Concurrent Existences

Chapter 21: Fanning the Flames

My thanks once again for breaking a chain.

My influence stronger to choose who is slain.

Choices, choices, it is hard to choose.

Ah, more choices, there is nothing to lose.

"He's failed and has to take his last year at Hogwarts."

"Fuck Morgana!"

Harry soon left the three girls at the pub since he only came to deliver the unpleasant news. A newbie Auror had way too many responsibilities, free time was going to be scarce for him at the moment.

Harry truly tried to help Ron get through his Auror trials, but the his stubborn friend just wouldn't see reason. Ron had spent more time mooning over Hermione and being lazy rather than study and train for the Auror trials. Apparently, Ron thought that he could simply become an Auror without much hard work with all the contribution they have given during the war.

It was a sad, but just decision to fail Ron in his Auror trials, even Harry couldn't dispute the fact having witness the particular event. The Head Auror had told Ron that he would get another chance at the Auror trials so long as he complete the final year at Hogwarts.

The Head Auror believed that Ron still had much to learn and that time would help him mature. Harry really did want to believe that his friend could mature.

Pining over Hermione was a lost cause.

Although brief, Harry saw the interaction between Hermione and Sirius' daughter. Harry was a lot of things, but stupid wasn't one of them.

He truly did want to try to get to know Sirius' daughter more, but... the girl was her daughter as well.

Bellatrix. The dark lieutenant that plagued their nightmares. The only Death Eater that could have change the tide in the war.

Harry shuddered as he remembered how Bellatrix could have killed him so many times, the only reason she hadn't wiped them all from existence was because of Voldemort's orders. It really was ironic really.

Harry, for one, was glad that Bellatrix was dead. He was just a bit sad that he wasn't able to avenge Sirius himself.

He also wished he could also smack Sirius around once or twice. How the hell did he get his cousin pregnant?! That was a whole can of worms he wasn't sure he wanted to know.

Harry sighed.

His Auror training came first. After his Auror training, he would be able to protect his friends and the people more.

He would also be able to protect his family, when he started one anyway. A quick image of Ginny floated by his mind as he blushed.

No use getting distracted now! He would be the one to wipe out what was left of the Death Eaters and the corruption in the Ministry. He would help Ron get through his Auror trails in the future and also persuade Hermione to join the Ministry after her seventh year.

Harry knew that the three of them together would be able to bring a new Golden Age to Magical Britain. He remembered how Dumbledore always uttered the phrase, "For the greater good." Even though Dumbledore had manipulated him, his manipulations were still instrumental in defeating Voldemort. Without Dumbledore's guidance, they may have lost everything.

In memory of Albus Dumbledore, Harry would live on to create a brighter future for everyone, just without the manipulation part. He never really liked underhandedness.

But first, he had an appointment with the Head Auror for his first mission.

Bellatrix and Hermione had bid Luna and Volana goodbye as they made their way towards Minerva's office. The elder witch would probably be there even though it was the weekend.

Bellatrix could easily feel the tension within Hermione and couldn't do much to ease her lover at the moment. It pissed her off how one boy could make the witch so stressed. The boy was as incompetent as Wormtail for crying out loud!

If the Dark Lord was Potter's counterpart, then Wormtail was the Weasel's counterpart. Seriously, Dark Lord to Light Lord and mouse to weasel. Oh, and Dark Goddess to Sexy Goddess. Bellatrix caught her hand that almost groped Hermione's arse.

Close one. Now was not the time. Bloody Weasel!

"I need to confirm if what Harry said is true..." Hermione had told herself numerous times before that Ron meant nothing, and he actually didn't mean anything. It had been over a decade since the encounter, but somehow there was still something lingering.

Maybe the fear of getting raped? The fear of being overpowered? The fear of being helpless?

Hermione knew she was superior in all aspects of magic, but...

"We."

Hermione was broken out of her thoughts again as Bellatrix stopped and faced her just a few meters away from the Headmistress' office.

"Huh?"

"There is no I. We will confirm what Potter said with the old bag." Bellatrix made sure that the witch knew that they were always in this together.

No matter what.

A flood of love was felt by Hermione through the synchronization of their artifacts. It was probably just heat from the overwhelming feelings of Bellatrix converted into magic, but she'd call it love. The dark witch always knew how to make her feel better.

With just a few words, she was okay. It was time to know what the situation was for sure.

Both witches knocked on the door. They knew the password due to Luna, but didn't want the Headmistress to know that they had broken in a few days back.

They ascended the stairs as soon as Minerva let them in. Both saw Minerva standing and looking at the empty portrait of Albus Dumbledore.

