Author's Note: I managed to write an update for this story today. I have been on holiday for a few days, celebrating my wedding anniversary, and didn't take my laptop with me. Thank goodness my muse decided not to shut down.
Within this chapter several things happen that highlight things that will reappear in upcoming chapters. The interaction between Bellatrix and Narcissa as well as between Narcissa and Hermione is of great importance and within those moments something else lies hidden. The end of the chapter is a build-up to another battle and several revelations that will have a great impact.
Now I would like to take a moment to thank all of you who voted for Serpent Spell in the Couture Awards. I am proud to announce that Serpent Spell won the Award for Best Cross-Gen story. I am honoured and happy and grateful that you guys took the time to vote. My readers seriously are the best so thank you all so much. ~Cissy

Chapter 11

Memory Lies

She could feel her heart pounding against her ribcage as the adrenaline pulsated through her veins. The castle was alive with excitement. The sound of footsteps echoed off the walls and whispering voices spoke about what lay ahead of them. The warriors did not know why they were summoned but as their numbers grew, they began to understand something was about to happen. They soon recognised that amongst them were those with the fiercest and most feared reputation. Keepers had been withdrawn from certain Quarters to join the warriors. Their numbers grew with every passing hour as more dark cloaked figures arrived at the castle.

Bellatrix stared out of one of the large windows that overlooked the banks of the river Thames but turned around when she heard the door open. Narcissa walked in, dressed in one of her favourite dresses. The black material clung to her slender frame and the leather cape around her neck billowed behind her as she crossed the length of the room and reached her sister. Bellatrix needed only a second to notice her sister's dark lips. Narcissa wore the black lipstick Bellatrix herself had started to use before a battle.

"Can we talk?" she asked and her blue eyes pierced into Bellatrix's black orbs.

Bellatrix leant against the window frame and crossed her arms in front of her chest. She arched a finely shaped eyebrow as she studied her sister's face. She could see the hint of disapproval in her eyes. "Very well."

"I am beginning to fear she is losing her mind," Narcissa said. Her voice was sharp and emotionless. "Bella, you have to think about this. What makes you so sure that tonight is going to be successful? She is becoming more and more erratic!"

"Hogsmeade is the last stronghold within the resistance," Bellatrix countered. "It needs to be destroyed."

"She is scared, Bella. She is scared about what they can do to us! She is letting that fear control her and she will bring us to certain death!"

Bellatrix's eyes narrowed. "You doubt her?"

"I doubt her state of mind." Narcissa straightened her spine. There was not a trace of fear in her voice. "She isn't thinking rationally."

"One would argue that you aren't' either," Bellatrix interjected and took a step closer to her sister. Suddenly she was so close to her that Narcissa could feel Bellatrix's hot breath against her cheek. "I haven't forgotten how you fought her, Cissy. You believe she doesn't value you the way she values me or our deranged sister. Your own obsessions cloud your judgment."

"I am not the one fucking her at every opportunity that arises!" Narcissa sneered and she felt the anger boil in the pit of her stomach when she watched the smirk spread across her sister's spine. "Your lust has become your guide, Bellatrix. Perhaps it is not she who has lost her marbles. Perhaps the one who is truly insane is you!"

Narcissa's hand shot down to her pocket and she withdrew her wand before her sister could blink. She jammed its tip into Bellatrix's neck and forced her to her knees. She towered over her older sibling and ice cold blue eyes stared down at the raven haired woman at her feet. A fine river of blood began seeping from the small cut that had appeared on Bellatrix's neck. Its burgundy colour was a sharp contrast against Bellatrix's porcelain white skin tone.

"You have no idea how insane I am," Narcissa whispered and the truth in her words hit her sister like a slap in her face. "The world doesn't know what lies within me and neither do you." She pressed her wand firmer against her sister's neck and Bellatrix's eyes widened when the pain registered. Narcissa moved even closer and pressed her foot against Bellatrix's neck, forcing her backwards until she lost her balance and fell, sprawling across the floor. Thick black curls fell into Bellatrix's eyes.

She needed only a second to respond and she rolled over onto her stomach, drawing her wand from her sleeve and grasping it like a knife. Before Narcissa could plant her boot in her sister's back, Bellatrix had sat up and slashed her wand across her Narcissa's leg. Blood began to seep down Narcissa's boot and spread across the marble floor. Narcissa cried out in pain and jumped backwards, away from Bellatrix, and pulled up her dress to reveal the deep gash across her shin. Blood continued to pour.

