Authors Note:
Before we start this, I actually liked the way Molly Weasley beat Bellatrix. It was awesome. I admit I watched the movie and didn't read the book. (shrugs) Its not important, but I did like the scene in the move, however something sat strangely with me. How did a housewife beat a crazed Death Eater who was possibly one of the best duelers on the Continent?
So... introducing my trial Narcissa. I will be writing a very different Bella. A Haunted, tortured, nearly lifeless Bella. I can write her mad as a hatter but has anyone written her as if she was purged, and left listless in the world? Not sure, but I'll give it a shot.
Also I really like the dynamic of my Draco and Hermione.
I hope everyone enjoys
Snow
For Narcissa her life was a constant state of whirls. Some whirls were small and basic hiccups in life. Some whirls were of a medium grain and completely welcome. Then some whirls were monumental to the point she often wondered why when it rained it poured on her. There was a presence at the far reaches of her mind. Her magic telling her something was wrong. Then she realized it was one of the wards. It wasn't a ward for Malfoy Manor, no it was one of the other estates. She called a house elf, and then grasped her wand in her hand. She apparated to the property and narrowed her eyes as she felt eyes watching her. Narcissa told the house elf to conceal itself and she held her wand at the ready and slowly advanced on the building.
She walked through her childhood home. It was dusty, not well taken care of but the magic of their bloodline kept the property from becoming decrepit. She saw a warm glow from the library, and she walked forward slowly. Trying not to make a sound. She looked in and saw a fire in the fireplace and then looked to a chair. Narcissa's jaw dropped. Curled in the chair in a white nightgown and a blanket was her sister.
"Expelliarmus," Narcissa said as she moved into the room. There was no wand to fly into her hand. Then she walked closer to the woman and looked down on the ball of human in the chair.
"Bella," Narcissa said as she watched Bellatrix in the chair. She looked horrible. Like she came back from the depths of hell. Gone was the confidant crazed air of her sister. What Narcissa saw in the chair broke her heart. This was a husk of the woman Narcissa knew. Bella's eyes finally looked from the fire, her eyes never blinking, and then found Narcissa's own blues. Bella then turned back to the fire. No emotion nothing. Narcissa furrowed her eyes.
"Do you know who I am?" Narcissa asked as she stood before her sister. She didn't trust her. She would never trust her sister, never again. When the girl escaped that fateful day from the Manor. Bellatrix snapped. She tortured everyone, and anyone she could get her hands on. It was her blind rage that almost killed Draco, and that blind rage that turned Narcissa's grasp on familial honor and chucked it to the wayside. Narcissa still had issues with her right hip when Bella took one of the snatchers wands and sent a blasting curse to Draco and she stepped in the line of fire. It was healed to an ugly jagged line.
It was that day that Narcissa switched sides. It was that day that if and when ever she could she would drop little hits to those Order idiots not that it helped, but she hoped less people would die if she was just a little bit more active in trying to bring about a world where her son would be safe, hated yes, but safe, she would do it.
"Narcissa," Bella's voice was hoarse, as if it had not been used. Narcissa nodded well she wasn't completely broken.
"I have to take you in Bella," Narcissa said as she gripped her wand. Bella scoffed but watched the fire. Narcissa reached out for Bella's shoulder.
"That won't be necessary Lady Malfoy," came a booming voice from behind her. In the doorway stood Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister of Magic. Narcissa clutched her wand and looked from the minister to her sister.
"I will not jeopardize Draco's and my future over Bella. I have no qualms with handing her over to you and I will cooperate to the fullest extent of the law," Narcissa said clearly as possible. Bella had no ally in this house. Kingsley smiled and nodded.
"I appreciate your willingness to help Lady Malfoy, but she is not to be hunted down any further by our government," he said his deep voice seemed to vibrate off the walks. Narcissa looked to Bella and the woman continued to watch the flames as if they held the secrets to the universe.
"I don't understand. Please elaborate," Narcissa said as she watched her sister.
