Concurrent Existences

Chapter 32: Unknown

A King, a Queen,

A Knight, a Bishop, a Rook.

All the same.

All just pawns.

The chair slowly swiveled around and Bellatrix's eyes caught bright green. The momentary shock stopped her from firing off any spell, but didn't stop her eyes from widening nor did it stop her shout.

"POTTER?!"

Well, shite.

Bellatrix was already on edge, ready to fire her spells off to kill the orchestrator of it all which was apparently Harry Potter, which made no sense. She was already contemplating on just killing him off and searching for Hermione herself.

"Well, yes and no. I'm sure you can tell the difference if you took a closer look." Bellatrix quickly realized what it was the person in front of her was saying. Bellatrix could see a slight dark flickering outline that the boy did not originally have, but no one but those adept at dark magic would be able to see that kind of outline.

Was the boy under an Imperius?

"I could give less of a fuck about you. Where is Hermione?" Potter or whoever this had a last chance to spill his guts or she'd just destroy him and find Hermione by interrogating some other sap.

"Ah, yes. I'd rather wait for Miss Granger to arrive too."

Shite. Of course it was all just a trap.

"Besides, it would be such a shame to gloat and explain twice." The boy let out a sly grin and Bellatrix knew that something was fucked up...

..., and she wasn't going to put it to chance. The restraining spell on her hand had reformed into the Killing Curse as well, she would just have to question another one of these useless Aurors or scour the Ministry herself.

Bellatrix gave no warning as a green jet immediately shot out of the dark witch's wand and the other shot out from the Vector spell she had placed on the side of the room. The first deadly spell was deflected onto the ground, but the second one came from a blindside and whoever this little shite was wasn't going to live.

Oh well, seems like Hermione would have to find another best friend.

However, Bellatrix's eyes widened as she watched her Killing Curse hit. Nothing happened. The boy just stood there with the sly grin as if she hadn't just tried to end him.

"May I suggest not to use forbidden spells? They would be a waste of magic." The boy-who-lived wasn't even on guard, didn't even have a wand out as if she wasn't even a threat.

"Fucking shite, Potter, do Killing Curses really not work on you?" The dark witch began running through other spells from her repertoire that she could use and why her Avada Kedavra didn't work in the first place even after a direct shot from the back.

"Something like that. Miss Black, can I suggest you give up?" He questioned, hoping for the dark witch to give up because there really wasn't any point in this.

Tenebrae Lanceam! The Dark Lance spell aimed straight for the Head Auror's head was Bellatrix's answer. A few Stupefy spells and several other spells were thrown, but all of them were either deflected or fizzled out as they hit.

"Please stop? We wouldn't want to aggravate your burden now would we?" Bellatrix grit her teeth, he knew about it even though she, herself, only realized the fact that she was pregnant a few days ago. There was no doubt in her mind that Harry Potter was being controlled somehow. This situation was getting more complicated and convoluted the longer it lasted. She needed Hermione to sort through all this crap.

For some reason, the Head Auror wanted to get her alive since he hadn't even fired off a spell. The main problem was how he wasn't affected by her spells though. It wasn't a null-field nor was it any type of armor.

"Incendio!" Three fire spells headed straight for the boy... and all three were deflected. Bellatrix began to notice a trend, she wasn't one of the most powerful witches for nothing.

Stupefy! Deflected.

"Avada Kedavra!" One green jet shot out again from her wand, only for the boy to stand there doing nothing as it fizzled out when it made contact.

"Are you done, Miss Black?" The boy said in a bored tone after he had seem to lose interest in the battle, if it could even be called a battle.

"How are you making all my dark spells fizzle out?" Bellatrix found the trend, all her dark spells were ignored as they fizzled out, but every other spell she had cast were deflected.

The boredom on the boy's face immediately disappeared and a smile graced it once again. The smile began to chill Bellatrix to the bone, she knew the boy was just playing with her.

It didn't make much sense, all her dark spells, no matter how powerful were all somehow negated as it hit the boy's body, not even the Dark Lord had that kind of capability.

"Ah, very good, you noticed. Unfortunately, like I said, I do hate repeating myself. You aren't supposed to exist, Miss Black. Please, don't make me make it a truth. I do want you undamaged."

Bellatrix thought quickly. Most of her repertoire were dark spells, she knew tons of other general spells as well as a good deal of elemental magic, but what would not be deflected? She was tempted to use a Fiendfyre, but using it in an enclosed space would be too reckless and she wasn't sure if he would be even affected by it since it was a dark fire spell.

Bellatrix sighed and raised her arms in surrender.

"Alright, Potter, I give up. Where's my bloody cage?" The dark witch hissed bitterly as she tossed her wand to the ground and went closer to the boy.

"Splendid. Do not worry, when Miss Granger gets here, everything will be explained." The Head Auror gestured towards the door with his hand and it instantly opened as the familiar faced Auror that led her inside a while ago came in.

Bellatrix continued walking towards the Head Auror until she was right in front of him. The boy was obviously taller than her since she didn't even reach up to Hermione, but it didn't matter.

"Would you please take Mis-" The boy didn't finish his sentence as Bellatrix burst into motion with her body enchanted by a haste spell.