"Who's insane now?" Bellatrix hissed as she leapt back to her feet and brandished her wand. She flicked it and the hex shot across the room towards her sister but Narcissa was fast and erected a strong Shield Charm between them. The spell bounced away and crashed into the wall. The room trembled and a cloud of dust filled the air between them. She countered Bellatrix's spell with a jinx of her own but her sister's talent matched her own. Bellatrix easily dodged the spell, cast a Shield Charm and jumped onto her other foot, spun around and cast three spells in rapid succession.

The last one hit Narcissa on her shoulder and she could feel the blisters begin to form. The pain was intense and tears sprung into her eyes as she ripped the sleeve off her dress and revealed her arm. The skin was red raw and bloody blisters spread across her flesh. Angry blue eyes snapped up and fixed on Bellatrix laughing. Narcissa's wand made a circular motion and the fiery jet shot across the room. It hit Bellatrix's chest and the flames erupted upon impact, immediately latching themselves onto her dress.

A horrified scream rose up from Bellatrix's throat and she managed to aim her wand and put out the flames with a steady flow of water. She staggered towards her sister and her wand kept on slashing through the air, firing spell after spell. Narcissa, although weakened and in agony, managed to fight her sister off until she was trapped between the wall behind her and Bellatrix in front of her. Panic filled her eyes when Bellatrix's hand closed around her wrist and pinned her against the stone wall.

"Have you forgotten your place?" she hissed as she brought her lips close to her sister's ear. She could feel the heat radiate of Narcissa's skin. She could smell her sudden fear.

"My place is beside you," Narcissa answered and strained herself. "Not beneath you."

Bellatrix cocked her head as her free hand caressed the swell of Narcissa's breasts underneath her dress. "Are you sure about that?"

"Bella, don't-," Narcissa began but her sentence was cut short when her sister's bruising lips captured her own and her tongue forced its way in. Bellatrix's lips tasted of blood and poison but Narcissa lost herself in the sensation regardless of its dangers. Willing hands threaded black curls as she pulled her sister deeper into the searing kiss and she groaned softly when she felt Bellatrix hoist up her dress, revealing her bare thighs.

"Remember what we used to be?" Bellatrix whispered as her fingers ghosted across the inside of her sister's thighs. The skin beneath her fingertips was hot and soft. "The first time I touched you?" Her lips caressed Narcissa's neck and the tip of her tongue circled around the pulsating vein. "You begged me to do it. You wanted to be mine so badly." Her fingers inched closer to Narcissa's core and the blonde witch involuntarily arched her back into the touch. Bellatrix chuckled softly. "You wanted for me to love you so much that you would have done anything."

"I have always loved you," Narcissa whispered and through heavy lidded eyes she looked at Bellatrix. "I hated you for it but I could never do anything else but love you." In the dim moonlight falling into the room Bellatrix looked hauntingly beautiful. The flames had destroyed her dress and her chest was almost fully exposed, her skin red raw but not blistered. If she felt pain, she did not show it. "All I wanted was for you to love me too."

Bellatrix's fingers hooked behind Narcissa's laced underwear and slipped down towards the damp core that awaited her touch. She gasped softly when she slid through the slick wetness and pressed her lips against Narcissa's when two slender digits found their way inside of her. Narcissa's right arm snaked around Bellatrix's back, her left one grasped a firm hold of her lover's waist. Bellatrix's left hand caressed the side of her sister's face almost lovingly as she kissed her, brushing aside her blonde hair whilst the tip of her tongue followed the shape of Narcissa's lips.

"Tell me you love me." Narcissa's eyes were wide open, seeking her sister's black orbs desperately. The words rolled off her tongue in longing. She felt the climax build up deep inside of her. Bellatrix's thumb rubbed over the bundle of nerves between her legs and a fine layer of sweat covered her glowing skin. "Bella, tell me you love me. Tell me."

"I will always love you," Bellatrix whispered softly into Narcissa's ear and increased the rhythm with which she was thrusting into her. Narcissa's leg wrapped around her waist and Bellatrix could feel her sister's knees begin to buckle. She grabbed a firmer hold of her, pressing her harder into the wall, and kissed her sister deeply when she felt her tighten around her fingers. Narcissa cried out into their kiss when she reached her orgasm and collapsed against Bellatrix's shoulder.

