Author's note: Chapter updated and reposted 25/7/13. I've finally finished this chapter. This story is seriously hounding me to complete it! I have almost completed another four chapters, but I'm afraid you'll all have to wait a while longer until I publish them. Rose's decision in this chapter may surprise you. It surprises her too. She learns that life is not as black and white as she'd always believed, and that exacting revenge on an enemy is not as easy as she thought it would be. S.A

'Try to dart within your mind
Look inside and you will find
You're going crazy...You think you know me all too well
I'll make your life like living hell
Should have let me be, you should have let me be

Because it's far from over
You'll soon be mine
And when the dark turns into light
I will bleed you alive

I wanna watch you break
I wanna see you fall
I'll be the one to put your back against to wall

I'll take away your pain
to make you bleed again
Just to see you crumble right before my eyes...'

"Break" - Ocean's Divide

Tuesday 22nd August 2000

'Kreacher…catch!' The elf deftly caught the Dark Amber stone from Rose. He hesitated. He had said he would try to return with her. He knew how anxious master Sirius would be. He could not leave her. Rose saw the elf hesitating. 'Kreacher…go! I'm ordering you to leave now!' The elf nodded and then Rose watched as he apparated and disappeared.

Rose had momentarily lost concentration and her spell that was holding Bellatrix against the wall had weakened. Bella, now able to use her own magic again, took advantage of this and broke the hold Rose had on her.'Crucio!' Rose speedily issued a counter curse. 'Oppilo!' Bella's cruciatus curse stopped in mid-air and then dissipated.

'Well…what a surprise this is! The mudblood whore can use wandless magic! I knew it! I knew you were casting spells, you deceitful bitch!' Rose laughed. 'I've been a busy girl Bella. It's great when people underestimate you, especially deluded pure blood supremacists such as yourself!'

Bella hurled a curse at Rose. 'Deflecto !' The curse was deflected away from Rose and hit the mirror, which fell to the floor, glass shattering everywhere. Rose looked over to the door, expecting the guards to enter. 'Oh, we shan't be disturbed, mudblood. I've made sure of that!' Oh well, Rose thought to herself, I'm about to find out just how much magical skill I've inherited! Where are you Morgan?!

When she received no reply, Rose knew she was on her own. Thanks! I thought you said you'd be here looking out for me! Rose returned her concentration to Bella, determined her apprehension would not show. 'Well Bella, I think this encounter between us is long overdue, don't you?' Bella grinned evilly. 'Oh yes, mudblood! I'm going to make you pay for what you've done to the Dark Lord!' Rose shook her head and then laughed.

'You are taking out your frustrations on the wrong person you know. But you don't want to face the truth do you? You really have got it bad, haven't you?' Bellatrix glowered at the girl she saw as her enemy. 'I'm not here to talk with you mudblood!' Bella shouted. Rose inclined her head in acknowledgement. 'I know. But I need to clear a few things up first.'

Rose was ready for the spell that Bella fired at her and conjured her own. 'Evaporo!' The spell was halted before it reached Rose, solidifying in mid-air and then evaporating. 'Attono!' Bella had to duck to miss the thunderbolt that came from Rose's hand. She growled in frustration and Rose let out a nervous laugh. Bloody hell! she thought, I've deflected Bella's magic! 'Let me speak and then we can duel.' Despite her impatience and frustration, Bella nodded in agreement. 'Speak your lies girl and then we will continue.'

Rose nodded and spoke. 'Now, I know you prefer to address me as "bitch", "whore", "slut" and "mudblood". However, I must clear one thing up; you can't call me "mudblood" anymore, which is a shame, because that particular insult never affected me the way that you and the rest of the purebloods intended.'

'What are you talking about, you stupid whore?' Bellatrix screeched. Rose laughed. 'Hasn't your lord and master told you yet? I'm not a mudblood. I descend from an ancient and powerful magical line.' Bella's face was priceless. 'You lie!' Rose shook her head. 'Why would I lie? It won't change anything between me and you. The truth of who I am might make you think twice about duelling with me though.'

