Chapter 38 : Bella . . . Bella

Harry had finished his part of the story about the night Albus 'died', so he turned to Severus and bowed.

"It's show time, Severus," he announced, with a cheeky grin.

"Ah, yes, the best bit!" the Potions Professor replied, sneer firmly in place, as he stood to continue the tale.

X X X

Severus arrived at the agreed "Apparation" point, to find Bella and Draco face to face; Bella absolutely apoplectic with rage, and Draco matching her anger, only his was accentuated by the fact he towered over his aunt.

"I didn't make you drop your wand, you spoiled brat!' she screeched."You dropped it!"

"You grabbed me from behind and slammed me into the gate! That knocked it out of my hand! Did you wait when I yelled STOP!? Noooo, you had to get the hell away, to save yourself, dragging me with you. I AM perfectly capable of 'Apparating' , you know! It would have taken three seconds to grab my wand but saving your skinny arse was more important!" Draco thundered, reminding Severus, alarmingly, of Lucius!

"How DARE you talk to me that way?! You . . ." Bell drew back her arm to throw a hex at Draco but Severus stepped forward and grabbing her wrist, spun her around.

"Don't . . even . . think . . it," he purred, as he bent down and got face to face with the livid Witch. "What happened, Draco?" he asked calmly, not letting go of Bella's arm, even as she twisted and spit and kicked at him. Draco started to speak but Severus held up his other hand. "Hold that thought, Draco," he ordered, as he thrust Bella away from himself and pointed his wand. " 'Petrificus Totalus' " Bella stiffened, with a startled look on her face, and fell over, *thump*, on the path.

"Oh, Merlin, now you've torn it, Professor," Draco gasped, although Severus could see he was fighting, with all his might, not to laugh.

"Doubtful. However, now that we have a little peace and quiet, perhaps you can tell me what happened?" Severus drawled calmly, turning his back on Bella in order to listen to Draco.

"Just as we got to the gates, I turned to see if you were coming, but Auntie here, grabbed my collar to drag me through the gates, which threw me off balance. My arms flew out, as I was trying to keep from falling on my arse, my hand hit the gate . . hard . . . my wand was knocked out of my grasp."

Draco held up his hand, which was scraped from wrist to knuckles, where a patch of skin was missing, a little blood trickling down his fingers and a nasty looking bruise blooming across the back of his hand.

"I yelled for her to stop. . . I could see my wand lying there, but the next thing I know, we're here! Do you think we could go back and get it, Professor, if we're quick?"

"We can't risk it. I knocked Potter down, but more were rapidly coming out of the school, intent on aiding 'the chosen one', no doubt. Although they've probably closed and warded the gates by now, perhaps your wand will be overlooked in the gloom and shadows in that area. We'll suggest to the Dark Lord that he send your Auntie Bella back to search and retrieve it, if possible. If not." Severus shrugged. "We'll get you another."

Turning to the silent Witch lying on the ground, Severus smirked. "Come along like a good little girl, Bella. We have to go see our Master. 'Levicorpus'." Severus guided the floating figure down the lane leading to the Dark Lord's newest hiding place, Malfoy Manor.

X X X

"He's dead?" Voldemort was pacing back and forth, passing the prostrate Carrows. " Are you sure?" The other Death Eaters were also on the floor, glad they made it out of Hogwarts alive, but dreading what might happen after the reports of what occurred.

"Yes, Master . . . we saw Snape and young Malfoy's 'Avada Kadavra' spells hit Dumbledore right in the chest, knocked him straight backwards into the stairwell," Amycus Carrow replied.

"Did you check the body?" Voldemort asked, quietly.

"Bella started to, but the stairs started moving, carrying his body away and the gargoyle jumped in front of the entrance," Alecto Carrow answered. "It all happened so quickly, Master. Snape said we had to get out, before we were spotted by the patrols."

"Ah, yes . . . . Severus . . . . and where is he now?" Voldemort inquired.

"Right here, my Lord."

Severus entered the room, floating Bella before him, Draco at his side. They both knelt and bowed their heads.

"Severus . . . I've been hearing of the night's activities." The Dark Lord looked from one to the other. "You may rise, Severus . . . Draco."

"Thank you, my Lord," Severus muttered, as he rose and looked at the Dark Lord.

