Chapter 13
Bellatrix was bored, since her adventure to the manor with Hermione she had felt revitalized with the thrill of flying. However she couldn't help but feel slight anguish when the brunette witch had left with a look of concern on her face. Bellatrix had immediately felt something wasn't right, and when she returned to the meadow the centaurs had warned her to be more cautious.
She had joined Ronan on patrol the next morning, they had only moved partially through the forest for an hour or so when Ronan stopped suddenly. He turned to Bellatrix casting a strong disillusionment charm on her before telling her to stand back and under the tree. She felt the cold runny egg feeling on her head, about to question his order when she heard shuffling in front, she stood back as ordered as Hagrid came into view.
"What causes your presence here Hagrid?" Ronan challenged the half giant.
"I'm still game keeper of 'ogwarts, just following my orders like you, students due back in a few days" He grumbled.
"You know the forest is covered by our patrols, if there is anything of concern to report you would be made aware" Ronan continued noting Hagrid looking around.
"Nothing unusual then?"
"No, but I feel you are keeping something from me? Wizards question the trust of centaurs, yet we have reason to question yours"
Hagrid looked shiftily at the centaur, despite being game keeper for years his relationship with some of the centaurs was still strained. It seemed after a few seconds debating he decided to talk.
"There's been a development with some of you know who's followers that got away" Hagrid whispered gruffly.
Ronan took in the words glancing slightly towards the tree, for any reaction from Bellatrix, though she gave nothing away. He turned back as Hagrid continued.
"Those Lestrange brothers and a few other still loose, and there swearing revenge on a few people, two of which are returning students. I been told to check the forest for any sign they may be nearby"
"Trust my word if we find anything you will be alerted" Ronan spoke. The half giant and centaur nodded a silent promise before the game keeper departed. Ronan observed him departing out of sight a good distance away before turning to where Bellatrix had hidden.
"it is safe now" Ronan gestured, he cancelled the charm seeing the young witch appear in front of him once more, here gaze turned to where Hagrid had left, her face unreadable.
"You need to stay in the perimeter of the meadow for the next couple of days at least during daylight" Ronan ordered.
"Why? I can easily hide from that oaf, it's not like I can't see or hear him coming a mile off" Bellatrix replied in a sarcastic tone. Her pose took a defensive stance feeling like a child being grounded.
"Your safety is more important" was all he answered as he led them back to the meadow.
Ronan left her at the barrier, returning to his patrol for the rest of the day. Bellatrix sulked as she walked in her transfigured boots, Hermione had been right, about giving her the spare pair of muggle shoes, they were much more comfortable than her own. It had taken her only a couple of hours to transfigure them properly to her liking, she had decided against having heals preferring the flat on rough terrain. She headed towards the female centaurs in the cooking area, it was almost lunchtime and seemed fitting to get a snack before contemplating what she could actually do for the rest of the day. She picked up a bread loaf and wandered over to the tree trunk she favoured leaning against when eating not too far away.
She pulled the bread out in front of her about to take a bite when she noticed one of the unicorns stand in front of her. She realised quickly it was the young one she had healed. She looked up at it questionably as it leaned its nose forward looking down at her through silver eyes before snatching forward taking hold of her bread before trotting off. Bellatrix looked at her now empty hand dazed before shaking her head and jumping up.
"hey!" she shouted, chasing after the unicorn, she ran up to where he stood waiting for her, before he danced to the side dodging her, she continued to run after him as he played with her, allowing her to almost catch him before running off, after several minutes she was chasing him again when she lost her footing and tripped ending up as a heap on the floor. The unicorn plodded over standing above and hovering over her face as it dropped the crumbled bread loaf from his grip onto her. Bellatrix burst into laughter, realising after all that the unicorn was merely playing with her.
"Thanks" she laughed as she sat up picking the crumbs from her chest instead finding it easier to brush the mess off completely and retrieve another piece to eat. The unicorn bowed its head to her she scratched behind his ears smiling as he nuzzled the side of her face in a loving gesture.
She stood up following him as the wandered further away, Bellatrix had never really ventured this side of the meadow before, where most of the other species preferred to graze and watched her suspiciously. Despite the silence of the creature Bellatrix couldn't help but talk, aware that despite being an animal he understood everything she told him, as she muttered the story of being limited to staying in the meadow all day and the rumours of her husband and his brother.