Bellatrix wanted to curse the girl again and start the battle, but her curiosity was awoken. 'So,' she enquired mockingly, 'Tell me, exactly who are you descended from then?' Rose smiled, savouring the moment. She knew how Bella would react. 'The most famous sorceress the world has ever seen…Morgan le Fay.'

Bellatrix screeched in derision. 'You expect me to believe such lies?' Bellatrix sneered at Rose. 'Everyone knows that Morgan's line died out years ago!' Rose corrected her. 'Everyone thought that her line had died out. Your master made it his business to research me and my family. And he discovered that my family had this particular skeleton in its closet!'

Bellatrix began to pace. 'You think this nonsense will stop me destroying you?' Rose shook her head. 'No. I am trying to stop you destroying yourself, not that you deserve my help.' Bellatrix sneered. 'Why would I need your help?' Rose continued, not knowing quite why she was doing this. Bellatrix was a murderer. Yet, there was something quite sad and pathetic about her. She was unhinged and deluded.

'Because your jealousy and anger are blinding you to the danger you are placing yourself in. He will not thank you for what you are about to do.' Bellatrix did not want to hear this. 'He will! When he knows the truth and that I saved him from your bewitching, he will be grateful…he will reward his faithful servant! Bella let out a manic laugh. 'You do not know... he has taken me to his bed again, despite binding himself to you!' Bella regarded Rose with a triumphant smirk, as if she expected this revelation to wound her.

Rose shook her head, sadly. 'Bella, I don't care…you can have him, if you really want a man as cruel, faithless and disrespectful as he has been to you. But he won't reward you for this. Can't you see that all he has ever done is use you? He's used you to do his dirty work. You've killed for him, spent years imprisoned for him and he's used you to satisfy his sexual desires, picking you up and dropping you like a toy.' Bellatrix, enraged by the truth in Rose's words, made to lunge at her. 'Objicioi!' She was cast back against the wall. 'Teneo!' She tried to move, but was being held against the wall by such force. The girl couldn't be telling the truth about her ancestry, could she?

'This is your last chance, Bella. I know you hate me, but listen to me. He's not worth it. He will punish you for this. I'm giving you the chance to stop and walk away.' Rose and Bella's eyes locked. 'I'll destroy you, you prick-teasing whore! You've enchanted him and you'll pay for it!' Rose shrugged her shoulders. 'Ok then Bella, have it your way.'

Rose released her magical hold on Bella, who laughed. Rose knew she could have held Bella against the wall, removed the silencing spell that had been cast and summoned the guards. But she had been waiting for this. The desire to prove her worth, use her new-found powers and finally duel with the woman before her could not be resisted. This battle had been on the cards for some time.

She felt the fear within her, but she knew she could control it. She called again upon the magic that lay in the core of her. She could feel it begin to radiate throughout her body. Every skill she had; natural or learned would be tested to the limit now. Bella had been caught off guard earlier, not expecting her to have such magic.

Bella was ready for her now and she was a talented and powerful witch. She readied herself, knowing that Bella would throw everything that she had at her. Rose knew she was battling for her life now. This scared her, yet it excited her at the same time.

'Septumsempra!' Bella aimed the deadly curse at Rose. 'Tuitio!' Rose shouted. Bella saw her curse was stopped this time by the appearance of a silver shield. Her curse bounced back in her direction and she had to cast her own protective spell. The curse then dissipated in the air. Steadying herself, Bella began to fire all of the most dark and deadly spells that she knew at the girl's shield. The atmosphere crackled with the magic.

The girl's shield was strong and protected her from all of Bella's magic. Bella felt herself becoming frustrated and yelled at her. 'Come on…fight!' Rose laughed. 'Do you want me to kill you then, Bella?' Bella glared. 'You really think you can kill me girl?' Rose laughed. The silver shield that protected Rose vanished. 'Terra quassum!' Rose shouted. Bellatrix suddenly felt the ground begin to shake beneath her. She tried to steady herself but fell to the floor, her wand tumbling from her hand. She tried to grab it. 'Confringo!'

