellbent on finding immortality and getting revenge because you don't like your own upbringing." she screeched. Her head was wracked with screams and pain.

"How do you know any of that? Filth!" he roared. Rose blinked hard, trying to ignore the pain. She smirked.

"You're in my head all the time, sometimes your thoughts leak through. Probably should have thought about that Tommy." she gritted. More screams and groans. Rose gripped her ears and fell to her knees, vision clouding.

"I am Lord Voldemort, worm. I am the greatest wizard who will ever live, and you'll do well to remember it." he said cooly. Rose groaned, the world tilted, and her face hit the dirt. She felt like somebody had thrown her in an ice bath. Blood rushed in her ears, and her joints ached unbearably. Rose writhed on the ground, moaning feebly. Tom chuckled darkly, and more stabs of pain assaulted her before they suddenly stopped.

"I will hurt your friends. Your family. Pledge your allegiance to me, or suffer the consequences. I have offered you things that many could only dream of, given you knowledge that your feeble mind would not have been able to find otherwise. Perhaps you should consider this before you hastily throw my gifts away." he said before finally disappearing to wherever he went to.

Rose lurched upwards in fear, scrambling up and staring at the fire. Who would he hurt? When, how? Panic settled in her gut as her mind raced. She didn't want to side with the bald fanatic, but she especially didn't want anybody else to get hurt because...why? Why had Tom picked her? Rose stared into the flames before sitting on her cot. She began to rock as she thought long and hard about what was to come, panic consuming her mind.

Bellatrix was conflicted when she learned about Tom Riddle. For one, he fought for blood purity, which some small part of her admired. But he was hurting Rose. And a larger, more possessive part of her didn't like that one bit. She was stewing in her thoughts now. It had been four days since Rose had disappeared into the Forbidden Forest, and it made Bellatrix anxious. Unaware of her surroundings, Bellatrix almost tripped over another student who suddenly stopped walking in front of her.

"Shove off, stupid bitch." Bellatrix growled, and she walked around. But people had actually stopped as well and were looking at the student. She was a Hufflepuff, a blonde. Her face was frozen in a look of complete and utter terror, which was weird. Even weirder was that her eyes were clouded over, almost white. She didn't move, didn't make a sound.

"Henny?" a boy asked, and moved carefully around Bellatrix, who noticed he looked an awful lot like the frozen girl, but he was a little taller. His tired eyes looked over the girl, and he gingerly reached out to touch her shoulder.

"Henrietta what's wrong?" he said slowly. The students in the hall now formed a ring around this spectacle, and even Bellatrix was a little intrigued. As his index finger touched her shoulder, it was like she vacuumed in on herself. Her skin shrunk and cracked against her bones, and for a brief moment she looked like a corpse before exploding in a shower of Hufflepuff pieces. Utter panic broke out when a girl screamed. The boy wailed in dismay.

"HENRIETTA!" he screamed bending down to try and scoop the pieces together. It was like some twisted puzzle, but Bellatrix had a feeling this was one puzzle they couldn't piece back together. Her stomach knotted on itself and she actually felt a little sick. Students screamed in terror and scrambled over each other, trying to get away from what they just witnessed. Bellatrix backed against the wall, staring. Teachers were there in a flash, but they had been too late. The Hufflepuff boy was crying, shards of his sister falling from his hands as he wailed and rambled incoherently. It was Sprout who surged forward and grabbed the boy roughly by the shoulders and pulled him away. She was much shorter than him, but she hugged him tight and close and practically dragged him away. McGonagall lead a team of professors to herd the students back to their dormitories. The last thing Bellatrix saw was Dumbledore staring that the mess before him, despair painted on his aging face. She rounded a corner and sprinted well ahead of her classmates. When she got to the common rooms, she ignored the head boy trying to calm down the students and ran to her trunk at the foot of her bed. Flinging the top of it open, she hastily gathered her writing materials and magic sealing wax. Dipping the quill Rose had gotten her in ink, she scribbled onto the parchment.

A Hufflepuff girl just died. Looked like a twin. I think you knew her. I don't know much. Will write soon.

—B

She watched as the ink sunk into the paper and disappeared. Rolling the parchment tightly, she wound a simple black ribbon around it and sealed it with the wax, being careful not to drip it onto the floor. Frustrated, she just now realized how inconvenient living in a dungeon truly was. Without windows, she couldn't get her owl to deliver the letter.

