All disclaimers from earlier chapters still apply, should probably warn a bit of angst and slight physical violence in this one, enjoy!
CHAPTER 7
It had been almost 3 weeks since Bellatrix had returned. The last two weeks had been tiring, after the spider incident Ronan had approached Bellatrix telling her their training was ready to begin.
"What training?" Bellatrix asked confused and still sleepy as she stepped out of her shelter.
"To strengthen your magic" Ronan answered. He walked alongside her as she bent down to the stream lifting the cool fresh water to her face, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
"You told me wizard magic can't be used here?"
"No you were told you couldn't harm without a wand" Ronan replied. He beckoned her to walk with him as he turned towards the pasture. They walked in silence for a few minutes, wading through the wild flowers and green grass looking on the younger colts and fillies as they played together. Several unicorns were also in the vicinity, a young silver one frolicked alongside the large centaur and Bellatrix as it eyed her in curiosity.
"You have become part of the energy here Bellatrix. I believe it was explained to you this is the oldest part of the forest. The ancient magic rites that surround and protect it comes from all the magical ability of those in it, including you. That is why you need to work on your magic. In order for the forest to protect you, you must protect it too"
"But I can't use a wand here you just told me that"
"Wands are mere tools. Parts of magic made from other parts, all the creatures you see here are magical within their natural being, yet wizards haven taken parts of such creatures to make tools for magic." He stroked through the mane of the young unicorn as if to make a point. It wasn't lost on Bellatrix as she thought of the unicorn haired core of her father's wand. The first wand she had ever touched.
"Even humans used their own magic before they alternated to wand lore. That is why we must practice Bellatrix, your skill will be weak but it will build strength in time. Are you ready to begin?"
"Come Bellatrix I wish for your company to patrol this morning" Apollo approached the witch. She had been sitting on a rock concentrating on wordlessly and wandlessly summoning a stick before throwing back in the direction in front of her before summoning back to her held out palm.
"Why me?" she asked curiously. She had freedom to wander most the forest now, but never the responsibility to patrol.
"You are part of the protection now, you must learn the ways" they walked together in silent company, following the natural pathways built up over the years. He took her north up into the higher terrain of the forest. She had stayed clear of this area so far as it was where the odd student would venture along with the game keeper and other such creatures. They passed the through a natural herb garden. Apollo stopped momentarily pulling a moss-like purple plant from the rock. "Tillimoss" Apollo explained. "Mixed with sage in a poultice will rapidly heal almost any infected or cursed wound, perhaps you could help Arria with the task later". He placed the moss into his satchel before moving on.
The rain had begun to fall. Bellatrix scowled as she realised she had no cloak. She hated getting wet. The flora dripped wet, mulling off the smell of a spring morning dew. Whether Apollo chose to ignore the muttered tantrum of Bellatrix or simply hadn't noticed was unclear as he carried the on through the forest.
She cursed under her breath. Her velvet dress felt heavy as the rain droplets absorbed into the material, her hair sagged from the weight, as droplets paralleled along her curls before dropping into her eyes blurring her vision. She stopped frustratingly wiping her eyes yet again in an attempt to dry them.
"Test your magic Bellatrix" Apollo spoke, he turned round his eyes resting on the annoyed teenager.
"To curse the rain?" she replied.
He chuckled. "Perhaps something simpler. A drying charm perhaps?" he tilted his head slightly observing her.
"Oh" she murmured, realising her stupidity for not thinking of it herself. She closed her eyes, scrunched up her face in determination, whispering to herself inaudibly. She felt the magic within her stretching through her veins through her bones and to the surface of her skin, her dress dried, as well as her hair, and watched as the water droplets seemed to repel from her body.
"I did it" she beamed.
"Hmm" he nodded once and turned back towards his chosen path. As Bellatrix childishly skipped to catch up with him. Apollo slowed down eventually stopping as he rummaged in his satchel. He pulled out a wrapped package tied with string and a corked glass bottle. He lay his body down by a boulder as he set down the bottle and began untying the string. Bellatrix walked forward and propped herself sitting on the boulder next to him. He unwrapped a bread loaf tearing it in half and handing her part. She whispered a Thank you before starting to tear parts off and nibble them. Food had been like this since her arrival in the forest, mainly feasts of fresh fruit cooked or raw veg and bread. Meat was not eaten by centaurs or any of the other animals within the forest. Bellatrix had no problem adapting to this after 14 years in Azkaban on the brink of starvation, being fussy about food had never been an issue.
Apollo uncorked the bottle and took a long swig before offering it to Bellatrix. She grasped it to take a swig, expecting water or wine, and coughed and sputtered when she realised it wasn't.
"Ginger?" she asked as she tried to decipher the sweet tasting liquid.