'No!' Bellatrix screamed, as Rose cast her spell and her wand began to splinter and then shattered into multiple tiny pieces. She'd had that wand since the day it had chosen her at Ollivander's. Now it was destroyed. She would have to destroy the bitch with wandless magic now. Bella managed to get to her feet and face the girl again, she put a hand against the wall to steady herself. She could not be bested by her!

'Religo!' Bellatrix screamed as leather bindings appeared from out of the wall behind her. They coiled around her neck, arms, wrists and legs. She was pulled back against the wall, the thick leather cutting into her skin. Rose could hardly believe that she had defended herself from Bella's magic. She saw Bella try to free herself from her bonds. 'Corpus ligaveris!' Bella felt the bind on her body. She could not move. Rose walked towards her, smiling. 'Yes Bella, I can kill you if I chose to. And you would deserve it. But I am not your judge and jury. You will answer for your deeds to a higher power than either of us one day, when death eventually comes to claim you.'

Bella laughed, despite her humiliation at the girl's victory over her. She had underestimated her. You are so weak! What does he see in you? You only killed McNair to spare the pathetic muggle family! You have no real fight in you to take a life!' Rose nodded. 'Yes Bella, you are right…and that's the difference between you and me. I will take a life only to protect those I love or save someone innocent from being harmed. I will take a life only if it is absolutely necessary. If I can avoid taking a life then I will. I believe in karma, justice and the law, even for you.'

'Why child? She does not deserve your mercy? You have beaten her, she is your enemy and you must finish her. Kill her...you can do it. I have taught you the ways. Think of all the lives she has taken. You will be doing the world a service.' Rose and Bella both started at the sound of the voice. Bella looked past Rose, who turned around. Stood in the corner of the room was a figure.

She was not solid, but transparent. Her hair was a beautiful shade of dark brown. It fell in waves down her body. Her eyes were the most stunning and unusual shade of green she had ever seen. The simple emerald green gown she wore accentuated her eyes. She was tall and slender and had creamy, pale skin.

'Morgan!' Rose broke the silence. The figure smiled and nodded. 'It's true! I can't believe it!' Bella yelled out in shock. 'You… you weren't lying then, you spoke the truth!' Bella looked at Rose in a whole new way for the very first time in their enforced acquaintance. She stared at her with awe, and with a sense of fear. 'Confuto!' Bella watched as Morgan cast out a shimmering essence that surrounded Rose. The girl was now stood, motionless.

'Yes, she speaks the truth, Bellatrix Lestrange.' Bella shivered as the figure spoke to her and used her name. This was the witch she had read so much about, who had been enshrined in legend, who Bella herself had admired and been fascinated by since she was a young girl. Morgan regarded her and Bella felt her eyes pierce right through her. 'We shall have a private talk now, Bella.' She gestured to Rose. 'The girl will not hear us. This is just between you and me.'

Morgan walked up close to her and seemed to be studying her. Bella felt the power radiate from the witch. She was scared. Bellatrix Lestrange was scared. She could not recall the last time she had felt as fearful as she did at this very moment. 'It is such a pity Bellatrix. You have so much skill and talent, yet you have wasted it. You have allowed yourself and your talents to be used to further the ambitions of such a man as him.'

Bellatrix felt humbled and shamed at Morgan's words. She had dreamed of meeting Morgan as a child. In her imagination, Morgan would tell her she was skilled and talented and how great a witch she would be. Now in her reality, her idol told her that she had wasted her skills, had allowed herself to be used. As shamed as she was by the woman's words, Bella could not abandon her faith in her master. 'The Dark Lord is powerful and magnificent; he is the greatest wizard in centuries. I am honoured to serve him.'

