December 27th

Antonin's grip on her waist was bruising, but Hermione was past the point of caring. Each undulation of his hips behind her threatened to be her undoing. Something about having her naked form spread out in front of him in such an animalistic and submissive stance always brought out the primal passion in her husband. Of course, that could be said about generally any position they chose. If they had to choose a favorite collectively, she didn't have any doubt they would pick the same one.

She rested her cheek against the scratchy fabric of the terrible sheets covering their borrowed bed. Her fists closed on the fibers, desperate for something to hold on to, something to ground her to the Earth when all she wanted to do was give in to the euphoric high and float away. How was it that she didn't realize all of those years she wasted living under the influence of her damned potions that she could've found the same release in bed with her husband? Why had she been running from him for so long?

Following the explanation of everything that she'd endured during Rodolphus' kidnapping and every vile word he said to her, the Dolohovs sought out comfort in each other. Neither one of them wanted to admit how afraid they both were of the possibilities. Forming it all into words was too much. Except to eat or bathe, they hadn't bothered to even get out of bed and even then, they were still together. Where her husband rediscovered his insatiability was an amusing question Hermione didn't care if she ever learned the answer to. For having such a dismal Christmas Eve and Day, they both made certain to make up for it in the following two days they spent entirely alone.

His increased speed and his uneven rhythm indicated that Antonin was near to finding his release. Eager to encourage him, especially considering she'd lost count the number of breathtaking orgasms he'd pulled from her, Hermione pushed her body backwards to meet each of his thrusts. The low growl coming out of his mouth was all the confirmation she needed that he liked what she was doing very much. Her body ached, but she would've continued for as long as he desired just so she could feel something real. Tightening his grasp on her hips, he didn't last much longer. They both collapsed into a sweaty heap on the awful bed. Still desiring to be close to his wife, Antonin pulled her into his arms as they both caught their breaths.

As much as she had grown to truly appreciate the moments they had alone, Hermione hated that when they weren't actively working to engage the other in the sorts of activities that left little room for coherent thought, her mind wandered to places it shouldn't. There was a deep unsettling in her that she couldn't ignore. Since she left Rodolphus' captivity armed with the horrible knowledge of at least some of what he wanted to do to her, she hadn't been able to feel relaxed or the least bit calm. If she managed to appear at ease, it was solely for her husband's benefit. She hated that he'd been forced to worry about her for days. She didn't want him to worry if he didn't have to.

With the end of the year quickly approaching, she knew that something was about to happen. Of course, no matter how many times she attempted to convince herself that she was being paranoid, it never worked. Rodolphus was growing desperate. His actions would start to show that soon, if they hadn't already. The loss of his key alliances had no doubt altered his long-term plans, but there was still cause to fear that his desire to bring back his wife was his number one and possibly only priority. Hermione was still in danger. It was exhausting to never be able to take a deep breath and relax.

"I can tell you're worried. What are you thinking?"

She didn't want to admit to Antonin what was really going on in her mind. When she told him her suspicions about what Rodolphus had planned for her, he didn't even know how to respond. The explanation she gave about the horrible man spending years trying to turn her more into his wife with changes inside her mind angered him, but he'd somehow managed to keep a handle on his temper. Likely he was biding his time until he could rid the world of the entire Lestrange family. She felt the same. Only the fear that whatever the spell he had left in her mind activating when he was killed prevented them from going straight to that option. Once Mr. Akingbade was able to get the necessary information about what the spell was and how it could be removed then Rodolphus' murder would be possible.

"I was just thinking about Ollie. I hate that he's in the castle right now so far away from us."

"Yes, but if he was here with us right now, we wouldn't have been able to have near so pleasant a day, would we?"

His reminder of the way they spent their hours alone made her snort. A gentle nudge in his stomach with her elbow drew laughter out of him. It was a sound that she'd missed without even realizing it. So much of her life had been spent in a fog that she felt like she was finally waking up out of. Antonin kissed the top of her head and tightened his hold on her body.

"Ollie is safe. I'm sure of it."

Before he could continue with all of the explanations as to why he was certain their son was protected in the walls of Hogwarts, a familiar vibrating on the table next to the bed caught his attention. Releasing his hold on her to answer the mirror, Antonin rolled over to retrieve his communicator. They'd been very careful with how it was used in recent weeks, but it was still the easiest way to speak, especially when it was necessary to do so quickly. Thorfinn didn't even bother to apologize for interrupting their evening.

"Have you seen your brother lately?"

"Which one?

"The smart one."

Antonin laughed.

"I'm the smart one."

"Whatever, mate. I think he's got a gift for you."

"Thanks."

He had a bright smile on his face when he closed the mirror. Confused by the exchange, Hermione started to ask a question, but was immediately interrupted by a fierce kiss. When they broke apart, she wasn't even sure she remembered what she was going to ask in the first place.

"Let's take a quick shower. We have somewhere we need to be."

