Warning for every chapter: Slavery. Dubious consent. Violence. Mentions of rape. Death. Assault. General gore warnings. Child abuse. Please read responsibly.

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters and no money has been made from this.

Enjoy...

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Eyes watering, she wraps the scarf around her nose and mouth, muttering small incarnations. It will protect her from the smoke and chemicals for a short time. The air is thick, with no light from the sun. Rubble lines the streets, a war zone.

Blinkingly, she looks around trying to figure out where she has landed. Trying to find a landmark amongst the destruction. A siren is sounding, a nearby factory the alert of a chemical leak.

She tastes iron in her mouth swallowing she notices witches and wizards' first responders running towards the burning factories. Screaming, people are screaming, buildings are destroyed. The air is thick, bodies lay along the ground. She spots a sign, a shop, she's a street away from the church.

The morning's paper blow across the street, Luna's last hurrah lost amongst the destruction. Is this the Dark Lord's actions? Has he already struck the church? Shaking her head, she moves, heading towards the church. Something trickles down her back, the apparating has opened the wounds on her back.

Gritting her teeth, she ignores the pain, focusing on finding Luna. Diving to the side she narrowly avoids being trampled by a crowd of scared muggles running for safety. Chest heaving, she watches them run in the opposite direction. Scattering everyone is running in different directions, the smoke is playing tricks on the minds.

We need to hurry. She doesn't need telling twice moving from the safety of the alleyway, she steps out into the empty street. Frowning at the fire down the street another fire further up the road. The wind isn't high enough to cause the fires to jump buildings so how is it spreading so quickly?

The clang of a bell makes her jump as the tower containing the bells falls, crashing heavily against the ground. The decorations hang torn from the wedding in disarray and destruction. In the open courtyard, the chairs were lined ready for the big day. It was meant to be hot today, the wedding would have been beautiful. The archway is decorated with flowers now wilted under the heat.

A body collides with her, making them both stumble backwards. She clutches the side of a building to keep herself upright. Screaming, people rush past her, she barely manages to stay out of their way as they rush to safety. Groaning, she pushes away from the wall a flash of blonde. Luna? No not Luna.

"Granger?" Draco he's pushing from the ground the one who collided with her. "The hell you doing here Granger?"

"Could ask you the same?"

"The wedding," Draco mutters, pushing away, he drags Hermione from the entrance of the church away from fleeing patrons. "I got an invite. Is my aunt here?"

"Ugh, no." Hermione shakes her head flinching as a ball of fire flares in the distance. "What's happening?"

"Who knows, one minute we're getting ready for the service next there's chaos."

"Luna, have you seen her?"

"That's why you're here?" He realises. "No, she hasn't arrived yet."

"The Quibbler," Hermione realises looking down the street to the alleyway leading to the quibbler.

"Lestrange wants us to evacuate this side!" A voice shouts gaining her attention.

Dolohov leads a group of aurors leading civilians to safety. Bickering amongst themselves Dolohov and Crouch Jr, fighting over who should be doing what.

"She crazy?" Crouch argues. "The place is burning we should get out of here."

"Hey, pull yourself together, we evacuate the civilians."

"Where the brothers?" Crouch demands.

"The Dark Lord has sent them on an errand."

"Great timing."

Luna, the Dark Lord has sent the brothers to deal with Luna. Swallowing Hermione looks back the other way, towards the quibbler. Luna will be there getting ready, but Bellatrix has arrived in the thick of the fire.

"We need to go." Draco orders, grabbing Hermione's arm and dragging her.

"No," Hermione replies breaking the grip. "Luna."

"Fine, we'll grab Luna on the way out."

"No, Draco, no. They're going to kill her."

"What Lovegood?"

"She's the leak, the Dark Lord has sent the Lestrange brothers to deal with her." Running a hand through her hair, Hermione glances back the way towards the Aurors.

"Well shit."

"You need to warn her." Hermione reasons.

"Me?"

"I'm needed elsewhere."

"I'm not…"

"Draco, it's Luna please, just get to her before the brothers do."

"Where are you going?"

"My mistress needs me."

Despite everything, she still cares deeply for her mistress. She needs to help Bellatrix, she would never forgive herself if something happened to Bellatrix. Draco is intent on arguing as Hermione backs away.

