Disclaimer: Harry Potter still not mine.
A/N: Sorry about the delay, my wife was becoming impatient about this next chapter being posted so you can thank her for getting me back in gear and getting it out. Thanks so much for your wonderful reviews! I will try and get back to responding to your reviews I know I have kind of been lacking in that area but I will try and be better. I hope you enjoy this next installment of Watching Over Harry!
Chapter 30
A confused Peter Pettigrew tried to adjust his eyes to the darkness that surrounded him, where ever he was it had a cold and an unfriendly feel to it; it also had a distinct mustiness that assaulted his sense of smell. He sat in silence for a moment trying to remember the last thing he had been doing prior to waking up here.
"Knockturn Alley…I had gone to Knockturn Alley." He recollected, shaking his head a little more in an effort to call up more of his memory. "I…I had gone there for a bit of fun when…Granger!" A flash of dawning entered his mind as his eyes widened. "Granger was there, that know it all Mudblood…she-she hit me with a spell!" Peter cursed himself for allowing himself to be caught by one of Potter's closest friends.
'So I must be in a holding cell of some kind of Dumbledore's Order.' He mused. 'I need to find a way out of here." He stood in the senses depriving darkness and shuffled his feet to the left, stretching his arms out he tried to feel for a wall or something that would give him a sense of location. Eight steps to the left and his hands pressed against a wall of solid rock that was rough and porous.
From where he stood he again slowly shuffled forward and came to another connecting stone wall. A few moments more of shuffling his feet and feeling the rock wall his hands felt the unmistakable feeling of cold iron bars. 'So I'm in a cell with bars.' The animagus smirked. 'Fools, this won't hold me.' Peter attempted to transform into his rat form when…nothing happened. He tried again and again with the same negative results.
"Bloody Hell! They must have some sort of magical suppression wards!" The Potter's traitor spat.
Before he could formulate another plan, torches began to spring to life, one at a time eight torches illuminated the House of Black's dungeon, four on either side of the dungeon walls. Peter scurried back to the corner farthest from the iron bars of his cell and tried to make himself as small as possible.
The fat animagus began to tremble as he heard the distinct echo of boots walking somewhere above him. At the opposite end of the dungeon light poured through an opening door at the top of a spiraling staircase. Three individuals came down the stairs, two obvious females if their curves were any indication of their gender and one male, tall and broad shouldered.
The man walked with predatory grace, Peter shuddered as waves of power seemed to radiate from the man and filled the entire space. The woman directly behind him seemed to mirror him in power and had the aura of an apex predator herself. The other female the shortest of the three was not on the same level as the other two but there was definitely power there.
He did not know why but this woman made him more nervous than the other two, years of existing as a rat had honed his instinct to recognize a threat, he could sense that he was prey to this woman. The first two he could sense controlled and refined power, but the other woman had the feeling of a snake ready to strike at the slightest provocation. He would need to be wary of her.
His attention was brought back to the man who had now stopped in front of his cell. He squinted his eyes to make out the man's face that was being somewhat obscured by shadows from the flickering torches. He gasped in recognition as a pair of burning emerald green eyes unblinkingly stared back at him.
On hands and knees Peter scrambled to the bars his head bowed in fear and shame. "H-Harry I-I'm…"
"SILENCE!" Harry yelled raising his empty hand toward the groveling man who was bodily thrown into the back of the cell the porous and jagged rock tearing the Death Eater's clothing and slicing into his flesh.
"Interesting piece of magic isn't it Peter?" Harry asked nonchalantly looking at the bars and the cell admiringly. "The Blacks are amazing spell weavers, experts at runes and warding." Harry continued ignoring the sobs of his parent's betrayer.
"An amazing bit of magic." Harry repeated himself. "A person being held in this cell has his magic completely blocked while those on the outside can still cast spells and curses to their hearts delight at the person within the cell." Harry continued in a voice of appreciation.
