Author's notes:
This will be my first story. It is quite literally the first time I've put pen to paper (figuratively speaking) with the intent on creating something.
It has been sitting in a folder ever since, along with chapter's two and three. The idea came to me in an instant. I scrambled onto my phone and wrote it out faster then my mind could replay it. That was a long, long time ago now.
I'd like to think my writing has improved since then, as I've started to write the next chapters. Although I've left one, two and three mainly as is, apart from restructuring and grammar— more so I or even you can see how my writing improves over time. (If it even does, who knows— at least I'm using a keyboard now.)
Another interesting note: I originally wrote the first three chapters in 1st person POV, but after seeing the general dislike for first person stories, I've changed it to 3rd. (The "restructuring and grammar" was mainly this.)
Please review if you like it, or don't like it, as it makes my day either way. Knowing that people are reading my story, enough to offer constuctive critcism, helps me as an amateur. If I did something right or wrong, don't hesitate to tell me! I will respond to all reviews through the PM reply system, providing you're logged in. I also love reading guest reviews, too!
I hope you enjoy my story!
For this chapter and every chapter after it: I do not own Harry Potter. I am merely an avid fan, so engrosed with it that I can't help reading and writing FANfiction about it.
A Race Against Time
Prologue - Death's sweet mercy
The sky was truly beautiful; she marvelled at the breathtaking sight of the moon and the stars that peaked out from grey, looming clouds through the wooden paned window. Her free hand absentmindedly twirled the pendant between her fingers as she got lost in her thoughts.
It was not something that she found herself doing often— watching and contemplating something as mundane as the stars— but the very place she currently resided was as fitting place as any.
The house was located in a small muggle town near Edinburgh. She remembered walking up the jagged stone pathway, shivering in disgust as she entered through the door. The inside was clearly abandoned, furniture torn and in disarray, but it had so obviously been the residence of filthy muggles.
She couldn't believe it when he told her. But he said they were here. If it was anyone else she would have laughed in their face.
The pathetic whimpering of a woman pulled her gaze from the window and back to the scene before her. The woman's eyes were wide with fear— her once immaculate blonde hair framed and tangled along her face with the combination of her disgusting bodily fluids.
"Bella please!" the woman cried, looking down at her comatose husband, but still clutching her son. "Please stop!"
Bella's arm reluctantly dropped, wand now by her side. It was lucky she even heard the woman's plea over the man's agonised cries— his body continued to twitch, though he regained some of his bearings as he curled into a ball on the disgusting carpet at their feet.
Bella stared at them with her grey soulless eyes, the sweet tingle of crucio still coursing through her body, contemplating how she had got there— his words still lingering in her mind.
The white walls of the manor were dark, appearing almost grey— just as he preferred. The sunlight tried to pierce the windows, but even light dared not enter the long, miserable repurposed dining hall. Only a single, small fireplace burned to the side of his large marble throne.
"Bella, my sweet. Look at me." Bella didn't need to look up to know he was staring. The top of her head was burning uncomfortably.
She looked up from her place kneeling before him. His ghostly white skin was tinged yellow from the flame. "Yes, My Lord?"
He stared at the ceiling, rubbing his chin with his long, bone-like fingers. "The war is all but won, Bella. We will soon eradicate the filth from this world."
Bella felt a pleasurable shiver run down her spine. His words were always spoken with such confidence, such power. It was seductive, drawing her in like a moth to a flame.
His red eyes were vacant, searching hers, then his face turned into a frown. "I have a task for you. It's… loose ends, so to speak."
"Anything, My Lord," Bella said breathlessly. He only assigned her to the most important of tasks. It made her heart race.
"The Malfoy's have betrayed me. Lucius and his family have fled before the battle for Hogwarts, Bella. He was one of my inner circle."
His words were like venom now, dripping with poison. Butterflies started to circle her tummy, now knowing what he'd ask of her.
"Worst of all, Bella, it was Harry Potter who helped them. Can you believe that?"
She didn't answer him. Either way, it would be the same outcome.
"Answer me, Bella. Crucio!"
Bella lost all control. Her head hit the floor with a dull crack, followed by her body slumping in on itself. No matter how many times he did it, she could never get used to the crippling pain. Every nerve in her body was on fire. She bit down the whimper that tried to escape her lips. Showing emotion would only delay release.
When she couldn't take it anymore, she forced herself to speak, the words barely making it out through her gritted teeth. "Apologies, My Lord!"
He sat back, his body almost appearing content when Bella had finally managed to scramble up to her knees. But Bella knew better— his red eyes were pulsing as he looked at her murderously.
"Take heed, Bella. I will not tolerate traitors! Traitors are worse than the enemy!"
"Yes, My Lord!" Bella said dutifully, "may I ask… may I ask how you know they've betrayed you?" Bella tensed, expecting the worst. He didn't like questions.
He smiled. It looked unnatural with his slit-like nose and indistinguishable lips. The thin slits in place of his missing nose started to flare. "I have spies everywhere, Bella," he answered. "Lest anyone forget. Nothing escapes my knowledge."
