Arriving back at the Black's home with apparition, blinking into existence in the main room of the manor to find, well chaos. Watching in muted shock as I found the room in a complete mess and everyone at each other's throat. Lucian's face was twisted into an enraged snarl with his hand around Greybacks throat, Tom arguing with Lucius and Narcissa which would have been a funny sight any other time, Draco standing completely frozen staring at the fireplace with disbelief.
Something had happened here. I could smell the trio that had been here, making me sneer in disgust. I then latched onto Bella, who was kneeled in the room, a chandelier smashed in front of her. All the people in the room disappeared and I completely focused purely on Bellatrix, I rushed to her aid, my knees slamming against the floor sending shocks up my legs; but all I could focus on was Bella. The feeling of her slipping further into her insanity.
I heard yells of joy as people finally noticed my presence but all I could concentrate on was Bellatrix, who looked so crushed and dishevelled. Catching her muttering "What did we do?" over and over. My arms wrapped around my broken mate and she lashed out, scratching my face but I ignored it holding her more securely and tight.
My heart broke as she screeched, trying to break free of my hold as she convulsed, a psychotic look upon her face. The loud screeching making me wince. She's let her insanity take over…The whole room went silent when I waved my hand putting Bellatrix to rest under my spell and she slumped in my arms, body finally relaxed. I growled lowly "Somebody explain now."
Two weeks, that's how long I had been trapped in my own mind, fighting my fears. I was still covered in blood and reeked of citrus and death. Lucian had quickly cleared the room, finding out the Greyback had sneered out an offensive term about me then spoke negatively about Tom which further set Lucian off. Narcissa glanced worriedly towards Bellatrix, but was ushered forward by Draco who sent me a smile with apologies in his eyes.
Lucian sounded tired as he said, "It was as if you didn't want to be found. The bond between you and Bellatrix had been weakened before it cut off the day you disappeared. By the end of the week, she devolved further into her insanity becoming what she doesn't want to be or what the rest of the wizarding world expected her to be. The great insane Bellatrix Black." Tom continued, "I think she found it easier to fit into the role that everyone expected of her but the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father cracked her personality. Shielding her from the worst of it." Tom voice held some anger as he spoke, his eyes holding rage within them.
I knew of this, and knew that it wasn't just a trauma response. My voice shook as I gazed down at Bella, knowing that I would have to share the reason. "Her father cursed her. When she's not working, she spends all of her free time she can researching a cure. We both do, though Bellatrix would prefer to do this on her own." Sighing as I could feel their shock, knowing it was something she refused to tell, "My mate is stubborn and sometimes that stubborn is too much for her own good. It's something she wants to fight on her own, but I fear it is something she will need help with." Looking up to see both of their determined faces.
Tom voice hissed out, like a snake, "I will lend my aid. Bellatrix has helped me with so much, and I wish to help her in any way I can." He halted my speech with his a simple glare. "Hermione, let me do this. I took her under my wing and failed to see the damage that disgusting man had done. Too caught up in my own scheme, I failed to see my best warrior under duress. Again, amazing me with everything she does." I hear the fondness in Tom's tone, an almost fatherly tone. Lucian squeezed his shoulder, Tom's hand connecting with his in a thankful gesture. Tom then nodded before leaving the room.
It was an odd moment, but I was too exhausted to figure out what the Merlin had happened. My concern growing for my mate, who looked so peaceful curled up in my arms. Lucian then went on, "Tom loves Bellatrix like his own. Nagini loves Bellatrix too, like a sibling." Huffing out a laugh, the serpent was thought to be evil and unable to transform back into her human form. This was a lie fabricated by Dumbledore to make 'Lord Voldemort' to appear more evil. She was still able to morph into her human form, she just preferred her snake one. Lucian's voice broke me from my lapse in thought.
"We couldn't track you down after your fight with the master feral vampire, I knew it was something we couldn't do because wherever you went was beyond any ones magic. The magic was nothing we could get past, despite using whatever we could to track you down. Even going so far to use simple muggle means." Smiling at the thought of Bella trying to track me down with a map and compass.
I closed my eyes, knowing that Bella was in pain caused an ache within my heart. "Three days ago, we tracked down Harry, Ron and Lavender, capturing them. Hermione, they found the Gryffindor sword that was supposed to be locked away in Bellatrix's vault. They used a poly juice potion to get into the bank, and as you can see, this made Bellatrix even more angry and making the Goblin angry for deceiving them." The sword itself was used to 'destroy' the Horcruxes. Powerful magic was infused with the sword, it making my skin crawl.