"You see, when you were brought here my sweet sister-in-law cut a rune into the back of your neck. That rune activates a series of others within these cell walls which negates the magic of the one with the rune carved into them. Bloody brilliant don't you think?" Harry now focused on the pathetic looking man groveling in front of him.
Peter felt the back of his neck where he could feel the raised skin of where the rune had been carved. "Now if it was up to me I would have killed you on sight…but my lovely wife believes you could provide us with useful information on your master." Harry spoke in a deadly whisper.
"Your decision here and now will determine if you live or die, I know there are many who would like to have a piece of you." At this the smaller woman shuffled her feet, her hand twitching wanting to draw her wand. Peter noticed the movement and audibly gulped at the woman who had him on edge.
Harry smiled at the display and chuckled. "Easy Hermione we should at least give him a chance to prove his worth." Peter turned to stare at the girl who stepped further in the light revealing a scowling Hermione.
"Yes, she is most anxious to ask you about the location of our dear former potions professor." Harry stated. He was still concerned over his best friend now adopted daughter's desire for revenge for the killing of her parents. Although she was now significantly in more control than she had been, thanks to Bill Weasley.
Hermione had asked Bill Weasley to join their little group "The Dark Mark Killers" in hunting Death Eaters soon after they allied themselves with Harry. Bill had initially refused seeing the lust for revenge in her eyes, that same look that had been in his eyes after his father had been killed by Voldemort. But after speaking with Harry and Bella they thought that he may be the best person to help Hermione deal with her emotions.
After the battle at Bones Manor, Bill and Hermione had become inseparable. Harry and Bella weren't sure if the two were intimate yet but they could tell it was just a matter of time. Bill was obviously very attracted to her and Hermione found every opportunity to be near him. It was a pairing that Harry and Bella had no problems supporting should they get together.
"P-please Harry I don't know anything!" Peter whined. "The Dark Lord doesn't tell me anything he does not confide in me, please H-Harry."
"He lies." Hermione stated in a deadly tone.
"It seems my daughter doesn't believe you Wormtail." Bella speaking for the first time stepped into the light and glared at her former compatriot.
"Bellatrix!" Peter whispered fearfully remembering what the witch was capable of and not wanting to be at the wrong end of her wand.
"Tut tut Peter, you and I both know that you know more than you let on. And my daughter here…" Bella stated, placing a gentle hand on Hermione's shoulder and giving her a warm smile. "…has this wonderful ability to know when someone is lying. And if she says you are not being truthful…"
Bella tutted again. "…I would hate to be in your shoes when your mind gets shredded. Oh I guess I should mention the other part of this wonderful ability of hers." Bella smirked at the trembling man. "She seems to be a natural Legilimens and able to rip through the strongest occulemency shields…but with some rather nasty side effects I'm afraid." Bella smiled sadistically.
'Laying it on a little thick aren't we?' Harry thought to his wife in amusement. Bella just winked at him.
'Well, Hermione is playing along with it.' She stated over their bond.
A pale looking Peter looked between Bella and Hermione with an escalating fear of being mentally ripped to insanity. Hermione just returned his stare and smirked as if daring him to resist.
"So what will it be Peter, cooperation or your mind being turned to porridge? A fate worse than death if you ask me." Harry stated with an air of indifference. "I'm still holding out for the chance to kill you…slowly. So decide…now!" Harry's icy glare focused on the pathetic man.
"W-what assurances do I have t-that you w-won't kill me after I do help you?" Peter whined from his place on the filthy stone floor.
"If the information you provide is significant, I give you my word as the Lord of an Ancient House that I will not kill you." Harry stated. "However should your information be faulty or deceptive, you will wish that you had never heard of the name Potter. Are we in agreement?"
Peter took a deep breath and exhaled it in a rush. Quickly weighing his options of cooperation or having his mind shredded; he chose the former. "I accept your conditions…m-my Lord. H-however there are certain things I won't be able to divulge due to oaths and other protections the Dark Lord has in place."
Harry glared at the man for a moment and then glanced at Hermione who was reading Pettigrew. "He speaks the truth Harry." Hermione whispered, her eyes not leaving the Death Eater.
