Hello everybody! This is my attempt at writing fanfiction. I am not English, so I apologize for possible mistakes and typos, just know I tried my best. But I hope that everything is not so terrible and the text is readable. Hope you enjoy this story.
Disclaimer: This is just fanfiction and I have no benefit or claim to anything.
You were from a perfect world
A world that threw me away today, today to run away
A pill to make you numb, a pill to make you dumb,
A pill to make you anybody else...
But all the drugs in this world won't save her from herself
~ Marilyn Manson — Coma white ~
Chapter 1
Voldemort froze.
Stopping next to him, Rodolphus felt a persistent burning sensation in the Dark Mark, but he was already near the Dark Lord, so it was someone else. Someone summoned the Dark lord, it could only mean one thing - Harry Potter was caught.
The dark lord looked thoughtfully in the direction they were going, deciding whether he would return later or continue on his way. He seemed unable to decide which was more important now. Rodolphus often did not understand Voldemort's actions, he was too secretive, he hid much even from his followers. Everyone knew that the boy was the main target, but a moment of doubt made Rodolphus nervous. What was so important that the Dark Lord was looking for here in Merlin's forgotten Muggle village?
"They are waiting for me. It looks like the outcome of the war will be decided today" the Dark Lord finally said.
"Should I stay here and do for you what you intended?"
"No, you come with me. You don't want to miss all the fun, do you?"
They Apparated, they didn't have to think about their destination, because the Dark Mark guided them, no matter where they were.
Rodolphus looked around as they stood in front of the Malfoy manor gates. Apparition claps were heard nearby, Death Eaters gathered at the call. Immediately, they passed through protective wards and made their way to Lucius's home, which was now the main headquarters of the Death Eaters. The Dark lord was in front, Rodolphus beside, the others followed like a dark river. Several bodies lay in front of the front door, among which was also Fenrir Greyback, but he was motionless: either stunned or dead.
When they entered, they heard screams from the main room. Bellatrix's voice was clearly discernible in them, and someone else's shrill incoherent moaning. His wife has been out of her mind lately. Hormones and a weak psyche did their job, she fell into a rage for any reason and without. He felt sorry for the one who had fallen under her hot hand.
They followed in the direction of the noise.
In the living room, Bellatrix sat down on some crying girl on the floor, threatening her with her favorite knife. Malfoys watched the scene across the room, all three pale and hushed. And Potter was nowhere to be seen.
"What else did you steal from my vault? Confess or I will..."
The Dark lord looked around the room coldly. Knowing how impatient he became after his return, Rodolphus hastened to do something, as he knew what his anger was fraught with. If he was called for no good reason, it meant that someone would have to pay for it. Bellatrix was in no danger, but the rest of those present were unprotected. This situation did not suit Rodolphus.
"Bella, what's going on here?" he asked.
The witch straightened up sharply and her eyes widened amusingly, her face stretched out, but if Rodolphus was her husband, then she did not even look at him, all her attention was directed to the Dark Lord.
"My Lord, have you returned already?" her voice falsely gentle and humble could not hide her fear.
"Someone called me, and I want to know why," Voldemort hissed coldly.
Bellatrix growled at the Malfoys. "Was that you, Lucius? Or you Draco?" - now her voice oozed with poison, it was the promise of future reckoning.
"Where is the boy?" the Dark Lord hissed.
"Wormtail, Draco, bring Potter," Lucius commanded, poorly holding back his triumph. A short, rat-like wizard peeked out from behind a chair by the fireplace. He hurried after Draco to the exit, bowing obsequiously to Voldemort as he walked.
"My lord, I was going to call you myself as soon as I finished interrogating the Mudblood. This is Potter's girlfriend Hermione Granger. Narcissa recognized her immediately while Draco mumbled" said Bellatrix.
"It's true?" The Dark Lord asked, turning to Lucius and Narcissa.
Bellatrix glanced guiltily into the corner. Merlin! Sometimes she herself did not understand what she was talking! Rodolphus clenched his fists, she didn't care about Draco, as if he was a stranger to her. All she cared about was herself. And now she didn't care how her lies would affect those around her - the main thing was that she would not be punished. She blindly adored the Dark Lord, but at the same time this adoration was selfish, possessive. She hid much from her master, especially her own mistakes. If she made mistakes, she blamed others. How many times she set up Rodolphus and Rabastan.
"Draco was under your Confundus, wasn't he Bella?" Lucius hastened with a plausible lie.