"When Molly Weasley defeated Bella, allegedly killed her, and then Voldemort died," They heard a gasp from Bella and then she went back to her former position and demeanor, "Something happened to her. First, she survived the duel, when she was reportedly dead. Secondly, she came to us," Kingsley said and Narcissa looked to the Minister.
"She offered herself up to the ministry like a Holiday ham. Many wanted her kissed, many wanted life in prison, but there were a few that thought they could use her," Kingsley said, and it was the graveness of his tone that pulled on Narcissa's heartstrings.
"What did you do to her?" Narcissa asked as she inched toward Bella.
"Research, that is all I can tell you. It was grueling, bordering on torture, but as soon as my office found out about her inhumane treatment, we took her out, treated her and realized she had no will to fight, no will to live. I took Bellatrix to a healer for the psyche and sat in on the sessions. All she ever wanted was to pay for what she did, and gain your love once more," Kingsley watched Bella with soft eyes as she stared off into space.
"You have no idea what she has done, Kingsley," Narcissa whispered her heart torn.
"Yes, I do," Kingsley said and Narcissa looked at him, "I was there. I listened to her as she poured her crimes out into the air like a lifeless automaton. Every single kill, every single main and murder she let it flow from her lips. I was actually surprised there wasn't as many murders, but her biggest regret had been the girl, and you," Kingsley said and Narcissa took a deep breath.
"She can't stay here alone," Narcissa said and the minister nodded, "I hate her, and she scares the hell out of me. What of her magic, her wand?" Narcissa asked.
"She snapped it on her own. She is adept at wandless magic, but her wand is no more," Kingsley answered.
"Leave me. I don't deserve kindness," Bella looked to Narcissa, "Especially yours," Bella closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Narcissa walked to Bella and looked down on the woman in the chair. They stared at each other.
"Minister, may I make a request?" Narcissa asked and she heard Kingsley reply affirmatively, "She harms one hair on even a house elf in rage, she goes to jail," Narcissa said as she looked into Bella's eyes. They shimmered like black glass in the firelight.
"Agreed. I would also like to come and check on Bella from time to time," Kingsley said and Narcissa nodded.
"Anytime you wish," Narcissa reached out her hand. Bella looked down at it, and then slowly slipped her cold fingers into Narcissa open palm, "Come Bella, things are very different in my home, but you are welcome as long as you can abide by those changes. Agreed?" Narcissa asked and Bella nodded and Narcissa pulled her sister up and clasped her hand tighter. Bella still looked down, not able to face her sister. Narcissa reached up and slid a piece of wavy hair behind Bella's ear and made her look at Narcissa.
"Give me time," Narcissa said and Bella nodded. They turned to Kingsley and saw his soft smile.
"Thank you, Lady Malfoy. She needs someone terribly," he said, and she noticed the way he watched her sister, the way he looked on not with the hate that Bella will undoubtedly encounter, but with fondness. Narcissa inwardly let her eyebrow lift into her hairline. What was this? She was just as bad about juicy gossip as her son. She loved it. She wasn't a secret teller, but she loved gaining information, even as … sweetly strange at this. Kingsley reached out for Bella and she just continued to walk into his arms until her forehead pressed to his massive chest. She didn't lift her arms to embrace him, but she stood in his great space and let him hold her.
"Be the best you can Bella. I am here for you. I am an owl away," he said tenderly. Bella nodded and then they broke apart. He nodded once more to Narcissa and then he walked from the room. Narcissa, still grasping Bella's hand walked them to the lawns. Narcissa called her house elf and asked it to get Bella's things and put it in Bella's room at the manor and put out the fire. The elf popped away and Narcissa clenched Bella's hand as she apparated them into Malfoy Manor wards.
"Come, lets get you come food, love," Narcissa said softly as Bella walked behind her barefoot, in her white nightgown. Narcissa internally struggled, and every instinct said to leave her at Black Hall. But when she glanced behind her, her instincts were overridden by the urge to heal her sister.
