A/N: Thanks again for all your continued support ^^ every review is much appreciated and provides much needed motivation and I love hearing from you all :). A warning that this chapter contains sensitive subjects. I will start to address reviews from now on after the A/N at the end of the chapter. Hope you enjoy Chapter 6 :D

Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter and the original storyline are not mine; they belong to J.K. Rowling.

Read, review and most of all… Enjoy!

Chapter 6: The Three Visitors

Hermione

Hermione lost track of time as she sobbed on her bed for what could have been hours, all of her pent up fear, her worries that had slowly been piling higher over the past few weeks had finally reached breaking point, and had been streaming down her face, soaking her flimsy pillow. Surprisingly Bellatrix wasn't the biggest cause of her tears, the dark witch was just being her normal evil, cruel and vicious self, abusing and killing, or in this case trying to kill, was what she did best, Hermione blamed herself for almost forgetting that.

It was Gabriel's words that had been the last straw and while she was used to being called a filthy mudblood by pure blood extremists and Death Eaters, she was not used to being treated like that by people working in respectable positions or as part of the ministry. It really hit home about how life would be like after Hogwarts, living as a member of the whole wizarding community, rather than a student in a school. Would she face such prejudice and racism when she finally graduated? Would prejudice against her blood status restrict her chosen career, her future after Hogwarts? Professor McGonagall had said she could return to take her final year in September providing the school was ready to be reopened by then, and of course now providing she wasn't still stuck in Azkaban by then.

'Your kind are nothing but trouble he said…' That statement coming from someone in his position casted a bleak cloud over her future plans and dreams. That coupled with the perhaps irrational feeling of being abandoned and left to rot in this hellhole had been the cause of the state she was in now. 'At Hogwarts, prejudice and racism was minor at best, just a select few Slytherins… The professors had said that I'd find equal opportunities in the wizarding world and could be whatever I aspired to be… But what if that was a lie? What if they just said that because they didn't want to tell me the reality of it all? What if Bellatrix wasn't being insulting all those times and just saying it how it is? And that mostly all muggle-borns can become… Are whores…?' Hermione squeezed her eyelids down tight and fought back the threat of fresh tears. 'No! I refuse to believe that's all a muggle-born can become… I shouldn't… No, I cannot let small minded people put me down.'

While lost in her dejected contemplation, Hermione didn't hear the approach of her guests until they spoke up. "Hermione?" Oswin asked in a concerned tone of voice. "How are you feeling?" But Hermione couldn't bring herself to answer, or even look back, she felt too disheartened to face anyone, nor did she want them to see her in such a state. All she wanted right now was just to be left alone.

After a few moments silence a new voice broke the silence. "Hermione?" The voice was softer, more feminine. Hermione's eyes shot open as she recognised it.

"Tonks?" Hermione asked, no louder then a whisper as she looked over her shoulder slightly. Sure enough, standing by Oswin with bright pink hair and wearing a short brown leather jacket, was the young Auror.

"Ah there you are, was wondering if I'd been led to a pile of blankets. Wotcher Hermione." She teased with a smile before turning to Oswin. "Could you let me in? Pretty sure I'll be safe."

"Of course. I need a word with Hermione briefly then I'll give you two some privacy." Oswin replied as he pulled out his wand, with a few flicks of his wand the gate to her cell appeared and opened, allowing them both to step inside.

Hermione started to sit up but then froze, her hand moved up to her neck, her fingers gently brushed against where Bellatrix had grabbed her and a small gasp escaped her lips as she touched the sensitive area. 'I can't let Tonks see me like this, she'll freak out!'

"Hermione? What's wrong hun?" Tonks asked softly as she approached, her voice quieter now and laced with concern. Her hand rested gently on Hermione's shoulder which caused her to involuntary flinch. Hermione stared hard at the wall, not knowing what to say, she didn't want Tonks worrying about her, she didn't want to see her even softer and gentle loving side. Hermione felt the mattress sink slightly as an extra body sat on the edge, Tonks face peeked around Hermione's shoulder and met her gaze for a moment. Her eyes then moved down to Hermione's hand which was covering the sight of her neck. Her hand came up softly and gently moved Hermione's hand, pausing for a second when she flinched, until she saw the deep purple and yellow bruising which had begun to form.

