Chapter 55: The smartest witch of her age

Grey clouds and the sound of thunders echoed around the bay in which Bellatrix and Nymphadora were right now, both women were confused as they were staring at a particular car, this was the car they were looking for some time, but it seems that it had been abandoned, the car was on fire, this was strange, everybody knew that wizards can't be harmed by normal fire, so, if Harry was inside the car, there was no point at all, he was safe, that's why they looked around in search of Hermione, but there wasn't any sign of the younger woman.

- Okay… Fuck this, I'll get him out of the car! – Nymphadora was getting impatient, she got close to the car to open the trunk by force.

But something else happened, someone conjured a spell, and it landed close to where Nymphadora was, the spell made big damage to the ground, leaving a big hole and sending the sand towards the sky, Nymphadora gulped, she knew that the person who conjured that spell wasn't playing around and it seems like the person failed on purpose if that person was Hermione, she was just showing her power.

- What the hell – Mumbled Nymphadora as she looked at the crater the attack left.

- Nymphadora… Be careful – Said Bellatrix as she looked everywhere trying to find who conjured that spell.

But Nymphadora was getting a little impatient, she wanted this to get over as soon as possible to be finally reunited with Harry, she was desperate right now, she wanted to save him.

- Hermione… We know you're the person responsible for whatever thing happened to Harry… You can leave if you want, we just want Harry, that's all, you can run away if you want, we won't stop you – Nymphadora screamed trying to reason with the younger woman.

They were attacked once again and it seems like this time the attack was going to be successful, but, something else happened, Bellatrix managed to tackle Dora to keep her safe from the attack.

Bella and Dora were surprised by the powerful attacks the younger woman was firing at them, she didn't want to reason, she already thought about this, and there was nothing that could stop her.

- Shit! – Mumbled Dora, she was close to the car, she wanted to speak with Hermione once again.

Dora got on her feet, she even left her wand fall, as a sign of surrendering, she tried to make herself look less harmful to the younger woman, she hoped that she saw what she just did.

- Listen, Hermione… I don't know what happened to you to make you do something like this but… Once the world knows that it was you… You will not be safe anymore if something happens to Harry – Nymphadora said, she was expecting another attack.

But surprisingly, Hermione didn't attack, that made her feel more confident to talk more, seeing that the brown-haired woman wasn't doing anything right now, that made her think that she was getting desperate, so, Nymphadora wanted to try one last trick under her sleeve.

- There's something you need to know Hermione… Fire doesn't harm magical people, or at least normal fire doesn't do the trick, it needs to be a different kind of fire like the one coming out from a dragon… And seeing that we're in the middle of nowhere, in the muggle world then… I doubt that the car was set on fire with the help of a Dragon… - Nymphadora licked her lips, she was about to say some words that may sound offensive for Hermione – Your plan failed Hermione… You forgot about that simple fact… The stories about the "witches" being burned are true, they were burned to death but they always faked the pain and all that, they never died… That was just a game to play with muggles and right now, you have shown me that you aren't as smart as you think – Nymphadora said with a smirk on her face.

Nymphadora was expecting Hermione to attack her once again but it didn't happen, at least not quickly, suddenly, Nymphadora felt a wand behind her, it was piercing her back, the metamorph's eyes widened.

- Don't say anything… Your aunt might hear us – Hermione said from behind.

Nymphadora tried to see what was happening, Hermione was talking to her while she was behind her but it seems like she was using the invisibility cap.

Meanwhile… Bellatrix watched her niece who was stunned, she wasn't moving any muscle, she seemed paralyzed and that worried her, she was wondering what happened, but then, she realized something, there were footprints behind Nymphadora.

- This girl… - Bella mumbled as she looked at the scene.

She tried to look closely and she realized that there was something invisible poking Nymphadora from behind, or at least that was the thing she imagined as she saw a little perforation on her blouse.

- She's smarter than we thought, she's too overpowered with the invisibility cap… Shit – Cursed Bellatrix - But that gives me some time, but I don't want to leave Nymphadora exposed if I fail - Bella mumbled with clear conflicts on her head.

Bellatrix started to think, she had to act fast, or else Nymphadora could be killed by the younger woman, and she didn't want the thing she feared most to happen, she thought that her niece was going to die a few weeks ago when she went to Voldemort's manor in thta undercover mission.