They remained like this as the minutes began to pass, neither of them moving. Their bodies, for a moment in time, felt like they were merged into one.

The sound of footsteps behind them made Bellatrix look up and slowly she turned away from her sister. Hermione had appeared in the door way, dressed in leather trousers, her favourite corset and a full length leather coat. Her thick brown curls had been bound back in a ponytail. Her trousers were tucked into her knee length, high heeled leather boots and her hazel eyes fixed on the two sisters. Her face was dark, covered with shadows. "It is time."

"Where is the Weasley girl?" Bellatrix asked as she stepped away from Narcissa.

"You can go and get her," Hermione answered coolly as she looked past Bellatrix at Narcissa. The devastation in the room was impossible to overlook. "What the hell happened here?"

"A minor disagreement," Narcissa replied and moved away from the wall. She glanced at Bellatrix, who transfigured her dress so that it covered her body once again. "It has been resolved."

Hermione set her jaw and looked from Bellatrix to Narcissa and back. "Bella, get the Weasley girl. I want to talk to Narcissa." Her hazel eyes hardened as Bellatrix came closer and walked past her. Hermione didn't once blink as the raven haired woman left the room. The door closed behind her and Hermione looked back at Narcissa.

"How much did you see?" Narcissa inquired but Hermione didn't flinch. She readjusted her dress and covered the wound on her leg. It had stopped bleeding. "I take it that's what you want to talk to me about."

"I don't care if she touches you," Hermione said softly. "Your jealousy doesn't affect me, Cissy."

"Doesn't it?" Narcissa whispered as she slowly strode across the room, a smirk lingering on her lips. "Doesn't it infuriate you when you see her hands on me?" She stopped in front of Hermione. "You know she has loved me for so much longer than she has loved you."

"Perhaps," Hermione said sweetly and her hazel eyes twinkled when she saw the darkness reappear in Narcissa's ocean blue eyes. "But I also know that she when she declared her love for you, she lied."

"How dare you…," Narcissa hissed and closed the distance between them. She dealt an unforgiving blow to Hermione's cheek and watched how the brunette's head jolted backwards upon impact. Blood seeped from Hermione's nose when she looked back up but her eyes remained empty. "You deceitful little whore! She told me about what you did in Italy. How you let another woman touch you!"

"Bellatrix shared with me how that made her feel," Hermione answered calmly. "It angered her but it hurt you, didn't it?"

"Why are you doing this?" Narcissa whispered. "You are dividing us when we should remain together. You know what lies out there tonight, what awaits us. You know what Andromeda had discovered. She has Gregorovitch." The mention of Andromeda changed the hollow look in Hermione's eyes and Narcissa's rage unleashed itself. "Whenever someone speaks her name, your heart loses itself."

"I have no heart to lose."

"She spoke the truth that day, how a part of you will always belong to her." Narcissa looked at Hermione from head to toe. "Soul mates, she called you. The mention of her name creates great turmoil inside of you. Your loyalties are tested." Slowly she came closer until her lips almost brushed against Hermione's. "She wasn't always yours."

"But she is now." Hermione's eyes found Narcissa's. "That is all that matters."

"She can take everything away from you. From us. Our destruction lies within her hands!" Narcissa reminded Hermione and soft fingers trailed across the brunette's cheek. "She will stop at nothing to destroy you. She'll take away the only thing you have ever known." Narcissa's hand dropped down to Hermione's chest and covered her heart. She felt it's steady beat under her fingers. "She'll take you away. Destroy you. Everything you are, everything you've become. She'll take it all." She paused. "Including us. She'll take me, she'll take Bellatrix. She'll ruin you."

Hermione swallowed hard and brought her lips closer to Narcissa's. "She already has."

"Don't let her," Narcissa answered softly and gently kissed the corner of Hermione's mouth. She shivered when Hermione took the hand she had placed against her chest and began to guide it across her stomach, stopping just above the waist band of her trousers. Hungry hazel eyes found passionate blue and Narcissa softly pressed Hermione against the window behind her. The cold glass surprised them both. "Andromeda always destroyed what was most dear to us. Ever since I was a child she took everything that mattered most to me."