"Ah yes ginger beer, Arria knows I don't care for grape wines like most the others" he answered taking the bottle back swigging the remaining of the liquid and replacing the cork. Bellatrix gave a nod of understanding, returning to her remaining food. She stared into the distance, realising as they sat upon the hill she had a view of the castle. Some walls had been returned including the towers. That had been blown off. Bellatrix shuddered at the thought of the damage she had so encouraged on the building she remembered to once be her home. Soon it would be complete again and students would return she thought to herself.
She was brought out of her thoughts as she heard movement. Apollo had turned abruptly towards the direction they would soon be heading. His ears pricked like he was attempting to hear something. Bellatrix was about to ask but he held a finger up commanding silence. She remained deathly still, straining her ears also.
"You hear the whistling?" Apollo whispered. Bellatrix remained silent. She couldn't hear whistling, but something, some kind of pitch, to high it was no sound. Apollo got up without another word immediately pulling his bow from his shoulder as he trotted through bushes into the thicket. Bellatrix jumped from the rock and ran after him.
She ran after the sound of his gallop, unable to keep up with his large stride only following his footprints as adrenaline pushed her on. Oh how she wished for a wand. A large arm placed in front of her stopping her to a halt. Apollo help his finger to his lips before shrugging his head to his right as Bellatrix looked at him questionably. She turned seeing a dull green light in the darkened area. Bella flinched back as she spotted the creature. The tattered transparent cloak floating through the air with its back against them. Her immediate thought was Dementor, but logically realised how different. This creature was much smaller and the green glow surrounding it was a trigger giveaway.
"Wraith?" she mouthed to Apollo as he looked at her once again. He nodded once in confirmation. He reached to pull an arrow from his quiver silently placing it to his bow. Immediately Bellatrix touched his arm, shaking her head she reached for the arrow, snatching it from him and with a strong heave, twisted the arrow head from the wood, checking the wood end was still sharp enough before handing it back to Apollo. He looked at her silently confused then at his arrow placed in his palm.
"Steel can't penetrate wraiths. They can be killed like vampires, wood to the heart" Apollo took in her words for a moment. He took the arrow placed it too the bow and eyed up his shot.
The wraith screamed as the arrow penetrated it. Bellatrix covered her ears in an attempted to stop the damage to her eardrums as she watched the created melt into a green pool of slime on the ground.
They both took a cautious step forward. Apollo examined the area, picking up his headless arrow. "Well done Bellatrix. We can usually only maim wraith's enough for them to retreat the area we find them" no answer came as he noticed the dark witch drawn to an oak tree in front of them.
Bellatrix looked to the tree, a pitched squeal was coming from a small hole within the trunk. She looked in but it was dark. She pursed her lips and whistled into the hole reaching her hand towards it. Jumping as something small and black jumped onto her hand.
The small black ball uncurled. Large bony wings stretched out flapping slightly, a long nose looked up as pure white eyes opened up looking at her, claws stretched forward and a trail of smoke exhaled from its nostrils.
"It's a . . . dragon?" Bellatrix spoke, mesmerized.
"Pygmy dragon . . ." Apollo confirmed, eying it curiously ". . . he must have just hatched, there hasn't been one seen in these woods in 200 years."
"You mean they exist I thought they were a legend" Bella whispered still staring at the creature in her hand. It now stood up no bigger than a mouse as it walked across her palm nuzzling into her thumb.
"They can cocoon for up to 300 years, the wraith must have sensed it, that's why we could heard the squealing"
"It was warning it off?" Bellatrix asked.
"Pygmy Dragons can manipulate many sounds, they are very talented creatures, you should feel lucky Bellatrix, it seems to have adopted you" Bellatrix mouth gaped open at the prospect.
"I don't know how to take care of something! My house elves did that!" she panicked.
"You can start by feeding him. You know where to find the snow cherries orchard? You need to harvest the seeds, beware the dragonflies though, they swarm in as soon as you start picking them"
Apollo pulled another arrow from his quiver pulling the head off as shown by Bellatrix.
"You're not coming with me?" she asked.
"I need to scout the area and make sure there are no more. You must feed your familiar and return home, I will return when this area is deemed safe" he spoke turning back on his way.
She stood watching him leave until he was no longer in site. Took a deep breath still staring at her outstretched hand. The pygmy dragon whistled to her before stretching its wings in an attempt to fly. It stumbled mid-flight and began to plummet. Bellatrix's natural reflexes allowed her to catch it between her hands like a snitch. The pygmy dragon braced itself again and jumped up this time successfully and perched itself on Bellatrix's left shoulder. She rolled her eyes as it whistled to her again nuzzling into her curls and blowing smoke from its tiny nostrils.
