Hey all! I apologize for not updating sooner, I am currently plotting out the next few chapters, so hopefully, I should have it up by next week.

I really appreciate the comments and questions that you have submitted!

So, without further ado, Enjoy!


Chapter 8

Hermione wasn't really paying attention as to where she was being led to, but what she did know was the with each step, it was getting harder and harder to stay upright. By the time they reached their destination, the Black sisters were half carrying her to keep her from collapsing. Upon entrance, Hermione took note that the room seemed to be the home version of Hogwarts' hospital wing. Bellatrix and Narcissa led her over to the closest bed. After having her sit down, Bellatrix set out to find bandages and wrappings, while Narcissa went to an ornate cabinet to grab a few potions and a medicated healing salve. As they were running around, Hermione spoke up for the first time since leaving the library. "Do you think it is wise to leave those three alone, especially Harry?" Both sisters looked towards her with amused curiosity.

"Why would you ask that?" asked Bellatrix.

Looking at the older sister, Hermione simply raised an eyebrow. "Well, besides the obvious past that Vol—" the sisters flinched at the slip, "the Dark Lord and Harry share, even in his best of times, Harry is a bit of a rash person; he doesn't think first. And as for the Dark Lord, I have been told about his proclivity of torturing his followers, but I'm sure that must have been a lie that we were just spoon fed," Hermione finished dejectedly.

Nodding in understanding, Bellatrix walked over, having finally found the bandages and wrappings. "Jacket. Off," Bellatrix not so sternly demanded, causing the teen to blush. Smirking as the girl shyly took off her hoodie, the dark witch spoke once more. "And to answer your question," she motioned for the girl to lift up her arms—to which Hermione did so—and then proceeded to unwrap the auburn-haired witch's torso. "It's probably not the wisest of decisions to make, but you needed to be tended to, and that conversation they need to have has been a long time coming. There are things that Harry needs to understand, as do you, but, regardless…" Bellatrix answered offhandedly while she finished her unwrapping.

As the onyx-eyed witch gathered the soiled bandages, Narcissa approached with the salve and potions. "Well, if they do get into a duel in there, I am glad to say that I was forward thinking enough to place protective charms on the books. It would be a travesty if I have to go replace most of them, while the rest will be lost forever." Narcissa had simply spoken with a seemingly unconcerned tone. Hermione stared at her with bewilderment and sent the witch an incredulous stare. That was until she saw the playful smirk and twinkling eyes. Hermione couldn't help herself but laugh at the cheeky witch's statement and laughed until she started coughing and clutching her abdomen once again. As soon as her small coughing fit ceased, Narcissa—who had been rubbing circles on the girl's back—spoke up again. "Hermione, drink this potion down, it's a muscle relaxant. With having your muscles to loosen up, it will help speed up the healing process." Hermione readily consumed the potion and all of the spasms that were dancing across her midsection ceased. "Good, now I will be giving you more potions later but for right now lay down, Bella is going to run a few diagnostic spells to see what the damage is."


The tension in the library was permeating every corner and engulfed the three current occupants. Sirius has been uncharacteristically nervous since the three witches left to attend to Hermione's wound. The Black wizard wasn't nervous for being in the presence of the Dark Lord, in fact, he wasn't scared either. Sirius Black was concerned and nervous over the impending duel that he was sure to break out due to his godson's brash actions. He was looking back and forth between the Dark Lord and his godson as if he was watching a tennis match. They were currently just staring at each other; Harry was glaring daggers at the dark wizard whereas the Dark Lord was looking at the boy with mild amusement. Finally breaking the silence, Harry sneered, "I don't know what Madam Malfoy was referring to, but I don't care what you have to say, that won't change anything that you have done to me or my family. Because of you, I lost my parents! My godfather spent twelve years in Azkaban because of your little rat! I grew up and still being abused by the Dursleys! You killed Cedric! And because of you, Hermione was almost killed! There is nothing that you could possibly say that would change all of that!" Harry was seething while breathing heavily after his very loud outburst.

The Dark Lord lost all sense of amusement in his expression, favoring for a rather calm, yet expressionless look. The only indication of response was the rise of a hairless eyebrow. He sent a fleeting glance over to the dark wizard sitting to his right before returning his gaze back to the unhinged young wizard sitting across from him. His lack of verbal response only led to Harry becoming more and more enraged by the murderer. Abruptly, the boy stood up again, jutting out his wand only to have it fly out of his hand to the clutches of his godfather. Sirius was remained seated in a very calm demeanor but by the expression on his face, Harry could tell he was vexed by the boy's continuous lack of control. "That is enough. I have warned you twice now about brandishing your wand. Now sit down like the civilized boy that I know you to be." Despite the calm and almost soft tone of the Black wizard's words, Harry froze at the ice that laced them. Finally, after receiving a glare and a raised eyebrow from his godfather, he sat down with as much petulance as he could muster.

As he sat down, Harry promptly lowered his head in slight embarrassment and shame from Sirius' reprimand, but he also didn't want to see the smug smile that he was sure the Dark Lord was sporting. However, His expressionless look remained the same but growing tired of the boy's antics, he coughed to get Harry's attention. Once their eye contact locked, Voldemort spoke with an even tone. "I can only assume the anguish you are currently experiencing and can understand the anger that you are still throwing at me, but dear boy it is misplaced."

Even though he remained seated, Harry's eyes blazed with fury, "How?! How could it possibly be misplaced?! I was there, I saw you kill Cedric. I saw you there at the Ministry and your command over the death eaters. Are you telling me that my eyes have betrayed me and forced myself to witness something else?"