"Thank you, Lord Voldemort," said Draco, as he rose, keeping his eyes lowered.

"No, no, Draco, my boy," admonished Voldemort, as he came nearer. "What I have heard tells me that you have successfully completed your mission. So . . . give me your arm."

Draco heard someone near him suck in their breath and realized his Mother was standing at the side of the room. But he understood she knew what was about to happen was necessary, so he rolled up his sleeve, without hesitation, and held it out. Voldemort grasped his wrist and pressed his wand into the soft skin of Draco's forearm. Draco gritted his teeth against the pain but gave a small grunt, knowing he had to show some sign of discomfort.

He felt the Dark Lord at the edge of his consciousness, so concentrated on the scene of 'killing' Albus Dumbledore and the thrill he had felt, watching his spell hit the old man's chest a split second before Severus' spell connected with the Headmaster's body. HE had killed him, Snape's spell was just to make sure. HE had done his Master's biding and now, he was a true Death Eater. Draco looked up into the red eyes staring at him, his pride shining in his own

"Well done, Draco."

"Thank you . . . Master."

"Now, Severus, if you would be so kind as to explain why Bella is floating, silently, here before me?" Voldemort turned to the Potions Master. Severus couldn't tell from his tone if the Dark Lord was curious, amused or furious. He decided truth was the best option.

"Bella was about to hex your newest Death Eater." He waved a hand at Draco. "It seemed she caused her nephew to lose his wand as they were leaving the grounds and Draco was, quite frankly, telling her off."

"You lost your wand?" The Dark Lord's attention shifted to Draco.

"Aunt Bella grabbed my collar and yanked me backward," Draco explained. "Pulled me off balance, I hit my hand on the gate." Holding up his hand to show the damage, he continued, "My wand was knocked out of my grasp and when I yelled for her to stop, she ignored me and 'Apparated' us here. There was no time to go back and retrieve it, as Professor Snape arrived and said too many people from the school were coming toward the gates to risk it."

" Interesting."

Voldemort stood looking at Bella for a moment or two, then waved his hand and she crashed to the floor in a moaning heap.

"Get up, Bella . . . I want to hear your story of tonight's events."

"Mercy, Master . . . I was only thinking of Draco's safety, Master . . . I wanted to bring him here, so he could tell you of his success in completing your instructions . . . I didn't realize his wand . . . "

"So, you cared nothing of my loyal servant, Severus, who was following you . . .had he been captured . . . or harmed?"

"I assumed Snape was capable of handling Potter, Master . . . I just . . . "

"Then why the rush? You should have made sure all of your team was accounted for . . . then 'Apparated' to safety, don't you think, Bella?" Voldemort voice cut her off. "By the way, where is Fenrir?"

Bella visibly shrank toward the floor, shaking. "Dead, Master."

"DEAD!" thundered Voldemort. "How . . .?"

"The werewolf, Lupin, killed him, Master," Severus spoke up. When the Dark Lord swung his attention from Bella to himself, Severus pulled the Gryffindor Sword from the folds of his cape. "With this."

Voldemort stepped backward, instinctively, then with a maniacal gleam in his eyes, walked forward, to gaze at the blade. He could see the blood stains, but dismissed them.

"And how is it that this prize is in your possession, Severus?" he inquired.

"I was too away to stop the duel between them, but while Lupin was gloating over Fenrir's decapitated body, I blasted him across the staircase and relieved him of this." Snape was looking at the sword, studying the name etched in the handle. Then he bowed and held the sword out to Voldemort. "For you, Master . . . spoils of war," he added, with a smirk.

"Indeed, so Fenrir lost his head, did he?" Voldemort was holding the sword up, feeling its balance and weight, as he questioned Snape almost absentmindedly.

"From what I was able to see of the duel, it wasn't until Fenrir was turned away from him, attempting to retrieve his wand, which he had dropped somehow, that Lupin pulled that sword from the Sorting Hat and got his revenge on Fenrir."

"Revenge?" Voldemort stopped in his contemplation of the bloody blade and turned to face his spy, eyebrow raised.

"For being the one responsible for Lupin's 'condition' and also for taunting Lupin about the Headmaster's death, which Fenrir had witnessed. Lupin's rage and grief, as he attacked Fenrir, was quite apparent in the dueling."