Little Creature,
I know I have not received a response from you yet, but many trying events had happened in the day that it took for me to send you my last owl. I am trying to find words to express my feelings. I am not used to feelings. They were beaten out of us when we were younger. Feelings clouded judgment, and to be a perfect pureblood you must minimize as many weaknesses as possible, including your feelings.
I ramble, I am writing to you because you have given to me comfort in this time of transition. Even though our letters have been cordial, and somewhat professional, they were never revealing. Not really. I thought my sister had died in the war. Yes, you read that right. I thought she was dead, and part of me felt free, and safe with her gone. I know this might sound appalling, but she was the epitome of a dark witch. Danger flowed off of her like dark waves of anger and fury. Then wards at another estate went off. I investigated and found her there.
She is not the same woman. Something happened to her that made her a mere husk of the woman she was. Part of me is relieved she is no longer a threat, but what I feared from my dark sister, I also loved from her. It was in that furious nature she protected her loves, well when she wasn't hurting them.
I think I find my quill scratching out these words to you because you have given me a safe place, a confidant of sorts. When I found my world crumble before I had to frantically try to put back it together, I instantly thought of you, and your words, and our correspondences, and the way writing to you makes me feel safe and unjudged. I realize this letter is very different from our other letters. I realize this is more emotion filled, but I needed someone.
Thank you for being that someone for an old dark witch.
Your Friend
Narcissa looked to Bella who changed into a set of robes that flowed loosely about her sleeping in a hair. The corset was absent, she still had bare feet, and it seemed like she wanted comfort and warmth rather than her older sense of fashion. Narcissa sighed as she looked once more at the letter. She hoped her new friend would be accepting of this angst filled note, and not think ill of her. Narcissa stood and went to her private owl and then thought of the intent to the sender and the owl took off out of her window. She had no name, just that she wanted the letter to arrive to the sender. Narcissa watched as the owl disappeared over the horizon.
Once more Narcissa looked to her sister. She reached for a blanket and placed it over the woman and got ready for her meeting with the advisors of Lucius's businesses. Someday she would think of them as her own, but not yet.
Hogwarts
Breakfast was a simple affair after Headmistress introduced Fleur to the school as the new medi-witch. Everyone looked on her, and Fleur rolled her eyes as she looked to Hermione.
"I forgot how much I hated being around adolescent boys," Fleur winced, and Hermione chuckled.
"Not their fault you are gorgeous love," Hermione gibed as Fleur smiled softly and shook her head.
Hermione leaned over to the left as Professor Sprout asked her when Neville would get his mastery in Herbology. Hermione smiled and had not a clue. There was the regular commotion of the morning mail and Fleur blinked as the owl she used for the pen pal service came to her and it hooted then launched up into the rafters and then joined the rest of the owls. Hermione had her Prophet delivered, and then Fleur smiled when a copy of the Quibbler was dropped unceremoniously onto her head. Hermione shook her head, rubbed a spot but her eyes lit up as she saw Luna's name as author of one of the articles. Fleur shook her head at her friend.
"You should owl her, Cheri," Fleur whispered with a smile. Hermione nodded and then a beautiful black owl flew through the window. Fleur watched it as it flew toward them and then placed another letter near Fleur. She took it and rewarded the creature with a bit of her breakfast then it took off. Hermione leaned over curious.
"Who's it from love?" Hermione asked as Fleur opened the envelope. Fleur snapped it closed blinking.
"She sent two," Fleur said and then her brow furrowed.
"That's alright. Maybe she just needed a friend. From time to time Draco had bad nights that he sometime wrote me three times in a day. Profusely apologizing in one hoping he was not inundating me with letters. When school started it made it a lot easier," Hermione said trying to soothe Fleur.
Fleur read the one that came with the Pen Pal owl and Hermione watched as a small smile slipped to her lips. She hates saints, and she now has a nickname. That's is funny in a way as she handed the letter to Hermione.