"Albus!"

"Albus!" Minerva called out trying to find where the wayward wizard had gone. One evening she hadn't gone to her office and the old wizard disappears. This is what she gets for doing all her work within her room that Friday night.

Minerva sighed as she heard her two students enter her office after she beckoned them in. She would have to ask the other portraits later to try and hunt down Albus. For now, she would have to deal with these two witches, and she already knew what they were about to ask.

"Is it true that Ron is coming back to Hogwarts?" Minerva did wish it were not true, but it was. The boy really was just too much trouble for his worth. Potter was just as troublesome as the boy, but at least Harry Potter was able to get out of... most of his troubles by himself.

"Yes." She sighed, she really didn't have much choice in the matter. " Mister Weasley failed his Auror trials several days ago. An Auror-trainee is only allowed to take the Auror trials once a year and therefore Mister Weasley cannot take it again until next year.

"And you accepted him just like that?!" Isabella spat out. The fifteen year old was just as rude as her mother was. She would ignore the tone of voice since the two young witches really did seem to dote on one another.

Ah, to be young again.

"I am sorry if that is an inconvenience to you Miss Black. The Head Auror along with the approval of Kingsley Shacklebolt recommended Ron to finish his studies here at Hogwarts. Molly also requested that he be accepted into his seventh year, and there was really nothing I could do against it. This is a school for learning, I do not bar anyone for petty grievances." Even though she would rather bar the youngest male Weasley, she had no grounds to do so.

Minerva could only hope that the boy grew up with this last year in Hogwarts.

"But-"

"Miss Black. I am well aware of the facts surrounding Miss Granger and Mister Weasley and will do my utmost best to ensure that nothing will happen again. I have talked to Molly about this and was assured that they had talked to Ronald about the issue. I assure you that I will keep a close eye on him." There really wasn't much else she could really do. Her hands were tied since the request came from the Minister himself, but even without his recommendation, how could Minerva just turn away a child that wanted to finish his education?

She couldn't, not even for her star pupil.

Bellatrix's face scrunched up in anger for not getting her way. The dark witch was going to argue the issue more, but Hermione swiftly held her hand and gave it a squeeze. The look Hermione gave the dark witch just made her huff since it was telling her to let the issue go.

"I'm sorry to inconvenience you, Headmistress. By chance... Is there any way to take the N.E.W.T.s earlier?" Hermione said, looking directly into Minerva's eyes.

Minerva and Bellatrix looked at her with a slight bit of surprise. Finishing the seventh year of Hogwarts had been Hermione's plan since the start. Minerva had actually made a suggestion before, albeit reluctantly, that Hermione could take the N.E.W.T.s earlier just like the boys had taken their Auror trials. The reason she was reluctant was that she still wanted Hermione to stay in the school longer. The brunette had initially declined her offer, wanting to stay and fully experience Hogwarts without trouble, but it seemed as if trouble always lurked nearby.

It was sad when her student that just wanted to learn was being pressured like this, but who was she to deny the sincere request?

"I will see what I can do, Miss Granger." Minerva sighed and closed her eyes as the other two witches bade her farewell.

Minerva really hoped to spend more time with Hermione, to teach her more things and just to hang around the girl that felt like a daughter to her. Everything was slowly changing though. Ever since the start of the new school year, it had seemed as if Hermione was getting further and further away from everything as she got closer to the Black scion.

The elder witch still didn't fully believe the story about Isabella Crescent Black, she knew there were holes in the story, but without any information, she had no way to poke holes into the story.

At the very least, the girl wasn't as dangerous as her mother. Right?

Why did I accept this position?

Saturday and Sunday quickly passed by. The two girls continued to cuddle under their covers. There would only be several hours before Monday classes started and along with those classes would come one Ronald Weasley.

Hermione had only seen Ron during the time when she, Harry and Ron met at Rosmerta's pub to settle their differences. They barely even spoke that time and the other half of the time she was distracted because of Bella's... sex spell.

In the end, Hermione just didn't want to deal with Ron again. She didn't want to deal with any annoyances.

Ronald Weasley.

Albus Dumbledore.

Gringotts.

Death Eaters.

Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.

Did she really have to deal with all of them still?

She still had her parents to deal with! Her tests! Taking care of Bella!

It seemed as if the world just did not want to give her a break! The reason she wanted to go finish her seventh year? To stay away from it all!

But they all just keep knocking on my door, don't they?

She twisted around to face Bellatrix as the brunette was the little spoon. The shorter witch was already asleep and Hermione was glad that she wouldn't see the one or two tears that slipped out.