"Please, you owe me, check on Luna. Make sure she gets to safety."

"And if my uncle is already there?" Draco questions, a flash of fear on his face.

If Lord Lestrange is already there, the likelihood Luna is alive is slim to none. There will be no saving the witch if the brothers have already made it.

"Just do what you can, please."

"Hermione." She pauses turning to him annoyed. "Be careful,"

"You, too."

A silent understanding passed between them a new friendship. Smiling, she turns to leave Draco to his task, turning her attention to the advancing Aurors. Deep breath, she jogs towards them, holding a hand up as wands turn to point at her.

"Identify yourself!" Dolohov shouts.

Pausing, Hermione frowns how can they not recognise her? She forgets she's wearing a scarf and a top that's too big for her. Slowly, she moves the scarf revealing her crest for identification. A curious glance between Dolohov and Crouch.

"Red Kite," Dolohov greets with a frown. "You're a long way from home."

"Where is Lady Lestrange?" Hermione asks ignoring the jibe.

"Lost your mistress," Crouch chuckles sneering.

"You will lose your tongue if you continue," Hermione snaps at the wizard making him flinch.

A silence falls amongst the Aurors as they look amongst themselves confused by Hermione's behaviour. Crouch is torn between cursing her and laughing. She doesn't have time for their stupidness or time to waste.

"I don't have time for blank stares, it's a simple question. Where is my mistress? Or has the smoke rendered you all stupid?"

"I'm going to render something stupid…"

Flushing with anger, she curses the wizard before he can even speak another word. Sending him hurtling to the nearest wall, wand still dormant in her hand, her runes twirl and dance beneath the skin. Stepping forward, she turns her attention to Dolohov.

"My mistress?"

"Gringotts." He states bewildered.

"Thank you."

Not sparing a second glance, she runs past the Aurors, catching the mutterings from Crouch. She shouldn't have hexed him, but it doesn't matter. She knows she's not returning from this alive, she may as well enjoy the moment.

Breathless, she stops staring in shock. Gringotts is gone. Swallowing, she staggers forward, to where the impressive building once stood. Ripped apart, the building torn in two, the remains are in flames. The nearby buildings are either burnt out or still burning. The source of the fire must have started here. What has Andromeda done?

Shaking her head, she turns from the destruction, searching for any sign of her mistress, searching for Andromeda. Is Mrs Yaxley still here? Or has she gone? Did her mistress remain to put out the fire?

The blackened bodies of the goblins strewn across the street, she steps over them carefully. The smell, makes her want to heave as the heat makes her shiver. A flash catches her attention, moving she tries to avoid the dead as she heads towards the noise. The multitude of colours dance below the smoke.

Swirling two infernos unleashing pent-up emotion, the robes blurring into one. The duel makes the ground shake and the remains of the buildings shudder. The hatred is much hotter than the fire that ravages the city.

It's as though fighting a reflection, identical almost, in their stance, their fighting. The looks, almost impossible to tell the difference between the sisters. Clutching her wand, Hermione considers intervening, but she struggles to tell them apart.

"What now Dromeda?" Lestrange's voice breaks over the sound of the duelling.

"Now? Now I find my child."

"What run away live happily ever after?" Lestrange sneers.

Hermione flinches as a spell collides with Lestrange's shield, ducking aside as the brick from a building falls. A shadow flickers overhead, making Hermione duck wondering if Andromeda isn't alone. Nothing, there's nothing there. Frowning, Hermione wonders if the chemicals are finally getting to her.

"Shit." Lestrange's voice snaps her back to the duel.

A section of the ground has shifted giving away beneath Lestrange throwing her backwards, her foot trapped. Balancing precariously a sharp drop to a raging fire below. A hand clutching the wall, her wand hand holding to a melted lamppost, trying to prevent her from falling in. Andromeda is moving as she gains the upper hand in a duel, Lestrange barely able to hold her shield trying to find her footing.

"Go to hell!" Andromeda hisses her hand arches, the bombarda flares, it scorches barrelling towards the defenceless Bellatrix.