"Very well." Harry stated with a sigh. "Let's begin."
"What is the current strength of the Death Eaters?" Bella began the questioning.
"About three hundred and sixty-five loyal Death Eaters here in Britain, not including the werewolves, vampires, Dementors, and other creatures who have been enlisted. Outside of Britain…I am not sure." Pettigrew answered.
Bella looked at Hermione who confirmed the truth of his statement with a nod. "Where is the Dark Lords headquarters?" Bella asked.
"I-I can't say…it's under the Fidelius Charm." Peter stuttered feeling a twitch in his silver hand.
"Do you know the identity of the secret keeper?" Harry asked.
Peter was beginning to panic; something was going on with the silver hand his master had given him. "N-no…I-I don't know…" Peter was sputtering his words.
"He's lying." Hermione stated simply.
"Who is the secret keeper Peter?" Harry demanded the air suddenly electrified around Peter as Harry's magic rolled off of him in angry waves.
Peter began to sob and plead. "I c-can't, he will kill me if he finds out."
"I will kill you if you do not!" Bella screamed at the sobbing man. "I made no promise to spare you, you filthy piece of trash! I will end you here and now! Now tell us!"
Peter gulped hard and opened his mouth to speak, but before he could form a syllable the silver hand shot to his neck and began to crush his windpipe.
"Diffindo!" Bella shouted quickly, the cutting curse in an instant severed the silver hand from Peter's arm; the hand disappeared in a wisp of silvery mist. Peter collapsed to the floor coughing violently while trying to suck in a lung full of air.
"What the hell was that!" Harry asked.
"I'm guessing Voldemort put some kind of loyalty spell on the hand and it reacted when he attempted to betray his master's secret keeper." Bella hypothesized.
"Lilith Zabini" Peter croaked his windpipe suffering some minor damage.
"What was that?" Harry asked.
"Lilith Zabini is the secret keeper." Peter repeated between gasps.
"Unlikely…" Bella stated. "Voldemort would not trust a woman to be his secret keeper."
"That is why she is the secret keeper. No one, not even the majority of his followers would suspect a woman; her identity is only known to a few. I only know because I just happened to overhear Lucius mention it. He was upset that the Dark Lord had not chosen him and he was ranting about it." Peter volunteered.
"He's telling the truth Harry." Hermione told her longtime friend.
"This will be tricky Harry." Bella began. "She is very well connected with the pureblood elites; a direct move against her could complicate our efforts to gain support in the Wizengamot. Not to mention if she is the Secret Keeper, Voldemort would have placed all sorts of protections around her residence, not to mention a loyalty spell or two to keep her from giving up the secret." Bella warned her husband.
"Then I guess we won't be overt about it, we'll have to get her to come to us. Perhaps we need to set up some kind of function and invites some of the elites, that could provided with an innocuous setting to get the information from her." Harry offered.
"We could ask Narcissa and Bill to see if they can come up with something to negate any loyalty charms or spells." Hermione added to the conversation. Both Harry and Bella nodded at the idea.
"What happens to a secret if the Secret Keeper dies?" Harry asked. "Not that I'm planning on killing her." Harry quickly added.
"Well if the Secret Keeper dies, then the Fidelius charm fades and what was secret will become visible or remembered. However if that were to happen he could simply recast it and we would have lost any advantage we would have had as opposed to keeping the Secret Keeper alive and getting the information. Then Voldemort would never know that his secret was compromised giving us a tactical advantage." Bella told her bondmate.
Harry smiled and kissed Bella's lips tenderly. "Not just a pretty face." Harry joked winking at his lover who smacked him playfully in the chest.
"Now Peter, why don't you give us the names of your compatriots, and in particular those within the Ministry?" Harry asked, turning his attention back to the simpering Peter.
oooOOOooo
Amelia Bones, Augusta Longbottom, and Andromeda Tonks, were preparing for the August thirty-first trial of Albus Dumbledore which was quickly approaching. With the testimonies of Mrs. Figg and her 'Harry Journal' detailing the living conditions and abuse that the Savior of the Wizarding World had endured for most of his life, and all under the watchful eye of Albus Dumbledore, would have many of the Old Families calling for his head. For the heir of an Ancient and Noble family to be relegated to a life of abuse and servitude to magic hating muggles was beyond the pale.