"And without you to ground her, she gave into her madness. The trio escaped but not before Bellatrix threw a knife through the portal, but I don't think it hit anyone but I was distracted when Tom arrived back in a rage that this home had been violated in such a way. She's been a wreck without you Hermoine." Letting the information be digested in my mind, we just sat in some silence before I spoke to Lucian, explaining what had happened while tenderly holding Bella.
His eyes widened before saying, "Hermoine, that was a trial. Not all are the same, each Alpha facing has to face their fears but it's never the same way. You being bit by a master vampire must have triggered the change and your mind slipping into an ancient magic that not even I know." He pointed to my arm grinning, waving his own hand washing away the blood.
I gaped in awe at my arm which was once clear, with a few scars; was now covered in blacked out tattoo from my shoulder to my elbow that evolved into a fanged skull and runic designs that shifted under my skin, almost glowing.
Similar to Lucians glowing tattoos, it was beautiful and I looked forward to figuring out what it meant. "This means you have passed your first trial Hermoine. You have been gifted for passing, each trial is marked on your body with a different design. The symbols mean something however the trials must be completed for you to discover the translation of what they mean. The trials will unlock more power within you, and they will leave you with gifts. What they are or will be is yet to be seen."
He paused looking at me with smug satisfaction. "I am very proud of you and I know that celebrating must in order but it can wait because I think the your mate needs you now more than ever. No other Alpha has done that things you have done Hermione and you should be proud of this. I know I am impressed." I thanked Lucian and I wanted to hug him but he understood I couldn't with my arms full, his eyes held appreciation. Quietly saying, "I missed you too little one." Overwhelmed with emotion, I exited with a rush, making my way to Bella's room to get her settled.
Placing Bellatrix gently upon the bed, a peaceful and relaxed look upon her face. The tension in her body no longer there and all I could feel was sorrow as I gazed at her. I felt guilty for causing my mate such pain and seeing her in such a state once I had come back broke me. Her blooded face and dead eyes flashed through my mind and I felt panic despite see Bella right in front of me.
I hastily climbed under the duvet and pulled Bella closer to hold her. We must have laid there for at least an hour, my thoughts running wild and my anxiety swirling around inside my mind. Hearing her heartbeat pick up meant she was waking up and I couldn't help but hold her tighter. "Muddy?" I said nothing as she pulled back looking at me with her life filled gorgeous near black eyes broke through my tough exterior, making me break into sobs.
Nothing was said as Bellatrix just let me hold her, crying silently as our bond was overwhelmed with emotion. Bella's worry seeped through our bond and I gathered myself, calming down. "I am so sorry my love, I thought I lost you. I think I got trapped in my own mind, facing a trial of my fear with no idea how much time had passed. I was scared for the first time in a long time. I saw-seeing you like that…"
Bella shushed me before saying, "Oh my pretty, I am here and yes I may have lost myself a little but it terrified me that I couldn't feel you through our bond. It was as if you had cut our bond off, I could feel very little of you before it got cut off as if you died." I could hear her voice shaking and soothed her through my bond. My head thumped against the headboard of the bed and I sighed, closing my eyes.
"We are such a mess Bella." She chuckled, calming me down as the beautiful sound reached my ears. The feeling of the bond being cut off scared the both of us, being worse than when Bella was in Azkaban.
Quietly she spoke, "We are my pretty but we both know that there is many more challenges we are going to face. That was your first trial and only the beginning of your ascension into the Protector." Her fingers gently grazed my skin, goosebumps over my skin. I looked down and found her looking with interest at my new ink. The runic tattoo's shifted under my skin, never quite staying still. It was very beautiful. The link to that was obviously the vampire venom I had survived. I had felt Bella slip into the insanity that she struggled with daily, something she could easily give into; let that version of her take over but she didn't like things to be easy. Bella could hear my thoughts, huffing out before saying, "You know me muddy, I like to be in control."
Smirking as I gazed at her beautiful face. "Mm not always…" Watching with adoration as her pale skin flushed but I could feel she wasn't embarrassed, just flustered. We relaxed into each other just grateful that we were ok, I was grateful that Bellatrix was alive and felt now that I had no fear of my wolf or at least no worry to losing control.
My wolf wanted what I wanted and that was whatever our mate wanted. It will be interesting what other trials laid ahead but I knew that it wouldn't be easy. It also felt like this was just the start of something much bigger than ourselves, knowing that we would have to do our best to prepare. For the first time, I felt content with my wolf; no subconscious fear of my beast; a satisfied rumble echoed in my chest.
A little taste of Bella's insanity, it may or may not pop up again, hope you enjoyed!