"You sure?" Hermione asked and Fleur nodded. Hermione took the letter and devoured the words, "I can't believe you talked about me, what did you say?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing bad. You are the best person I know, something along those lines," Fleur replied not revealing her true thoughts on her relationship with Hermione, and some of the guilt she felt as Hermione seemed to pick her up and she felt like she offered her nothing in return.
Fleur opened the next envelope and then her eyes blinked. She clutched it tightly between her fingers, and she felt something in her chest build up. She wasn't sure what it was but as she read her friends words, she wanted to go to her. Make sure she was safe and sound. But she didn't know this witch. She didn't know who she was, where she was. She only knew her protective nature kicked in and she excused herself. Hermione reached out to Fleur and tried to give the letter back to her friend, but Fleur went to the infirmary and found Parchment and a quill.
My Friend,
Sometime soon I'll give you a delightful nickname, but at the moment I feel we both have a more pressing conversation to have. I will reply to your other letter. All I want… no need to know is if you are safe. If you need anything I am here, an owl away. You found out how to get a private owl to me. Does that mean you know who I am? I don't care if you do. I only care, after reading that letter, about your safety.
You have become a light in a relatively grey life for me as well. If anything happens to you, I will be here.
Your Little Creature
After Charms Class
"Hermione," Draco said as she walked to Hermione's desk after class.
"Hey Draco, what's up?" she asked and then took in the look on his face as he looked over his shoulder making sure they were alone, "What's wrong?"
"Why is Fleur getting letters from my mother's private owl?" Draco asked making sure one more time no one lingered.
"What?" Hermione asked and then Draco let her think, "Narcissa's private owl was the big black one, right?" she asked making sure she was connecting the right dots.
"Yes, and I want to know why, if you can tell me. Its jarring seeing my mother's owl drop off letters to a woman she isn't supposed to know," Draco said and then Hermione bit her lip.
"Draco Fleur is part of the pen pal program," Hermione provided. Draco let the information sink in.
"She would rather write to a stranger than to her own son?' he asked gritting his teeth. Hermione blinked and stood straight.
"In your mothers defense you have not written to her either Draco. Maybe she doesn't know she can write to you," Hermione snapped at him and Draco scoffed.
They stood there, and Hermione came around her desk and stood next to Draco and they both leaned on the table. She crossed her arms over her chest, and her left ankle over her right. Draco simmered, hell he ruminated over the possibility of Fleur Weasley being his uptight Pureblood mothers pen pal.
"What could they even write about?" Draco asked lost. Hermione chuckled. He glared at her.
"Draco, we hated each other. How did we ever find anything to say to each other?" Hermione asked shaking her head. Draco smiled. That was true. If he knew he was writing the Hermione Granger, he would have clammed up tighter than a vault at Gringotts.
"Let them have this," Hermione said and then slipped her arm around his waist and he lifted his arm over her shoulders, "Please, let them find out naturally, as we did. Fleur needs this so badly. It was the first time I had seen her quirk that small smile of hers in ages," Hermione mused.
"You sure you are not in love with her?" Draco asked. Hermione shook her head.
"If I didn't love Luna the way that I do, I would be head over heels for Fleur," Hermione said looking Draco in the eye, "I am trusting you with that information Mr. Malfoy," Hermione said and then he nodded as a wide smile slipped over his face.
"Looney Lovegood. Wow," Draco said, and he doubled over as Hermione's tiny fist hit him in the solar plexus.
"She is not looney, she is lovely," Hermione said as she looked at her nails then to Draco as she heard him chuckle.
"Ok, Ok, looney is of limits. We can talk of Luna all you want," he said and smiled to his best friend.
"I'm kinda not sorry I punched you, but I do feel bad," she said.
"I deserved it. I know you protect those you love," Draco smiled and then she nodded.
They walked to the door, and then split into separate directions. Hermione walked into the direction of the infirmary. When she opened the door, she smiled as she watched Fleur quickly heal up three boys who got into a fight.
