Chapter 16

ANDY! ANDY!

Hermone screamed at the top of her lungs as she landed into the living room, she lay Bellatrix onto the couch checking over for any signs of splinching as the dark witch continued to cough blood as it dribbled down her chin.

"Hermione?" Andy's voice rang from from the basement downstairs, she heard the footsteps thudding up the stone slabs. Hermione noticed the panic in Bellatrix eyes when she realised where she was, she bent down stroking her cold sweaty brow and placing a kiss on her temple before whispering "its ok trust me" before spinning round to meet Andromeda at the door.

"Hermione what are you doing here what's wrong darling" Andromeda placed one hand on her shoulder and the other on Hermione's cheek as she looked at the girl full of concern, more so when she noticed blood on her hand.

"I didn't know where else to go, we think its poison!" Hermione choked through sobs.

"We?" Andromeda asked, it was only then she heard coughing from the other room. She stepped passed Hermione stopping dead at the doorway as she saw Bellatrix. Andromeda stared wide eyed in shock down at the dark haired witch on her sofa, dark orbs looked back at her as she coughed again.

"Andy? Andy!" Hermione shouted trying to break the trance unsuccessfully, Hermione gave up quickly knowing time was precious saving Bella. She ran down the steps into Andromeda's brewing area looking at the bookshelf full of tomes as the titles whizzed through her head trying to think of something to point her in the right direction. Her eyes scanned across a low quality paperback Hint and Tips for the amateur potioneer by Severus Snape. Hermione thought back to her old potions master, he would have been a more useful person to approach for poisons, but he was dead of course. He even wrote poison cures and antidotes in his school potions book back in his half-blood prince days her mind continued to churn out as precious seconds passed.

Then suddenly it came to her. Two years ago as they stressed over and antidote and harry pulled out the Stoney looking object. Hermione spun round to the shelf full of jars scanning the name cards and right in front of her was the answer labelled Bezoar. She pulled the jar lid open pulling out the pebbled item. Running back upstairs passed a still dazed Andromeda and dived to Bellatrix side.

"Swallow this Bella" Hermione ordered shoving it into her mouth. Bella panicked shaking her head as her eyes streamed, the lumpy object sitting dormant on her tongue.

"Bella you need to swallow! Do it!" Hermione cried. Hermione watched as Bellatrix gulped hard in an attempt to swallow, she coughed violently and wretched as she turned sideways and dribbled out a large pool of drool and blood onto the floor below her.

After several seconds Hermione have a large sigh of relief as the coughing subsided and she realised a tinge of colour was returning to her cheeks. Hermione turned as she heard footsteps behind her. Andromeda stepped forward raising her wand. Hermione was about to jump and shout in protest as the older which approached Bellatrix.

"Venenum egritudo" she cast as a red light left the wand tip straight towards Bellatrix. It spread all over her body before repelling back towards the wand changing colour to a greenish brown. Andy transfigured a plastic cup from a candle wick on the table and filled it with water from her wand tip before passing it to Hermione "Make her drink this and take her upstairs" Andy ordered in a sharp tone before turning back to the kitchen. Hermione was shocked but followed the order bringing the cup to bellas lips as it was eagerly welcomed by the dark witch taking several large gulps as she attempted to sit up.

"Put your arms round my neck" Hermione whispered as she picked up Bellatrix effortlessly in a bridal style and took her upstairs. She hadn't even needed a weightless charm Bellatrix was so petite she practically weighed nothing giving slight concern to Hermione as she took her up the steps.

She placed Bellatrix on her own bed in the small room she had slept in all summer. She pulled a napkin from the bed side cabinet drawer and wiped the blood from the corner of Bellatrix mouth. Hermione whispered a wandless scurgify on Bellatrix which the dark which seemed grateful for, and walked back to the large mahogany chest pulling it open and pulling out a small t-shirt and pyjama pants before walking back to Bellatrix.

"Here put these on" Hermione whispered before turning towards the door giving the other witch privacy. She reached for the handle when she heard a weak voice behind her.

"Could you help me" Bellatrix asked weakly. Hermione nodded and turned back towards her. Hermione leaned across behind Bellatrix unzipping the back of the dress before pushing the sleeves over pale shoulder allowing Bellatrix to shimmy her arms out herself, and pulled up the t-shirt .

"Raise your arms" Hermione whispered as she pulled t-shirt lightly over Bellatrix head, gently manipulating the sleeves so they would slide over Bellatrix arms as she pulled down. She turned so she was in front of Bellatrix and cautiously gripped the velvet material around Bellas waist as Bella lifted up her bottom allowing Hermione to pull it down her cheeks burning as her fingers grazed along pale limbs as she slipped the material down, she picked up the pyjama bottoms slipping them over both feet and sliding them up before meeting bellas hands as she gripped the topped and completed pulling them up to her waist independently.