"If you scorch my hair I'll shove you back in that hole" she spoke turning to find the quickest path back to the orchard.
"Are you sure you're up to this Andromeda?" the headmistress of Hogwarts looked over her spectacles at her friend as she paced in front of the fire.
"Of course I am Minerva, I already told you this" she babbled looking out the window before picking up pace again. Hermione looked up from the chair she sat in. She had expressed concern to her teacher earlier that week after she came to visit for dinner. Andromeda had been quiet, she invited her friend for dinner explaining the letter she had gotten from her younger sister. Minerva had offered her summer manor as a neutral meeting spot should Andromeda feel uncomfortable about revealing her own homes location or have to visit the intimidating manor. Hermione had noticed the woman's appetite being supressed and more reserved than usual, particularly this morning she had not eaten anything and looked pale from lack of sleep.
A house elf walked through holding a tea tray placing it on the small table by the couch. Minerva bent forward pouring three of the four cups, Andromeda finally stopped pacing instead sitting down and taking the offer cup and saucer. She took a sip in attempt to calm her nerves. Minerva held a cup out to Hermione who stood up from her chair to reach the offered beverage.
The ancient door knocker clanked announcing the arrival of a guest. The rattling of Andromeda's tea cup as she placed it onto the saucer in her other hand could be heard. Minerva's eyes of worry at the safety of her family's historical china.
"I'll get it" Hermione announced setting her cup down before any protest could be spoke she left the room opening the large studded oak door.
"Mrs Malfoy" Hermione greeted in a formal tone. The blonde woman blinked in disbelief for several moments.
"Miss Granger" she replied politely.
"Your cloak please Mrs Malfoy" Hermione held out her hand without moving to allow the guest to yet cross the threshold. Narcissa reluctantly untied the bow and pulled her cloak from around her handing it to the younger witch. Hermione felt across the velvet material before being satisfied of nothing suspicious, she took one last look over the blonde witch's shoulders. Before standing aside allowing the older witch in, shutting the door behind them. She hung the cloak on the stand beside the door before stepping to the door to the living room beckoning for her to follow.
Narcissa Malfoy followed Hermione through the door, her face composed to reveal nothing. Hermione turned to the other side of the door closing it behind them, before taking a seat next to Andromeda, leaving the only vacant chair for the blonde witch. Minerva stood pouring the final cup and handing it to Narcissa, who breathed a thank you as she carefully took the cup. She took a sip and looked over to her sibling who had yet to acknowledge her arrival and even look at her.
The tension in the room could be cut through with a knife, waiting for the first one to talk or mulling up something normal to say.
"How is Draco?" Minerva asked finally breaking the ice.
"He is well thank you . . ." Narcissa answered". .he received his letter this morning about returning to Hogwarts, I'm sure he will greatly consider the offer"
"And Lucius . . ."
"Still under house arrest until the trial, though our lawyer seems optimistic he will avoid Azkaban" she continued.
"It's no less than he deserves" Andromeda finally spoke, her voice laced with venom. She stood up abruptly towering over her younger sister. Words seemed to fail Narcissa. She tried to reason as she stood face to face with her sister.
"Andy I . . ."
"Don't you dare Narcissa? You lost the right to call me that 25 years ago! It's Andromeda to you! Or Mrs Tonks in you insist on being polite and formal Mrs Malfoy!" Andromeda gritted her teeth as she retracted two steps, chest heaving. Narcissa backed down submissively into her chair speechless at the outburst. Hermione fidgeted uncomfortably in her seat, she looked at her mentor who in turn looked alarmed and unsure how to diffuse the situation. Hermione took it on herself to try. She stood up calmly touching Andromeda's arm, whispering to her.
"Come on Andy let's sit down and finish our Tea".
Andromeda caught the look her sister gave in curiosity at the exchange.
"Why, why come back now Narcissa? Am I your last ditch attempt to wheedle your way back into society's good graces?" Andromeda's voice seemed to almost wail, as pent up frustration finally flooded to the surface.
"NO, how could you think such a thing"
"25years and nothing, our parents I expected it from, but my sisterly bond with you and Bella I truly believed you would have tried for contact. I even built up home on occasion, when my daughter was born, after our parent's death, after the first war when Bella had gone to Azkaban. . But nothing. And here you stand now on only good intentions" Andy spat the last part out.
"I couldn't, the risk was too high, risk losing my son, as a parent you understand that surely" Narcissa pleaded.
"Unlike you Narcissa my babies dead, thanks to those your family supported" Andromeda tried hard to hold her composure. Never taking her gaze of her sister.
"She had a son?" Narcissa questioned.
"Yes"
The room fell silent again.
"Answer me, why now?" Andy asked again
"You're my sister ..." Narcissa spoke again.