Crack, it hits an invisible shield, furious crazed eyes turn from Bellatrix to Hermione. Wand held aloft; Hermione meets those dark eyes. Andromeda is pure malice, turning her attention from Bellatrix moving to Hermione, wand ready.

"You!" Andromeda hisses, furious. "You don't quit do you?"

She wants to yell, scream at the witch, but her anger has rendered her mute. Her wand is moving, the spell is flaring as her arm snaps. Spitting attack after attack at the surprised witch, who moves to deflect. Her spells crash against her barrier, each one more intense, stronger than the last. The wand in her hand trembles, not used to her magic, not strong enough to wield it. She doesn't relent, Angelina's death on repeat in her mind.

"Granger," Lestrange shouts her name, but she ignores the warning.

A shout, fury, the spell throws her backwards, but she manages to find her footing. Turning back to Andromeda who advances, Lestrange works tirelessly to free her trapped foot.

"I am going to enjoy killing you," Andromeda promises.

"Back at ya,"

With a flash of annoyance, their spells clash as the house next to her crumbles, spitting rubble everywhere. A brick clips her arm, and a shard of glass catches Andromeda's arm. Neither witch breaks the spell. The smoke above circles, their spells coursing a vortex sucking the oxygen out of the area.

Pop. Her ears blow as the spell throws both witches to their knees, stumbling from their feet. Burning, her hand is burning, cursing, Hermione stares down at the burnt-out wand in her hand, splintered apart. So hot, it's melted her flesh, with a groan she pulls the wand from her hand, holding back a shout of pain as it rips the skin.

"A fool's mistake." Andromeda goads moving closer smiling down at Hermione.

Glaring up at the witch, Hermione cradles her hand, when a flick of light catches her attention. Her satchel was on the ground by her feet, the strap broke during their fight.

"I hope you're watching dear sister?" Andromeda calls.

Glancing up, Hermione meets those dark eyes, flinching as the curse hits Andromeda's shield. Lestrange pulling at her leg, if the witch isn't careful, she will dislocate her foot. The sorting hat, she spots it in her satchel, a flicker of light. She reaches for the bag, Andromeda too busy glaring at Bellatrix to notice.

Her hand curls around a handle she heaves the sword free from the satchel. She wields the sword, swinging the sword towards Andromeda. Two fingers fall to the ground Andromeda cursing holding her wand hand aloft. Ring finger and pinkie sliced off. Hermione charges the witch barging the witch with her shoulder throwing Andromeda backwards.

Andromeda barely dodges the next swing, the sword catching her hair. A curse from the witch, as she tries to grab her fallen wand. Ching. The sword catches the ground in front of the wand, cursing Andromeda rolls backwards. Panting the witch glares at Hermione, holding her bleeding hand aloft.

"The fuck did you get that?" Andromeda demands.

"Sword of Gryffindor," Hermione pants, holding the sword aloft. "Comes to those in need."

"Your not a Griffindor, fuck."

Diving, Hermione narrowly misses impaling the witch, an elbow to Hermione's face. She barely flinches booting Andromeda who stumbles backwards. Hand tight around the handle she stares down at Andromeda currently scuttling backwards, hands held aloft.

"Okay, okay, Bella call your hound off," Andromeda shouts.

"Oh no," Hermione snaps before Bellatrix can reply. "She won't save you."

Swallowing, Andromeda turns to Bellatrix, but Hermione doesn't take her eyes off the snake. She misjudged Andromeda before she won't do it again. Holding the sword aloft, she aims it straight for the witch's heart the fear on the witch's face.

A roar makes her flinch, she ducks moving backwards from Andromeda, looking up to the sky. With a flap of its wings, Hermione drops low glancing back to Andromeda who is staring at the passing creature. A dragon, there's a dragon. Pop, the air breaks apart, a burst of fire erupting from the dragon's lips it strikes a far away building which blows apart from the force. A chain hanging from the dragon's neck swoops above. Where did a Dragon come from?

"Granger!"

Stab.

The sword falls from her hands, the air ripped from her lungs she staggers backwards. Andromeda panting, glaring, a smile on the witch's face. Looking down, Hermione tentatively touches the rebar protruding from her ribs. Her lips move but the words fail, she only manages to cough up blood.

Moving closer, Andromeda scoops her wand from the ground. Stumbling backwards, Hermione tries to catch her breath, agony from each try. The wand is pointing.