"I will not have you children behaving like this. I appreciate you fighting for my honor, but I am your nurse, your elder, not your prize," she scolded the boys and they looked down. One of the boys had seen Hermione walk in and suddenly, he cowered in his chair. Fleur saw this and turned around. Her eyes lit up as she watched Hermione walked toward them.
"Mister Green here seems to fear you," and then Fleur looked over the other three boys and they had similar postures, "Well, it seems you have struck the fear of god into your students Miss Granger," Fleur said and Hermione looked on with a smile.
"You three have my charms essay to complete and you three are the first class of the day tomorrow," Hermione watched as the boys gulped, "Who is your detention with?"
"P-Professor Sprout. She is the one that broke us up," Jonathan Green replied and the other two nodded.
"I see," Hermione said and then all three boys looked into her eyes, "Be sure this doesn't happen again, or your detention will be with me," Hermione said, and all three boys gulped and nodded.
"Yes, Miss Granger," three boys echoed.
"You are healed, but remember what she has said, and if it happens once more I will make you serve detentions with the both of us, and I will unleash may wrath upon you by making you clean bed pans and hand wash the linens covered in vomit," Fleur's eyes flashed and then her jerked her head to the side and the boys scurried from the infirmary. The door closed and the two women broke into laughter. Hermione wiped below her eyes, as Fleur let her tears flow freely.
"You are a cruel woman Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said, and Fleur shook her head still smiling. Fleur did the reports and Hermione waited and then they walked to their quarters.
"Hermione," Fleur said and Hermione hummed, "I want to change my name back to Delacour," Fleur said. Hermione slipped her arm around Fleur just as Fleur did the same to Hermione.
"Anything you want to make you happy," Hermione said, and Fleur nodded, "You are a saint," Fleur winked, and Hermione snapped her fingers. She pulled the letter from her pocket and gave it to Fleur and the woman smiled as she took the letter back from her friend.
"Is everything alright? You left so abruptly," Hermione asked as they walked through the portal.
"I hope so. She thought her sister was dead, but she showed up. She was not happy about it," Fleur said, and Hermione blinked and swallowed.
"H-her sister was thought to be dead. How does one make that mistake?" Hermione asked as she scurried around their room and put on tea. She tried to make her features looked loose, and hoped she looked like she was doing a good job. Narcissa's only sister to be thought of as dead was Bellatrix. Hermione closed her eyes as Fleur walked into her room talking the entire time as she changed out of her robes. When Fleur came back in, she walked to Hermione.
"Cheri, you alright? You look pale. I am a medi-witch ya know. Maybe I can help," Fleur said with a cheeky smile. Hermione smirked back but she felt her stomach bottom out.
"I just don't feel great, maybe I'll just take dinner in our quarters tonight," Hermione said as she went to her room to change. Fleur followed her. Fleur flopped on her bed and looked at the ceiling. Hermione had gotten used to Fleur invading her personal space, but the wonderful thing about Fleur was she would always leave if you asked and she took no offence.
"I can't get over how many you have," Fleur said and then Hermione looked up as she pulled a sweater over her torso, and sweats over her legs. Fleur's eye seemed to retrace where the scares where under clothes. Hermione looked away red and then into the past where her thoughts went.
"Oh, Hermione, I am sorry, I didn't mean to bring back your memories," Fleur said as she walked to Hermione and wrapped her arms around Hermione. She didn't cry, she didn't even move, and Fleur mentally kicked herself.
Fleur walked Hermione to the bed and Hermione simply let herself be led, placed in her bed and then let Fleur take care of her. Fleur got their tea, but Hermione shook her head and Fleur looked down on Hermione.
"I am sorry, Mon ange," Fleur slipped into the bed and sighed as Hermione slid over onto her arms, "Sometimes I forget you have your moments. You are so strong taking care of me, and others, I forget you were hurt just as deeply. Forgive me," Fleur whispered as she ran her hand through Hermione's hair.