Tonks gasped, her eyes widened and her head jolted back in shock. "Hermione… What happened? Who did this?" Her fingers were gently caressing the back of her hand, drawing small circles with the tips of fingers as she tried to reassure and comfort her, then looked back at Oswin. "What's happened to her?" She asked him in a stern tone.

"There was an incident earlier where she was attacked by a fellow inmate. Which is what I needed to talk to Hermione about."

"Why didn't you tell me about this on the way?!" Tonks snapped angrily before meeting Hermione's gaze again and her eyes softening. "Who did this hun?"

"Bellatrix."

"That vicious evil bitch? I'll kill her! Where is she?!" Tonks demanded at Oswin.

"She's been put into solitary confinement for the time being."

"I hope you leave her to rot in there, how did this happen?

"That is what I'd like to ask Miss Granger, do you mind if I have a word with her?"

Tonks didn't move for a few seconds as she looked between the pair, she then started to get up but Hermione grabbed her lightly. "Stay with me… Please." Tonks nodded softly and sat back down with Hermione.

"Ok Hermione, take all the time that you need, and when you're ready can you start from the beginning please."

Hermione sighed inwardly and pushed most of the blankets of herself as she turned to sit on the edge of the bed next to Tonks, her injured wrist still concealed from view and protected by the remaining blanket. Tonks hand came up and rested gently on Hermione's shoulder, giving her a little squeeze. After taking a deep breath Hermione quickly recapped almost everything that had happened and everything that Bellatrix had said, while conveniently leaving about the bit about what she did in the shower, or about her ogling over Bellatrix's naked chest. She also briefly considered mentioning Gabriel's comment, but decided that it had nothing to do with the Bellatrix incident. If she was to rise above such prejudice then the best thing to do was to pay no heed to it, to ignore it and not draw attention to it or show how it affected her.

'Close your ears, turn the other cheek and simile… That's what mum used to say… Worked well enough on that horrid girl that used to live down the road from me… Not entirely sure this is the same although… Anyway… I can do without the extra hassle, last thing I need at the moment is to draw more attention to myself… And it will only be my word against his and-'

"Hermione?" Oswin's voice brought Hermione away from her line of thought. "Is there anything else?" He asked softly.

"No. That's everything." She shook her head as she lied.

"Ok, thank you Hermione." Oswin gave Hermione a little nod and a smile, which Tonks noticed and raised her eyebrow slightly.

"How did this happen?" Tonks asked after a short silence, taking her eyes away from Hermione and looked up at Oswin, Hermione could see the young Auror struggling to stay calm as she gritted her teeth. "I can't believe someone was stupid enough to think it would be ok to put Hermione, a muggle-born, into a bathroom alone with a notorious muggle-born hating psychopathic bitch." A cold chill travelled down Hermione's spine, it was a rare sight to see the usually calm, laid back, very upbeat and energetic Auror, angry and hateful. It slightly unnerved Hermione at how much Tonks sounded like Bellatrix when she was like this, something she would never dream of telling her, to Tonks there would be no bigger insult.

"We don't know, the same wards have been used all day for the past few days and we've had no issue with them." Oswin replied in a strained and slightly defensive tone, his hand came up and stroked his stubble as he sighed, obviously he seemed uncomfortable being interrogated by the Auror. "As for pairing them up… She should have been perfectly safe. If we had any other choice, we would have gone with it."

"You had a choice, you could have let Hermione have her own bathroom and left Bellatrix to rot. Hermione shouldn't even be here! Let alone have to share a bathroom with such a vile creature, who doesn't deserve to have access to such luxuries I might add." Hermione tried not to flinch when Tonks squeezed her shoulder harder in a protective manner.

"Mrs Tonks, I'm sure you're just as aware about the Ministry's new schemes and rehabilitation program as I am."

"What? Rehabilitation? For who?" Hermione voiced her curiosity before Tonks could reply to Oswin.