Bellatrix stopped as she noticed the change in the unicorn's stance, the creature had stopped abruptly taking two steps back as it snorted in defence. Bellatrix was confused she looked in the direction the unicorn snorted against. The bank descended slightly from their stance with several trees, as Bella looked ahead she noticed the mound, she walked cautiously as the mound became more distinctive, of what looked like a heap of golden feathers, the long talonous claws sticking out underneath and long stringy tail were enough for her to identify the dead griffin. She looked up when the unicorn whinnied mournfully. Bella moved closer lifting its wing slightly to see the closed eyes of the creature, its body cold and stiff.
She heard the thundering hooves of two centaurs approaching she looked up to see Bane and Firenze looking back at her and the griffin.
"Grintail has finally passed" Firenze spoke observing the sight in front of him.
"He was the leader of the griffin herd" bane replied. They watched as Bellatrix walked back up towards them.
"What now, do you bury them?" she asked.
"No, a ritual will take place, as with all who die in the meadow" Firenze spoke
"What kind of ritual?" Bella asked
Bane spoke first. "The magic and nature combine even after death, many from the different herds who leave return specifically to die here. Offering their body to the earth and the inhabitants, by right we can take what we need"
"You're going to carve him?" Bellatrix shouted in disgust as she saw bane take a knife from his satchel.
"Skin can be tanned for leather, feathers for bedding and comfort as well as many other things, it's how things have been done for centuries passing" bane spoke.
Bellatrix scoffed turning away back to the other side. She noted the unicorn following her. She sat herself against the tree trunk once again, the unicorn sitting down by her resting its silver head on her knee as she rubbed it behind its ears. After a while Apollo approached.
"Your upset Bellatrix?" he stated looking down at her.
"I was taught to respect the dead, not carve them up for their body parts" she spoke with a tone of disgust.
"You used to eat meat did you not? It is a similar gesture, we only do it for materialistic value, and the beasts all know this and chose to come here to die as an offering. You yourself use items made from past rituals, your drinking horn is just one example" he stated.
Bellatrix said nothing, realising what he had said did make sense.
"Come Arria has a task for you" he called walking away. Giving the unicorn one last scratch she gently pushed his head aside as she jumped up and followed the centaur.
Bellatrix removed herself from the bushes for a third time that day after being sick yet again, she had been placed under the guidance of Hypatia one of the eldest female centaurs in the herd. She was a female of few words and ran like clockwork with her hands, she had been tanning the skin of the dead griffin manually, and had insisted on Bellatrix experiencing every part of the process. The first time she had needed to vomit was during the hair removal, and turning impossibly greener when the pickling phase happened.
Arria had laughed when she realised the trauma Bellatrix had been placed in, she rescued the young witch and in turn showed her how to manipulate the skin into leather using magic instead, explaining some of the older centaurs still followed the traditional ways of doing things.
"Why don't you make something for yourself Bellatrix" Arria spoke as she observed the young witch practicing wandlessly weaving feathers into a pillow shape.
"Like what?" Bellatrix asked
"Perhaps some leather bonds or your wrists, there very good for enhancing your wandless magic"
Bellatrix looked back at the centaur confused.
"Haven't you noticed most of us wear them?" Arria continued pointing to the brown strips on her arms. Bella looked and then at some of the others noting how all the males sported them.
"How do they enhance magic if it's just leather?"
"Well they weave magical gifts within them. I believe it's a similar prospect to your Wizarding wands cores. But these are offered not taken that's when the magic is truly different. Mine for example are griffin feathers and centaur hair from my mother's tail" Arria explained
Bellatrix had asked Apollo the name of the unicorn who seemed to have befriended her. Apollo merely replied that Bellatrix should simply ask what he would like to be called. The unicorn stood looking at her curiously as she stood explaining she wanted to give him a name to call. She had made several suggestions realising quickly the intelligence of the creature as it snorted in disgust at the first few names. She struggled to think of something right for him. Stories from her childhood didn't really involve creatures being so powerful and worthy of a name. She thought back to a book she had read recently, a muggle story of magic, with a talking lion and a white horse given wings to fly.
"Fledge" Bellatrix murmured remembering the horses name in the story Hermione had given her. The unicorn nuzzled her, bringing her back from her thoughts.
"You like fledge?" she asked smiling. The unicorn blinked.
"Could I have one of your hairs for my leather bonds fledge?" she followed.
Fledge stepped forward shaking his silky mane slightly, standing in front of Bellatrix. She stroked a few strands making sure she had consent before plucking the silver strands from his mane.
"Thank you" she whispered stroking him behind his ears once more.
The same method worked with the thestral, after asking for some tail hairs she had enough strands and with the guidance of Arria managed to make four leather strips, two possessing unicorn hair and two possessing thestral hair.
