Time jump:

I woke up an hour before 6 am. Showering and changing, I got my trunks set and sat on the bed. Snape came to retrieve me 6 on the dot, simply ordering me to follow him. He didn't say anything after that. He wouldn't even glance my way. Although I was glad he didn't.

In the months I have been at the manor, I have spent it with Eva and Aaron. Snape was never around. And when he was, he went the extra mile to avoid me. Hell, Voldemort has shown me more attention. I have seen him show up on a few of my training sessions. Speaking with my instructor and then going on his way.

My training was nothing like that I have had before. Eva had upped the sessions to more dangerous potions and remedies. So to the point of being able to kill someone with a single drop. Aaron had moved my training from beyond the wand. He began teaching me how to use the bow and arrow and knives. His hand-to-hand combat had gotten much more physical, to the point of blood spilling. I still had bruises on my abdomen from the kicks and punches.

No one knew of my child. And I honestly wasn't thinking of letting anyone know. Hogwarts nurse had shown me a spell that keeps my belly hidden as it grows. With the expansion of my potion knowledge, I had been able to come up with one that helped protect my child during training. But that didn't stop the side effects. I haven't had a single morning without sickness. By now I suppose I was about three months in. It got me thinking about the moment when he or she would be born. I hope I was long gone from here and back with my husband, but if things don't pan out I needed a plan B. I needed to be sure I was safe when the time came. Wrapping my arms around my stomach, I sighed. 'No matter what I have to do.'

Hermione:

Hermione held a letter in her hand. She had been debating in to sending it or not. Harry and Ron didn't know as to her reason for leaving. In fact, no one did, with the exception of Sirius, Remus, the order, and her. Whenever she brought up the subject that was Athena, Harry was quick to shut it down. She understood, but it was frustrating, not able to say or do anything.

Crunching up the letter, she held it over the candle and watched it burn. Every letter she wrote, she burned. Never sending any of them out, just like all the other letters. Grabbing her toothbrush, she walked into the restroom, Frowning at hearing a familiar owl chirp.

Walking out of the room, she leaned over the banister. "Is that an owl I heard?"

"You haven't seen him have you?" Ginny asked. "Apparently he's wandering about the house."

"Really?"

"Really." Ron repeated.

"Harry!" Molly called at seeing Harry walking in.

"Harry!" Hermione bolted down the stairs, pulling him into a tight hug. "Hello!"

"What a lovely surprise!" Molly chuckled, pulling him into another hug. "Why didn't you let us know you were coming?" She pulled back, cupping his face.

"I didn't know. Dumbledore." Harry stuttered.

"Oh, that man." Molly laughed. "But then, what would we do without him?" Seeing the tired look on Harry's face, she ushered them back up to their room. "Go settle in, tomorrow is an early wake-up."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat on the floor around a small table. Harry used his wand to slowly burn a ball of newspaper.

"So, when did you get here?" Harry asked.

"A few days ago." Hermione answered. "Though for a while, I wasn't sure I was coming."

"Mum sort of lost it last week." Ron said. "Said Ginny and I had no business going back to Hogwarts. That it's too dangerous."

"Oh, come on." Harry scoffed.

"She's not alone." Hermione shrugged shyly. "Even my parents and they're Muggles, know something bad's happening."

"Anyway, dad stepped in, told her she was being barmy." Ron concluded. "And it took a few days, but she came around."

"But this is Hogwarts we're talking about. It's Dumbledore. What could be safer?" Harry said.

"There's been a lot of talk recently that, Dumbledore's gotten a bit old." Hermione said.

Harry pulled a face. "Rubbish! Well, he's only...what is he?"

Ron knitted his brows in thought. "Hundred and fifty? Give or take a few years."

The three burst out laughing, enjoying this small moment of carefreeness. That was until Ron asked the question Harry and Hermione were avoiding.

"Either of you spoken to Athena?"

Hermione stopped laughing slowly. Her mind wandering off to that moment in Diagonally. "No."

"I still can't believe she would do this." Ron scoffed. "I didn't believe it, but seeing her there today."

"Seeing her?" Harry asked. "You saw her? Where? When?"

"She was with Draco and some other ma-"

"Death eater." Ron snapped. "She was with Draco and a death eater."

"We don't know that Ron." Hermione snapped back. Ron leaned back with a huff, not wanting to get into the argument. "We didn't speak with her, Mrs. Weasly wouldn't let us."

"I don't blame her." Ron mumbled. "That was another reason as to why mum lost it. When she heard about Athena's betr-"

"Watch it, Ron." Hermione growled.

Ron rolled his eyes. "Well, what would you call it?"

"Anything, but that."

"Enough." Harry whispered. "I don't know why Athena would suddenly give up, but that won't stop us. Voldemort has to be stopped, even if that means fighting against her."'

Time jump:

I walked a few steps behind Snape. He had called for me at 6 on the dot. He didn't say much. Two words to be exact. 'Follow me.' Not sure where to, but at the moment I still wasn't talking to him. So following it was.

In fact, this was the first time I have seen him alone. Usually, he was with either Voldemort or Bellatrix. Hell, she was always around. Almost as if keeping an eye on him. Just thinking of that deranged witch, had my blood boiling.

A few days ago, she decided to give sparring a go. Told Aaron to back off, while she and I threw some spells around.

Flashback:

I groaned at hitting the cold marble floor once more. The sharp pain shooting up my back. 'That's going to leave another bruise.'

Aaron stood over me, with a disapproving look. "If I told you once, I told you twice. Always keep a lookout for your surroundings. You never know where the next hit might come from." He held his hand out for me. "Let's go again."