She still had at least one ally that would never leave her.

Hermione began to caress the face of the fifteen year old. She really wished that she could've lead a more peaceful life with Bellatrix.

She remembered the time in the past where she wished she was born during Bellatrix's time. Maybe if she was born there, everything would have been different, but sadly she wasn't.

One wrong move. I will destroy you all.

The fifteen years stuck in time weren't nothing. If the annoyances would push, then she would shove back.

Stunning spells aren't the only thing I'm adept at.

The sleeping dark witch suddenly burrowed into Hermione's chest.

I will protect what's mine.

Merlin, she sounded like her lover just now. Hermione wrapped her arms around her lover and began to drift off.

Breakfast started in the Great Hall. Hermione, Bella, Luna and Ginny had all assembled having their breakfast aside from Bella whose face was still planted on the table.

Ginny had been a bit quiet, just stealing a few glances at Hermione since she kind of knew what was going to happen. Her idiot brother was coming and Ginny could already see where things were going to go.

"So..." Ginny began. Hermione looked up to Ginny, possibly already knowing what the redhead was going to say. Luna seemed to still have her hair in the clouds, giggling to herself as if she was talking to someone and found it funny. The antagonistic new girl seemed to still be dead to the world.

"My brother is coming." Ah duh. Ginny really needed to work on that bluntness.

"I've heard about it. Don't worry Ginny, I'll be fine." Hermione said and began to finish her pumpkin juice.

Ginny just nodded, she wasn't really fearing for Hermione's safety. Her brother's safety was in question. Ginny knew that there was something different with Hermione and that there was no way her brother would just stomp all over her.

But the scariest thing? It was what the fifteen year old would do. Ginny hadn't backed down from Isabella the last time they kind of got in an altercation, but the eyes... The eyes of that new girl scared Ginny. Those ebony irises.

The kind of eyes that could see through you.

The kind of eyes that have killed.

Ginny had not gone through the war for nothing. The young girl was dangerous. Maybe when she escaped from the rogue Death Eaters at Crescent Manor, something happened? She didn't know.

One thing Ginny did know is that no one would survive an assault from the little witch and the only one that would be able to stop her would be Hermione.

Ginny might not have been one of the strongest witches, but she could somewhat measure magical strength. This is how Ginny knew that there was something new about Hermione. No one gained that much magical strength in a few months. She had seen Hermione at the end of the war, the witch at that time was nowhere near as powerful as she was now.

The same could be said for Isabella. She didn't know if it was possible, but the little girl seemed even more powerful than Bellatrix Lestrange.

Ginny didn't believe in a gods, but she did pray for her brother.

She also prayed for anyone else that decided to get in front or in between the two witches.

May my idiotic brother not be so idiotic.

Eyes quickly moved towards the entrance to the Great Hall as it opened and revealed one person that several witches wished they could avoid.

Ronald Weasley.

There wasn't much difference from how he had looked several months back. He still had his shaggy red hair that grew a bit longer and a subtle beard that could barely be seen.

Many of the Gryffindors greeted Ron as he passed by, some high fives, some pats on the back and even a few kisses on the cheek. It really wasn't surprising that his fame and greatness were still recognized by the people. To them, Ronald Weasley was still one of the Golden Trio, one of the saviors of the Wizarding World. And, that fact is enough to blind most of them.

The girls as well as Ginny weren't really fooled though. Ron continued to make his way towards them still hearing condolences for his failed trials and encouragement to try again.

Hermione saw him to the side of her vision without actually looking at him. It was actually surprising that she really didn't feel anything.

Nothing.

Lingering attachments or anything to do with compassion had long been destroyed after the dispelling of Dumbledore's compulsion spells, but she thought that she would at least feel some kind of pain or trauma or something.

But... He was just there, like everyone else. Hermione wanted to laugh at how paranoid she thought she could possibly become, but nothing.

Her experiences hadn't been for nothing after all.

"Hermione! How great to see you again! I've really missed you." Ron had gone slightly to her side from behind her, trying to lean down to hug her, but before he could get close she held her hand straight towards him for a shake instead. It would be no good to not be civil, at least civil while all the eyes in the Great Hall were currently placed on her.

"Hello, Ronald." Hermione barely faced him as he grabbed her hand for a shake. Ron's attempted hug wasn't over though. Ron quickly shifted her hand towards him, tried to pull her slightly towards him with her hand going towards his chest to possibly get a peck off her cheek at the very least.

It could have worked...

... if Bella wasn't right beside Hermione and if Ron hadn't leaned in and bumped the slumbering witch.