"Thanks" she husked, Hermione pulled the comforter up and over Bellatrix as she gestured for the other witch to climb in. Bellatrix reached for Hermione's hand but pulled back abruptly when a sharp rasp hit the closed door. Hermione jumped up pulling the door open. Andromeda looked at her with a blank expression before handing out several potion bottles. "Give here these" Andromeda ordered passing each bottle individually as she instructed "she was diagnosed as being poisoned with moonseed, the bezoar cleaned it up though she may have side effects. Give her this, it will replenish her strength, this one will clear up any sickness or side effects that may linger, and this will should supplement her, she looks rather malnourished. Then she needs to rest, she can eat later when the potions have kicked in" she finished after passing the bottles with each instruction and turning away without a second glance towards Bellatrix. Hermione re-entered the room with the potions repeating the words of Andromeda as she coaxed Bella to drink them.

"You need to rest" Hermione ordered picking up the empty potions bottles. Bellatrix nodded, propping herself back against the pillows. Hermione realised as she turned for one last glance as she closed the door that Bella was already asleep. She clicked the door gently and smiled.

Hermione walked down to the basement with the bottles to clean and be reused. She had noticed the back door to the cottage open and Andromeda in the garden summoning vegetables. As she made her way back upstairs to the kitchen the door was closed. She watched the knife chopping the vegetables independently as the perfectly sliced carrots flew into a boiling pan. Andromeda was stood by the kitchen table setting down a pot of tea. Hermione walked up behind her knowing the older witch was awaiting an explanation.

"Andy I-" Hermione never got to finish her sentence as she staggered backwards clutching her cheek from the stinging sensation as she realised she had just been slapped. "You stupid girl how could you! You brought that monster into my home!" Andromeda shouted in anger.

"I'm sorry I panicked I didn't know where else to take her" Hermione sobbed as she broke down. Andromeda sniffed, feeling slightly guilty as she saw the red handprint on Hermione's cheek.

"She's dangerous Hermione, you put yourself at risk and now me and teddy as well! Did she threaten you to make you do that? You know we would have helped if you were in trouble"

"It's not like that, she's different" Hermione pleaded.

"Hermione this is Bellatrix, the same person who did this to you" she pointed at the scar on Hermione's arm.

"But she's not the same person, she was brought back from death to her purer self before Voldemort ruined her" Hermione explained. Andromeda stood silently and confused as Hermione repeated the story Bella had told her all those weeks ago. Andromeda stood up and dished out two bowls of soup one for herself and setting one in front of Hermione. They ate in silence, Hermione looking at the older witch waiting or any sort of reaction or speech but nothing. Andromeda stood and left the room walking down to her office leaving Hermione to finish her own meal, unsure of what to do next. She picked up the dishes and washed them by hand in the sink contemplating dishing some up for Bellatrix and what she should do next. Hermione heard Andromeda re-enter and sit down at the table. Hermione turned around to the older witch and leaned against the counter, not able to bear the silence any longer Hermione finally spoke up.

"Where is teddy?" Hermione asked.

"He's at the Weasley's, I just owled them to keep hold of him until Monday. Thank merlin he wasn't here" Andromeda muttered. Hermione felt immediate guilt realising the strain she had put on Andy, the worry the older witch must have on the risk of her grandchild and only family in danger because of her.

"I'll go and wake Bellatrix and leave Andy the last thing I was is for you to feel endangered" Hermione whispered over the scraping of the chair legs as she stood up.

"You can't move her in that condition, she will sleep mostly for the next few days" Andromeda explained "I owled Minerva as well, I told her you weren't feeling well and would remain here for a few days." She continued.

"Thank you" Hermione whispered.

"When this is done and she's better Hermione I want her out my house, you take her to where you found her and don't bring her back" Andromeda ordered. "You obliviate her memories of being here and you remove mine of all interaction, I don't want to remember any of this do you understand?"

"Yes" Hermione replied.

"Go to bed Hermione it's late" Andromeda spoke as she stood wearily from the table. Hermione nodded a reply leaving the older witch. She paced up the stairs debating where she would sleep, stepping into the bathroom she brushed her teeth before pulling an extra pillow and blanket from the airing cupboard. Taking her items into her room, noticing Bella still sleeping in the corner of the bed next to the wall. she laid her bedding out on the floor before quietly changing into a tank top and shorts from her drawer navigating quietly around the room via the bright moonlight emitting into the room. She was about to settle onto the floor when she heard Bellatrix restlessly shuffling and whimpering. Hermione moved closer watching Bellatrix thrashing and jerking more as she mumbled words.

"No please . . . don't leave me Hermione" she pleaded through her whimpers. Hermione placed her hand softly on bellas arm which seemed to calm the slumbering witch as the thrashing stopped and a more peaceful expression graced on Bellatrix sleeping features. Hermione pulled the blankets back slightly squeezing into the small bed behind Bellatrix. Maybe she would regret the move tomorrow, or Bellatrix would express her annoyance when she woke up but for now it seemed the most logical thing in the world as she spooned the dark witch placing her arm around Bellatrix, her head nestling against black curls that smelled so strongly of cinnamon Hermione thought she would drown as she whispered.

"I won't ever leave you Bellatrix, not when I've only just found you"

SlytherinEnigma