"Fuck." she cursed under her breath. Bellatrix was sure that Rose had known the girl who died, she needed to tell her. An idea briefly crossed her mind, something that the Gryffindor had taught her during one of their study sessions, and she hoped it would work. Taking the quill, she placed it on the bed and tried her hardest to transfigure it. The dark green feather shivered for a moment, before contorting and morphing in an owl. Although this owl was remarkably small, and it's eyes…

"That's bloody creepy." Bellatrix said out loud. The owl's eyes were beady and had no light to them. It almost looked like a stuffed animal. The owl opened its beak in a silent hiss.

"Bring this to Rose. The girl who gifted you to me. And do it quickly." she commanded, tying the note to its small dark ankle. The owl clicked once and was gone in a flash of feathers. Bellatrix groaned and harshly ran a hand through her hand. Something was up, she could feel it in her gut.

Rose had spent the past few days trying to hunt small animals or find a stream with fish, but winter was no kinder here than it was in Connecticut back home. She managed a rabbit, two squirrels, and one depressingly tiny fish that she put back.

"You'll die one day buddy, but today is not that day." she said to it sympathetically. She cooked the food on the fire in her cave. So far, nothing had tripped her alarms, but Tom—Voldemort's threat hung in her head still. Like a poison. The few short days of waiting and thinking had made her consider what her friends meant to her, versus the good of the world. Surely it wasn't that selfish to want her friends to live and be happy? But based upon Voldemort's plan, most of her friends wouldn't be alive if he succeeded. She had to find a way to take him down from the inside. It was the middle of the fourth day when Rose saw a flurry of motion out of her little cave entrance. Drawing her wand, she wondered why the alarms didn't go off. Much to her surprise, a small almost formless owl silently drifted into her cave and landed on her cot. It made her a little unsettled, because there was something very not owlish about it. Then she noticed the note attached to its ankle. Taking it from the owl and making sure it wasn't hexed, Rose undid the seal and unwound the ribbon. It was from Bellatrix, and Rose's heart fluttered a little before she read the note. The witch could almost feel her heart crack a little. She crushed the note in her hand and shook furiously.

"If you join me, the death stops here." Voldemort chided. Rose screamed in frustration, the magic energy from her rage washing over her, and even Voldemort seemed to shrink away for a second.

"I will never join you. Mark my words." she said, deadly serious. Voldemort laughed, and just like that he was gone. Rose looked at the owl, which shivered and transformed into a quill. She recognized it as the quill she gave to Bellatrix, and managed a grim smile. Peeling bark off the wood she had collected, Rose charmed it to become paper, and she wrote back.

Nobody is safe now. I'm trying to figure things out. Please forgive me if anything happens.

—R

She turned the quill back into the weird owl and sent it off. Two days later, Bellatrix responded.

They don't know who killed the girl. The boy was found in a heap. They think he jumped from the owlery. I'm sorry.

—B

Rose cried this time. Hugo was like a brother to her. She didn't want his death to be in vain, and she used as much energy as she could to stab blindly into the darkness of her mind, hoping to catch Voldemort by surprise. A few times she may have succeeded, because it left her feeling weak. Rose spent the next week receiving updates. Hugo and Henrietta were the only two that had been killed, but dozens of other students had fallen ill or sustained minor injuries. Rose asked if Bellatrix and her sisters were alright, and she said they were, but Rose knew it was only a matter of time.

"Just agree to join. Then I'll stop." Voldemort dared to speak, and Rose jabbed at him. The girl hadn't imagined that she would be using her animagus form so much in such a short amount of time, but it was nice. It made hunting easier, and the lion's senses were good for detecting anything that might be happening in her territory. She also found that the knowledge she had obtained from the strange book in the library allowed her to feel things that she hadn't before. It was like the plant life around her had energy. She found one day that if she tried hard enough, she could take energy from the plants around her.

"I'm like an actual, old-timey Salem witch." she mused to herself. She could also give energy, making the plants grow explosively, but it made her tired. One morning, three days after she received the note about the Black sisters, Rose prowled out of her cave and stretched her muscles. Though colors were mostly muted, she could notice even the smallest movements. It made her feel a little more alive, knowing that the world around her was teeming with possibilities. Rose decided to head farther North of her cave, rather than South towards Hogwarts. Tasting the air, there was the usual scent of small animals and the occasional bird. And then, buried a little farther, she smelled something different. Ancient, powerful, almost alien. Curious, Rose followed the scent, winding through shrubs and stalking padding past enormous trees. Wading through the snow was a bit of a challenge, but she was making good time, and the scent was growing stronger. The sun began to rise, casting a delicate peach tone over the forest. It was dazzling, but Rose was getting even closer. She came upon a thick wall of tangled brambles, where she transformed back and cleared them with her wand. But as quickly as they were gone, the barbed plants replaced themselves. She tried with her newfound skill, but it was the same result. Grimacing, Rose cleared the plants and then dove through the opening.