"Sometimes the memories, they are too much, hit me out of nowhere, and need to shut them off," Hermione said between them.
"I understand," Fleur said as she caressed Hermione's back. It was in these moments where found she loved the girl more than words could say. Not because she was comforting her, no. It was because Hermione let her see her as a human, not the golden girl, not the brightest witch of the age, not the war hero. No, she let her see her as a brilliant, broken, woman, full of love, and fears, hopes and dreams. Hermione's breathing evened out.
Later in the dark of night Fleur jerked away as she heard bloodcurdling screams of the past. She looked to the woman in the bed and reached out for her. Shushed her, comforted her. Fleur's heart broke when she saw tears fall in slumber, and then the smell of copper hit the air. She reached for her wand and cast a lumos. She looked to the only scar that barely healed.
"Merde," Fleur said softly. She tried not to move her little charge, she cast a scourgify, and then summoned some of the gauze from their bathroom for when this happens. She only split skin at the top of the M on her scar. Fleur wrapped Hermione's arm, all the while never letting her out of her arms. She eased back into the pillows. She reached over and kissed Hermione's forehead as she seemed to have another episode, but with that small action Hermione whimpered, clutched onto Fleur, and then slipped into slumber.
It had not been that bad in a long while. Gods did she hate the woman that tortured such a gorgeous soul.
Across the country
Narcissa ran into the room her sister slept in. Screams filled the manor. She gently woke Bella but when she woke the woman her eyes flew wide and frantic. Bella focused on Narcissa and then lunged for her. Narcissa seized, scared beyond the fight or flight reflex.
"I hurt her Cissa. I can believe I hurt her the way I did," Bella whispered into her chest. Narcissa lifted shaking hands to Bella's back.
"Who?" Narcissa asked softly.
"The girl," then Bella pulled back from Narcissa and pulled her legs to her chest, "Ever since he died, and I came back, torturing you, Draco, and the girl are replayed over and over in my mind. I have no idea how I got so lost Cissa," Bella said and Narcissa watched Bella lay her soul bare.
"You hurt many people, why is it us you dream of?" Narcissa asked she settled onto the bed.
"I cursed the girl with my blade. You know that's a nasty bugger. I think when I cursed her, the way I cursed her, and when I cursed her, it made a bond between us. It is feint, but when I dream of her screams, I swear I can hear them in the distance," Bella began to rock back and forth, "When I cursed you and Draco, I think part of me howled to stop. But something flipped and when I took my rage out on the two of you, I wasn't even there. It was as if I was controlled by something darker than my regular evil disposition," then Bella looked into Narcissa's eyes, "I would never hurt you, but when I almost killed Draco something inside of me cackled. Then something broke, my heart broke. I wasn't around toward the end of the war because I could not risk you and Draco again."
Narcissa clenched her teeth as she listened to her monster of a sister tell of her mental state over their torture. Even if Bella were not in complete control, she would not, could not forgive her so easily.
"Let's get some sleep, Bella," Narcissa said and then moved to stand but her hand was clasped.
"I know I don't deserve it, but could you stay with me," Bella asked and Narcissa reluctantly slipped into the bed next to her sister. She never touched her, she would not. But she stayed to help the fragile woman beside her.
In the morning Narcissa found her sister curled into her side. Narcissa took a deep breath. She hated how her heart betrayed her senses. Then there was a tap on the window. Narcissa smiled as she recognized the owl. She stood from the bed, pulled the covers to Bella's chin and walked to the window. She took the letter and the owl hooted and took off to his tree. She went to the kitchen to start her day.
She took one look at the letter. She frowned at the length and then sat and waited for tea. The house elf served her tea and she thanked it. Once she got her small jolt of caffeine into her system, she opened the letter. Narcissa's chest filled with warmth for this woman. A stranger cared for her. She looked out the window of the breakfast nook in the kitchen and noticed a grey chilly day. She took one more sip from her tea. Maybe she could learn to like saints… maybe.