He would always say he had spies within, the threat always looming in the air. Bella tried to calm her beating heart before eventually breaking the silence.
"Leave it with me, My Lord. I shall not fail."
His eyes never left hers.
"See that you do not, Bella."
"Please, Bella," the woman begged, pulling Bella from her reverie. Her head was bowed, looking at her still comatose husband. "We just want to go. You'll never see us again, I promise."
The woman's eyes were red and puffy, the streaks left from her tears glistening in the moonlight. The perfect pureblood witch never showed emotion, mother had always said to them— it was unbecoming. Narcissa was perhaps the best at it; she never gave away anything. Until lately, it seems.
"And what is it you suggest I do, Cissy?" Bella questioned. "The Dark Lord seeks revenge. Only death shall satisfy him."
Narcissa's gaze showed resolve, even now. Bella had always admired that about her. Even before certain death, she remained defiant.
"We gave everything to him, Bella," she answered, her voice rising with every word. "The Malfoy name has served him for years, never questioning his decisions. He took our gold, our house and our unwavering loyalty but it was never enough."
She paused, only to catch her breath. "He wanted my son, Bella. My son! I wanted to keep Draco away from this— it was— it was to punish us!"
Her eyes never strayed. "You remember, of course, Draco's task within Hogwarts?"
Bella nodded. It was an honour for him to bestow such an important task on someone so young. Unfortunately, her nephew Draco had never succeeded. He was weak, like his father. Despite Bella's distrust of Snape, she was glad when Narcissa made him take the unbreakable vow to watch over him. He'd cleaned up Draco's mess, in the end. Snape had finally done something.
After seeing Bella nod, Narcissa continued: "Snape killed him, Bella. Snape was already in Hogwarts. Why not task Snape to kill him from the start?
"He wanted to own us, Bella!" Narcissa screamed. She looked defiant now, her eyes scorching.
"He will never stop," Narcissa sighed, lowering her voice. "It's not about power anymore. His greed has consumed him. All he knows is war. I do not fear him now, I fear what will become of him when he has won."
Lucius chose that moment to rise shakily to his feet, sticking his wobbling arm to a nearby tattered couch as support. He looked around, eyes vacant, almost as if he was questioning where he was. Then his eyes found Bella's. They were defeated.
"Bellatrix," he said; voice quivering from exhaustion. He was swaying, but to his credit, he stayed upright. "You will never hear from us again. We were to leave the country, before being so rudely interrupted. I have left all our possessions to the Dark Lord. We have nothing left. All I plead from you is safe passage."
Bella raised her hand to the pendant again, twirling it between her fingers. Seeing them, hearing them plead, she knew it would make her falter. When the Dark Lord had so graciously imposed the task upon her, to murder her own sister, she had asked the details of the assignment and not thought about it again.
Later he had received information, spies had found them, their pattern of moving was predictable. They would be here tonight. Go, my sweet.
She had left in a heartbeat, but not before bowing before him and kissing the long black billowing robe at his feet, trying to grab handfuls of it until he had yanked it from her mouth and hands.
Did he think she wouldn't?
She shifted her gaze between the trio. Blonde hair, blue eyes, pureblood's. Everything mother always wanted— the perfect pureblood family. Well, except for the fact they looked like commoners. If their mother had seen them in this state, she would surely turn over in her grave.
Draco was huddled into his mother's arms, his eyes wide and fearful. He really was a spitting image of his father. He had followed in his father's footsteps, too— even in the short time she had known him since escaping from Azkaban, he had been nothing but a scared, snotty brat, failing at every task he set himself.
Narcissa, even in her unkempt state, was still as beautiful as ever. She truly was the perfect pureblood witch. Her eyes caught Bella's, and she closed her own— because she could feel her body relaxing, giving in.
It was a mistake. Narcissa forced her way into her thoughts, little Cissy sliding her hand into hers and asking Bella to take on the world with her.
Bella's eyes reluctantly opened. She couldn't do it. Not to her baby sister. Narcissa must have sensed it, for she had already straightened her back, raised her chin, and was smoothing down her son's robes.
"I shall spare you, sister, but heed my words," Bella began, locking eyes with them. They stared at her, their eyes filled with hope.
"No longer shall you feed from the crumbs that trickle from the master's table! You must establish yourselves with the… filthy muggles," she spat.
Bella began to pace. It wasn't enough. "No wizarding town, in whichever country, will be safe from the Dark Lord during his reign. The invasion of Muggle blood, which we've fought so hard against, you must now... associate with." The words felt truly vile as they passed her lips— her body shuddered willingly. Their fate was truly worse than death.
Bella turned, not sparing them a glance. It was better this way— easier. Not knowing where they had gone would keep them safe from the Dark Lord. At least then, if he found out, she would die in their place.
Bella was almost at the door when she felt a delicate hand slip into hers, pulling her around. Narcissa had a resigned, sad smile adorning her face. "Farewell, in aliā vitā, sister."