Tonks sighed and looked over at Hermione slightly, Hermione could see the disapproval for the Ministry's new plans and schemes written all over her face. "Kingsley wants to try rehabilitate some of the lesser convicts, partly to free up space here. But also to give some a second chance to prove they can live as law abiding citizens, by having them pay their dues while helping to rebuild the wizarding community under certain restrictions." Tonks shook her head and looked back up at Oswin. "But that will never stretch to prisoners of Bellatrix's calibre, they will rot here for the rest of their lives, so there is no need to bother treating them well."

"Oh I agree, but we must do as the Ministry asks. The old system was flawed, the only reason it stayed in place for so long was because of the Dementors. But now with them gone… We have to find new ways to pacify the populace, and that means treating them like human beings, giving them hope that one day, if they behave themselves and show remorse that they may be free once more."

Hermione couldn't help but nod and agree. "Kingsley's got the right idea. The way things were before, no one deserves to be treated like that… And not everyone that comes to Azkaban is here because of terrible crimes. I remember Hagrid being falsely accused and sent here, he was only here a short while but he still said it was one of the worst moments of his life, and he was innocent." She looked over at Tonks who was frowning, Hermione could understand why Tonks would feel strongly against this, why most people would, especially now so soon after the war. But not Hermione, for she had always been a strong believer in equal rights, equal chances and second chances.

"People won't change if you treat them cruelly and like animals… And if they do change, it will be for the worst because of how they were treated and the conditions they were kept in." Hermione's mind briefly turned to Bellatrix as she spoke, and not for the first time wondered if Azkaban was what caused her insanity. 'If it was… Then all the more reason to change things for the better, the world doesn't need more Bellatrixs.'

"Some people will never change although Hermione." Tonks said softly then indicated to the bruising on her neck. "You bare the unfortunate marks of that."

"Dumbledore said that everyone deserves a second chance. You'll never know that they can change if you don't give them that chance." Hermione voiced her reply with firm conviction while Oswin kept glancing between the two witches, oh how she missed debating with someone.

"Even people like Bellatrix?" Tonks asked, tilting her head to one side. 'What is it with you and Bellatrix randomly cocking your head to one side? It's so… Cute… Ugh…'

"I… Maybe… I don't know… Yes… I guess." Hermione replied nervously, feeling uncomfortable with Bellatrix being brought up but thankfully Oswin took this moment to interrupt.

"You have a good heart Hermione, one that doesn't belong here. I hope Mrs Tonks here will be able to help sort out your release soon too. I best get going, I've taken up enough of your time. I'll be back soon to collect you Mrs Tonks." Oswin gave Hermione a little smirk and Tonks a small nod before leaving them alone in the cell and disappearing down the hallway.

"He seems nice." Tonks said as she met Hermione's gaze.

Hermione nodded and smiled, pleased deep down for the change in conversation. "Yeah, he's made things a bit easier here for me."

Tonks cocked her head to the side again and gave Hermione a sly smile "I bet, I think he has a thing for you."

"Don't be silly, of course he doesn't." Hermione chuffed and shook her head.

"No? I saw that smile he gave you and the way he looked at you. And what he said… Oh Hermione, you have such a good heart, ohhh Hermione where out thou!" The young Auror teased, throwing her head back and placing a hand on her heart as she spoke.

For the first time in weeks, Hermione started to laugh. "Stop it, you almost sound jealous there Nymph." She said after she finished giggling away.

"Ah maybe I am." The Auror said teasingly and gave Hermione a wink which sent butterflies fluttering about in her stomach.

Hermione smiled and without thinking hit Tonks's leg lightly with her hand, unfortunately she had used the one Bellatrix had almost broke. "Ow."She gasped as a light spasm of pain shot up from her wrist.

Tonks blinked in confusion then carefully moved the blanket off Hermione's hand, a frown appeared when she saw the dark marking that wrapped around her wrist. "Has no one tended to this?"

"It's fine, just a little sore that's all."

"It's not fine… Here." Tonks pulled out her wand, she pressed the tip lightly against Hermione's bruised wrist and muttered a small incantation. A soothing warm feeling drove away her ache and pain and the bruise faded slightly, she then lifted the wand gently to Hermione's neck and repeated the spell.