She experimented with the bracelets while practising her wandless magic. She found the best combination was to have one of each, sporting the unicorn bound one on her right hand which had previously been her dominant wand hand. She remembered a text many years before she had studied on wand lore and different cores, unicorn hair was excellent controlled magic whereas thestral hair though more powerful was more difficult to master hence it was very rare to find wands with thestral a thestral hair core. Which is how Bellatrix found her best combination. The control of her magic through her right hand, and the power force of the thestral hair through her left.
The summer storm had come unexpectedly a few days later, the torrential rain had caused Bellatrix to stay in her swelling for most the afternoon, as nightfall came so did loud rumbles of thunder, and a restless night. After hours of tossing and turning she gave up on her attempt to sleep. She had felt restless after days of being restrained to the meadow. She placed her cloak over her shoulders and walked outside casting a repelling charm on to keep herself from getting to wet as she walked out of the barrier into the woods.
Unsure of where she was heading Bellatrix stopped for a moment, from behind her she heard movement, and she whipped round a spell on the tip of her tongue as she looked into the white eyes of the thestral.
"You frightened me" she whispered walking up to the creature. A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, the thestral still remained still, unphazed by the rumble of thunder following. Bellatrix grinned with the energy of the storm, she jumped onto the back of the thestral unsure of her destination. He stood waiting for an inclination. Bellatrix thought of her last trip, seeing her sisters, the adrenaline from flying and freedom, the warmth of the embrace she felt sitting behind the other witch as they returned, the tingling feeling in her stomach as she felt the girl lean back into her embrace before they were distracted by the owl.
Hermione the name tumbled out in a mere breath, and with that the thestral stretched it wings and took off.
The candle wick was well burned down as Hermione continued to read her potions book. She had never been one to settle well in storms and tonight was pretty wild. The grandfather clock downstairs struck midnight distracting her slightly from her reading before bending her head back down to continue. As another bolt flashed through the crack of her curtains, she rose from her bed to re-adjust the heavy velvet drapes. Something in the distance caught her attention as she held the end of the material. She pulled the drapes apart as a light orb floated up towards her window, it penetrated the window pane. The orb was the same yellow transparent glow as a lumos spell, it floated in front of her before disappearing back outside towards the ground. She opened the sash window sticking her head out for a better look as it disappeared down towards the trees before extinguishing. Another lightning strike lit up the area enough for Hermione to see the outline shadow below.
Bellatrix! Hermione thought, panicking as she quickly tiptoed downstairs. She heard the deep snores choking from Andy's room as she slipped past like a cat heading down the stairs and through the kitchen to the back door.
"Bellatrix" Hermione whispered looking out into the darkness as she felt her way down the stone path.
"I'm here she heard a reply straight in front of her.
"What are you doing here?" Hermione demanded. The thunder ricocheted around them. Hermione gulped before grabbing the dark witches arm and dragging her towards the house.
Hermione cast a Muffliato spell as she lit the candles in the kitchen.
"Sit" she commanded to Bellatrix, who obediently sat on the breakfast stool pointed out to her. "Don't touch anything" Hermione followed before she was satisfied her command would be obeyed she turned round to the stove and pulled out a pan, heating up some milk.
Bellatrix observed silently, looking around the home of her estranged sister. She settled on the brunette in front who carried out her task. Hermione turned around with two warm mugs of drinking chocolate placing one in front of Bellatrix and setting her own on the side as she went to the pantry retrieving a packet of biscuits. She picked up her mug and gestured silently with a jerk of her head for Bellatrix to follow her into the living room. Bellatrix followed cautiously, absorbing all she could see around her. Hermione patted the sofa next to her as she watched Bellatrix hesitantly sit, her dark eyes fixed on the mantelpiece as she watched a younger version of herself playing with her siblings.
"This is my sister's house" Bellatrix finally spoke.
"How did you know I was here? And where to come" Hermione asked. As she cast several spells to alert her of anyone waking up upstairs, repelling them from coming down.
"you told me you were staying here . ." the dark witch shrugged as she picked up the biscuit packet ripping the top off and inspecting the food piece before placing it in her mouth.
"How did you know where HERE was?" Hermione questioned. She watched as the dark witch continued to munch her biscuit staring straight ahead at the fire embers.
