When their solitary warehouse wasn't filled with the thumping beats of muggle music, the silence was unbearable. The port that the Trio had made their base had been abandoned early on in Voldemort's campaign. And so, it was that the distance hum of an engine could be heard easily giving them more warning than the proximity alarm of the warehouse door.
Ron was back… That meant that either Harry would be… or wouldn't be awoken. Hermione stood in the doorway waiting, the gold Ute parked and the driver's door was flung open. A tall man with red hair exited, wearing a grey cloak. Then the passenger side door opened and a woman covered from head to toe in a threadbare black cloak stepped out.
The red-headed man hurriedly walked over to Hermione and pulled her into a tight hug. "I missed you." He whispered. Hermione couldn't say anything she just nodded, her eyes locked on the cloaked stranger. The woman stood away from the two, her eyes downward, her face covered in shadow.
Ron stepped back from his enthusiastic embrace and glared back at his passenger, "Hermione I'd like you to meet, Bellatrix Lestrange..." He said, his hand making a vague motioning gesture towards the stranger.
Hermione's eyes narrowed as she stalked up to the woman, and slapped her. "That's for Sirius!" The woman , however didn't raise to the bait and merely continued looking down only pausing to fix her hood. "Come with me." Hermione snapped.
Bellatrix Lestrange was a name feared amongst not only the magical world but also the muggle world; and for good reason. She had once been the right hand of the Dark Lord Voldemort; her loyalty unwavering until he stole from her the one thing she valued more than life itself.
His actions proved that he was only going to bring the magical Britain to ruin, and now, He would be taking the rest of the world with it.
He had changed her, changed her beyond all reasoning. She'd given herself to him, her mind, body and heart and he had broken her. Taken her apart piece by bloody piece, then stitched her back together like some macabre jigsaw puzzle and betrayed her.
She wasn't even human anymore.
"You must understand, Granger." Bella said, her voice was deeper than usual and almost seemed to hiss. "As I have explained to Weasley many times… This may not work; I do not actually know what it will do to him. I might even kill him."
Hermione stopped outside Harry's door. "Don't you think we already know that? You, unfortunately are our only hope." She sneered hatefully at the cloaked figure. Had Voldemort truly broken her? She wondered.
Hermione sighed and pressed a hand to the cold steel door of Harry's room. "Either way… We thank you for your cooperation and we ask for your further help in the war." Hermione said hurriedly, turned and glared at the ex-Death Eater expectantly
"I would be honoured to help." Bella bowed.
Hermione lowered her head, staring intently at the ground, then she opened the door and let Bella enter. "I will return in one hour." She said curtly and shut the door behind her, locking it. Hermione fingered the key for a moment and glanced back at the door.
"Please, come back to us Harry." She whispered before walking away.
…tbc