Narcissa's knee pressed between Hermione's thighs and the brunette moaned softly when it found the right spot between her legs. Narcissa's hands rested on her waist as she slowly began to grind herself against the blonde witch's leg. Narcissa's soft lips danced across the exposed skin of her neck and Hermione rested her head against Narcissa's shoulder, her arms closing firmly around her back as her body continued to move.

"She took everything from me as a child and I will not allow her to take it away from me again," Narcissa whispered as she felt Hermione's breathing becoming laboured. "She will destroy you." Blue eyes glazed over as the child memories flooded back into her mind. Andromeda's childlike laughter echoed around in her mind, haunting her to this day. It stirred the loathing and the hatred inside of her and her grip on Hermione's hips tightened when the brunette's move become more urgent. "She will destroy you. Destroy us." The words accented Hermione's desperate groans.

Suddenly Hermione's nails dug deeply into Narcissa's back and the grinding motion momentarily stopped. They stood like this, clinging on to each other, in a rare moment of peace before Hermione's arms fell away from Narcissa's body, severing the contact between them, and she pushed the blonde away from her. She blushed with what looked like embarrassment as she looked up to meet Narcissa's gaze. The hardened brunette appeared almost childlike.

"This didn't happen."

She turned on her heel and ran out of the room, leaving the door wide open in her wake. Narcissa watched her disappear, fully aware of what had just happened, and forced herself to remain calm as the images from her childhood continued to play before her eyes. Andromeda had always been her antagonist, ever since they were children. She had something Narcissa had so desperately wanted for herself. She was never, ever, going to allow her sister to take something else from her again. She would kill her if she had to.

~()~

Hermione found Bellatrix in the dungeons. The door to Ginny's cell was open and Bellatrix had removed the chains from the witch's ankles and wrists. She turned around when she heard Hermione approach and watched how the brunette emerged from the shadows before stepping into the cell. Hermione's gaze fell on Ginny, who still lay curled up into a ball, her face bruised and swollen and her wounds infected. She was weak and tired and had barely eaten in the last day or two. The water bowl next to her head had been kicked over. The stones around it were dry.

"Why are we even taking her with us?" Bellatrix asked as she flicked her wand. A barely conscious Ginny rose up into the air, turning around until she faced Bellatrix and Hermione. It was almost impossible to see whether her eyes were open or closed. "She is only going to be a burden."

"She is going to be what brings the resistance out of hiding," Hermione answered as she studied Ginny's bruised and beaten face. "Once they know she is with us, they will come for her." The corners of her mouth curled up. "We can propose a swap. The girl for the wand maker. Agree to our terms and no one gets hurt." She let her wand trail down Ginny's arm. There was no response. "Refuse and everyone dies."

Bellatrix chuckled softly. "They will have no choice."

"If they exchange, the warriors can have the village once we have left," Hermione whispered softly. "It has been too long since they enjoyed the feeling of conquering."

Bellatrix cast Hermione a sideways glance, arching an eyebrow in amusement. "Obviously you will not include that part in the message you convey to the resistance."

"Hogsmeade will fall tonight." Hermione smiled and anger flickered in her eyes. "Have you informed the Keepers at Hogwarts?" Bellatrix nodded. "Very well." Her eyes fixed on Ginny and a twisted grin spread across her lips. "Let's not keep our dear friends waiting."

She and Bellatrix climbed out of the dungeon and Ginny's unconscious body followed them as they made their way to the entrance hall of the castle. Narcissa was waiting for them by the door and Hermione briefly held her gaze before looking away. The double doors swung open and revealed the group of warriors and Keepers that had gathered outside. All were dressed in black and all looked up at the three witches in expectation.

"We call upon your loyalty once again tonight," Hermione said with a loud and clear voice. "For far too long now, the village of Hogsmeade has defied us. It had become a stronghold for the resistance but their time of fighting our reign has come to an end. Tonight we will descend upon the village and you will burn it to the ground!" A loud roar rose up from the fighters and some raised their wands up into the air, causing an array of wild sparks to fly.

