Sorry this chapter is slightly shorter just wanted to get something out there. Enjoy!

Hermione stirred. The thin stalks of grass tickled against her nose as she opened her eyes a breadth. Her vision focused onto the basket she placed down earlier, she was momentarily confused as she noticed it filled with snow cherries.

Her attention was quickly diverted when something soft and wet was placed on her head. She fluttered her eyes open, squinting slightly into the moist cloth. The hairs on the back of her neck sticking up as it suddenly occurred she was not alone.

Her body seized up tensely. She opened her eyes fully, vision mainly obscured by the cloth but it didn't quite cover her right eye. She looked up and caught the bottom of a black velvet dress, it looked tattered and torn, her eye raised up slowly on the form, a young body sitting on a dead tree stump. Hermione whimpered as memories came back before she had blacked out.

It was her

And yet it couldn't be her, Hermione rationalized. She looks different, this girl is just as pale, her curls are longer and not as wild and yet still as dark as night. There was no signature leather corset either, there was only a pale body clad in a worn looking dress and a pair of onyx eyes which were turning to look on her form. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut as she realised this. Maybe if she played unconscious long enough, the other would give up and disappear. This thought disappeared quickly as Hermione realised she didn't know how long she was knocked out and if she was going to be abandoned she probably already would be by now.

She worked her brain again trying to think of some plan, flight or fight? She already could sense her wand was currently not on her body. This panicked her more if she was correct the wands previous owner was currently in situ. This was not good. Hermione finally came to a decision. Using her left hand which was out of sight of the other witch, her fingers clasped round a rather large jagged stone.

Perfect.

Once she felt her grip was strong. She opened her right eye a breadth taking in the form without showing her consciousness. She was looking away again winding one of her curls round a finger clearly deep in her own thoughts. Now was her chance.

Hermione jumped up quicker than lighting, she pounced like a predator on the hunt as she hurled herself towards the unsuspecting witch. The both tumbled as the force of the brunettes body sent them toppling over the stump into the grass. They landed with Hermione on top, quickly straddling the dark witch pinning arms down with her right arm heavily to the chest, and waving the point stone above then in her left.

"Where is it?" Hermione hissed, pressing her entire body weight on the one below her.

Bellatrix looked at her wide eyed. Still in shock by the position she was in.

She had walked back to the snow cherries, her newly acquired companion still perching on her shoulder, the little creature had begun growling at the sight of dragon flies as they neared the bushes, she smiled at the defensive creature, its growl so small it almost came out as a mix of hissing and purring. The dragonflies glowed as the retreated slightly, Bellatrix smiled and reached out to grab a cherry she grasped it with her thumb and forefinger, and suddenly felt a hand grasp hers. She looked up in horror, staring into the shocked eyes, before they closed and the body collapsed to the forest floor almost pulling her down as well.

"My wand where is it?" Hermione spoke through gritted teeth, annoyed at the lack of fear and response from the body below her. Bellatrix seemed to focus in on the question, the fact that this was the very position she had held the girl in only weeks before was not missed on her. Her face changed from shock to a scowl.

"I don't have the bloody wand" she shouted pushing up and managing to push the muggle born off her. Hermione lost her balance scrambling back up ungraciously in a defensive position still holding the rock in her hand.

Bellatrix stood up brushing down her dress and running her hands into her hair before looking up at the other girl.

"Anyways it's not your wand you stole it from me!" she shouted. Hermione did not back down still distrusting of the dark witch.

"It's over there by the basket . . ." Bellatrix pointed. Hermione glanced sideways still keeping the witch in sight of her vision. The crooked wand sat abandoned by the basket. " . . It won't work for me anymore" Bellatrix admitted sadly. Hermione backed up grabbing the wand holding towards the witch. Her chest heaving with adrenaline over the past few minutes.

"Sit" Hermione motioned with her head toward the tree stump the wand trailing as the dark witch moved. She sat submissively on the stump before looking up at the brunette.

"How? Did you make a horcrux?" Hermione asked, the questions tumbling out of her mouth.

"I don't know" Bellatrix whispered.

"Don't lie to me!" she shouted. "I'm so tired of lies"

Bellatrix looked up at the brunette again. "I woke up in a dark cold place, I shouted and screamed for hours in the silence. Death picked me up in a raft and took me to three creatures that sent me back here" she whispered.

Hermione stared at her mulling the words spoken. "Why do you look different?"

"They said I would be sent to a time when my soul was more pure"

"It was you wasn't it, you threw the knife that day" Bellatrix nodded.

"I don't get it, if what you say is true why send you back?"

"I didn't ask to be sent here!" Bellatrix snapped.

"Good no one wants you here!" Hermione seethed, clearly touching a nerve as Bellatrix looked sad before pulling a venomous face at Hermione

"No one asked your opinion muddy" Bellatrix shouted. Hermione lost it.

"BITCH!" she shouted tossing the stone.

"ARGH" Bellatrix screamed as it hit her on the forehead leaving a nasty gash. She barely had to register the damage before Hermione threw herself at her. Hermione felt unjustified simply hexing an unarmed witch instead muggle methods seemed fitting as she hit Bellatrix to the ground once again.

Bellatrix curled into a foetal position as the muggleborn thrashed out at her, slap after slap against her petite frame as the young which screamed I HATE YOU over and over again, her emotion building up as tears sprung from her eyes as she broke down.

ENOUGH!

A deep voice bellowed. Hermione felt herself pulled by the waist as her fists still pumped into the air. She gave a cry of frustration like a young child pulled away from something they desired. She looked into the eyes of Apollo. "Your behaviour is unacceptable in these parts girl, I have no choice but to. . ."

"NO. Let her go she did no more than I deserved" Bellatrix cut him off. Two sets of eyes looked over at Bellatrix, she held her ribs, gasping and spitting blood as she stood up steadying herself. Apollo loosened his grip slightly still unsure.

"Apollo . . ."

He pulled his arm away from the muggleborn and took a step back. Hermione watched in awe. Never had she seen a centaur at the command of a human, Firenze an exception. Hermione scuttled back taking her wand in hand again before picking up her basket. She heard a strange hissing sound from said basket and looked at it confused. "Wait!" Bellatrix shouted running towards the witch as she too heard it. Hermione held her wand up at the rush towards her. Bellatrix ignored her instead diving into the basket pulling a black object.

"Sorry little one" Bellatrix whispered as the small dragon opened its wings looking up from her palm. As it happily nibbled on a cherry seed held between its tiny claws. Hermione looked in awe at the creature.

"Is that a ..."

"Yes" Bellatrix replied walking away.

Hermione shook her head, regaining her composure. Without saying a word she tightened her grip of the basket and apparated from the forest.

Bellatrix looked over as she heard the Crack. She sighed. "I guess that's it"

"What's it" Apollo queried.

"My freedom, she will tell everyone I'm here, I'll be captured and everything will be ruined". The centaur looked at her blankly not replying. She moved towards the path heading back to the meadow. The centaur followed his deepest thoughts quite different to those of the witch in front of him.

On the contrary it's all going exactly to plan . . .

Hope you enjoy thanks all again for reviews 3

SlytherinEnigma