"Ow." she winced when she landed on the other side, covered in scratches. Her sweater was torn across her left shoulder, and her jeans were marred with pulls and rips. The snow was quickly melting into her tennis shoes, so Rose cast a charm to prevent herself from losing any toes to frostbite. Beyond the brambles was a small circular clearing, no more than fifty feet across. There was a small pond in the center. Rose gasped audibly and took a few steps back into the brambles, which she promptly jumped away from. In front of her in this small clearing were unicorns. They were all staring at her, tails swishing. One or two swiveled their ears back. Rose didn't know what to do, frozen in place. Unicorns were the purest creatures on earth, and Rose felt ashamed to step into their protected circle.

Damn curiosity, she thought to herself bitterly. The majestic beasts watched her, only the flicking of ears and tails betraying that they weren't statues carved from marble. After what felt like hours, one stepped forward from the herd.

Give us the vial. A deep voice resonated within her mind, it felt like liquid starlight, banishing any darkness Voldemort held over her. Shaking, she reached her hand into the pocket of her jeans and pulled out the small crystal vial that Slughorn had given her during her first Potions class at Hogwarts. She didn't know how they knew, or how she knew, but she held her hand out with it.

Uncork it. Catch my tears. She slowly walked forward and met the unicorn halfway, who dipped his head as she gently pressed the edge of the vial to its face. The unicorn's large, dark eyes blinked slowly. Dewey teardrops glistened as they ran down luminescent fur and trickled into the vial that would forever fill itself with unicorn tears now. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion as the unicorn spoke again.

A terrible weight has been placed on your shoulders, Rose Damonne. We see what you truly seek. A long and arduous journey awaits you. These tears can heal any wound and cure any ailment. But use great caution, for they are powerful, and in the wrong hands could prove to be your downfall. We sense a great darkness within you that is not your own. You will not be the one to vanquish it. But you will find what you want most. Take care, young witch.

Rose blinked, and she was laying in her cot in her cave, the crystal vial in her hand. Voldemort didn't seem to be with her at the moment. Taking a deep breath, she put the vial on the chain and tucked it back into her shirt. She sniffed. Her clothes were a little ripe. Probably should fix that. But she couldn't hold out anymore. She wouldn't risk going back to Hogwarts quite yet, but she needed clothes.

When she apparated with a barely audible pop, she was pleased to find that she was standing in the kitchen of her home. Quickly looking through the fridge, she saw that there were still no groceries, meaning either nobody had gone shopping, or that her mother still wasn't home. Swallowing her guilt and fear, she made her way up to her room where she had escaped with Bellatrix. Gathering the warmest clothes she could find, it took a few careful trips back and forth to her hideout to transfer everything, each time making sure that nobody had come into their home. Something kept nagging at her, and Rose dared to peek out of a window. Standing right at the entrance to her home were two broad shouldered Aurors, watching the street. She couldn't help a snicker when she realized that they must not have set up alarms or wards because they thought she was stupid enough to apparate in front of her house rather than into it.

"There they go again, underestimating you. A useful tactic I suppose, but wouldn't you much rather prefer to be feared rather than ignored?"

"No, it helps me be stealthy, now shut up." she spat as she moved away from the window. Getting the last of her clothing, she decided to do something that she had debated but finally thought she must. At the end of the kitchen was the basement door, a low, narrow green slat of wood that she moved carefully, wincing a little as the hinges creaked and groaned. With a flick of her wrist, a ball of dim blue light appeared in her hand and she began her descent into the musty root cellar. It was chilly going down, but she was glad that her mother had still left what she needed downstairs.

Since she couldn't barge into Hogwarts and take her things out of her dorm, she would have to take some of her mother's equipment. The cauldron was dusty, and the various books on potions and flora that had yellowed a little with age, but they would serve their purpose. Next to the table was a coat rack, and on it her father's sherpa jacket, still stained with dirt from his last job of the season. Impulsively, she snatched up the coat and jammed it into the backpack.

"I'm telling you, she wouldn't be stupid enough to come back here so soon, you're just getting jumpy." she froze when she heard an Auror's voice as she reached for another book to tuck into her rucksack. She extinguished her light and crouched behind a shelf, wand at the ready.

"Why would I need to be jumpy? Minister said she was just some kid, and besides, if we miss the chance to get her now he'll be knackered." another Auror said.

"Kill them." Tom commanded. Rose said stock still where she was, trying not to whimper at the headache she was already getting.

