AN: As Hermione would say, you cannot apparate in and out of Hogwarts grounds. I got it. I know. But if Voldemort can destroy a protective spell around a giant castle, I'm sure he can find away around the apparation rule as well. He IS a Dark Lord and all.
May 2nd, 1998- Hogwarts Castle
"Begin." Lord Voldemort commanded to his army of Death Eaters. Thousands of blue rays of light scattered across the sky, into the barrier covering Hogwarts.
"Reducto." Bellatrix whispered. Her spell shot into the air, causing a crack to form in the barrier, as if it were made of glass.
Voldemort laughed. "They never learn."
It ends tonight, Bellatrix thought. The war will be over tonight.
-x-x-x-x-x-
"I have some business to attend to with Severus, Bellatrix, wait here with the others."
Bellatrix paced around the Forbidden Forest, where the Death Eaters had made camp. Lord Voldemort had been 'attending business' for well over an hour now.
What can Snape do that I can't? I'm his most faithful servant! This is bound to be when Snape betrays him for the Potter boy anyway…
Her fellow Death Eaters around her remained silent. A few of them were pacing around, like Bellatrix, but most stood frozen, the way Lucius and Narcissa were. Not all of the Death Eaters were there; many of them were battling at the castle, or off with the Snatchers that fled after receiving their gold.
The Dark Lord won't put up with that, those filthy scavengers will be gone soon enough.
A dark cloud rolled across the night sky; The thunder clapped, and Bellatrix heard Lord Voldemort's voice whisper into her ear.
"You have fought valiantly. Lord Voldemort knows how to value bravery."
Bellatrix whipped around to face her master. But there was no one behind her besides the Death Eaters. They were all looking up at the sky, which seemed to be the source of the voice.
"Yet you have sustained heavy losses. If you continue to resist me, you will all die, one by one. I do not wish this to happen. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a loss and a waste.
"Lord Voldemort is merciful. I command my forces to retreat immediately.
"You have one hour. Dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured.
"I speak now, Harry Potter, directly to you. You have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest. If, at the end of that hour, you have not come to me, have not given yourself up, then battle recommences. This time, I shall enter the fray myself, Harry Potter, and I shall find you, and I shall punish every last man, woman, and child who has tried to conceal you from me. One hour."
The voice was silent for less than a second when the Dark Lord apparated into the Forbidden Forest.
"My Lord!" Lucius called over to him, prying his hands from Narcissa's grip. "My Lord, I can bring you Potter… Let me go to the castle-"
Lord Voldemort laughed. "Lucius, if your son is still on our side, he will be here in time. And Potter does not need to be brought here, within the hour, he will come to me."
"But my Lord-"
"He will come to me, Lucius."
Bellatrix spoke up. "My Lord," she said, rushing to his side. "Where is Snape?"
Voldemort laughed again. "It was a pity to see him go. He was so… useful. But his services were not required anymore." he turned his wand in his hand and laughed again. "This time, Bellatrix, the boy will be mine."
Bellatrix stared at him in shock. Her heart started to race. "My Lord! But why-"
"Surely you will not miss him?" Voldemort was not laughing now.
"No, my Lord. But-"
"Then it is none of your concern, Bellatrix." He said coldly, staring directly into her eyes.
"Y-yes, my Lord." she mumbled.
It's because of the boy. She thought. Of course he trusts me more now. He's thinking of the boy. I'm his most faithful servant.
Bellatrix's heart and thoughts continued to race over the next hour. Memories of her marriage. Of her Master's fall. And his rise to power. Of Azkaban. Of killing her cousin. Of how she dedicated her whole life to a man who failed to ever love her back.
Her whole life slowly seemed to flash in front of her eyes. With every thought, her heartbeat ran faster. With every heartbeat, her temper rose.
"No sign of him, my Lord…" One of the patrolling Death Eaters said, staring directly at the ground to avoid Voldemort's eyes.
Bellatrix glared at him. "I bet you just aren't looking hard enough!" She screeched. "Let me find him, my Lord, I will bring him to you-"
"Harry Potter."
The boy was walking towards Voldemort. Straight into what could be his death.
Lord Voldemort stared at the wand in his hand. "The Boy… Who Lived…" He stood still, and then stared at Harry, as if wondering what to do next.
Bellatrix's heart raced even faster. She drew her wand, ready to take on The Chosen One with her love.
He will not win, Bellatrix. And he will never love you. The most sane thought Bellatrix had heard in almost sixteen years ran through her head.
Her breathing became faster. She waited for Harry to raise his wand. He didn't. He just stood there, inviting in death with open arms. He slowly closed his eyes.
For a half of a second, Bellatrix envied him. The boy had made peace with death, and he could leave the world feeling loved.
But who did Bellatrix have? Her mother and father cared more about blood purity than any of their children. She destroyed her relationship with her Andromeda by making sure she was off the family tree for loving a Mudblood. She had killed her cousin. Narcissa was furious with her for doing both of those things. And her husband never spoke to her after Bellatrix refused to love him, because the one man she could find it in her heart to want couldn't return the only thing that Bellatrix desired and had to give.
And this boy, standing in front of her, had the privilege of dying knowing that it was all going to be okay. This boy had been freely given something that Bellatrix had worked so hard for, something she should have earned, but over the years it had slipped through her fingers.
Love.
"Avada Kedavra."