"Do I detect a bit of admiration for his dueling skills, Severus?" The Dark Lord's eyes narrowed.

"None, my lord; only my evaluation of his ferocity and its source." replied Snape, silkily.

Voldemort looked at him for a moment, then laughed as he turned away to walk to his high-backed wingchair. He sat and laid the sword across his lap, still grasping the handle.

"Bella . . . I still haven't heard your views on how the evenings events transpired," The Dark Lord said, in an almost conversational tone, but it was evident he was not pleased with what he'd heard so far. "Although I am happy to hear that Albus is finally out of the way, but Fenrir . . . well, let me just say, I am upset about losing my fiercest follower."

Bella was on her knees, head bowed, knowing she was in great peril, but also realizing not saying anything would only make it worse.

"Everything was working as you said, Master. Draco was waiting for us, he went ahead, as planned, Severus followed Draco to cover him as we split up, to better protect against interference from any night patrols. But right after Draco and Severus killed Dumbledore, we could hear shouting and knew the others had been spotted . . . we had to fight our way out, not back through the 'Vanishing Cabinet, we had been cut off from that route. You had warned us that might happen, so we fought our way to the front doors . . . and made out way to the gates," Bella gasped out the last part, thankful to have gotten to the end of her tale without having been hit with the 'Cruciatus Curse'. "I sent the 'Death Mark' into the sky above the castle, so they would know who to fear, Master." she added, hastily.

"Did you see Fenrir die?" Voldemort asked quietly.

"No, Master, he and Lupin were dueling on the landing above the stairs where I was fighting the Weasley girl and some other students." Bella answered. "I only became award of his fate when his head came sailing past me to bounce down the stairs." She lowered her face to the floor.

"I see." Voldemort leaned back against the chair and sat in silence for some minutes. There was not a sound in the room, except for the breathing of the occupants. Standing, he approached Severus and Draco, ignoring Bella for the moment.

"Severus and Draco, my faithful servants . . .you did well tonight. Go, rest, and I shall speak with you more on the details of these events later."

"Thank you, my lord," Severus bowed.

"Thank you, Master," Draco actually looked at the Dark Lord and smiled. "For trusting me with this task and also, for allowing me to officially join your followers," he added, touching the Dark Mark on his arm.

"You're welcome, Draco," Voldemort replied, magnanimously. "Your mother and father can be proud of you . . .isn't that right, Narcissa?" He turned and acknowledged the stately blond woman, standing by the wall.

Dropping to her knees, Narcissa bowed her head. "I am extremely glad Draco has proven himself worthy of your attention, my lord," she replied, before looking up at Draco and smiling.

"Very nicely said, my dear. You may come and join your son." Voldemort watched mother and son greet each other with a brief hug and then stand side by side, facing him. He looked around the room at his followers and his eyes narrowed. "It seems I have to rely on the younger generation, from now on, to follow my orders unerringly. OUT! All of you OUT!"

The Death Eaters fell over each other streaming through the door. Severus, Cissa, Draco and Bella remained. Voldemort looked at Severus and detected something in his facial expression. "Severus . . . you wished to say something?"

"Only that . . . when Draco was relating to me the loss of his wand, I mentioned that, perhaps, you might consider sending his Aunt Bella back to the gates to see if Draco's wand was overlooked or trampled, unnoticed, in the gloom of the place. She might, if she tried hard enough, be able to retrieve it."

"Interesting proposition . . . I may indeed, task her with that little job, Severus. But now, why don't you three go and rest up from your efforts. Draco, I am very pleased with you," Voldemort added.

"Thank you, Master." Draco bowed, took his mother's hand and they turned to leave, Severus bowing and then following them out of the room, closing the door firmly behind him. Voldemort returned to his chair.

"Bella, Bella. . . tsk, tsk ,tsk . . . what am I going to do with you?"

X X X

"What happened to Bella," asked Tom.

"The usual; a round or two of the "Cruciatus Curse," replied Severus, as he sat down.

"He also raped her, repeatedly, for his own amusement and satisfaction," Narcissa whispered in Tom's ear, so the younger members of the audience wouldn't hear. Tom's eye flew wide but when he turned to look at Cissa, he saw the sad truth in her eyes. "She told me later, when she recovered."