If that was not enough, Minerva's testimony about the constant manipulations upon Lord Potter would certainly cause a stir. Beginning from Harry's first year he had been placed in life and death situations by the headmaster and used Hogwarts as a testing and proving ground to test and humble the young Lord.
The most damning evidence would come from the Goblins, who had records that proved that Albus Dumbledore along with his co-conspirator Molly Weasley now Prewitt had intentionally and with full knowledge of the illegality of their actions conspired to take control of the vast Potter fortune. Prewitt had embezzled thousands of Galleons and Dumbledore had embezzled near a million Galleons from the Potter vaults.
Dumbledore would also be charged with illegally sealing the Last Will and Testament of Lord James and Lady Lily Potter. There will be charges of forging a false Last Will and Testament of Harry James Potter, and charges of attempted line theft of an Ancient and Noble house among other charges.
Despite of all these charges they knew that Dumbledore had many allies within the Wizengamot who would overlook his crimes and believe that he had his reasons for doing what he did and that he had the best interests of their world at heart. They would need to have a majority of votes to convict the wily old goat and as it stood it was too close to leave to chance.
It was time to solidify the Potter-Black political base and if it meant calling in the markers of all those who were indebted to the house to publically make their alliances known then so be it. Albus Dumbledore had to be exposed for the puppeteer he was, he thought himself above the law, and they would prove it otherwise.
But the women of the 'Potter' family also had another reason to bring Dumbledore down, he had been aware of the attacks that had occurred against the Grangers, Longbottoms, Lovegoods, and Weasleys before they happened and did nothing to inform the DMLE or the Grangers and Lovegoods, a tacit warning of trouble had been given to the Longbottoms but nothing of substance. He had promised to help the Weasleys but did not show up until after Arthur had been killed.
The man was as guilty as Voldemort in their minds and they had all vowed to bring to light the ancient wizard's true colors to the Wizarding World.
The women had already set up the first of several planned "Social Gatherings" to speak with all those who were connected one way or another to House Potter. The first was to be two days from now at the Greengrass estate. The Greengrass' had economic dealings in both the magical and muggle worlds, through a substantial endowment from House Potter along with the introduction into the muggle markets, House Greengrass' owed its prosperity to House Potter.
House Greengrass would play host to ten other Great Houses as the future of the Wizarding World would be discussed as well as alliances renewed or formed. The three women swore that House Potter would once more make use of its political power as it had been under Harry's grandfather Charlus Potter. The Wizarding World would see the rebirth of the new House Potter-Black political machine and woe to those who would stand against it. A reformation was coming and Amelia, Augusta, and Andromeda were giddy with anticipation.
oooOOOooo
Harry, Bella, Hermione and Luna, along with Cissy and Tonks were visiting Diagon Alley for new dress robes for the first "Social Gathering" at the Greengrass' estate the next day. Susan and a mostly recovered Neville already had appropriate attire for the function and decided to stay back at Black Manor where Susan was playing a very attentive nursemaid to Neville.
Their first stop was at Madam Malkins, where Bella and Cissy made sure Harry had the right kind of robes befitting the Lord of two Ancient and Noble Houses. However Narcissa's presence did not go unnoticed by one of Lucius' spies nor did Harry go unnoticed by one of Dumbledore's spies.
Lucius wanted to deal with his traitorous bitch of an ex-wife and more importantly recover the Malfoy fortune which was a misnomer seeing as most of his wealth came from the Blacks dowry and financial assistance. His Lord also wanted the former Lady Malfoy and use her as an example to those who would entertain the thought of leaving his service.
