AN: Hey all, this one is a little short and a touch gorey, sorry about that. Please review
Chapter 26 Unacceptable.
Hermione sat in the study as morning wore on the as the sun waxed it's way to the highest point in the sky. She had been staring at the same page in the same book for what seemed like an eternity, desperately trying to figure out how she was going rescue Voldemort's body from Hogwarts, then get Harry back in his own body, then there was the tiny issue of killing Voldemort while, the entire Black family were trying to kill her.
She had been sat in the study for a couple of hours now as Luna, Ginny and Fleur enjoyed a late breakfast now that the later two had overcome their hangovers. Hermione had retreated to the study in an attempt to do some research, in the past the library had never failed to point her in the right direction when she had no idea where to start with something, however there was a first time for everything.
Hermione sighed and slammed the book shut, she had nothing, not even the beginnings of an idea as to how she was going to keep her promise to Ginny. She also had no idea why the Black's wanted her dead, though she could only assume that it was something to do with her newly found blood status. 'Black blood' Hermione thought to herself, and the very concept made her laugh out loud as she subconsciously rubbed at her wrist. In truth the term disgusted her a little, Black blood implied that her blood was corrupt, at least in her mind that was what it equated to. She remembered the look of her blood as it dripped from the foul word carved in her arm, it wasn't black, at least not in colour.
Hermione closed her eyes as she remembered back to Malfoy Manor, laying on the cold wood floor of the drawing room as Harry and Ron had escaped. Bellatrix had been livid, and the only target left for her to take her anger out on was Hermione. Sitting in the study, Hermione took a deep breath and willed the memory to go away, trying to push it back into the recesses of her mind, but the hard she tried to squash it down the more vivid it became. Hermione could remember seeing Bellatrix transfigure her wand into a whip, she closed her eyes as she remembered the 'crack' of the whip as Bellatrix used her practiced hand to swing the lash down on Hermione and she physically jumped at the memory of the lash making contact across her front.
Hermione let out a gasp as she remembered the sting of the welt left by the fall of the whip, sinking into the memory as though she had been thrown into a deep pool with a stone tied around her feet, Hermione tired of floundering against it and let the current take her. Back in Malfoy Manor, she did not remember rolling onto her front, nor did she remember the logic behind the motion, but now that she thought about it Hermione had to admit that the movement made sense. The skin on her back would be better able to withstand the blows as it was not as tender. Bellatrix had clearly used a whip many times before as she expertly had used it to remove every piece of clothing from Hermione's back. The evil witch cackled as she used the strippers in the fall to cut shallow lashes in Hermione's back.
Suddenly a noise somewhere within the house distracted Hermione mercifully ripping her from her memory. She listened and could hear movement in the kitchen one floor below where she was. Her back ached as though she had just physically been whipped, she got up from the couch wincing with the movement, and fear coursed through her as she felt dampness against her shirt. Surely it could only be sweat Hermione tried to convince herself as she gingerly twisted her arm around and slipped it under the hem of her shirt, again wincing at her own touch. Pulling her hand back out and looking at it Hermione felt her face physically pale as the blood was drained from it, her fingers had come away covered in thick, sticky bright red blood.
Hermione's hands began to shake as panic set in, the pain in her back was unbearable and she felt unable to move, "FLEUR!" she yelled, trying to remain calm, not wanting to let the panic sound in her voice. She shuffled to the desk and laid her clean hand palm down on it, focusing on the feel of the cool wood on her skin to try to take her mind of the agonising pain on her back. Hermione could hear people running up the stairs and knew that Ginny and probably Luna had followed Fleur in her rush up the stairs.
Seconds later the door was flung open and the three witches burst into the study, wands raised like swords as they were ready to fight off an as yet unseen enemy. Fleur stepped towards Hermione as she tried to determine what the trouble actually was, while Ginny and Luna covered her from the door.
"It's alright," Hermione tried to reassure her friends, "there is no one here." She told them, her pain now breaking through her tone. Ginny and Luna took her at her word and lowered her wand, but Fleur was looking her over, clearly something had been wrong, Hermione sounded as though she was in pain. Fleur's eyes settled on Hermione's bloody hand and her nostrils flared as she fought back anger and worry.
"Ma Petite, you are 'urt." Fleur stated as she watched the bushy haired witch with concern.