Tenebrae Machaera! Bellatrix swung her right hand upwards, straight for the underside of the Head Auror's jaw. Dark magic immediately covered the dark witch's arms forming into a dark blade that was meant to pierce the underside of his jaw and straight through his brain, but his immunity to dark magic ran true as the edge of the dark blade fizzled out as it touched his skin, only having Bellatrix's fingers hit instead of a sharp edge of dark magic.

Instead of stopping, Bellatrix shot the same hand forward pushing the boy a meter away as she readied another close range assault.

Tenebrae Machaera! Her left hand exploded with dark magic as it formed into the same dark magical blade that she had just cast.

Bellatrix shot forward with the same burst of speed, gripping the boy by his robes with her right hand while her left hand doused in dark magic made the same arc towards the underside of his jaw.

"Really, Miss Black? The same spe-" The boy still had no guard up and that was just fine with her.

The same thing happened, the dark blade fizzled out as it touched the underside of his jaw, but something was different.

Blood. Bellatrix could feel the spray of blood hit her in the face as she looked at her handy work.

Her dagger was impaled through the underside of his jaw and straight through his brain. Blood began to flow down as the boy choked on the blood dripping down his mouth, probably choking on some brain matter too.

"Didn't expect that, did you, Potter?" Bellatrix grinned manically, finally able to relish in a kill. Hermione would be disappointed, but she'd understand. "No shitty elf to save you now!" She just wouldn't tell Hermione how much she enjoyed killing the boy-who-was-dying.

The dark witch waited to hear the scream of terror from the Auror behind her as well as the thud of the body of the Head Auror that would fall right in front of her...

...,but she heard neither.

Bellatrix also watched in growing horror as the bloodied boy in front of her slowly pulled out the long silver dagger from out under his head. She had seen dozens of creatures and races before, but none of them were able to take out a dagger impaled through their brain.

"I just had this washed." It was as if stabbing him in the head didn't even faze him.

Well, this is fucking new.

Magic spells failed.

Melee attacks failed.

Well, Bellatrix had one more thing in mind before she would flee.

Closing the gap, yet again, Bellatrix clutched onto the boy's neck.

If poking him in the head doesn't work, maybe blowing it up will.

Bellatrix was dead set on using a Bombarda spell which would not fizzle out and hopefully decapitate the Head Auror by blasting his bloody head apart, but instead she felt her magic slowly drain out.

The dark witch could see the hand that was placed above hers that still grasped the boy's neck. She could neither move it, nor cast the spell she was set to cast.

"Well done, Miss Black. If you weren't so attuned to dark magics, I doubt I would have been able to drain you so easily. I'm sorry for ever underestimating you because of your affinity to dark magics, but as you know a sea is no match for an ocean."

The dark witch's head began to swim as her magic drained out of her, she fucked up. Somehow, whatever it was that she went up against was vastly stronger than her with regards to dark magic. This affinity to dark magic wasn't even normal, it felt as if it was dark magic itself. Which didn't make much sense either.

What in Morgana's name were they up against?

"I know that you're feeling quite weak right now, but I cannot believe I forgot introductions!" The boy gestured over to the man that had escorted her to this office and was currently holding her as her legs didn't have any energy left to stand on her own.

Bellatrix's sluggishly moved her head to the side to get another glimpse of the Auror that was holding her and seemed vaguely familiar when she had seen him.

Their eyes met, not just a glance like when he led Bellatrix up to the DMLE offices, but a true eye to eye contact and even with Bellatrix's drained body and tired mind she finally recognized it even if the eyes held a glazed and dead-like quality to them. There weren't many people that Bellatrix was close to.

Bellatrix would always recognize her family.

"I'd like you to meet-"

Bellatrix would always recognize Hermione.

"-,well, be reacquainted with-"

and, whether she wanted to or not, she would always recognize-

"-Tom Riddle. The pre-Horcrux version. Doesn't he look dashing?" The Head Auror realized that the girl was nearly unconscious already. It was surprising that she lasted as long she as did since he had already consumed most of her magic. It was good that most of the witch's magic was so heavily attuned with dark magics, if it wasn't, well, things would have get more annoyingly complicated.

"You know where to bring her." The Head Auror said to what he acknowledged as Tom Riddle.

No wonder he seemed similar, it was Voldemort before he lost his nose and looked just like he did over three decades ago.

This losing consciousness bullshite is getting pretty old.

Bellatrix would have tried to at least rip his nose off, but darkness finally took over her vision.

Hermione finally woke up early morning of the next day, the fourth day she had been away from Bellatrix, it would also be the last day away from Bellatrix.

The magically imbedded weaponized thread that turned her into what was essentially a living wand had already detected Bella's location when she had used it earlier.

When the brunette came to, Helena and Luna were both within the Ravenclaw estate, ready for what they knew would either be a simple retrieval or a rescue mission. Hermione had tried dissuading them, but she knew she could use their help.

Hermione had shown both of her allies what she had created, the culmination of all her research and all her experiments on magical artifacts and wands. Both witches as well as the shade were surprised when Hermione told them that the imbedded artifact was somewhat alive.