"Yes, that's right, he was," she nodded, clumsily tangling in the fluffy skirts of her ugly old dress as she climbed to her feet. Without thinking twice, she ran a bony hand through the Mudblood's hair. And she kept her next to her, like a naughty dog. Both looked equally disgusting to Rodolphus. Bella because she had forgotten what it was like to be a noble witch, a Mudblood by her very existence.
The Dark lord did not even honor them with a glance, only hissed something into the darkness of the room. From the darkest corner, writhing and exploring the air with a long serpentine tongue, crawled out the only one creature that seemed to be able to calm the Dark Lord's anger. Nagini. Bellatrix glanced displeasedly at the snake, which she disliked from the first days, as if it were her rival, and not just an animal. The snake indifferently followed its master to the armchair by the fireplace and curled up by the fire, watching the people intently.
The other Death Eaters had already gathered in the room, scattering around the perimeter and whispering among themselves.
Rodolphus walked over to Bellatrix and looked at the girl. The girl sat at the feet of his wife, exhausted from the torture, covered in blood and sweat, in tattered Muggle clothes and with a brightly scratched inscription on the pale skin of her hand. To read his wife's gnarled handwriting in the poor lighting, he had to squint.
'Mudblood'
The wound was oozing blood. He knew that the blood would not stop for a long time. Bellatrix's beloved cursed blade was enchanted to inflict particularly acute pain, poison the blood to prevent healing, and the scars from it could not be reduced by any spell.
Rabastan appeared next to him.
"What's going on here?" He asked in a whisper, looking at Bellatrix and her captive with curiosity through the slit in the silver mask.
"Potter has been caught," Rodolphus replied.
Everyone waited, but Wormtail and Draco with the prisoner did not appear.
"Lucius, hurry them up!" ordered the Dark lord tired of waiting.
The blond rushed to the door in a completely unaristocratic way. Just as he was about to step out the door, a spell slammed into his chest. His body flew to the other end of the room. Two boys - one thin, dark-haired with an oddly slanted face, and the other tall and red-haired - burst into the living room. Quickly assessing the situation, they stood back to back. Both did not expect that the entire inner circle of Death Eaters led by the Dark Lord were already waiting for them. The Death Eaters all as one pulled out their wands, Bella put the knife to the throat of the Mudblood. The young men were surrounded by enemies.
Lord Voldemort rose from his chair, stopping his servants from abrupt action.
"Don't! Potter is mine".
Potter meanwhile aimed his wand at the Dark Lord.
"We met again, Harry. You look worse than usual," Voldemort said.
"Don't get close," Potter was not scared, strange, but he seemed focused and collected in this hopeless situation, as if all the reserves of his essence were concentrated on one single task - survival. Strong determination flashed in his eyes, no emotions or feelings. The boy was a warrior by nature. Such willpower could only please.
"Put your wand down, Harry. I have your girlfriend, just move and she will be killed." the dark lord promissed.
Before Potter could say anything, his friend was the first to react to the threat: "Fuck you! You psychotic bitch, let her go, or I will kill you!" The redhead shouted in panic, aiming at Bellatrix. He was larger than his friend, physically stronger, but not so strong in spirit, although he was sharp on his tongue. He could not withstand the pressure of what was happening. His hand trembled visibly.
"Come, kid, I'll give her to you with bleeding throat," Bellatrix promised.
"Antonin," the Dark lord called. Dolohov stepped forward. "Kill the redhead."
The dark lord barely had to finish the sentence, Dolohov had already silently sent his favorite spell to the redhead. After the battle in the Department of Mysteries, he always used this spell non-verbally, perfecting his technique. Now his curse worked with all its might, whether he spoke spell out loud or not. The girl in Bellatrix's arms screamed as she watched her friend fall to the carpet and shake in his death agony, his face turning blue, his eyes bloodshot, and a dark ooze flowing from his throat. It was a painful, terrible death.
Potter didn't look at his friend, an inhuman tension emanating from him. He was ready to fight to the death.
"You're all alone now, Harry. So... Will you put your wand down? Or should I ask Bella to show you how pigs are slaughtered?"
"Raise yours and fight me, Tom," Potter demanded hatefully.
The Dark lord took several steps in his direction taking out his own wand.
At that moment, there was a crackling and noise, pieces of stucco were falling from the ceiling, everyone raised their heads to find out what was happening. Another second and a huge chandelier fell down. The Dark lord did not have time to jump and fell into a trap, but Potter moved faster with the agility of youth. Spells began to fly around, from which he successfully fought off, chaos and screams reigned. Several Death Eaters fell under the spells of their own associates. Fortunately, Rabastan covered his family with his best shields.