Dumbledore for his own selfish reasons wanted to make the Potter brat see reason and once again come under his control and direction and forget about all the impending legalities. He had sent out an emergency notification to several members of the order to come to Diagon Alley and "detain" the young lord for his own safety.
Lucius was almost feral with his desire to inflict harm on his former wife and the half-blood upstart Potter. They would both pay for his current circumstances. Lucius had come away from his failure in France with a piece of him missing. The Dark Lord in a magnanimous gesture only took the left eye of his lieutenant as punishment for the debacle in France; the other members of Malfoy's strike team were let off easy with a short but powerful exposure to his cruciatus curse.
Ronald Prewitt had never felt so much pain in his life. He had felt the effects for hours afterward. Molly Prewitt had been furious at the treatment of her son at the hands of the Dark Lord but knew it could have been worse. She was beginning to regret ever bumping into Pius Thicknesse which brought the Dark Lord to her home. But her bed was made and didn't know how to get out of it in one piece. She just hoped that the Dark Lord kept his promise of giving the Potter fortune to her.
A strike team of twelve was assembled including the buffoon Prewitt and the Dark Lords new favorite toy the Parkinson wench Pansy. This time there would be no holding back Lucius would succeed in capturing his ex or he would kill her. Either way Lucius would not be denied.
Dumbledore had contacted six of his most loyal order members including ex-auror Alastor Moody who unbeknownst to the ancient wizard was reconsidering his membership in the old man's little club. He was tired and frustrated with Albus's obsession with the Potter boy to the exclusion of all else.
He felt the Dark Mark killers had the right of it. Take all the bastards down by any means necessary none of this pussy-footin-around; it was time to play for keeps or not at all. Remus Lupin had also been reconsidering his loyalty to Albus. Yes the man had helped him when society turned its collective back on him. But he knew James and Sirius would be disappointed with his decision to remain with Dumbledork and not side with Harry.
Remus did not want to believe the stories of chronic abuse that supposedly Albus had allowed Harry to live under for years. Or that Albus was somehow plotting to control Harry and the Potter fortune for his own gains. Albus assured him that it was all contrived propaganda perpetrated by the psychopathic witch Bellatrix Lestrange who had somehow bewitched the boy and was controlling him and grooming him to be the next Dark Lord.
This just didn't make sense, Harry did not seem dark at the Will reading nor did he appear to be under any enchantments, to have him announce that Bella was the now the Lady Potter had been a shock, but there was obvious love in Harry's eyes when he glanced at the raven haired witch and not some potion induced infatuation.
Remus desperately wanted to talk to Harry and sort everything out. Hopefully when the order arrived Harry would be willing to speak to him, but Remus had the sinking suspicion that things were not going to go well. And it would be the Order that would come out of it looking the fools. Remus had felt the power rolling off of Harry and Bellatrix at the reading and feared that Albus and everyone else for that matter seriously underestimated the young man and his new bride.
oooOOOooo
Harry felt completely relieved as they made their final purchases at Madam Malkins, two hours of poking, prodding and being put on display like a dress up doll for four women was beyond humiliating.
And if he didn't know better he could have sworn that Madam Malkin took an inordinate amount of extra time measuring and re-measuring his inseam. He supposed that her hand brushing up against his manhood six times was just incidental to her measuring, 'but she did have that mischievous gleam in her eyes every time she did it though.' Harry mused.
And the girls all seem to smirk as she did it, even Tonks offered to give her a hand to make sure she had the right length. This had caused all the girls to giggle and Bella to slap Tonks on the back of the head. 'Women, even bonded to a woman I still don't get their thought process.' Harry sighed internally.
'And we'd have it no other way.' Bella replied with a chuckle over their bond.
"Okay ladies I believe we have tortured my husband long enough. Time to move on unless Madam Malkin has some last minute measuring to do that is." Bella smiled as the other girls burst out laughing and Madam Malkin shot a coquettish wink at Harry. Harry just palmed a head slap and shook his head in exasperation.
Harry opened the door to Madam Malkin's and stepped into the alley closely followed by the others. "EVERYBODY DOWN!" Harry yelled as he wandlessly cast a shield which was immediate struck by no less than four spells.