Hermione nodded slowly, each movement she made was careful and calculated, "My back," she explained hesitantly, "I thought it was a memory... it was a memory, but..." Hermione left the sentence unfinished as Fleur stepped around behind her and gasped her hand covering her mouth as though she could catch the gasp before it escaped her lips.
"Ma Petite..." Fleur exclaimed unable to keep the horror from her voice as she swallowed the rest of her redundant statement and looked to Ginny and Luna as the gingerly stepped forward.
Hermione gasped as she moved and her shirt caught the laceration's that had appeared on her back, Fleur raised her wand and unapologetically cast a divesto causing Hermione's shirt to fall apart and off her body. Hermione sighed as the relief was instant, she glanced up at Ginny and Fleur and lowered her eyes to the floor, shame blanching her cheeks as the two passed to have a look at her back.
Both younger witches winced as Fleur began to use every healing spell she knew to no affect, Fleur looked to Luna for help and Luna too tried to heal the wounds on Hermione's back, again to no avail.
"Fleur, I don't..." Hermione started but she could not find the words that she needed she took a deep breath, "I need to sit down Fleur, " she said.
Ginny ran over to the desk and grabbed a chair bringing it over and gently guiding Hermione to sit down in it. Fleur then raised her wand and summoned towels and a basin, giving up on the healing spells.
"Why are the healing spells not working?" Ginny asked frantically. Fleur ignored her and began using a damp towel to wipe away the blood.
Luna turned and left the study without a word and Ginny watched on helplessly trying to figure out what to do. She knelt down in front of Hermione and took her hands, "Fleur will sort you out, can you tell me what happened?" she asked her friend, concerned that the bushy haired witch had now lost all colour and looked like she was going to pass out.
"I remembered being at the manor, Bellatrix, she was whipping me." Tears flowed down Hermione's face as she was flung back into the memory she had clawed her way out of moments before.
Ginny kept the rage and horror that she felt from her face as she tenderly swept a strand of hair behind Hermione's ear, "It's over, you are here with us and she is not here." Ginny told her with conviction in her voice.
Hermione's eyes floated to meet Ginny's gaze, "and yet here I am with fresh cuts on my back." Hermione retorted, "I'm not safe, I will never be safe." she finished quietly.
There was no response that Ginny could give so she just squeezed Hermione's hands and looked up at Fleur who sighed more out of exasperation than anything else.
"Ze scars on your back 'ave reopened, mush like ze ones on your wrist did." Fleur told her friend, softening the reminder with a gentle squeeze to her shoulder as she continued to tend to the wounds muggle style.
Hermione sighed, when she had first received the whipping she had passed out not needing to endure the sting and ache until the following morning when the wounds had already began to scab over. Those wounds had healed on their own, in the dungeon no less so it had been a wonder that she had not caught an infection. These ones were just as real and just as painful and Hermione found herself wishing that she would pass out this time as she felt herself shaking and getting cold.
"Fleur!" Ginny said panic rising in her throat, "Fleur, something's wrong!" Ginny stood up and lightly supported Hermione as she slumped over, seemingly her wish was coming true.
Luna came back through the door with a couple of potions in her arms, "She has lost a lot of blood, so it's no wonder she needs a little nap," she said as she wandered over to Hermione and gently tipped her head back, "Ginny if you hold her mouth open we will get her awake in no time." She went on to explain as though she was reciting a recipe.
Ginny complied and as she did so Luna poured the contents of three potion bottles into Hermione's mouth. Seconds later Hermione's eyes shot open as she began to breathe heavily, "Damn Luna, what did you give me?" she asked the blonde almost accusatorily.
Luna smile, "A blood replenishing potion, a pain potion and an invigorate potion, we may not be able to heal your wounds with magic, but that doesn't mean we can't help chase the wrackspurts away so they don't do any more damage." Luna smiled as though she was making perfect sense and then stood and stepped behind Hermione. The Ravenclaw took the bloody towel from Fleur's hands without another word and began to clean the wounds. In turn Fleur took Ginny's place in front of Hermione.
Rather than taking Hermione's hands she cupped her face, forcing her to look at her, "You are wiz me, you fight zis and I will take care of you." She said and Hermione blinked at the 'order' she had just received.
Hermione lent forwards so that she was right next to Fleur's ear, "I can smell her perfume," she said with a very shaky voice. Fleur's nostrils flared as she sniffed the air and recognised the scent of another attack on the way.