The tiny house elf appeared beside Potter and covered him from spells, he diligently sent impulses of magic to Death Eaters. Just few of them could protect themselves from this kind of magic. Rodolphus rejoiced at Rabasthan's shield, which almost completely reflected one of the magic impulses sent to them. Many of wands now aimed primarily at the house elf.
Potter made his way in the direction of the Mudblood, who also did not waste time and managed to bite Bella's hand. His wife screamed in pain as she released the girl, who had already rushed to meet Potter. Rodolphus sent ropes at her, making it impossible for her to move, and then he disarmed Potter. And this decided the outcome of the whole situation. The boy was left unprotected when a green light from the Dark Lord slammed into his back. Harry Potter dropped dead.
"NOOOO!" mudblood's voice broke in scream. The house elf, at the sight of the dead boy, in the blink of an eye was next to her. The ropes fell from her. He took the girl's hand. Rodolphus, not thinking about anything, grabbed the bleeding hand of the Mudblood. They were sucked into a dizzying apparition.
They landed on a sandy beach. The house elf staggered Bella's blade sticking out of his body. But he was still on his feet, one hand pressed to the wound in his chest. He lifted his head, his huge green eyes narrowed at Rodolphus. The other hand slowly extended towards the wizard. A wave of elven magic hit Rodolphus in chest. Rodolphus' heart jumped and skipped a beat, he gasped in stunning pain, blinded for a second.
The damn elf almost killed him with an impulse of pure magic, as it is good that he was wounded by Bellatrix's knife, the poison managed to penetrate into the blood, dulling the powers of the magical creature.
"Dobby!" The girl screamed as the elf leaned against her like a lifeless puppet. The death of her savior shocked her. She reached for the little elf's body. Gritting teeth Rodolphus yanked her arm back and apparated. Because of the pain, he poorly focused on the destination, both landed in some kind of forest. He was a tall, large man, and therefore his landing was much harder than the fall of a petite girl who had been starving for months. He dislocated his shoulder as he hit hard ground.
The Mudblood snatched her hand from his weakened grip and leapt to her feet. It is not clear where she got her strength, but she ran away from him. Her thick brown hair flew as she ran. In the heat of the chase, forgetting about the pain, Rodolphus pursued her on the heels. The girl deftly dodged immobilizing spells, he began to lose patience. When she suddenly fell into the burrow with her foot and fell, he sent Crucio into her. The spell hit the target. The girl screamed, writhed in pain on the ground. Rodolphus kept her under the spell for a while, watching her agony. Then he let go, giving both himself and her a break. He tied her legs so that she would not run anymore, and then her arms.
Stepping towards the girl, he held out his hand with a wand: "Gotcha."
The girl looked at him from under her hairs, huddled on the ground, an expression of hatred on her face. He was already approaching, intending to Apparate her back, but she sharply put out the bound hands in which she was gripping Bella's blade, all this time she was hiding the knife. The sharp blade slashed the wrist in which he held the wand. Fingers unclenched by inertia. The wand fell to the ground. Throwing the blade away girl grabbed it before Rodolphus could.
"Stupefy!" She hissed.
Rodolphus dodged the spell and lunged at her, she had no time to do anything.
Both clung to the wand, fighting for weapons and rolling on the ground. Rodolphus jerked the girl's body into the ground, she wriggled under him like mad. Already knowing that she would not just give up, he pulled the wand forcefully from her tenacious fingers. He was not prepared for her to unclench her hands and release his wand. Because of the force applied, Rodolphus poked himself in the face with his own wand. The girl laughed nervously as he swore. Meanwhile, she raised her bound hands above her head to scoop up the full palms of earth, and then threw the whole mass into his face. Dirt got into his eyes. He instinctively hurried to clear his eyes. He gasped, feeling a blow to the chest in the place where the house elf had sent magic impule at him a little earlier. Taking advantage of his confusion, the Mudblood had already ripped out the wand and immobilized him with Petrificus.
He felt his arms folded, and his legs straightened, he pressed the girl to the ground with all his weight, she was breathing heavily, trying to throw him off her. She succeeded. Rodolphus's eyes were still pinched by the dirt in them. He found himself face in the ground, fortunately, the Mudblood almost immediately turned him over on his back. Chestnut curls dangled to either side of her gaunt face, obscured by shadows as she bent over it to make eye contact.