Meanwhile, Nymphadora remained cold, she tried her best to not show any emotions, this was going to be hard for her as she's usually a very emotional person, she hated to admit it, but right now, Hermione had her at her mercy, the muggle-born woman was smirking under the invisibility cap.

- The only one wrong here is you… Nymphadora, there's no such thing as a flaw in my plan – Hermione smirked as she told her that.

- You're delusional… Stop this already… The rest of our team is already on their way… Don't risk your life, Hermione! You still have time to stop this! – Nymphadora tried to make understand the bookworm.

But Hermione just sighed.

- It's true… What you said before… Magical people are immune to normal fire but… The smoke dear Dora… That's another thing… You may not have noticed but, the windows are closed and there's a lot of fire inside of the car – Hermione smirked as she said that – The fire won't kill Harry… But the only thing that the fire was going to do was make Harry's body disappear once he stopped breathing thanks to the smoke – Hermione said as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

It was hard for Nymphadora to hear those words, she was on the verge of tears, knowing that Harry was probably dead right now, but she tried her best to be strong, Harry needed her to be strong and she swore to herself that she wasn't going to disappoint him, she just needed to make Hermione waste more time to give her team enough time to come.

- Why… Why did you do all this!? – Nymphadora was getting emotional but still, she wanted answers.

- Why you ask… You already know the story I share with Harry… All the insecurities, the jealousy… I always had to compete against better women… That includes you, it doesn't matter what happened between me and Harry every time we decided to put our relationship on pause… I never dated other people… He was the only one for me – Hermione tried her best to suppress her tears – But he never recognized me… He was always putting other people before me… His girlfriend the one who he swore he was going to love forever – At this moment Hermione couldn't handle her emotions anymore - That's why... If I can't have him one will have him! - Hermione swore.

She was already crying and pinching Nymphadora's back with her wand, and that made the metamorph gulp, things were going to get difficult if Hermione gets out of control.

And suddenly an idea came into Nymphadora, the only option she was thinking of right now was risking everything, even her own life.

- Maybe… This is the way to pay everything I did to him… - Nymphadora thought – Mom… Sirius, aunties, and especially Harry… I'm sorry for everything – Nymphadora was ready to risk her life to give some time to her aunt to save Harry.

But then, something echoed around the place, an explosion, the trunk of the car had been broken up by Bella who didn't waste time and quickly took Harry's body with her, Bella's eyes widened the moment she saw Hermione pointing her wand at her, she conjured a dangerous spell that was about to hit Harry, but Bella protected him with her own body.

But that was the last thing Hermione could do, she was quickly tackled to the ground by Nymphadora and that movement made Hermione drop her wand.

- Stop moving! – Nymphadora was having some difficulties keeping Hermione in control, the bookworm wanted to reach her wand but she couldn't grab it.

- Let me go! – Hermione told her with clear anger in her voice.

- Ha, as if I would do that! This thing that you had done is over… It's time for you to pay for what you have done! – Nymphadora was smirking as she restricted Hermione.

- If you care about your special ones then… You will set me free – Hermione smirked as she said that and Nymphadora was confused – You don't believe me? Just look at the car – Nymphadora didn't know why, but she did what Hermione asked her to do, and then her eyes widened.

Due to the attack that Hermione managed to conjure against her aunt Bella, she and Harry were in a dangerous position, as the flame in the car was getting bigger and bigger, the fire wasn't a problem, but if the car exploded many fragments of metal and glass could land on them, so now, Nymphadora had to choose between her loved ones and keeping Hermione on this position.

- So, what are you going to do? I can't see my clock right now, but if my calculations were correct, that car is going to explode in less than a minute – Hermione taunted her and Nymphadora gritted her teeth.

Nymphadora gulped and breathed heavily as she analyzed the situation, she didn't have too much time to think about what to do, but as she saw Hermione trying to reach her wand, an idea came to her head.

- I think you have better things to worry about than our safety… Things like these! – Nymphadora said before she flipped Hermione and punched her in her gut.

Nymphadora left Hermione who was in pain right now and grabbed the bookworm's wand before she ran towards her family, she made her body stronger using her transforming abilities, she grew more muscles in her body to carry both of them in her shoulders as the car exploded behind them.