Bella shuddered as Morgan raised her hand to touch her face. Despite the transparency of her form, Bella felt Morgan's touch upon her. 'Your loyalty to him is touching Bella.' Bella gasped at her touch. 'He does not deserve it though. My descendant has tried to tell you that, but you have allowed your jealousy of her to blind and deafen you to the truth.' Bella wanted to cry. She felt so foolish, so small and pathetic. Despite this, she would not sever her ties to the man she loved.

'You have made it perfectly clear that you despise my master, the Dark Lord, Mistress Le Fay.' Bella spoke. 'Why then, did you allow you're descendent to be bound to him?' Morgan smiled at her. 'It is a very good question for you to ask Bella. Despite him being cold, calculating, manipulative and evil, I shall admit that he is a very powerful and talented wizard. And, most importantly, he has the blood of Salazar Slytherin running through his veins. I have my reasons for allowing the union.'

Morgan paced before Bella. 'The truth of the matter Bella, is that this union between Rose and Tom…' Bella started at the use of his name. Morgan laughed. 'Yes, I dare to use his real name. He may prefer his other self-styled titles, but he is still just Tom Riddle! Where was I? Yes, this union between Rose and Tom has been destined for centuries. Their child will be so great and powerful. And I want this child to be born into the world to continue my blood line. I will guide and mould him to his destiny. Once he has been conceived, your master is of no further use.' Morgan smiled and turned away from her.

Bella began to feel apprehensive at Morgan's words. 'What do you mean by that?' The witch turned to face her again. She laughed. 'Oh, just that he shall be brought to his knees and I will watch him crumble and die. I do not want him interfering with my plans for his son. I shall admit that I admire his rise to power and his dominance of the wizarding world. But he dares to overreach himself and claim he is the greatest sorcerer in history. And his arrogance and underestimation of woman-kind is offensive to me. I will teach him not to dismiss the female of our species so flippantly.'

Bella was afraid for her master now. She had to get herself out of this situation and warn him of the danger. 'Oh no Bella, I shall not allow that.' Bella gasped, as she realised her thoughts had been read. 'Rose is my protégée. I have been teaching her all that I know. And you shall be perfect for her to practice upon. She needs to learn the killer instinct that she lacks at present.'

Bella was terrified now. She was going to die. Morgan clearly wished for Rose to use her new-found skills upon her. 'I shall release Rose from my spell momentarily and she shall have her practice upon you. You will remember nothing of what I have disclosed to you about my plans for your master and his child.' Morgan touched Bella's forehead. 'Obliviscor,' the selected memories were removed. Bella shook her head. She felt suddenly confused. Morgan gripped her chin and pulled her head up to face her gaze. 'I warn you now Bella; do not try to appeal to Rose and prey upon her good nature and morality in the hope of saving yourself. You will find it very painful if you do.' Morgan raised her hand and spoke again. 'Dolore ligabunt te ad secretum.'

Bella tried desperately to free herself from the binding curse Rose had placed her in, but it was futile; she was trapped. Her plans to destroy the girl were not supposed to end this way. But the spirit of Morgan Le Fay was the last thing she had expected! 'Vado!' The shimmering essence that had been cocooning Rose now vanished. 'What's going on?' Rose asked, shaking her head. Morgan smiled. 'Everything is fine, my child. Bella and I were merely having a private talk, woman to woman.'

Rose scowled. 'Tell me what you've been talking about!' Morgan smiled at her. 'It is nothing to concern yourself with, my child.' Rose was angry now. 'Don't patronise me! You and I need to talk, Morgan! You've been withholding information from me, just as he has! And I'm not your child, so stop addressing me as such...I want an explanation...now!' Morgan's expression changed.

She came up close to Rose, invading her space and then she felt that her own body had been placed under the binding curse. She was unable to move her limbs! 'Now, my child, there is really no need for you to speak to me like that. Especially after all the assistance and advice I have given to you. I expect your gratitude.' Rose was angry now. She struggled to break her binding. 'Let me go! Why have you chosen to interfere now? I can fight my own battle with Bella!'