"Gotcha," the mudblood gasped, his face bathed in the warmth of her breath.
His own wand pocked against his left temple. A flash of light brighter than the sun was reflected in the brown eyes. Power and intent are concentrated in one single spell ...
... He opened his eyes.
Above him was a dense impenetrable forest canopy. The chirping of insects and the singing of birds, the noise of the foliage - everything was so soothing and delicate, but his body ached with exertion. Rodolphus lay on the damp ground, enveloped in a warming charm that prevented the tentacles of cold from penetrating into his bones, only powerlessly stroking it with coolness on skin. He sat down slowly, the world spun around. It took a minute for the dizziness to subside. He looked around and noticed a dark figure. She was standing in the shadows leaning against a large tree trunk, wand in hand. Her silhouette seemed vaguely familiar, but he couldn't tell right away.
"How are you feeling" her voice was timid.
"The head hurts," he blinked, trying to focus, there was a feeling that he was thoroughly hit on the head with something very heavy. He touched the back of his head, but found no wounds. There was an ugly burn on his wrist, very deep, and he winced in pain. It is strange that until he saw this wound he did not feel so much pain.
"What is the last thing you remember?"
Demanding, scared. Yes, she was scared, and it almost tickled something in his mind.
"Who are you?"
"Don't you remember?" she came up. Now he could make out her face in the darkness of the forest: thin, pale, brown shiny eyes and wild brown hair sticking out in all directions. The first thing that came to his mind was a furious "Mudblood", and he almost spat it out, but something stopped him and he hesitated. "Hermione Granger" was suggested by another voice similar to Bella's.
"Hermione Granger." The name was unfamiliar on his tongue, as if he rarely pronounced it or even never.
"You seem to have hit your head, so try to remember something else, I have to be sure that you're all right," she asked softer, but she still held her wand tightly in hand and seemed to try to keep it pointed at him imperceptibly. It looks like she did not trust him and was a little afraid, he clung to the familiar and understandable feeling, like a saving thread.
"I..." A flash in his mind: chaos and flying spells, his brother put up shields, the girl on the floor and a tiny house elf next to her, Rodolphus grabbed her bleeding hand. "I remember how we Apparated from the Malfoy manor."
The girl turned pale even more and pursed her lips, he saw the remnants of tears in her eyes. She was upset. And he felt uncomfortable with her. Foreign.
"What happened before?" He asked and she lowered her head hiding her face under her hair. The girl was silent for several seconds, deciding on something, then she raised her head again and said with a challenge:
"They killed Harry and Ron. Only you and me are left."
Oh no! Now he was beginning to remember. She and her friends were on the run. They tried to change the course of the war. And he covered them, protected them, pretended to be the enemy, but he was on their side. They were caught and brought to the Malfoy manor! Both boys are dead. And the elf who was saving Hermione too, Bella's blade hit him. Apparently, awareness was reflected on his face, because her attention became more intense, as if she was trying to read his thoughts and came closer. He looked into her dark eyes and wondered how long her eyelashes were, he did not feel the penetration, no. Either she was mediocre at Legilimency, or she just unknowingly really wanted to know what he was thinking.
"I remembered everything. I was unable to protect you. I couldn't."
She exhaled noisily and smiled. "You did your best. This mission was initially suicide from beginning."
"I don't know how I'll get back there," and he meant the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord, she understood him immediately. "I don't know how I can continue, as if everything is allright. How could I pretend to be a loyal follower?"
"You don't have to be there all the time. Now that Harry is dead, they all think they have won. You can help me and only sometimes come back to be aware of what is happening. You understand?"
She touched his shoulder, he reflexively almost threw off her cold hand, but felt a sharp pain. He dislocated his shoulder, but did not remember how it happened. Everything was so confusing, as if covered with a gloomy fog through which no matter how hard he try to break through it was still there. Instead, he nodded.
"I treated the burn, someone's spell hit you," she said. "but i don't know if you have any other wounds."
And then he noticed the wand in her hand. It was his wand.
"Why do you have my wand?"
She looked at her tense hand in surprise.
"Mine was taken away from me. I had to take yours. You do not mind?"
He shook his head.
"Of course not. Thank you for putting a warming charm on me."
"So what? Where does it hurt?"
"Shoulder and chest."
The girl nodded and began to heal the damage. Her hands were not gentle, but neat and precise. She knew how to give first aid, not only magical - he realized with a bit of disgust. She didn't know the necessary spells. There was not enough experience and knowledge, with all the efforts. But even so, her actions were as effective as possible, the decisions are simple and to some extent methodical. She should have started with a full body scan so she wouldn't have to wait for him to wake up to heal the damage.