Bella smiled, fondling the pendant in her free hand. The necklace was always passed on to the eldest daughter of the family. Narcissa would constantly ask about it as a child, fascinated. She had asked her to relay the inscription so many times the words were no doubt burned in memory.
Bella had to fight the lump suddenly rising in her throat before repeating the promise: "Farewell, in aliā vitā, sister."
Narcissa smiled, squeezing her hand, before turning and gathering her family in her arms. Bella watched them, expecting to hear the faint displacement of air from their disapparition, but they remained.
"Oh heavens, no," Narcissa wailed suddenly, turning to face Bella. "Please no!" Her eyes, upon meeting Bella's, no longer showed her previous resolve. They were a hollow, dull blue. Not even the moonlight reflected off them.
The atmosphere of the room suddenly changed. The air got heavier, thicker, as if the oxygen was being sucked from the room. The moonlight refused to pierce the window, instead deciding to reflect off it, not daring to inflict its presence. Bella turned, immediately dropping to her knees.
He was here, standing under a wooden archway, his black robes still billowing behind him in his frenzied entrance. His pale white skin made it easy to see his features in the nearly pitch black room. The thin slits of his nose flared, pulsing with his blazing, furious eyes.
Bella bowed as low as she had ever before. She could smell the musty scent of the carpet, the dust making her eyes water. How he had found out, she didn't know. She had come here with every intention of killing them.
"My Lord," Bella said breathlessly. She dared not raise her head and stare at his eyes.
"Silence, Bella!" he snarled murderously.
"Bella," he continued, after a brief pause. His voice was level now, but gone was the usual warmth in which he spoke to her. "My sweet, sweet Bella. One of my most faithful servants." She heard him shift, and Bella risked a peek through the front locks of her hair along the floor. He was standing over her, his long, yellow curled toenails filling her vision.
"Imagine my surprise when the man I sent to follow you— your own husband, returned to tell me of your betrayal."
Bella inwardly cursed. The fact that Rodolphus had betrayed her wasn't surprising. It was a marriage of convenience, with a man she had always despised. It was Rodolphus who lured her to him all those years ago, promising power and eternal glory.
"My Lord, you had me followed?" she questioned disbelievingly.
The fact that he had her followed, that was surprising. She was his most faithful servant. She endured years of torture in Azkaban for him. She had never once questioned his bidding. When had her idiot husband decided that she wouldn't do it? Did he guess from the start, telling the Dark Lord immediately?
"I have spies everywhere, Bella," he answered, and Bella heard him sigh. "Lest anyone forget. Nothing escapes my knowledge."
She screwed up her face, mustering all of her courage, then sat up and met his fiery gaze. He looked away from Bella, starting to pace back and forth.
"I bound the house with an anti disapparition jinx right away, Bella. I nearly killed your husband when he told me of your betrayal. Surely he was lying to me. I thought maybe I should come see for myself." He stopped, searching for her eyes. "It's lucky I did."
His eyes softened. "You were always my favourite, Bella. I hope you know that."
The sadness in his voice pierced her heart. Tears suddenly welled, a sob coming involuntarily from her throat. Maybe it wasn't the dust after all.
Bella bowed her head again, facing the floor. The words spilled from her mouth in a traitorous sob. "My Lord, spare them, please. They only feared for their son, Draco. I know they won't make the same mistake again. It's why I faltered, My Lord. They still serve you."
The little illumination from the night sky that dared pierced the window allowed her to trace his shadow along the floor. After a brief pause, perhaps considering her words, his shadow raised its arm.
"Take heed, Bella!" His voice was raised now, frantic. "I will not tolerate traitors. Traitors are worse than the enemy— Avada Kedavra!"
The breath she was holding suddenly burst from her mouth. The room was bathed in the sickly green light of the killing curse, but she was still breathing. She looked up at him, confused.
He was panting and snarling like a rabid dog. There was a whimper behind her. Bella turned, already knowing what she'd see.
Even in death she looked perfect. Her dull eyes, once a magnificent blue, now a lifeless grey, the only indication her soul had been violently ripped from her body. Draco had thrown his body over her, sobbing.
Bella turned back to him and with a large, shaky breath, mustered all of her courage. "Please, My Lord! I feel it; I feel the pain you wished to inflict on me! Spare them, My Lord, Please!"
Narcissa was right, in the end. His greed would never be satisfied. He wouldn't stop until he held power over everyone. The two green flashes of light in quick succession were expected, the final blow. The Dark Lord now owned her completely.
Bella sobbed, holding her pendant so tight she could feel the edges digging into the soft skin of her palm. The tears in her eyes made his face blurry, though her eyes never left his; unwavering.
Feeling defiant, she repeated her earlier promise to her sister. "Farewell, in aliā vitā, sister."
It was truly pathetic, the way it must have sounded coming from her lips, her throat full. She couldn't think of anything else to say. These would be her final words.
Their eyes locked, his features turning soft once again. He stared at her almost lovingly.
"Farewell, my sweet, sweet Bella— Avada Kedavra!"