Morgan clasped Rose's face. 'Listen to me child. You have the opportunity before you to practice the skills I have taught you. You have progressed well with your studies so far. You are more than able to defend yourself, as Bella has now discovered. But now we need to put to the test your ability to do what is needed. If you truly want to destroy him, then you need to find it within yourself to take a life.'

Rose comprehended Morgan's meaning. She inhaled breaths to calm herself, as Morgan released her face and continued. 'I shall release you in a moment. You will then do as I have bidden you and commence your practice upon Bellatrix. You shall tell your husband that you were merely defending yourself and were in fear of your life.' Rose looked at Bella, her body still bound and tethered to the wall. She could see the fear in Bella's eyes.

'She will be released first, so she can defend herself.' Rose demanded. Morgan shook her head. 'Oh no, child, she will not. She failed to defeat you. She shall not be given another chance.' Rose felt so conflicted. She had always thought destroying the life of an enemy would be so easy, especially in the case of someone like Bellatrix. She shook her head. 'No! It's not right!' I will not kill a defenseless person, not again!' Morgan frowned and sighed impatiently.

'Foolish child! This is a weakness that you need to conquer. This desire for fairness is ridiculous. Life is never fair! The odds are always stacked against someone. You take advantage when the odds are in your favour and your enemy is weakened! This woman would have killed you given the chance. She has killed many innocents! Do you think she would give you a fighting chance? You will do this…or I shall! And it will not be swift!'

Morgan cast her magic at Bella. The leather bindings disappeared and Bella fell to the floor with a thud, coughing and stretching her sore and stiffened body as the binding spell dissipated. 'Flagello!' Bellatrix screamed and cowered as she felt an invisible whip strike her. She tried to protect her head with her hands, but her hands were struck and blood began to pour from them. Rose winced at each scream that pierced the air. She wanted to feel nothing for the witch she saw being tortured before her. She knew that Bella had likely done far worse to others.

'Now do you see my child? I will draw out her pain and agony. You can end her torture swiftly and mercifully.' Morgan ceased her persecution of Bella for a moment. Rose stared at her and tried to weigh up her options. Morgan was coercing her into killing Bella. She hated being forced into something. Yet she could see little choice. She was conflicted, as she had been when Voldemort had ordered her to kill McNair. Again she was faced with a defenseless enemy, who deserved to die.

'Ok then. I'll do it.' Rose forced the words out. Morgan's translucent hand stroked her cheek. 'Excellent decision my child. Your sense of justice and fairness does you and your parent's credit. But it has little place in this world. You have to learn to forget about fairness and take justice into your own hands and punish your enemies.' Rose let out a breath as she felt the bind on her body dissipate. She stretched out her arms to ease the stiffness in them.

She walked over to the cowering form of Bella. Blood seeped from the wounds that Morgan had inflicted. Bella looked up at Rose, a desperate, pleading look in her eyes. 'I'm begging you...' Bella swallowed, and forced her lips to say the name she had never before uttered. 'Rose... please don't kill me…' Rose stepped back in shock. Bella ceased speaking and began to scream and writhe in agony at her feet. Morgan let out a laugh. 'What did I tell you Bella?' She turned to look at Rose. 'Now is the time child.'

Morgan stepped back and Rose took her place again. Bella was letting out ragged breaths as the pain in her body began to cease. Again she looked up at Rose with a terrified gaze. Rose stood over her enemy 'I gave you the chance to walk away Bella, did I not? You have walked yourself to your death now.' Bella began to cry. Rose held out her hand and Bella was raised from the floor and thrust against the wall with force. She was winded and let out a groan of pain through her tears.