"Thanks Nymph." Hermione said as she gently rubbed her wrist.

"Anytime sweetie."

They sat there for a few moments in silence, both swinging there feet back and forth while swapping smiles. Hermione's gaze became fixed on the wall opposite as something Oswin said clicked. "Too? What did he mean?"

"Hmm? What did who mean?" Tonks looked down at Hermione with a confused expression.

"Oswin, what did he mean by he hopes you'll be able to help sort out my release soon too" A frown appeared across her brow as she tried to figure it out, the answer was on the tip of her tongue yet for now it was eluding her.

"Oh… That… Erm… It doesn't matter for now, forget about it…" The young Auror dismissed Hermione's question quickly as she scratched the back of her head, her eyes wandered around the room as she pretended to be interested in her surroundings.

"Tonks…"Hermione folded her arms and looked up at Tonks.

Tonks sighed and stood up, she started pacing Hermione's cell and fidgeting with her fingers, entwining them around each other. "First off, I hope you know that I'm doing everything and anything I can to help get you out soon, we all are."

Hermione's eyes followed Tonks around the room, growing increasingly nervous, Tonks was always so upfront with her, and if she was trying to hold something back then it couldn't be good. "I know."

The Auror nodded for a few moments and muttered to herself. "Right good, well because you see… Yesterday erm…" Tonks let the sentence trail off as she brought a hand to her forehead and exhaled deeply.

Hermione got to her feet and moved over to Tonks, she put a hand softly on the Auror's back and peered up into her eyes as she spoke softly. "It's ok, you can tell me anything. I won't bite your head off or anything."

They stood still for a few seconds, both staring deep into the other's eyes, Hermione could see how deep the worried expression ran across Tonks's face. But after a little encouraging smile from Hermione, Tonks nodded and spoke the words that had been caught in the back of her throat. "Harry and Ron, they were freed yesterday." She said softly.

"That's great news! How are they? Does that mean I'll be out soon too then?" Hermione blinked rapidly then a large smile lit up her face with a positive glow. 'That's fantastic! Finally this is almost over. But… Why was that hard for Tonks to say?'

"They are fine… They asked me to tell you that they are thinking off you and won't sleep till they get you out… But… The Goblins… They're… They're holding onto you and have no intention of letting you go anytime soon." Tonks voice had dropped to barely a whisper by the time she finished talking, yet the anger in her voice couldn't have been clearer if she had been screaming out at the top of her lungs.

"What! Why?"

"They are still trying to pin everything on you, saying you was the mastermind of it all. Soon as I found out I marched into Gringotts and had a word with the Head Goblin… I er may have been chucked out after that, hopefully I didn't make things worst… Sorry."

Hermione backed away from Tonks, her eyes glistening with tears. "So… I'm the scapegoat… I really have been abandoned, it's because I'm a muggle-born isn't it?" Her hand came up to cover her mouth, trying to hold back sobbing again. 'Oh god, why is this happening to me? I'm not a bad person! I've always tried to help people, so why are people so eager to see me suffer?'

"Hey now, none of that…" Tonks sounded shocked, she sprung forward and wrapped her arms around Hermione, pulling her into a tight embrace as Hermione pressed her face into Tonks's shoulders and once again started to cry. "It's ok… Let it all out hun… I swear you haven't been abandoned, I will always be there for you, as will the others… And we will get you out of here, I promise." Tonks softly rubbed Hermione's back and kissed the top of her head as Hermione shared her troubles and her tears.

Bellatrix

Bellatrix had only been awake for a short while yet she still felt shattered. After the incident in the bathroom, Oswin had stunned her and brought her down to one of the solitary confinement cells where he had just left her and let the stunner run its course. She sat up with a grunt, a hand gripping at her stomach as she righted herself.

The small cell was almost pitch black save for the small line of light leaking out from under the door, unlike her other cell she had no bars here, just a dark iron door who's width was almost as long as the width of her walls. With her back against the wall, she was able to touch the opposite wall with the tips of her toes as long as her legs were bent, the only way she would be able to stretch her body out fully would be to stand tall. Her box cell did at least have a bowl with a water refilling charm and her bottomless bucket, as well as a single blanket. 'This is the Azkaban I remember… Cold, dark, cramped… With fingernail marks scratched into the stone walls…' Her fingers traced along some of the marks that she was just able to see. 'Some of these are mine more than likely.'