He found himself watching her every move, noticing mistakes and correct actions with great interest. It seemed to him that he had never looked at her as intently as now. She was definitely talented and wisely disposed of the available arsenal and knowledge. So he wondered how it would be nice to teach her the craft for the future. He could teach her some tricks, improve her skills.
How old is she? She must be over seventeen, now she would be studying with Draco in Hogwarts, after graduating from school, she could go to the academy at the St. Mungo's clinic. What a shame she's outlawed. Good healers have always been valued for the weight of gold.
Once upon a time, he himself could become a mediwizard, if his status allowed him. He even trained as a healer, and then worked for several years in St. Mungo, but he was so rich that he did not need to work. His father wanted to see him as a continuer of the family, and not as a worker. And after marriage, he gave up his beloved work. He was fond of everything related to healing. He had more than enough practice. First, he treated his younger brother when he was still a restless and mischievous boy. When he grew up and both of them were drawn into the society of Death Eaters, he helped to revive the wounded comrades.
"Do they already know that I'm not on their side?"
"No, they don't even guess. They think that you are chasing me now. They are confident in your loyalty, you have arranged everything very well."
"By killing and torturing without hesitation."
She froze, but her face no longer reflected emotions as if a flap had slammed shut, into which he couldn't peep. Now she was collected, methodical and indifferent. He knew he would push her away. For some reason, he wanted to put up this barrier. Defending against some vague threat that came from her. Although at the same time he was ashamed.
He was not afraid to kill or torture, he was used to doing it back in the first war, when his loyalty did not raise questions. In fact, the fact that he knew how to heal helped him become one of the most dangerous Death Eaters. Knowing how the body functions, where the vital organs are located, what can kill a person quickly, what will bring a painful long death, and what will hurt, but save life - made him a master of torture and murder. He was never ashamed of it, but now he was uncomfortable with the thought of what a monster she must be seeing him.
"This is the price. And we have to pay it, otherwise there will be no hope," her measured tone calmed his doubts a little, but somewhere in the depths of her eyes, which were now avoiding looking at him, he caught a bitterness too deep and painful to hide.
He touched her hand, and she shuddered just like he did before. She almost pulled her hand out of his soft grip. She stared at him. The haunted expresion almost fascinated him, but it lasted only a short moment. Flash of consciousness, and then emptiness.
"I'm here. Together we will get through all our difficulties."
She sighed, "Then it's time for you to find out the truth."
Something inside his mind was moving predatory, something that wanted to point a wand at her and force her to force her to speak. Delusion.
'It must be a professional deformation,' he thought sadly. 'I am a monster, and she instinctively senses it.'
She told him everything: what they were doing all this time, why they had to leave everyone and hide for so long. They were working on killing the Dark lord, they were destroying pieces of his soul, enclosed in artifacts. Horcruxes that kept him alive.
"Why didn't you tell me anything before?"
"We were afraid that he would read your thoughts, do you remember?" she was an unusually insecure girl, there was always a timid doubt in her words. Perhaps she was right, he was good at occlumency, but certainly not as good as the Dark lord. But what would have happened if she had been killed and if she took this secret to the grave? Everything would be lost.
"And now why did you tell?"
"HE thinks that he won, that the war is over with the death of Harry, but he does not suspect that I know his secret. And that I am still alive, you will return to him and tell him that you killed me."
He examined himself: there was an ugly burn on his wrist, he did not remember how he got it, the clothes were dirty, there were no other visible injuries. His shoulder was healed, but his chest still hurt a little. And he definitely kicked his head. He caught the girl's eye, she was so upset and sad that he could not concentrate and catch something that eluded him. In one instant he thought about how talented she was, and in another, something predatory wanted to squeeze her thin neck in order to rip a cry of pain from her throat. He did not understand what was happening to him. Maybe the blow to the head damaged something in the brain. He decided a little later to check his health himself, without witnesses.
The girl looked no better than himself. Her clothes were dirty and torn in places, Muggle and unacceptable for a self-respecting witch. She herself was covered in blood, and a gnarled inscription of his wife's handwriting, it was bleeding.
'Mudblood' it was written there.
Overall, it seemed relatively intact. Considering she had to endure Bellatrix's torture, she got off easy. His crazy wife did not have time to do much of what she loved to do with her victims, and it was good.
It seems.