Rose studied the pitiful, evil and damaged woman before her, injured and defenseless. She took a breath. Rose looked back to Morgan, who nodded her head at her. Rose noticed that Morgan's form was flickering and fading intermittently. 'Eiicio vita tua virtus.' Rose clenched her hand and a charcoal mist began to force itself from Bella. She struggled for breath and her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Morgan clasped her hands together in approval. 'Wonderful, child! You can do it!' Rose felt Bella's life force leaving her. The charcoal mist balled itself inside her fist. She could feel the power inside her. Bella was dying.

Rose suddenly released her grip on the life force and the mist made its way back to Bella's body. Bella dropped to the floor. She took ragged breaths and filled her lungs with air gratefully, wheezing and gasping. Rose touched Bella. 'Ignarus,' Rose whispered. Bella became still. 'What are you doing child? You'd almost done it…finish her!' Morgan's face was contorted with suppressed rage. Rose drew upon her magic again and cast a protective shield around herself and Bella. She was using her magic against her own blood. She was defending an enemy. She was taking on Morgan Le Fay. She was clearly mad! 'No,' she replied.

'How dare you…you ungrateful chit! You dare to use your magic against me? After all I have done for you?' Rose nodded. 'Yes I do dare. I'm grateful to you for your help. But I won't be forced into doing something that goes against my conscience. If I kill Bella, then I will do so by my own choice and not be coerced into it. And I will only kill her in defence of my life or of another's. I will not murder her.'

Morgan laughed mirthlessly. 'Child, you really are so naive and stupid! She would not hesitate to use you as practice and kill you if she were in your shoes!' Rose nodded. 'I know that. But the fact is I am not her. And taking the actions that she herself would take would make me as lost as she is!' Morgan shook her head and looked upon Rose with disappointment.

'You will not let go of your ridiculous morality then?' Rose shook her head in reply as Morgan continued. 'Well, not in this situation at least.' She laughed. 'I seem to remember that your conscience was discarded very quickly upon your wedding night, and almost every night since then!' Rose felt herself redden, but she defended herself. 'I seem to remember you encouraging me, Morgan.'

'So I did. But there was little hesitation from you in regards to succumbing to your desire for the touch of Tom Riddle! Your conscience seems to be causing you very little agony in that situation! What would your friends think if they knew how you lie with their enemy so readily, so wantonly, and with so much pleasure! You are a hypocrite girl!' Rose shrugged her shoulders, despite the truth hurting. 'Yes, I guess I am. But that was my choice to embrace my physical desire for him; no-one forced me to. I'm telling you I will not be forced into killing again unless I need to. Not by you or anyone else.'

Morgan tried to break the shield, but Rose breathed a sigh of relief as it held. Morgan was not yet completely regenerated, but she was growing stronger. 'Stupid girl! You will regret this!' Rose laughed. 'I know I will. I'm young, I supposed to make decisions that I'll come to regret.' Morgan's attention wandered, She had sensed something. 'He's coming!' Morgan's form morphed into a mist and she quickly vanished.

Rose looked down at the prostrate and unconscious form of Bella. She sighed. Morgan was going to exact a price from her for her rebellion. She was certainly going to regret it. She had let Morgan into her life; Rose knew she would not leave now. She knelt down close to Bella and touched her forehead, extricating certain memories from her mind. She searched for the conversation that Morgan had with Bella, but it was not there. She looked around the room and at the carnage. It was not repairing itself this time. She walked over to the bed and slumped herself down. He would be here at any moment. She readied herself for another battle.

She felt exhausted and confused. Her head throbbed and she felt a slight ache from her stomach. She hadn't felt great for the past few days. What was she doing? Morgan was right. Her conscience troubled her very little when she and Voldemort had sex. She did enjoy it. This truth was extremely uncomfortable for her. Where were her decisions and choices leading her? She was beginning to scare herself now. But she was not being manipulated, pushed around and told what to do anymore, by either of them. This entire situation had forced her into a corner. And when you are cornered, you either submit, or stand your ground and fight. She was beginning to come of age. She was starting to become her own person. She would make her own choices and face the consequences of them.