"Oh! I see now, you lose one sister and now you want the other! Tell me Narcissa, were you there? When out darling sister mauled her?" Andy looked at Hermione her anger rising again. Hermione was about to step back but felt a hand stop her. Hermione's uncomfortable face answered for her.
"Let me guess, she stood there and did nothing, am I right?" she asked turning back to Narcissa.
"ANSWER ME! DID YOU STAND WATCH WHILE OUR SISTER DID THIS!" she screamed pulling the sleeve of Hermione's left arm, revealing the scar.
"YES" Narcissa screamed back. She broke down as tears streamed from down her face and she sobbed.
"You think it doesn't haunt me? If I had done something they would have killed me. We were prisoners in our own home long before they were brought to us" Narcissa cried between sobs.
"Cissy ..." Andy whispered as she took her sister in her arms comforting her for the first time.
Hermione backed away looking over to the headmistress. Minerva beckoned her to the doorway. Leaving the sisters alone.
Hermione and Minerva stayed in the dining room for over an hour. The professor discussed with Hermione about returning to the castle. At first Hermione was unsure, she was almost 19 and felt ready for the next phase of life.
"It wouldn't be for a whole year Hermione. Just some refreshing of modules, specifically for those repeating 7th year, I believe one term would be enough to cover this. You would be done by Christmas."
Hermione contemplated the words. She would like to have proof of her academic achievements, and it gave her a chance to really think about what she wanted.
Their attention was drawn to the door opening. Both sisters walked through, looking slightly dishevelled, and tear stained, but holding hands. Minerva smiled calling for an elf to bring lunch as the sisters sat down. A buffet of sandwiches and fruit appeared before them. They ate in silence.
"Cissy, how did you come to my daughter's funeral?" Andy asked. Narcissa finished nibbling her sandwich and dabbed a napkin to her mouth before replying.
"Your owl brought the invitation straight to me. It was addressed only as family" Narcissa answered.
Hermione's hand went to her mouth. "I wrote those invitations, I didn't think" she whispered apologetically.
"No Lazarus would know, he knew despite everything I still considered you my family" Andy whispered. Narcissa smiled putting her hand on top of her sisters rubbing it.
"I must go, I have a curfew" Narcissa spoke looking at the grandfather clock as it chimed the hour.
"Come meet teddy? I'll give you my home address" Andy asked
"Just owl me a convenient time" Narcissa replied. Hugging her sister and stepping into the floo.
"What are you doing?" Hermione asked walking into the kitchen area, a large book was open and a dozen mixing bowls were whizzing at different tempos as different ingredients were being combined.
"I'm making a cake for tea, this one was Cissy's favourite as a child. Its years since I made it" Andy spoke over the book not taking her eyes off the page.
"Oh Nooo" she cursed. Hermione turned back.
"What's wrong?" she asked, smiling at teddy who was playing with play doe in his highchair mimicking his grandmother's cake making actions.
"I'm missing ingredients"
"What?"
"Snow Cherries, they flavour the chocolate icing. I have non in the pantry and nowhere sells them in diagonally anymore" she answered in defeat.
An idea came to Hermione. "I know where to find some, dragonflies tend to nest near the bushes do them not?"
Andy nodded confirmation enthusiastically.
"How much is needed, I'll try my best to locate some" Hermione asked. And replied an estimate as she embraced the brunette gratefully.
Hermione apparated to the forest. She cautiously walked along the path, remembering seeing the bushes and dragonflies in her first year detention when they found the unicorn. The ground was wet and despite trying to walk quietly the squishing sounds would rouse any creature in the silent forest. She sighed a relief when she heard the buzzing sound of the dragonflies nearby. She watched in admiration as they buzzed around her head. She stood looking around knowing the bushes couldn't be far. She took a few steps forward and smiled as she spotted the red and white fruits hanging ripened and ready for picking. She placed the basket she had brought with her on the woodland floor. Kneeling down picking a few cherries and placing them in the basked before stretching upwards to pick the bigger ones above. She pulled a rather large juice one pulled the stalk out and placed it in her mouth. "Mmm" she sighed, her eyes closed as she pulled her fingers from her mouth savouring the taste. She reached for another with her thumb and forefinger, eyes still closed. She scrunched her face in confusion as her hand didn't touch the berry she knew was there a few seconds earlier instead something solid and fleshy. A hand?
Her eyes flew open, staring in to startled black orbs looking back at her, a girl in a red velvet dress and shiny black curly hair. Hermione blinked, frozen in shock,
"B. B ... Bellatrix? No. . . . impossible" she stuttered out before plummeting to the ground as she fainted.
Hope you all enjoyed please Review
SlytherinEnigma