Screams began to echo up and down the alley as twelve people in black robes and bone white skeletal masks stepped out into the open with wands raised and a rainbow of colored spells flew toward the Potter group.
Bella's training kicked in as Hermione and Luna took up defensible positions on either side of the storefront, Narcissa went to Luna's side and began to return spellfire as Luna would shield against incoming spells or conjure barriers to intercept the more powerful ones.
Tonks had done the same as Narcissa going to support Hermione, one would shield as the other returned fire, and the four women worked in perfect tandem trusting that their partner had their backs. Two Death Eaters were immediate taken out of the fight with bone breaking curses and now laid screaming on the ground.
Harry and Bella had stood their ground to give the other four time to find cover. Harry and Bella worked seamlessly together as they sent blasting curses into the ground to kick up dirt and debris obscuring the battlefield.
The remaining Death Eaters entered various stores and alleyways to get out of the open and blew out the windows to return fire from safety.
People were grabbing their children and making for the cover of whatever building was closest, those who could apparate did so. A magically enhanced voice echoed over the street which caused a temporary ceasefire.
"You will drop your wands and come with us quietly Potter, you and the blood traitor sisters and we will let the mudblood and the other slag go...for now." An aristocratic voice sneered.
"Yeah…" Harry stated slowly with his voice amplified shaking his head from side to side. "…not gonna happen Lucy." Harry smirked at the man who then stood just inside a doorway rigidly, his knuckles whitening around his wand.
"You are a fool Potter…take a look around you. You are outnumbered two to one. We would cut you all down before a fight could even begin." Lucius Malfoy sneered in his overconfidence.
"You may have us outnumbered, but we have you totally outclassed. So take my advice and tuck your tails and run back to your half-blood wanker of a master." Harry smirked.
"How dare you insult my Lord and spout lies about him Pothead! I will kill you like I killed the Longbottom squib!" A female Death Eater spoke to the right of Lucius.
"Is that you Parkinson? I had heard that your puggy lips were permanently stuck to Moldyshorts backside or was it attached to something more toward his front?" Harry chuckled.
"You'll pay for that Potter!" Pansy shrieked.
"You know Parkinson; I have heard that so often that it has become a cliché." Harry mocked in a bored tone.
"Granger you Bloody Bitch, you better set me right or I will…I will.. cut off your tits!" A new amplified voice yelled out.
"Is that you Ronald?" Hermione responded indignantly. "Why am I not surprised you joined tall, white and pasty."
"Fix me you filthy MUDBLOOD!" Ron screamed
"No need to be SHORT Ronald." She chuckled. "You seem a LITTLE miffed about something perhaps about some kind of SHORTCOMING?" Her mirthful voice echoed through the alley.
"You bitch, you…!" Ron screeched
"ENOUGH!" Lucius yelled. "Potter what is your answer?"
"Are you seriously that stupid Lucy?" Harry mocked
"So be it Potter but I will take my bitch of a wife dead or alive and as many of you as we can!"
"Bombarda Maxima!" Lucius screamed as he sent the explosive curse at the storefront where Bella and Harry were standing. Harry and Bella together conjured a repelling shield that sent the curse right back to Lucius who dived out of the way just in time as the spell hit the spot where Lucius had been just a split second ago.
The blast sent wood and stone flying in all directions. Screaming intensified as bystanders tried to flee the area. Luna had spotted a family of four who were pinned down between the crossfire, with a quick word to Narcissa the two blondes made their way over to the family. Shielding each other as they went. The father of the little family was clutching a two year old little girl in his arms and his wife holding fast to a six or seven year old little boy.
Four Death Eaters one of which was Pansy Parkinson saw the movement and made their way to intercept the two witches. Luna and Narcissa had just managed to get to the little family when a cutting curse hit Narcissa in her left thigh. The statuesque blonde crumbled to the ground her leg bleeding profusely. Luna quickly raised her strongest shield to deflect the other curses from hitting them. Narcissa crawled to the family and cast an additional shield.