"First rule of a fight," Andromeda smiles. "Never take your eyes off your opponent."

She chokes on the blood falling backwards, every breath is agony. She tries to put distance between herself and the advancing witch. Clutching the rebar, she considers pulling it out, but without a wand, she wouldn't be able to stop the bleeding.

Crack, a flash of light. Hermione collapses backwards staring up at the smoke in the sky. The sun is unable to break free. Saved from Andromeda by Bellatrix breaking free, the spells crashing colliding in the air. Crawling backwards, Hermione tries to move away, from the dream, so similar to the dream.

Stopping, Hermione stares at a figure standing amongst the destruction of buildings, handheld aloft. She notices two others near them, squinting she tries to identify them. The dragon swoops above them as she waits for the fireball. Nothing. It lands perching on the side of the building roaring into the air. The unmovable figure, eyes blank. His controlling the dragon. In a blink, the dragon shakes its head with a flap of its wings it moves, the wings pushing away from the building bursting through the smoke it vanishes into the sky.

Lowering their hands the figure, shuffles his robe, pausing eyes meeting Hermione's. Breaking eye contact he moves with the others heading the other way. The building next to her blows apart, covering her face she flinches as parts of the building pelt her body.

A box grabs her attention, trampled on the ground, the contents spilt out on the ground. Slowly, she reaches for the burnt paper a name scribbled. The rest of the paper is burnt or disfigured by the soot. Tonks. Pocketing the note she turns back to the duelling witches.

NO! A gasp. NO! Pushing to her feet, Hermione stumbles, blood pooling from her wound. She rushes back to the two witches. Impaled. A curved wand falls to the ground. The witch stumbles to her knees impaled. The sword pierced between chest bones.

"NO!" She grabs the nearest item, a brick that she hurtles at Andromeda.

Bellatrix, she's killed Bellatrix. There may be time to save the witch, she can still see her breathing. Lifting another, she throws the brick, it catches the witch on the shoulder. Flinching, the witch turns, narrowly avoiding a second brick. Her runes are pulsing, she will cover the earth with the witch's blood for touching Bellatrix.

A hand grabs Hermione's arm, preventing another brick, her runes raging. She can barely breathe, trying to break from the grip.

"Stop, Granger, stop. It's me. It's me."

Breathless, the brick falls from Hermione's hand as she stares at the witch in front of her. Bellatrix? Bruised, it's very much Bellatrix standing in front of her. Her hand presses against the gash on the witch's face.

"Bella." The whisper of a word.

Turning, Bellatrix releases Hermione, she plucks her wand from the ground, staring at her sister gasping her last breaths. Pleading brown eyes staring at her sister a hand reaching out, looking for help.

"Please."

Blood trickles from the witch's lips, her jaw working but the words fail her. Stepping forward, Bellatrix kneels next to her sister just out of reach of her hands.

"My daughter."

"Is dead," Bellatrix hisses. "You saw for yourself, she's dead. This was all for nothing."

"No. It wasn't." A grin, the crimson liquid slipping from pale lips. "This is just the beginning. I just used them for… my own gain. I told them everything…"

Glee those hazel eyes dance in glee.

"You just thought I was a drug addict," A laugh, blood spitting from her lips. "You made it so easy for me to disappear. All those rehab trips… Dear sister, you made this all so easy."

"I paid for your rehab."
"You paid for nothing… I only did drugs in front of you. Hah, wish you could see your face. That money, it went towards something much more important."

The gaze slips to Hermione, red teeth flashing. Swallowing, Hermione shrinks unnerved by the witch.

"You…" A whisper Andromeda staring at Hermione. "You… At least you die. They will be happy."

"Who?" Hermione demands.

With a smile, Hermione moves forward jarring the rebar in her side, she pulls Bellatrix away. The glass swiped inches from Bellatrix's throat, one last attempt by Andromeda. Angry, Bellatrix rises to her feet, glaring down at her sister.

"Say hi to father." Bellatrix hisses.

The smile falls from Andromeda's face, a foot lashes out. Kicking the hilt of the sword shoving it deeper into her sister's chest. A gargle a look of surprise, the foot pushes, shoving. Driving the sword all the way through until the hilt remains and the steel of the sword protrudes from Andromeda's back.