Antonin would offer her no further details. Whether it was because he was afraid that she would know too much or if it was simply because he enjoyed being mysterious, she didn't know. She didn't even really care. Based on the smile that he couldn't wipe off of his face and the evident lightening of the burden on his shoulders, she knew he was happy. If he was happy, she knew she should be too. They shared a short shower together and dressed warmly.

Once they were outside, her husband didn't release his grip on her hand. She appreciated the support. With another kiss to calm her nerves, he Disapparated them both away from their refuge. When the squeezing stopped and they were at their destination, she felt a sinking in her gut. She hated the Hogsmeade Caves. Even before she murdered Oliver Wood in another lifetime, she'd felt uneasy around them. Sensing her reluctance and concern, Antonin squeezed her hand, a reminder that she wasn't alone. It helped.

He led her deep into a cloaked cave entrance. There were torches set up to light the way. It should've felt warm and cheery, but it didn't. She didn't have the first clue what they would find when they finished their journey. When it seemed like they would never stop walking, she saw a large fire up ahead with three figures standing around it. Based on the fact that Antonin felt perfectly at ease, she didn't worry. Clearly, they were friendly.

Alexandre Dolohov was the first one she recognized. Standing furthest away from the fire, he was the one to greet them both with a bright smile. So unlike he'd been the day he'd sneered at her in Rodolphus' dining room, she was glad to see that despite knowing what she'd done to his younger brother, Alexandre held no hard feelings. Antonin admitted when she had the courage to finally ask if his brothers knew about her role in Aubin's murder that neither of his surviving brothers could blame her for what happened. Aubin made his choices and they understood that he had to face the consequences.

"We were beginning to wonder if you'd gotten lost."

With another bright smile, Alexandre clapped his eldest brother on the back and leaned down to kiss Hermione on the cheek. The moment he stepped back, she saw the faces of the other two clearly in the firelight. It was no wonder that Thorfinn teased Antonin about his 'smart' brother. The well-known world traveling Professor Alain Dolohov had come to visit and to Hermione's immense relief brought his colleague Babajide Akingbade. Did that mean that he finally understood what wretched, disgusting spell Rodolphus put inside her brain? Was her nightmare about to be over? When the initial greetings were all exchanged, Mr. Akingbade smiled brightly and turned his full attention to her.

"Hermione, I wonder if you and I might have a few minutes to speak alone?"

She was reluctant to let go of her husband's hand even if it meant she could be free of Rodolphus again. He'd been such a constant source of comfort and security that she didn't want to leave him. Sensing her anxiety, Antonin kissed the top of her head and whispered in her ear that she would be safe and he would only be a short distance away if she needed him. It was enough encouragement to follow Mr. Akingbade to a small chamber off of the one the Dolohov brothers were standing in.

"Your husband's younger brother Alexandre is very gifted at conjuring charms. I never expected to be given such comfortable accommodations when I was informed I would be spending several days inside a cave."

Mr. Akingbade waved his hand over the area they'd moved to. It certainly was more luxurious than all of the times Hermione had been forced to sleep in a cave. Alexandre conjured a soft bed, a plush chair and a small table with a lamp for the memory charm expert's use. Just as they'd done in the tiny attic bedroom that had once been her home, Hermione took a seat on the edge of the bed and he pulled the chair closer to be able to face her.

"Now, I must confess that I've already spoken to both of your brothers-in-law about what I'm going to tell you. Alain is sharing what I've discovered with your husband right now. I hope you will forgive me for making that decision without you, but I believe your husband will be very angry once he's learned what I have. My hope is that with both of his brothers there by his side, they might be able to prevent him from doing something rash."

Nothing about what he said encouraged Hermione in the slightest. There was still some part of her that was hoping that she'd blown everything up out of proportion and there was nothing to be worried about. If Mr. Akingbade thought that Antonin would need his brothers there to keep him from rushing out in the night to track Rodolphus down to murder him, what he was about to reveal had to have been just dreadful. She didn't mind that he'd shared what he had with her brothers-in-law. Though there had been many years when the Dolohov brothers would've preferred to ignore the others' existences, the events of the previous year brought them a lot closer. The loss of their youngest seemed only to have solidified the bond that Antonin said hadn't really been present since they were small. She would trust Alain and Alexandre with her secrets just as she would trust them with her husband's safety. They were all one family, were they not? That fact meant more to her than it used to.

"It's that bad, is it?"

"I'm afraid so."

He reached into the pocket of his robes to pull out an old, battered book. There was a sick expression on his face that he didn't even try to deny. She could understand immediately once he pressed the volume into her hands. That book had seen evil in its days. It was awful. Even just holding it made her feel sick to her stomach. What would she find when she opened it? She almost didn't want to know.

"I believe I have discovered the spell that Mr. Lestrange has placed inside your mind. First, before I tell you any more, I must apologize for my role in keeping the presence of that spell and the block that I placed in your mind a secret. While I believe that it was the right decision to make at the time, I understand that it was very frustrating for you to be lied to."

She couldn't hold it against him. Not when she understood the reasons and because she knew how eager he was to help right the wrongs that had been done to her. With a genuine smile, she reassured him that all was forgiven. He appeared relieved.