Two of the Death Eaters tried to maneuver around Luna and Narcissa to attack their flank while Pansy and her other cohort continued to rain spells down upon them. Narcissa spotted the two black robed men circling around; she conjured several slabs of granite to give the little group some added protection. She knew however that it would not last long. They needed to find better cover and soon.
Bella heard her sister's shriek and quickly made her way to aid the pinned down group while Harry, Hermione and Tonks kept the other Death Eaters busy. Harry and his group were dealing with six of the black robed tossers and were barely holding their own. Harry did not want to use too powerful of spells due to the many innocents in the area including the ones trapped in the shop the Death Munchers had entered into trapping the bystanders.
The Death Eaters had no such moral hindrance and were through deadly spells left, right and center. "Where are the bloody aurors!" Harry swore. "I need to have a serious talk with Aunt Amelia about the aurors response time!" He fumed, dodging a rather sickly looking yellow spell.
Harry was about to comment again when he heard several pops of apparition come from just up the street. "About Bloody ti…oh bollocks! Who invited freakin Dumbledore to this party!" Harry spat.
Albus Dumbledore, Alastor 'Mad Eye' Moody, Remus Lupin, Emmeline Vance, and three other members that Harry could not remember, all appeared at the top of the street. At first they seemed confused at what to do but a red spell striking into a short brown haired man from the order, one that harry didn't recognize woke them from their stupor as the man's chest exploded in a shower of bone and gore.
Remus wasted no time in making his way down to Harry and helped the young lord in returning spell fire at the group of Death Eaters who were shooting spells at them from a second story window above the shop they had overtaken. The two men shared a glance and with a nod to each other resumed their fight with the Death Eaters.
Bella had closed the distance on her sister and Luna's attackers. With a silent flick of her wand ropes bound one of the two Death Eaters who were attacking her sister. Pansy saw Bella attack her comrade out of the corner of her eye and turned to face the older witch, the one she had been most anxious to meet, the former right hand of her master.
Without spell fire coming at them from the front, Luna and Narcissa were able to focus their energy on the other two who were trying to flank them. The two small children were screaming in terror as spells landed all around them. Luna was doing an admirable job so far at protecting the little family but she was also aware that she was beginning to tire and they needed to end this soon.
Pansy sent curse after curse at her presumed rival for the Dark Lords affection. Bella calmly deflected all of the curses from the enraged girl not returning any spell. "Fight me damn it!" Pansy screamed at the tall black haired beauty.
"I will prove to my Lord that I am the better witch! That I am his most powerful servant! Fight me you whore!" Pansy screeched her voice cracking.
Bella sent a mild wordless banishing hex that knocked the shorter girl on her backside. "Listen to me Little Girl." Bella marginalized the younger witch. "Do you actually believe that you are something special, that the Dark Lord holds you with any kind of esteem?" Bella mocked the girl who was scrambling to get back to her feet but Bella had pushed her back down again this time wandlessly. Pansy's eyes widened at the casual use of wandless magic that this traitor to her lord had just performed.
"You are nothing girl, but a tool for him to use and then discard when he is through with you." Bella stated.
"Lies! I am his favorite! I am his right-hand. He c-cares for me!" Pansy wailed.
"Poor poor misguided girl." Bella cooed as she walked closer to the downed girl who appeared to be almost hyperventilating. "He is not capable of caring or love or any kind of affection. His quest for power has erased any positive emotion from him. That is if he had any to begin with. He is not even human anymore foolish girl." Bella continued.
"No no…y-your wrong, I am his favorite!"The girl laughed maniacally. "And I will be rewarded above all others, especially after I kill you!" Pansy screamed finding her wand. "Avada Kedavra!" The sickly green spell flew from the tip of her wand towards Bella's exposed chest. Bella with catlike reflexes spun to her left the spell missing her and impacting on the building behind her.