A small jolt of pain shot through her while she stretched to trace more markings, causing her to flinch and gasp. Hermione's knee had struck true earlier, sending shockwaves ripping from her stomach and up her body, aggravating her fragile heart which had only just recovered from her injuries at Hogwarts. Running into the barrier and being flung across the room also hadn't helped matters, her body, her bones, her heart, everything was aching and crying out for rest, but Bellatrix couldn't sleep, her mind was in a muddle and she was still trying to piece together what happened.

First she remembered how she had been pleasuring herself in the shower where she may or may not have been thinking of the mudblood in the shower across the room from her. Then she remembered how she had deliberately tormented the same mudblood by purposely staying half naked and then… Then that's when things got confusing… She snapped and saw red, or to be more accurate, saw the whore. 'I don't understand what came over me… I mean I have no love for that filthy mudblood Granger and would gladly kill her, in time, after I grow bored of her… But it wasn't her I thought was stood before me, it wasn't her I thought I had in my grasp and it wasn't her I tried to kill. I've seen the mudblood Granger more than a few times and even had her at my mercy once, yet none of those times have I mistaken the two… The resemblance is striking yes, but I've never confused the two. So why did I this time? What triggered it?'

Bellatrix shook her head and scowled. 'Bah what does it matter, the only good mudblood is a dead mudblood, doesn't matter who I thought it was.' A small twinge pricked at her stomach, she gripped her gut and gritted her teeth ready to endure what she thought was the approach of pain. Most people would have known better, that that twinge was the stomach churning sensation of guilt and regret, something Bellatrix had rarely felt before.

She wasn't sure how long she had been stunned, or how long she had been locked down here, every hour was exactly the same as the last and for all she knew she could have already been down here days, although that seemed very unlikely. Soon she heard the echoing of heavy boots approaching and… Something else. 'Heels?' Bellatrix looked up curiously at her door, the sound of a catch being unlocked followed and a small grate in her door slid across, blinding Bellatrix with bright light.

Bellatrix hissed and rubbed her eyes till they adjusted to the new light source, the face of the guard Oswin appeared as he peered through the grate with a frown, then turned to an unseen someone on his left. "She's all yours Mrs Malfoy, I'll be back soon." Oswin gave Bellatrix another hard look then disappeared from sight.

Bellatrix clenched her fists tight, her nails digging deep in her palms as she stared up at the grate, waiting for the face of her blood traitor sister to appear. After a few moments silence, the familiar sight of long blonde and brunette hair appeared and Bellatrix found herself looking up into the sharp blue eyes of her baby sister.

"What are you doing here?!" Bellatrix hissed dangerously. "I told you I never wanted to see you again blood traitor!"

"I know." Narcissa replied in her calm and regal tone of voice.

"Then why are you here!"

"Because you are still my sister and I love you."

Bellatrix snorted and narrowed her eyes at Narcissa. "You are not my sister anymore! If you loved me you would never have betrayed me!"

Narcissa sighed and moved closer to the grate. "Please Bella I didn't come here to fight." She pleaded with her bright blue eyes.

"You shouldn't have come full stop!" Bellatrix spat out as she looked away, wanting to avoid her sister's manipulative gaze which so often in the past she would give in to when they were young.

"Bella I know you're angry with me, but I had to do it, for all of us, for our family. The Dark Lord had all but destroyed us!" Narcissa's voice turned cold and sharp while her face remained unreadable.

The mention of the Dark Lord by her sister caused Bellatrix to spring to her feet, her forehead coming to rest against the door as she glared out of the small opening, barely inches from her sister's face. "The Dark Lord would have rewarded us if we had won!"

Narcissa didn't as much as flinch at her eldest sister's aggression, she knew that despite how she felt right now, she would never hurt her. "And you are sure of that are you? After the way he treated us? Treated you?"