"When I received the message from your husband telling me a little bit about what you'd learned from Lestange, I felt sick because I had a suspicion. One that I hoped very strongly I would discover I was wrong about. Unfortunately…"

"It seems you were correct?"

He nodded, distress clear on his features.

"There is a terrible spell that I read once in my research. The book you hold is full of some of the darkest spells you can imagine and quite a few that I don't believe you could even fathom were capable. It is truly disgusting what crimes against humanity some witches and wizards have committed throughout time."

"And the spell is inside this book?"

"If I am correct, and I fear I am, then yes, it is indeed."

"What is it? Can we get rid of it? Is it truly terrible?"

She had about a thousand different questions, each a variation of the same. What it was mattered, but not nearly as much as whether or not it was possible to get rid of it. Just the thought of anything of Rodolphus' still lingering inside her head was bad enough. Knowing that it was a spell that horrified a man as wise and knowledgable as Mr. Akingbade was infinitely worse.

"I will have to check inside your mind once more just to make sure that it carries all of the same traits as the one I've been studying, but yes, we can certainly remove it."

"What does it do?"

He was reluctant to answer her question. She knew all of the signs thanks to her former career. Though she didn't believe that he would refuse to tell her, she knew that he was trying to think of the best way to explain himself without frightening her. It made her feel like a child, but for once she didn't mind.

"I believe the spell inside your brain is something like a trap."

"A trap?"

"Yes, or I suppose a vessel might be a better term for it. Its design is to… well, there really isn't any other way to explain this than quite bluntly so you'll have to forgive me. The spell will essentially trap the consciousness of a person within a small corner of their mind which they will be unable to escape. They would no longer have any control over their own body."

"For what purpose?"

"To leave the body open to be used as a host for the spirit of someone else brought back from the dead."

Hermione was thankful that she hadn't had anything to eat that evening. It would've all come rushing back up out of her body if she had. Rodolphus finally figured out a way to bring Bellatrix back from the dead. Instead of building her a body from parts of others, he was just simply going to steal Hermione's body while she was still alive and conscious of what was happening. It was terrifying, but it made a sick sort of sense. When his attempts to mold her into a more-Bellatrix version of herself failed, he had to keep looking for other options. Hadn't he proven over the years that he was rather partial to her body? With his wife being inside of it, he would have the best of both worlds. Doing her best to give the impression that she was calm even when she was screaming inside, Hermione took a deep breath and met Mr. Akingbade's concerned eyes.

"Is there any way to stop him?"

"Of course, but I'm afraid I'll need to get back inside your mind."

She had no worries that he couldn't be trusted. Hadn't he already proven that he had her best interests at heart? Babajide Akingbade was a good man, much better than most she'd had the misfortune to meet in her lifetime. No matter what happened, whether he was successful or not, she would always be grateful for his assistance and his kindness. He didn't have to do anything to help her. The fact that he allowed Alain to smuggle him into a country that was in the midst of a very dangerous reconstruction to help a notorious former Death Eater only proved that he was a much better person than she had ever been.

Allowing him back inside her mind felt strange. Compared to the pain that Rodolphus caused the two instances he'd rooted around in her brain in recent weeks, Mr. Akingbade's gentle touch was almost difficult to feel. Before he returned to her mind, he explained that first he would need to remove the block that he placed inside. Once that was gone, he would be free to start the process of removing the leftover spell. As soon as he suspected the spell that Rodolphus used, he'd been researching how to remove it. Hermione felt confident that he would be successful.

There was a rush of energy inside her head at the breaking of the block. Though not uncomfortable or painful, it was simply bizarre how she could feel the flow. A gentle voice warned her that he would be going after the spell next. While she was prepared for there to be some pain in the removal process, she wasn't prepared for the intensity. She could hear herself screaming. Mr. Akingbade immediately closed the connection between their minds. Some of the pain dissipated, but a dull throb remained.

Antonin ran inside the small chamber with his two brothers close behind. His dark brown eyes were wide with fear. Clearly the screaming hadn't just been inside her mind. Mr. Akingbade offered everyone a reassuring smile before he turned his attention solely back to Hermione. He took one of her hands in his and squeezed.

"Your mind needs rest. I fear that if I try to go in there right now to remove the spell so soon after I removed the block I might damage your brain permanently."

A crushing wave of disappointment rolled over her. She had been so hoping that it would all be taken care of that night. Knowing that she would have to wait even longer to be free of Rodolphus' treachery was disheartening.

"We will try again tomorrow night. Go home and take one of the potions that your husband used to give you. Not the one that you would take when you were having an episode. One of the strawberry-flavored ones. Rest. You will be fine tomorrow night."

She hoped that he was right. Refusing to relinquish her hold on the disturbing book containing the description for the spell, she allowed her husband to lead her out of the caves. When they returned to their temporary home, she didn't even argue when Antonin handed her one of her old potions and encouraged her to get straight in bed. If all went as it was supposed to, that would be the last time she ever had to drink a vial of the damned potion.