"Yes, Harry, your hatred and anger towards me are misplaced. I do not apologize or deny my actions at that graveyard or at the Ministry, however, you do not understand the premise behind these events. And if you have such an issue with my death eaters, then pray to tell me why are you here having a conversation with the most infamous death eater of them all, the mistress of torture, the torturer of Mr. Longbottom's parents." Again, the Dark Lord raised a hairless eyebrow but also sent the boy a pointed look.

Harry was affronted by the question that was disguised as a statement. His mind froze, trying to come up with a viable excuse to cover his 'hatred' for his inner circle but also knew that is was pointless for he was sitting here, having a conversation with the dark witch. "I…uh…umm…I…I came here for Hermione."

"And why would you do that if your supposed hatred for myself and my inner circle apparently runs deeper than your compassion for your friend?"

It was a pointed question that called to question Harry's hypocritical actions. Sighing, Harry's shoulders slumped downwards, "Because she's my best friend—sister actually—and despite my feelings, she has a right a figure out her dreams and her apparent connection with Bellatrix. And I will support her, even if no one else will. After everything we have gone through, after everything she has done for me, this is the least that I could do for her." His eyes drifted down towards the table that was sitting before him. As he finished his answer, his thoughts drifted towards his injured sister, an injury that was caused by his foolishness.

"Then for your friend, for Hermione, give me the time to explain as to why your feelings are misplaced." The Dark Lord's even tone, some might even dare to say soft, startled the teen wizard, causing my him to snap his eyes up to the serpentine figure. Reluctant and wary, Harry nonetheless tentatively nodded at the request. "Good. Now, firstly to address my actions in the graveyard and in the Ministry. As I have already told you, I do not apologize, nor do I wish to take back or redo them. In reference to Mr. Diggory's death, he was but a casualty but not one that I regret. It actually gave me a small bit of glee." Harry instantly glared at the man, and even though he did not say anything, both the Dark Lord and Sirius could see him already reaffirming himself in his hatred for the pasty imposing wizard. "Before you continue with your preconceived notions, it was not glee out of a senseless murder of a student, but rather a glee of a small bit of retribution for the murder of your parents, Harry."

To say that the boy was shocked by this proclamation does not even equate to the emotion that he was feeling. He couldn't help but feel a flurry of emotions. "Why would you seek retribution for the murders that you committed? Cedric wasn't even involved, he would have been like…four years old at the time."

"Well, that is because, I wasn't the one to murder your parents, and it wasn't Cedric who was involved, but it was his father, Amos, who I assume you have already met," the Dark Lord shifted his gaze over to Sirius, who nodded his head in confirmation. Harry looked about to comment on the Dark Lord's statement, but He held up his hand to halt any words that were bubbling in the boy's mouth. "It was no lie that I was present that night of their deaths, as well as present for their deaths, but I was not there to kill them. In fact, I was there to ensure their safety and discuss your prophecy with them. However, just as we were finishing up our conversation, your parents' real murderer showed up, having silently entered their home."

Harry was confused, this explanation, contrasted the story that everyone in Wizarding Britain had heard. "If what you say is true, who killed them? And how was Mr. Diggory involved?"

"It is known that James and Lily's death and yours were planned, but it was not I who planned it, but it was planned by your illustrious Headmaster and a select few of his precious Order, including, Amos Diggory, who was and secretly still is a part of the Order. And it was Dumbledore himself who killed your parents and caused my actions that gave you that scar."

Harry froze but quickly resorted himself, "How? How could Dumbledore be responsible for my parents' deaths and the scar that you gave me?!"

This clearly amused the Dark Lord, but it was not him who spoke up. "Oh, come now, Harry, after everything Cissy and Bella have told you and Hermione, do you truly believe that Albus would be incapable of murdering a family and setting a baby up for a dangerous and potentially deadly journey?" Harry opted to not retort to the really amused, yet serious question.

"As Sirius has asked you, it is not hard to believe the capability of that old man. I mean after everything you—and Hermione—have been through since you were infants, all of the trials you were put through throughout your stay at Hogwarts, the placement of Wormtail as your parents' secret keeper instead of Sirius, his continuous placement of you with your abusive Aunt and Uncle despite knowing that your godfather had escaped. And as for Hermione's almost death, your Headmaster made no actions to stop a bunch of teens from raiding the Ministry to steal a glowing orb despite knowing that it was going to happen. And since I was there for their unfortunate deaths, I can provide you the memory to prove my statement, however, I don't think you would want to see that."

After Voldemort's explanation, Harry just sat in silence, he didn't how to respond or what to even think. The man that has provided a grandfather like figure for him and who offered advice and answers over these past five years was the man who killed his parents and caused the life journey that he was forced to go through. That was very hard to swallow. But everything that he has heard today made some semblance of sense. Everything the Dark Lord has told him, did happen, and if it wasn't for Sirius' intervention at the beginning of summer, he would be back at the house on Privet Drive, suffering and starving, again. And on the added fact that Voldemort was willing to show him the memory of that night. But there was one question that he had left. "Everything that you have said make sense, and it puts everything into perspective, however, I do have one more question."

The Dark Lord nodded his head in understanding, "go ahead."

"You said that Dumbledore was the one who led you into giving me my scar, how so?"

He had been expecting this question, anticipating it actually. "During that fateful moment, where your mother died protecting you, Dumbledore had aimed his wand at you to kill you, or at least make it seem like he was going to kill you. It was as if he was anticipating her reaction in jumping in front of that curse. I, in turn, sent the killing curse at him, but he rebounded the curse in the perfect angle that it struck you, destroying myself and cursing yourself."

Resigning himself from all feelings of hatred and anguish at the serpentine wizard, instead favoring a more depressive state. "Okay," came his soft reply, but both of the wizards sitting opposite of him could see the rising, but quiet, rage that was building in the boy from the actions of his former beloved headmaster. Harry simply didn't know how to respond.