"Oi, hold up. That door is open." she heard footsteps coming to the basement door, and she mentally kicked herself for leaving it open. In the silence, there was the quiet rustling of robes as the Aurors pulled their wands out and carefully began making their way downstairs.

"I'll call for backup." one whispered. The sound of a can falling made both of them jump, and they waved their lit wands in the direction of the noise. All they saw was a taxidermied lioness staring directly at them.

"Bloody hell, that scared the shit out of me." one Auror breathed and almost chuckled a sigh of relief. The other one punched him in the gut and called him an idiot before they turned to inspect the rest of the basement. Rose, on the other hand, was having a hard time staying still and keeping her breathing even so it didn't alert the men.

"This plan is flawed on so many levels, I'm beginning to think you truly are an idiot." Voldemort sighed ruefully.

"Then literally fuck off and find somebody else to help you." Rose thought at him angrily.

"I can't do that. We're very similar, you and I. Our families, legendary. Half-bloods...our wands are almost the same in composition, and you have recklessly thrown your life into my hands. I see your dreams you know, the ones where you sit upon a throne of the skulls of those who have wronged you. Those bullies...the ones who doubted your skill. You have an anger within you so powerful and concentrated, it would have been criminal of me not to nurture it."

"Shut up."

"Do you really think that those moods you get in are my fault? When you get those little intrusive thoughts." he chuckled darkly "I am powerful, and growing more so with every passing day, but I cannot yet put ideas into the minds of those with whom I converse. This, my dear child, is all you." Voldemort seemed to be relishing this fact, and at his words, Rose couldn't help the low growl that built in her throat.

"I'm not some sick freak." she insisted. But the jig was up, and her growl alerted the Aurors.

"Shit!" one yelled as Rose picked up the rucksack in her mouth and raced upstairs before she changed back painfully fast and sealed the basement door, gasping for breath.

"She's an animagus!" one Auror shouted, and she felt the door rattle as they tried to unlock it. wincing, she snatched up her bag of pilfered shrunken items and apparated. This time is was much louder as she landed with a woosh of air on the floor of her cave hideout. A warm wetness spread over the back of her shoulder, then felt icy cold in flashes.

"Oh no…" she groaned, and realized in her carelessness that she had splinched herself on the back, just around her shoulder blade on the left side. Gasping and reaching around with her right hand, she gingerly touched her shoulder and confirmed this when it stung violently and her hand came away coated in crimson blood.

"I don't have time to brew a potion, and I don't even have the ingredients." she thought weakly.

"Episkey." she mumbled, and she felt a searing pain as her skin began to knot itself up and cover the wound, but it was not a fast process. Dragging her bag near her bed and flopping onto the hard makeshift mattress, she tumbled into a deep sleep as her wound tried to seal itself. That night, she dreamt of sitting at the long ebony table once more, people in gleaming silver masks surrounding her, with Voldemort at the head of the table again. This time though, it wasn't as cold, and she was happy to see that she was holding Peppers, his dark scales glittering in the green light.

"You see? We have much in common. I daresay we could be...family in some ways." Voldemort's voice didn't sound so harsh now, and she looked up from her beloved pet to see that he also was gently petting the head of a massive python. This one looked distinctly meaner, though.

"Look around you...we could be your family, dear child. Brothers in arms, and I the patriarch. No more of this silly...living in the forest business." he said slowly. Rose frowned, but a pale ivory hand clasped over her own, and she looked directly into the eyes of Bellatrix who sat to her right. She smiled and stroked Rose's hand before placing a gentle kiss on her temple.

"No hiding, no running. You could learn whatever you choose, live by your own rules. we could protect each other, and roam the globe freely without the worry of startling some filthy Muggles." his words sounded tempting. "You could go and see your friends back in America. Wouldn't that be nice? No job to worry about, just living for yourself...and for the cause. You see, I'm not a fool enough to squander such marvelous potential, Rose." Voldemort gestured with his hand, and the snake slithered across the table, looping in on itself around and around in mesmerizing patterns.

"Look at me, Rose." a different voice, one that sent chills rattling down her spine, made the brunette snap to attention. In Voldemort's seat was her father, alive and healthy. He looked cleaner than usual with his hair and beard neatly trimmed, but his smile warmed her bones.

"Isn't this what you want?" he asked. Without warning, the snake on the table lunged at her face, and she woke up in a cold sweat. Resisting the urge to vomit profusely, she worked her shoulder experimentally as she sat up in bed. This couldn't wait any longer.

"Time to go visit Bellatrix."