Quicker than Ron could peck Hermione's cheek, Bellatrix's head move backwards and slammed into Ron making the boy lose his balance and release the brunettes hand as he landed on his arse accompanied by the laughing of several dozen students.

"Blimey! What the-" Ron shouted, looking directly at the person who had caused him to topple over.

Bellatrix, ever oblivious, was still regaining her bearings as she woke up from her extended nap. The dark witch looked at what the racket was about and her eyes came to the boy that fell over behind her. Her brain was still too lazy to function and decided that the boy wasn't worth anything and began to plant her face onto Hermione's shoulder. Hermione's smile couldn't get wider at her unknowing savior.

"Blimey." Ron, however, had a different reaction as he saw the person that bumped him. Ron stood back up and straightened himself out.

He had heard about the new Hogwarts witch from the Ministry since her case was one of the big ones, but he hadn't truly seen how beautiful she was in person.

A tad younger, but that wasn't enough to deter one Ronald Weasley.

"You must be Isabella Crescent. I'm Ronald Weasley, it's a pleasure." Ron tried to act gallant, but the dark witch wasn't even aware of his gesture.

A few more snickers and held laughter went around before Ron decided he would not be ridiculed even by a beautiful pureblooded witch.

Ron failed to see Ginny from across the table putting her arms in an 'X' like sign trying to deter him from doing anything stupid.

Ron being Ron did not heed the signal as he gripped the girl's shoulder.

Students in the immediate area jumped away as soon as they saw Ron's hand going towards Isabella's shoulder. Classes in Hogwarts had barely started, but one thing all students knew is not to mess with Isabella Crescent... and not to touch her.

With no warning at all, the dark witch's eyes immediately opened, blazing with anger. Both irises burning straight through Ron's as she slapped away his hand using her right while her left hand swerved directly in front of him.

Violo.

Just as quick as Bellatrix casted the spell on reflex, Hermione was ready for it. The Violo spell was meant to send a propagating force throughout whatever it hit, rupturing the target. If Bellatrix's spell had hit full force, Ron's innards would have not existed anymore. Hermione had absorbed over ninety percent of the potency of the spell by draining the magic; the result?

A knockback barely a meter far and a slight nauseous feeling for the target enough to knock one out.

Bella had just shown the school she had some wandless magical talent, but with the spell drain as it was, it would be easy to explain. It was of no consequence.

Ron was not feeling so good after the shot as he toppled backwards yet again, but this time, the boy fell unconscious.

"Oh, look, it's the weasel!" Bella's explosive anger quickly died down as her target was unconscious and the anger was more of an instantaneous thing for touching her. Hermione just shook her head at her girlfriend's antics. She would need to reprimand the dark witch a little for casting a deadly spell, especially to those unprepared.

"Isabella Crescent!" Bellatrix winced as she her Minerva call her name from the front of the room. This felt like three decades ago when she really was a student at Hogwarts.

"Shite." At least Minerva didn't know the true extent of the spell, else, Azkaban wouldn't be out of the question instead of just detention.

At least she had more time to nap during detention. She'd need some way to hook Hermione to detention too.

"We have found them." A gruff voice called out.

"Well done. You all know what is to be done and you all have leave to do what you will. I will handle the rest." The disembodied voice quickly faded away.

"Bloody bugger." The grungy man looked like he hadn't been able to shower or shave for several days.

"Are you sure we can trust whoever or whatever you were talking to?" Another voice chimed in.

"You have any better ideas? With this we will be able to get revenge! And a valuable hostage! Even hostages if this pulls through. We were living like rats out there! We have no more allies aside from ourselves!" The grungy man began to declare towards the several people that occupied the room that seemed to be as dirtied as he was.

"I hope you are right, Rodolphus. Or this might be the end of pureblood society as it is."

Rodolphus' eyes gleamed with hope for the first time since the war had ended. This would be the start, the start of gaining everything back and he just had to wait till the trap was sprung.

You may have killed the Dark Lord and my wife, but I haven't died yet, the next Dark Lord has come.

Violo - Rupture / Injure / Violate - This spell resounds throughout whatever object is hit whether living or non-living and sends a force that propagates destroying it from the inside.

AN: Thanks for the feedback! Over 300 follows! Thank you for reading this story and I hope you're still enjoying the direction it's going!

I haven't been proofreading too much, so excuse me for any grammatical errors. I will gladly fix them if I see them or if someone points them out.

So, yes! Bellatrix was correct, no one is staying dead! I'll have to fix that soon.

I might have to put a trigger warning next chapter too. Dun dun! That question on the summary might be slowly getting the answer.

Feedback is awesome, leave me some? :)