"Non, 'Ermione put up your wall!" Fleur said out of desperation, not letting go of the contact she had with Hermione but looking to Ginny, who instantly put her hands on Hermione's.
They stayed like that for an hour or more; Luna dealing with the physical wounds while Ginny poured magical energy into Hermione, reinforcing her wall trying to maintain the barrier that would protect Hermione from Bellatrix, meanwhile Fleur talked to Hermione, reminding her of all the reasons she had to fight. Together the trio worked to protect and heal their friend pushing their anger, fear and other emotions aside.
It was Fleur who finally stood up and released her hold on Hermione, collectively they held their breath as they waited, but it seemed that Bellatrix's attack had come to an end. Luna had used some tape to seal the gashes on Hermione's back and Fleur cast a featherweight charm on Hermione. Ginny brought over a blanket and gently wrapped it around Hermione as Luna collected up the bucket, towels and empty potion bottles. Fleur lifted Hermione easily and gently carried her out the door, heading up the stairs as Ginny followed Luna with the rubbish.
Before Fleur reached the top of the stairs she turned to Ginny and Luna, "Ginny, get some rest, come check on us in 4 'ours. From now she does not go anywhere wizout one of us, 4 'ours rotations." Ginny nodded and went with Luna to the kitchen.
Fleur gently laid Hermione on her side on the bed then climbed in on the other side, Hermione then wrapped herself around Fleur and sobbed. The blonde witch held her friend protectively as she swallowed the angry veela down. Fleur focused on comforting Hermione and ignored the raging beast within who was clawing to come out and avenge the hurt caused to the woman it loved. Hermione whimpered in her sleep and Fleur forced the beast down as she pulled Hermione closer to her and began to hum softly. The traumatised witch floated off to sleep safely encircled in Fleur's loving arms.
Some time later Ginny slipped into the bed on Hermione's other side and very carefully held her, mindful of her wounds. Fleur heard Ginny slip into the bed and allowed herself to float off to sleep, reassured that Ginny was there to help Hermione, and she would be there too.
When Hermione awoke, she was in the middle of the bed, between her best friend and the woman she loved and she felt safe and content. She closed her eyes and examined her wall, it stood tall and proud, she reached out her hand and touched the wall. It was solid under her touch, she smiled satisfied and then opened her eyes again meeting Fleur's blue gaze.
"The wall is holding," Hermione told her, Fleur nodded as relief flowed through her, this news seemed to calm the beast in her belly too, "I need a shower Fleur," Hermione said in a quiet voice, a blush crawling across her face.
Fleur reached forward and brushed hair out of Hermione's face, "What 'appened to you when you woke up after you were whipped?" she asked tenderly, not certain that she wanted to hear the answer.
"I...I don't remember," Hermione answered but she could not meet Fleur's eyes as she said it and they both knew it was a poor attempt at a lie but Fleur did not want to push it and Hermione was obviously not ready to talk about it.
Fleur leaned forward and kissed Hermione's forehead, "It is ok, wen you are ready i am 'ere ." she said and she crawled out of bed and helped Hermione up. She supported the injured witch into the bathroom and allowed her to shower. Fleur waited on the edge of the bed, Ginny had gone to the kitchen for food, as she had allowed Hermione to sap a lot of her magical energy.
Hermione emerged from the bathroom with a towel around her and sat beside Fleur on the bed. Fleur reached over and took a hold of Hermione's hand, "better?" she asked and Hermione nodded.
"Fleur, I do remember." Hermione said.
Fleur smiled softly at her, "Oui, I know, I can guess wat 'appen, but wen you are ready to talk I will listen, but i will not push you."
Hermione rested her head on Fleur's shoulder, "Thank you," she whispered.
Fleur leaned over and kissed the top of Hermione's head, "You are welcome."
Fleur swore to the beast within that they would have the chance to avenge the pain that Bellatrix had caused and continued to cause Hermione. The beast settled, satisfied, knowing that Fleur meant every word of it. It nestled in the pit of her stomach and returned to it's slumber, confident that when the time came to exact revenge, Fleur would awake it.
Fleur and the Veela within knew that they would get that opportunity to make Bellatrix pay, they knew it and felt it the same way that Hermione knew that she would keep her promise to Ginny and rescue Harry. Any other outcome was quite simply unacceptable.