"We have an offer for the villagers. They will hand over Gregorovitch, the old wand maker, to get back one of their own!" Bellatrix said and pointed at Ginny's lifeless body. "As such we must offer them an opportunity to accept our request. When we arrive in Hogsmeade we will grant them two hours to make their decision. If they decide not to exchange, you will torch the village and leave no man or woman alive." The roar grew louder. "If they accept our offer, you will wait for the exchange to be completed and for us to depart." She glanced at Hermione. "After that, the village and everyone in it is yours."

"Meet us outside the village," Hermione said and raised her wand up into the air. Bellatrix and Narcissa followed and three bright red flashes shot up into the sky before joining together and forming the Cores sign against the midnight backdrop. It hovered over their heads as left, right and centre people began to Apparate.

They reappeared in the forest surrounding Hogsmeade village. Through the vastness of the trees Hermione could make out the village in the valley below. She turned to look over her shoulder and saw Hogwarts on top of the cliff, overlooking the Lake. A smile graced her lips as she remembered the last time she had set foot inside the castle. It was the night everything had changed. She turned back to focus on the village in the valley and looked around. Groups of warriors and Keepers had gathered around them and were impatiently waiting to move in. Bellatrix and Narcissa appeared at her side, Bellatrix still guiding Ginny's body.

"How do we proceed?" Narcissa inquired and Hermione broke free from the group and started walking deeper into the forest, towards Hogsmeade.

"The only way I know they'll listen to me."

The walk through the forest was quiet. In the distance she heard an owl. The leaves shuffled a few metres to her right but she couldn't make out what type of animal it was. This wasn't the Forbidden Forest. There were no centaurs here. A branch snapped underneath her boots as she continued across the forest, past pine trees and around trees that had shot up so high into the sky she couldn't even see them anymore. Ahead of her the village grew larger and she could see the lights burning behind some of the windows. She singled out the Three Broomsticks almost immediately. Shadows moved behind the glass.

When she finally reached the edge of the forest she sensed the magical wards that prevented her from crossing into the village. She raised her wand and tapped the air in front of her. She could feel the warm tingling sensation of magic in her fingertips and lowered her wand. It was too powerful for her to break on her own but it wouldn't stand a chance against the army waiting in the forest. Hermione stored her wand in her sleeve and took a deep breath.

"Andromeda!"

Her voice carried on through the night and the shadows behind the glass stopped moving. Across the village the windows suddenly went dark. Hermione felt her heart pound slowly in her chest.

"Andromeda, I know you can hear me! I want to talk!" Hermione shouted. The silence was followed was almost deafening. There wasn't even the sound of the wind rustling the leaves. "You knew this night would come, sooner or later. We know you have Gregorovitch and we're prepared to make an exchange. Give us the wand maker and you get Ginny!"

A light went back on behind one of the windows in the Three Broomsticks and a lone, dark figure appeared behind the glass. She recognised its shape even without seeing its face and watched how Andromeda moved away from the window. Towards her right a door opened and the sound of footsteps echoed off the cobbled path. A few seconds later Andromeda emerged and walked into Hermione's line of sight with her wand drawn.

"Why should I listen to you?!" Andromeda asked.

"Give us Gregorovitch and nobody will get hurt. We'll give you Ginny and we'll leave," Hermione answered. "She's here with us and I can bring her to you if you give us the wand maker." She took a deep breath as Andromeda walked closer to her. The moonlight fell across her face and her beauty struck Hermione. "You have two hours to consider our request but if you decide to ignore us we will send our warriors to destroy the village and no man or woman will be spared. The choice is yours."

"You expect me to believe that you will just let us be if we give you Gregorovitch?" Andromeda now stood maybe three feet away from Hermione, the only thing serrating them the magical wards that stopped either of them from using magic against the other. "I can't trust you, Hermione. I have heard too many of your lies to believe a single word you speak to be the truth."

"You know some of them to still be true," Hermione answered and her eyes found Andromeda's. "You know I do still love you."

"As I love you," Andromeda replied softly. "But we are forever destined to live on either side of this fence, my love."

Hermione swallowed. "Destiny is a strange and curious thing."

"We need time to think about what you have offered," Andromeda said and stepped away from the magical wall that separated them. "I will give you my answer in two hours."

Hermione watched in silence as Andromeda disappeared back inside the Three Broomsticks. The sound of the door closing after her echoed on for some time and when she finally turned around to make her way back into the forest, Hermione did not see the shadow behind the window of the pub, watching her as she disappeared into the night.