"He had every reason to be angry with us! We failed him, more than once! And the Dark Lord didn't tolerate failure… Anyway, I was the one who took the brunt of the punishments! I took it for our family, yet I still served him loyally! You have no excuse!"

"You have no idea." Narcissa whispered darkly, in a tone that was so unlike her that even Bellatrix was dumbfounded for a second.

"Oh is that so? Then enlighten me." She replied sarcastically.

"Do you have any idea how hard it was, how much it hurt to be forced to listen to your screams, to watch what they did to you? I'm sure you'd feel differently too if our places were switched." Narcissa snapped as her ice queen composure started to melt and the aggressive and defensive Black side of her started to come out.

"Except they weren't, the Dark Lord promised to be lenient with you at the cost of what was done to me. I took it for all us so that we would be forgiven and that when it was all over, we'd have a good future!" Bellatrix replied faithfully and proudly in a high and mighty tone of voice, sticking out her chin as she held her head high.

Narcissa stared hard at Bellatrix for a few seconds and spoke with no emotion in her voice. "He lied."

"Excuse me? How dare you-" Bellatrix's voice began to rise at her sister's slander but was cut off by her little sister as she continued to speak.

"He lied Bella, he broke that promise to you… The second you was out of sight, it was my turn."

"No! I don't believe you, you lie! He promised!"

"He broke many of his promises to us, to you."

"I know what promises he broke! He had good reason for breaking them after I disappointed him! But he would never have broken that promise to me!" Bellatrix said as she shirked in her sister's face.

Narcissa didn't say anything for a few moments and all that can be heard was the sound of Bellatrix's heavy laboured breathing. "Do I need to show you Bella? Do you really want to see that?" Narcissa finally asked quietly.

Bellatrix was slight taken aback by her sister's question, fear started to grip at her heart as she thought over it, not entirely sure she wanted to know the truth, for if her sister was right… But she had to know, just to be sure. "Yes."

"Very well."

Narcissa slowly drew her wand and aimed it at Bellatrix's temple, the tip lit up as an unseen force pushed deep into Bellatrix's mind. Bellatrix dropped her mental barriers and was soon engulfed with a barrage of memories seen through her sister's eyes.

Bellatrix watched how she pleaded with the Dark Lord for him to take it out on her and to go easy on Narcissa, the leniency he promised, she watched and listened to the torture she suffered and cringed when she witnessed her own rape carried out by some of the inner circle. Then when it was all over, the Dark Lord forgave her and her family for their failure then sent her away on a new assignment. Bellatrix remembered all of this clearly, but what came next she had no knowledge of.

Narcissa was then brought before the Dark Lord and he voiced his displeasure at her family, he went on to say that the Lestranges and the Malfoys were two different families, and that one punishment inflicted on one individual is not enough to cover both families' failings. Screams escaped her little sister's lips when she was hit by the Cruciatus curse and tortured. But it didn't end there and soon she was handed over to a couple members of the inner circle as well as the werewolf Fenrir Greyback, Bellatrix was forced to watch as Fenrir pinned her sister to the floor and forced himself on her.

Bellatrix couldn't bear to see anymore and she quickly put up her barriers, forcing Narcissa out of her mind. Without saying anything Narcissa rolled her the sleeves of her robes and showed Bellatrix the scars that Fenrir had given her.

"No no no…" Bellatrix muttered to herself as she fell back against the wall and slumped down to the floor, staring at her knees. "He lied to me… He promised that fate would never befall you… And I believed him."

"I know." Narcissa rolled down her sleeves and sighed. "It's not your fault, you believed in him, we all did once… After he was so quick to break his promise to you, I knew that our days were numbered… If we had won, the Dark Lord would have had no use left for us and… I did what you've always done, protect our family, by any means necessary."

"I'm… Sorry Cissy…" Bellatrix said quietly then looked up. "But this doesn't change the fact that you betrayed me."

"I know. I just wanted you to understand why." Narcissa stated quietly and when it became clear Bellatrix was done talking she turned and started to leave, but not before Bellatrix spoke up one more time.