The thread had also slowly spread from when she used it to detect Bellatrix. When she had used simple magic to test out her new capabilities, all of them saw how the magical thread was slowly creeping away from her shoulder every time it pulsed showing the white magical thread.

Further testing would be done after they found Bellatrix.

Hermione already knew the location she was going to apparate to since she had been there during the time limbo. All three of Bellatrix's artifacts were still at the location and she hoped that the dark witch would just be there resting.

Luna and Helena both placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder, getting ready for the pull of the sidelong apparate.

Hermione was more than ready for whoever she was to face.

A loud crack and they were no longer within Ravenclaw Manor.

Malfoy Manor.

Somehow, Bellatrix had actually made it to her little sister's estate. Both of them would have to tell each other stories of what happened after they got separated.

Hermione apparated right before the front door. Normally, people wouldn't have been able to apparate this deep without triggering all the traps and enchantments meant to protect the pureblood estates, but Hermione already placed a bypass for herself for almost every place she had visited during the time limbo.

At the same instant that the brunette arrived, she could already feel it.

Bellatrix isn't here.

Without any hesitation, the witch knocked on the large doors to track down her beloved. It wasn't any surprise that the Malfoy Matriarch opened the door for them.

"Miss Granger." Narcissa eyed both of the mudblood's companions. "Miss Ravenclaw and Miss Lovegood." She nodded to them as well. "I'm sure this is not a social visit."

"It isn't. Where is Bellatrix?" The witch could sense traces of her lover's magic signature in the air, but it has obviously been there for several hours already.

Narcissa eyed the girl before her and tried to scrutinize her as well as try to read her, but got nothing. "Unlock my memories as well as Andy's memories and I will inform you of all new developments, Miss Granger."

Hermione wasted no time, she didn't have time to argue.

Temporalis Recludam Obliviate. The temporary Obliviate that Hermione used decades ago from Narcissa's point of view was finally unlocked. The lost and jumbled memories that could have saved them all in the past flashed through her mind as everything that Bellatrix said began to make sense.

"Hermione." Catching up and reasons why could be discussed at a later date. "Bellatrix went straight to the Ministry. She tried to use her artifacts to locate you, but she could not and decided to leave them since any spell she cast when they were on her person activated them." Narcissa was already prepared for Hermione's chance arrival or anyone that was going to try and save Bellatrix. The blonde matriarch quickly handed over the three burnt artifacts that Bellatrix had used as well as the newspaper that indicated her capture.

Hermione gasped and faced her other two companions. "This was printed this morning! None of you read the paper?!" Narcissa had gotten the news the night before due to her spy.

"I only read the Quibbler?" Luna just titled her head stating the obvious. The shade didn't say anything since she didn't read newspapers either.

"I'm a ghost." Helena didn't really stay up to date on news either.

Hermione just shook her head. She realized that she would have headed to Malfoy Manor first anyway since Bellatrix's artifacts were located there. The witch gave a nod to Narcissa and was about to apparate when Narcissa interrupted her by grabbing her arm.

"What about Andy's memories?"

"Already done since I already detected her in the manor. I'll be back as soon as I recover Bellatrix." Hermione tried getting loose, but Narcissa's grip was actually pretty strong.

"There's something you need to know before going." Narcissa didn't want to be the one to give the news, but Hermione had to know the stakes at hand.

"Narcissa. Cissy, we can all catch up later once I get Bellatrix out of there. I just hope she's still in the planning phase of how to get in and hasn't destroyed the Ministry." Hermione was trying to keep it light, but it had been a whole night and morning, she was sure something had already happened to Bellatrix.

Narcissa let out a sigh.

Now or never.

"Bellatrix is pregnant." Narcissa said. "From your conjured phallus that shot out magical semen." Narcissa quickly added. It sounded quite vulgar no matter how she said it.

"WHAT?!" Hermione gasped.

I knew I should have read the fine print of those spells!

Temporalis Recludam Obliviate - Temporary Unlock Obliviate

Tenebrae Lanceam - Dark Lance, straight shot spell that pierces through multiple targets. Targets affected are infected with corrupting dark energy that immobilizes and slowly destroys targets body. Pierces through flesh, but effectiveness weakens if passing through inanimate objects.

Tenebrae Machaera - Dark Saber, dark magic coated around the caster's arm and hand forming into a dark blade. (Think Zeratul or Templar Assassin)

AN: I actually didn't have anything written a few hours ago and was planning to just update next week, but somehow managed to write a bit. Sorry if the end of this chapter seemed a bit rushed, because it actually was. The words just aren't coming to me smoothly at the moment~ :(

I wanted to give Luna and Helena more screen time to further delve into their story, but I realized that it would turn into just that - 'Their story'.

So, Bellatrix being her usual badass self just isn't enough for this chapter. I might let Hermione share a bit of planning next chapter before she storms the Ministry.

Oh, by the way, I posted a Twilight story about Jane/Bella if anyone wants to check it out. It's titled 'Abductor's Torment', title is still a placeholder, not sure if I'll keep it. Of course, I'll be finishing this story before focusing on that one... Probably.