"This isn't the first time I have been here" Bellatrix whispered. "Years ago I had read the prophet, and just there in front of me was a small announcement that a child had been born, Nymphadora Tonks. Ever since we were children Andromeda said she would call her daughter that. I don't know why but I guess I wanted to see her, I was still mad at my sister for leaving us. One day I spotted the husband leaving his job at the ministry and I followed him here, I just stood in the wood and watched them in the garden. . . I've never told anyone that before" she admitted.
"Bellatrix . . . there's something I think you should know" Hermione started. She watched as the dark witch turned to her dark orbs had a hint of concern from the other witches tone.
"The other night when I got that letter, it was some news. There's been rumours about some of the death eaters seeking revenge . . ." Hermione stalled as she watched the dark witch's reaction. Bella said nothing her expression unreadable. ". . . Your husband and both your brother in laws were some of the names mentioned" Hermione continued.
"I know" Bellatrix answered.
"How?" Hermione looked. Her face frowning and almost panic as the possibilities passed through her mind. As if Bellatrix was reading her mind she answered.
"Don't worry I have no intention of meeting with my Husband again" Bellatrix spoke his name like venom. "That game keeper man spoke to the centaurs about it, I've not left the meadow for days because of it, why do you think I flew tonight" she finished.
"I don't know maybe because you actually missed me" Hermione joked a slight smile on her face. "Don't flatter yourself Granger, arrogance doesn't suit you" Bellatrix replied nudging her playfully. The truth was Bellatrix had missed her, not that she would admit it, and her other concerns too.
"How did you make the light orb?" Hermione asked changing the subject.
"The centaurs taught me it, like us there sight isn't great in the dark." Bella answered.
"Your wandless magic must be strong for something like that" Hermione continued.
"That's because I've got these" Bellatrix pulled her sleeves up showing the leather strips on her wrists. Hermione looked at them confused. She feather touched them as she examined them more closely.
"Strips of leather?" Hermione asked. Bellatrix nodded and began to thoroughly explain the events of the last few days, how she had found the dead griffin, explaining the rights and rituals and how the leather bonds worked to enhance her magic. Hermione drank in every word. Knowledge that would never be found in a book in Hogwarts or any book for that matter. She was so engrossed she had not realised both her hands were still holding Bella's. it was only when Bellatrix had finished her lecture she looked down at their entwined hands, Hermione followed her gaze and jumped, immediately dropping her grasp. "Oh Sorry" she mumbled, blushing slightly. Bellatrix smirked.
"Actually I have an extra pair" Bellatrix announced digging into her cloak pocket. She pulled them out, taking one and grabbing the other witches wrist before she could protest, placing it round her as the two ends fused together securing it in place. She repeated the second one as Hermione silent watched in fascination.
"Try something" Bellatrix encouraged gesturing at her hands.
Hermione looked hesitantly. She looked at the biscuits sitting half open in front of her. "Wingardium leviosa" she whispered watching it immediately float up steadily in front of her.
Bellatrix giggled. "Maybe we can practise something more advanced when you come visit me, levitating food won't protect you." He tone changed and her face turned serious.
"You will be careful and practise won't you Hermione? The Lestrange brothers are dangerous, I know. . I know I hurt you . . . but they show no mercy" Bellatrix shuddered at unwanted memories. Hermione was too shocked to reply, this was a side of Bellatrix that in her recent interaction with the witch was almost never seen. She remembered one afternoon Andy and Narcissa discussing their one of their many childhood memories and reminiscing about their eldest sister, the protective loving sister they had missed so much.
Hermione opened her mouth about to speak when she felt a jolt, the wards she set up began to crackle, and she heard movement on the floor above.
"Shit! Andy's awake, you need to go!" Hermione panicked jumping from the seat. Bellatrix jumped, immediately heading for the back door, Hermione pulled the heavy door back, realising the first cracks of dawn were peeking through the grey clouds.
"Promise you will come and see me after the welcome feast like you said?" Bellatrix asked.
"Promise" Hermione answered smiling. "Now go!"
Bellatrix grinned in excitement, she quickly flung her arms around the brunette witch in a quick embrace and pecked Hermione on the cheek before turning and running down the garden path.
Hermione froze, when she felt the lips ghost her skin, lifting her fingers to the tingling sensation left behind. She stared on as Bellatrix leaped onto the thestrals back and soared off into the darkness.
"Hermione?" Andy's voice brought her out of her thoughts as she continued to stare out into the garden. She turned to the older witch.
"Everything alright?" she asked.
"Fine, just couldn't sleep so I came and got a drink" the words rolled off her tongue so effortlessly.
"Thirsty or did you have visitor?" Andromeda asked, holding up the two empty mugs, a slight look of concern on her face.