Pansy grabbed the emergency portkey around her neck and in a swirl of color was gone. Meantime Luna and Narcissa had managed to down the two other Death Eaters and were binding them with ropes when Bella appeared. With the immediate danger over Luna cast a basic healing spell on Narcissa leg which stopped the bleeding but would still need to be looked at by a healer.
Bella, Narcissa, and Luna made their way back to the main fight, to give Harry and the others a hand, but pops of apparition got their attention as a squad of aurors appeared. "Do not move or we will open fire!" One of the aurors demanded.
Bella rolled her eyes at the man. "The fighting is down the street you imbecile!" Bella growled out.
"Why you filthy…" The auror began befor being cut off.
"Captain! I do hope for your sake that you were not to just about offend the Lady of an Ancient and Noble House, especially the wife of my godson!" Amelia Bones stated loudly as she came from the back of the auror squad.
"N-no ma'm, I-I mean Minister I was just…"The auror captain stuttered as he came to ridgid attention. Ignoring the man Amelia turned to Bella.
"Bella, what's going on?" Amelia asked in haste.
"We were ambushed by about a dozen Death Eaters as we came out of Madam Malkins. Lucius is leading them. There are three that we took out down here." Bella stated pointing out the three bound Death Eaters.
"You two men!" Amelia pointed to two members of the Auror Squad. "Take these three to a holding cell at the Ministry. No one is to see them! Do I make myself clear?" Amelia command the two aurors.
"Yes Minister." They both replied with a quick bow. "Now let's go help Harry." Amelia stated to the others.
Bella, Amelia, Luna and Narcissa arrived to find that the remaining six Death Eaters were pinned down at the moment. They were all surprised to see Dumbledore and some of his people there fighting as well though it appeared two of their members were down, one obviously dead.
Bella was also surprised to see Remus Lupin fighting at her husband's side. With the additional reinforcements the Death Eaters could see they no longer had the tactical advantage and began to activate their portkeys. Lucius screamed in fury, he would be denied once again, with one more killing curse sent out the window he was hiding behind he dissaparated.
The spells coming from the building went silent; Harry and the others cautiously took a breath but did not lower their wands yet. Remus who was standing next to Harry saw the approach of the other group lead by Bellatrix. His eyes met the eyes of an old acquaintance, not since his days at Hogwarts had they spoken.
They had each been prefects for their respected houses and on occasion were required to patrol the halls together. They had found that they had much in common and quickly developed an easy friendship during their fifth year; soon they had arranged all their patrols so that they would be together.
During their sixth year the two had secretly became a couple. They knew neither set of their friends would approve and so needed to keep the relationship quiet. By the end of sixth year they had professed their love for one another and planned to run off together after graduation. She knew that her family would absolutely not accept him as a suitor. He came from a poor family for one and if they were to ever learn of his condition they might kill him on sight.
But their romance was destroyed during the summer between their sixth and seventh years. Her family had bound her to another through a marriage contract. Her mother had gone as far as threatening her life if she did not capitulate to the contract. Her older sister had escaped the family and had married for love to a muggleborn of all things, but she was destined to be married to a pureblooded man she did not love and knew was as dark as her family had been.
Seventh year had crushed Remus' heart and hers as well, but she had little choice. Her older sister had been cast out of the family for not marry the right kind of person. They tried to maintain a friendship but her betrothed's friends kept a close eye on her all the time. She wished on many a tear filled night that she had the courage to go against her family but they left no room for error, if she disobeyed them they would end he.
Narcissa Black looked into the familiar amber eyes of her biggest regret, her lost love Remus Lupin. Narcissa's heart skip a beat or two as she stared at him. Remus became lost in her deep blue eyes as well, remembering happier times when they were young.
"Hello Cissy." Remus nervously addressed her.
Narcissa smiled just as nervously. "Hello Remmy."
oooOOOooo
A/N: Okay so I know not a nice place to end it, but we will learn a little more about Remus and Narcissa next chapter as well as the confrontation coming between Harry and Dumbledore. And the Social Gathering begin as Harry and Family begin to solidify their political strength. I hope everyone has a Happy New Year!
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