One last breath, eyes blank, Andromeda stills. Dead. Bellatrix panting, a single tear breaking free, it tracks down her cheek. Swallowing, Hermione looks away, clutching her wound.

"We need to go," Hermione states breathlessly.

The words snap the witch from her thoughts, turning to Hermione, her eyes falling to the rebar. A hand moves gently against Hermione's side, checking the wound. Too distracted by the colour filtering in the sky. The chemicals are leaking, she can feel her scarf long since lost. Her throat is burning, they need to escape if they stay any longer there will be irreversible damage.

"We need to go."

"Your side," Bellatrix mutters moving her wand.

"Bellatrix," Hermione snaps grabbing the witch's wrist. "We need to leave now."

Turning, she doesn't wait for an answer she pulls the witch along, catching the hiss. Glancing back, she notices Bellatrix is hobbling her ankle twisted at an angle.

"Your ankle."

"Had to snap it to break free," Bellatrix replies. "It'll heal."

She feels heavy, the blood lost the chemicals burning in the air. Struggling for breath she stumbles, flinching as a hand grabs her arm. Lifting Hermione's arm over her shoulders, Lestrange supports Hermione's weight moving them along.

A single look back Andromeda remains almost a statue perched above the town. It's eerie, the silence and the smoke. She's falling behind, Bellatrix carrying her more than helping. She's slowing them down. Can tell by the way Bellatrix is struggling to breathe the chemical in the air, it's burning their throats.

Gasping, her body is blazing, exertion, falling to her knees. Eyes watering, she can barely see, the chemicals in the air burning her iris. Stumbling, her knees scrape across the ground, shouting. Bellatrix is ordering her to move, to get up. Her hand clutches her wound, it's wet and sticky the red paining her side.

Heavy, she feels so heavy, hands are holding her up, moving her. Crunch, she flinches. A large chunk of brickwork narrowly missing her, makes them stumble backwards. Falling collapsing onto her back, the blood is pulsing between her fingers. Her head is buzzing, fizzy she feels woozy. Coughing, liquid drips from her lips, and she rolls coughing up the blood, spitting it on hard ground. Hands are pulling, tugging trying to move her.

It's with horror, she realises this is it. All her dreams, her fears for this moment, Bellatrix is kneeling next to her, lips moving. Ordering Hermione to get up, to move. There's a flicker of red in the witch's eyes, the chemicals are burning her.

Hermione can barely catch her breath, her chest is burning, and her feet struggle to stand. She's lost too much blood the adrenaline has left her empty and exhausted. A shake of her head stopping the hands from pulling her up. With a smile, she meets those dark eyes.

"Granger, get up."

Bellatrix is too distracted she hasn't noticed the dragon sweeping above, the down thrust of its wings. Not a church, she had assumed from the glass it was a church. No, a part of the astronomy tower from the divination shop, it's breaking off.

The ground is shaking, the sky is roaring. She is barely able to catch her breath, it's like fire in her chest. A terrifying loud noise, it's deafening, the dragon, it makes Bellatrix flinch wand drawn. Distracted from the falling remains of the tower that's crumbling.

"I'm sorry," Hermione gasps.

Confused black eyes, turn to her, hand held aloft the last remaining strength. With the pulse of her runes, an invisible force throws Bellatrix backwards. Away from the danger, safe. Bellatrix is safe.

No time to run. She closes her eyes runes pulsing beneath her skin as the shadow engulfs her. Shouting, Bellatrix is shouting.

Crunch.

The tower misses her Bellatrix has managed to run and tackle her out of harm's way. Away from the debris of the tower. Panting, safe in the witch's arms, a manic grin. They cannot apparate doing so could move the rebar in Hermione's side, could cause it to impale her heart. Strong arms are lifting her, bridal style, Bellatrix carrying her to safety…

It's a lie. There was no last-minute save.

Something is breaking. Pain sends shockwaves through her. Stopping. Nothing there's nothing. No pain, no nothing. The tower crushed her. Her heart is no longer bleeding she is no longer crying, numb. Only darkness, blissful darkness, takes everything away, she welcomes it with open arms.