Chapter 19 It's in the Blood

Hermione and Harry squeezed their eyes shut to block out the blinding light. Harry, still holding onto Hermione's hand, clutched it reassuringly. Hermione, unable to help herself, opened her eyes a crack out of sheer curiosity and could see movement, but her burning eyes filled with tears. The light was too bright after the total darkness from before.

Delphini lowered the brightness of the sconces and clapped her hands to get their attention.

"OK. Open your eyes. Better?"

Hermione's eyes flickered open to find three people standing at her feet. Tifani, no, it was Delphini, according to Harry, who was clearly gloating, pleased with the execution of her plans. Voldemort's face stretched into an eerie smile of welcome. Bellatrix, even in death, was in a state of confusion. Her face screwed up as she tried to make sense of the events unfolding before her.

"I'm sorry I was gone and missed the reunion! Did Harry give you a warm welcome?"

Neither Harry nor Hermione responded, but Delphini was undeterred. "Did Harry bring you up to speed? Do you understand why you are here?"

"Yes," Hermione replied with a calm she was far from feeling. "I will help you…"

"What?" Harry shouted, and as his head swiveled to look at Hermione, he screamed in pain.

"But I have some conditions," Hermione rushed on, watching helplessly as Harry fought against the excruciating pain coursing through his body.

Before she could continue, Bellatrix shrieked, "You're that filthy mudblood!"

Hermione glared at Bellatrix and wondered if it was possible to curse the dead. Bellatrix had used a cursed knife blade to carve the word mudblood into her skin. Hermione had researched and attempted all she could to remove the scar from her skin, but it was there, angry and red as the day Bellatrix had carved it into her flesh.

"Ouch, mother, if looks could kill, you'd be dead. Oops. You already are," laughed Delphini.

In Hermione's experience, Bellatrix's personality had two aspects; she was either a confused sycophant or an evil bitch. She couldn't fathom someone could hurt her emotionally, yet here Bellatrix was, eyes lowered to the floor as she fought to still her quivering lip.

"Delphini, apologize to your mother, and then let's get on with it," Voldemort admonished.

Delphini rolled her eyes. "Sorry, Mother."

Hermione pressed her lips together thoughtfully. As a family, they were completely dysfunctional. Hermione could use that information to turn them against one another. She glanced at Harry to see if he caught the by-play, but he was gasping with so much pain, she knew she must stop his suffering.

"As I was saying, I will help you, but with two conditions. The most important is Harry. Chain him, if you must, but stop his pain. Immediately. At some point, you will need to unchain me, and Harry, too, because I will need help with my work. I will need my wand as well. I can't work without it."

"Very well." Delphini touched her wand to Harry's forehead and the white pulsing light seemed to exit from between his brows. As the light retreated, chains snaked up and bound him to the table beside Hermione. Delphini placed her hands on her hips.

"Right then, what is your other condition?"

"I want to send word to our families that Harry and I are, well, not safe, but physically fine, for the moment."

No one said a word. The trio stared.

"Please."

Delphini nodded briskly. "I will send them a note."

"Don't you think it would be better if I wrote it? They will know it is from me and Ron would recognize your handwriting," Hermione lied.

With another brief nod, Delphini turned on her heel and made for the stairs. Bellatrix followed almost at her heels, but Voldemort looked at Hermione with such venom, she was grateful he was dead. And if they were able to execute their plans, then he would stay that way.