"Don't come back Cissy. I'll never be leaving this place again and I don't want you to see me rot away here. So please, forget about me… It will be easier that way, for the both of us." Bellatrix met Narcissa's gaze one last time and saw the tears that were starting to swell, she didn't reply nor did she give any indication to what was on her mind or if she was going to do as she was told. She just held Bellatrix's gaze for a few moments then left quickly. "And… I love you too, baby sister." Bellatrix whispered when she was sure Narcissa was long gone.

Hours had passed since Narcissa had left and Bellatrix had not moved from her spot against the wall once, not even to take her dinner off the guard when he came round. She had sat void of all emotion as she contemplated what her sister had shown her, she thought about all the broken promises and the lies, the years of dedicated and faithful service to the Dark Lord. 'Every promise he ever made, he broke… All but one… But seeing Cissy's memory… I know… He would have broken that one too… Cissy was right, he would have cast us aside if he'd won… All those years of loyal service, all those years waiting in this hellhole for him to return. It meant nothing to him… Twenty eight years… Wasted following a man who died to the same boy twice!'

She'd been used and betrayed by people for far too long, anger and hated boiled away under the surface, not just at them but at herself for not seeing it coming. There was a growing emptiness inside, darkness, sorrow and insanity were clogging her up as she started to wonder what the point of her life had been and what point there was left to go on. Her eyes shifted from the water bowl to the blanket. 'It would be so easy… So easy just too… End it.' She had never been a coward but right now she didn't see the point in lingering on any longer.

"Mrs Lestrange." A voice came suddenly from beyond her door, catching Bellatrix by surprise.

She snapped out of her dismal mood and stared up hard at the door, waiting for the grate to open and reveal her visitor… But it never opened. "Who is it?! And what do you want!" She hissed.

"Who I am is irrelevant. As to what I want, I have a proposal for you." The mysterious voice said, Bellatrix could tell it belonged to a male, but they had to be using a charm as it was heavily distorted and irregular.

Bellatrix snarled at the mystery man. "What kind of proposal?"

"A simple one. You do a task for me, and in return I reward you." Thanks to the charm he was using, Bellatrix couldn't detect anything that would give her a hint to the workings of the man's mind or the emotion behind it.

"And what possible reward could I have use for when I'll be stuck in here for the rest of my life!" She snapped.

"Freedom." The voice replied simply.

"Freedom...?" Bellatrix asked weakly, completely stunned by the magnitude of what he was offering her, of course she knew that it was impossible for her to ever be free again and that whoever this person was, was as insane as her. Yet what if he spoke the truth? "Who are you?" She asked softly, still bewildered.

"An envoy of my employers, very powerful employers. Who can make good on their side of the deal."

"I very much doubt that moron. Who are these all powerful employers then?" She asked mockingly.

"Irrelevant, all you need to know is if you do this task for them, you'll be a free woman the following day."

His words stung the back at the back of her mind, it was barely a few minutes ago she was considering taking her own life rather than being stuck in Azkaban for the rest of her days… And now the prospect of freedom was looming over her. "Let's say I was to humour you. What would the task be?" She asked flatly in a bored tone of voice, not wanting to show that she actually was interested just in case it got snatched away from her for his entertainment.

The mystery man was silent for what seemed like an eternity, Bellatrix was starting to think she had imagined the whole thing… But then his voice came again. "One we think you'd enjoy enormously. We want you to kill Miss Hermione Granger."

A/N: Hope you enjoyed chapter 6 :) Reviews are much appreciated and I'll try update soon x

DrunknMunky85: Glad you are enjoying it :) slowly building up to that ;) or am I? :o Teasing can be such fun lol

Quantumphysica: It does seem that way doesn't it? ;) Thanks for all the wonderful reviews so far and I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Harley Quinn Davidson: Always good to hear that :) hope the new chapter was worth the wait.

etain lives: I agree with you, but sometimes just as in our own society, some will never change their views no matter what people do to prove themselves, not that anyone needs to prove themselves in the first place.

LoveSKINS94: A question that will be answered in time :) always warms my heart to hear people say how excited they are to future updates :D

And a big thanks again to everyone else who has reviewed so far ^^ Glad you are enjoying it and I hope you continue to do so.