Taking his reached-out hand, I was pulled up to my feet. "Why is this helpful again?"

"You never know when you might need it." Aaron replied, throwing a combination of punches. "Remember, the muggle world can be very challenging. It doesn't hurt to be able to defend yourself."

I dodged the next set of punches, dropping down and swiping at his legs. The bastard jumped, just before I made contact. "When would I ever go to the muggle world anyways?"

Aaron paused for a moment. His brows knitted together for a moment. "You never know."

Using that moment of distraction, I leaped up, hooking my arms around his neck and dropping him to the ground. "Always watch your surroundings."

"Shit, that hurt." He rolled onto his back, panting for breath. "That was good."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"I've seen so much better than that." Bellatrix sauntered into the room, waving her wand around. "Amateur."

"Bellatrix." Aaron spoke to her in a warning tone. "You are not allowed in here."

"Relax Aaron, just wanted to see how the favorite child is coming along." She sneered walking circles around me.

"If you don't step away from me, I will gladly evaporate you from this earth." I held my spot, watching her step back with a wider grin. "Are we done with training today?"

Aaron nodded, tossing me a towel. "Don't forget we are leaving in two hours. Make sure you eat and shower."

"I know the drill." I turned to leave, only to have the witch stand in my way. "Move."

"I am actually here for a reason." She said. "Let's have a battle."

"No." Aaron snapped.

"Just a tiny innocent little one."

I shook my head, taking a step back. "No."

"That's a shame." She mumbled. "I suppose you are just as weak as we all know you are."

Aaron was quick to stop my hand from raising. "Why do you care for her training. It's not like she is any of your concern. The lord has given his order and I doing just that."

"So am I." She laughed. "He wants me to test her out. You know a test run."

"If that was the case he would have sent someone less...deranged." I spat.

Aaron choked on his laugh. "Enough Athena." Getting a shrug in return, he turned his attention back to Bellatrix. Who at the moment was glaring at me. "Fine, if that's what the Lord wants. Then so be it."

Bellatrix jumped as a child would after getting their way. "Perfect!"

Aaron had warned me to keep it non-lethal. To simply use disarming and defense spells. He didn't want her to know what I knew and didn't know. But that all went out the window the moment we started. She went straight to the attack. Throwing spells after spells. I was barely able to keep up my defenses. I had attempted to throw an attack, but one look from Aaron made me think twice.

Bellatrix threw a blast spell sending me into the wall. "Fuck."

"Alright, that enough." Aaron stood between us, blocking Bella from trying anything.

The witch shrugged. "I got what I needed. She's as weak as a mud-blood."

"Say that again." I growled.

Aaron helped up his hand, shaking his head. "Stand down."

"We did it your way, now it's my way." Shrugging him off, I took my spot a few feet away from her. "I am not going to hold back." Not waiting for her to reply, I just went off. Attack after attack, keeping her on the defensive. Picking up the speed, she began to falter on the blocks. Sending a combination of three spells, sent her on her ass.

'Holy shit that felt good.'

'Serves her right.'

'She deserves so much more than that.'

'Then show her.'

'What?'

'Make her pay for what she has done.'

Seeing Bellatrix stand, I narrowed my eyes towards her. 'No.'

'She killed your lover. Caused his pain. Made him suffer-made you suffer.'

She was right, this witch was the main cast in ruining my life. Still though. 'I can't kill her.' Yet as I repeated those words, it all became a blur. That anger and desperation I felt that night came tumbling back.

The desperation of not able to save him.

The fear of losing him.

The anger towards her for taking him from me.

The agony of seeing him dead.

"Athena!" A pair of arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me away from the spot. My wand was ripped out of my hand. "That's enough!"

I blinked a few times, not understanding what had happened. Hearing a low whimper, my eyes fell on the unconscious form of Bellatrix. I recalled what I did. I knew I was doing it and I knew it was wrong. But I couldn't care.

I didn't care.

Aaron had two other wizards take her back to her room. "What the hell was that?!"

I shrugged my shoulders, crossing my arms. "She refuses to go non-lethal. I just attacked back."

"You were torturing her Athena!" Aaron growled. "Almost killed her had I not stopped you."

"She deserves that and so much more Aaron."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know what she did to Black alright. But whether you like it or not, you both are on the same side."

"I must say, I never thought you had it in." Voldemort walked into the room.

Aaron did a quick bow. "My lord."

"I am rather impressed." He circled around me, taking my wand in his pale hand. "Using one of the three on someone."

"I understand I did wrong, won't happen again." I gritted my teeth.

Voldemort laughed. "But on the contrary my child, I want you to keep doing it!"

"What?"

"I want you to become what I know you will." He chuckled, placing his hands on my shoulder. "You were meant to become so much more. This proves my point."

Aaron clenched his fist. "Sir, she is not ready."

"From what I witness, she more than ready." He sneered.

I shook my head. "I didn't mean to do that."

"Oh, but you did." He laughed. "I saw it in your eyes. You wanted to take her life. Make her suffer. You enjoyed that power. The power to take someone's life and feel no remorse." Grabbing my chin, he forced me to look up at him. "With me, you will get that power."

End of flashback:

In a way he was right. I had enjoyed seeing her squirm and beg for her life. Feeling that power over someone gave you a rush. Especially if that someone had it coming.

"You must learn to control your emotions." Snape spoke.

I glanced up. "Meaning?"

"I heard about your training session." He said. "Who do you think had to heal her."

"Should have let her suffer." I mumbled.

Snape stopped, turning around to face me. "That. That's what I am talking about. Athena, you are not someone that seeks violence. You were never this aggressive."

"The fact that you think you know me so well, is quite hilarious." I said. "I adapt to survive."