"Charming . . . . bastard," Tom observed. "There's a couple of old Muggle sayings that apply here: 'You shouldn't speak ill of the dead' and 'If you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything at all' . . . . he's dead . . . good." He was relieved to see Cissa smile at his attempt to cheer her out of her dark thoughts of her sister's treatment at Voldemort's hands. Even though they both spared little sympathy for Bella, as a person.

"So, that leaves us at the point where you had to get Harry out of his relatives house one last time and have Bill and Fleur's wedding, correct?" Dan looked around for confirmation.

"That's about right, Dan," Rupert replied. "But the planning for Harry, Hermione and I going Horcrux hunting was totally different. We were actually going to Hogsmeade and into the Room of Requirement, to camp out with Albus and help get ready for the battle."

"Honestly, it sounds like you all were having way too much fun with this," Emma shook her head. "The whole camping around the country sounds like much more fun," she added, smiling.

"Except for the Snatchers and all the stuff happening at the Ministry," Harry told her. "Dolores, especially, was a real pain in the . . . tookus!" he sputtered, having gotten 'the look' from Ginny, mid-sentence.

"So, what else is new," laughed Rupert. "At least you didn't have to try and sneak in and grab the locket!"

"True!" Ron laughed. "Saved me getting 'splinced' and then acting like a jerk and leaving . . . you know . . ." He turned and looked at Hermione and Harry. "Emma's right . . . we did have more fun this time around."

"But we worked harder on the battle preparations, which we didn't have the luxury to do the first time," Hermione reminded him.

"So, what's the next big event . . . getting Harry out of the Dursley's, I take it?" Dan asked.

"Right. And this time, we were ready for the Death Eaters . . . weren't we, Sirius?" Harry looked over to his Godfather.

"Too right we were!" Sirius replied, standing and rubbing his hands together.

X X X

Harry's aunt, uncle and cousin had left to go into hiding, and he was all alone, waiting for the members of the Order to arrive. The only difference was that Mundungus was 'excused' from helping, and was being replaced by Sirius Black.

Harry hoped to avoid losing Hedwig this time, but couldn't get the faithful owl to fly ahead and wait for him at the Burrow. She was smart enough to refuse to go into her cage, so Harry gave it up as a bad notion. Hedwig fluffed her feathers and settled herself on the garden fence, watching the Witches and Wizards as they arrived.

Hermione wasn't any gentler this time when she yanked a few hairs out of Harry's scalp. "OW! Hermione!" The Polyjuice Potion provided six extra of Harry for the Death Eaters to chase. However, knowing they would be attacked as soon as they took off was a small advantage.

"George, remember to duck this time, or at least throw up a good shield," Arthur reminded his son.

"Yeah, George, I really don't want to hear all of those awful 'holey ' jokes," added Fred.

"Fine! I'll reframe from losing an ear if you promise not to have a wall fall on you, when the time comes!" shot back George, arms crossed, huffy expression on his face.

"I'll try my best, brother of mine!" Fred replied, bowing. Both brothers started laughing, which broke the bit of tension their heated exchange had brought to the group gathered in the living room.

"Alright, listen up," Mad-Eye barked. "Be on the lookout and scatter as quickly as you can. We'll only have a few seconds before the Death Eaters attack. Harry?"

"Yes," Harry, Fred and George all said, the effect being ruined when Arthur smacked his twins on the backs of their heads. "Yes, Mad-Eye?" Harry repeated, turning to the old Auror.

"You and Hagrid had better get away as quickly as you can, and let's hope your bloody bird doesn't give you away again!"

"I tried to get her to the Burrow earlier, but she'd have none of it." Harry shrugged.

"She's a good owl, Harry, and she's doing what she thinks is the right thing," Hagrid rested his hand on Harry's shoulder, causing Harry to tilt alarmingly.

"I know, but I'd hate to lose her. But she's stubborn; bit me, too, when I tried to get her in her cage . . . see?" He held up his hand to show the scabbed-over cut.

Hagrid chuckled.

Mad-Eye was watching out the window and then saw sparks off in the distance.

"It's time."

Without another word, the seven of Harry, with his escorts, walked out of #4 Privet Drive. Within seconds, Mad-Eye gave the word and they all took off into the night sky.