The explosion was huge, and as it was predicted, there were many pieces of metal and glass flying at a dangerous speed, Nymphadora landed on the sand and covered her aunt and Harry's body, thankfully, no one was harmed due to the explosion, but Bella was coughing heavily.

- Oh god… That was… - Bella didn't know what to say but still, she managed to get on her feet before moving her attention towards Harry and Dora, the younger woman was trying to bring Harry back.

The younger man didn't respond, he spent a lot of time surrounded by smoke.

- Dora… - Bella mumbled as she saw her niece doing her best to bring back Harry to life.

- His heart is still breathing aunty, I'll get him back… Come on Harry, don't lose the fight, you're a fighter, you have always been! – Dora said as she pressed her hands on his chest before joining her lips with his own to give him some oxygen.

- Dora… Leave him with him, our team will not take long to come – Said Bella with a stern expression, Dora was about to argue but her aunt quickly stopped her – You go after her – Bella was angry right now but not at her niece, she was angry at Hermione – Don't let her escape… Look, it seems like her plan backfired on her! – Bella pointed in a certain direction, there was a trail of blood.

Nymphadora was having a hard time right now, she wanted to stay here with Harry to help him recover, but she knew that the rest of the team will come, so, she looked at her aunt for the last time she ran towards the trail of blood, she wasn't expecting to find Hermione again, but she was going to try to capture her and thankfully the rest of the team landed after she was gone.

Nymphadora ran as fast as she could as rain and thunders were filling the place, she didn't want to lose the trail so she did her best to follow it, but she reached a point where the trail stopped, she was tired and angry, she wanted to curse but she couldn't, she was tired and she wanted to rest, but suddenly, she felt someone punching her neck from behind and that made her body and the wands fall on the sand.

And due to all the things that happened during the night, Nymphadora was feeling a lot of pain, Hermione revealed herself once again, she took the invisibility cloak off her body and smirked as she saw Nymphadora on the ground.

- You can't imagine… How many times I wished I could have you in that position… You seem surprised – Hermione said before she walked towards the metamorph.

Nymphadora didn't know what Hermione was planning to do, but it didn't take too long for her question to be answered as the bookworm stepped on her stomach.

- It's kind of strange right? The nerd knows how to fight – Hermione said with a smirk – I used to be bullied during my younger days in muggle schools… So my parents sent me to learn some personal defense, thankfully I always work out so, I'm stronger than the average witch – Hermione smirked before she kicked Nymphadora as strong as she could.

Nymphadora couldn't believe it, this girl was full of surprises and worst of all, she was hurting her in a body without using magic, that rarely happens to Nymphadora as she's strong too.

- Oh… Poor Nymphadora… This is just the softest thing you will get for ruining my relationship with Harry and also… For not helping me when you promised me that you will do it - Hermione walked towards the wands, she grabbed both.

Sadly, she had to give her back to Nymphadora for a few seconds, but it didn't matter, it was enough time for her, or at least that's what she thought, Hermione was surprised to have Nymphadora hanging on her neck, and yet, she still managed to get the wands.

But Hermione was having a hard time controlling the older woman, she indeed was an experienced Auror, she had all the skills needed, there was no doubt about it, but still, Hermione managed to get rid of her, she was about to point her wand towards Nymphadora, but the metamorph quickly got on her feet and she instantly punched her face.

Hermione landed on the ground, and Nymphadora took the opportunity to continue punching her, it seems like this was more like an act of vengeance for Nymphadora than a way to restrictHermione, the metamorph wanted the brown-haired girl to pay for what she had done.

- You… Were about… To kill him… Let's see if you enjoy this and this! – Nymphadora said between punches.

But still, Hermione was prepared for this situation, she had previously taken a defense potion and she was glad she did it because that helped her to resist enough time to use her wand on Nymphadora, she used an electric spell on Tonks.

That spell made Dora's body shake and fall into the ground, giving Hermione enough time to get on her feet and point the wand directly at the metamorph.

- I'm sorry Dora… I'd like to stay more time with you but… I need to get away from here – Hermione was serious right now – Do you know about the "unforgivable curses", right? – Hermione asked and Dora's eyes widened – Goodbye Nymphadora – Said Hermione coldly and Nymphadora gulped.

The only thing the metamorph could do was cry and close her eyes expecting her inevitable death as a thunder roars in the sky.