Chapter Five: Bellatrix Laments
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"Just until things calm down and everyone is on the same page"
"So a good few years at least. Could have at least chosen a room that wasn't so boring."
McGonagall snorted, rolling her eyes at Bellatrix as she stood aside for Narcissa to follow her sister into the room. "Just let those who need to see the memories have a chance. That's all. They will understand soon enough." Bellatrix gave her a dubious look before turning to observe the room. "It's a lot to take in Bella."
"I know that."
"Can I get either of you anything?"
"Tea, if you would, please Minerva?"Narcissa asked, perching herself on the edge of an uncomfortable looking wooden chair, smiling demurely at McGonagall.
"Of course, I will sort with the house elves. Perhaps some food too. I noticed neither of you have eaten very much."
"Thank you." Narcissa said, her eyes drifting towards Bellatrix who was now standing, arms spread as she leant against the wide window frame. McGonagall nodded once, before backing out the room, closing the door on the way. As soon as they heard the click of the latch, Narcissa was off the chair and at her sisters side.
"Things won't change." Bellatrix said, eyes focused on something far away.
"We don't know that."
"My memories won't make a difference."
"Bella-"
"I'm going to be sent back to Azkaban." Bella stated, all emotion gone from her voice. She was exhausted, and done. Done with Hogwarts, done with the order, done with playing games and taking sides and convincing people she was anything but herself. Done with being mistrusted and thought of as a crazy woman.
"We don't know that Bellatrix. We can't know that. McGonagall, she will set things straight."
"She has no power here." said Bella, anger seeping through as she turned to her sister. Narcissa didn't even flinch, though her eyes gave her away, widening slightly. "There are at least 100 people, if not more, wanting to see me behind bars. There are at least 4 in that room alone I have personally hurt or damaged. They won't be willing to see evidence, to have their mind changed."
"Bella, we can't-"
"I do know!" Bellatrix roared, and Narcissa took a step away. "Longbottom is in there believing I tortured his parents to insanity! Aurors believe I killed my own niece. That Granger girl who was on the floor cursed by my own wand mere days ago!" Narcissa frowned, looking away as Bellatrix began to pace the room. "Dumbledore ensured that I played my role believably. I was foolish to think he would make it through this."
"Potter knows, he believes."
"Wonderful, saved by the wonder boy himself. It won't make a difference."
"He may have some sway Bellatrix, you cannot underestimate their trust in him. The girl, they're best friends, possibly in a relationship for all we know."
"They're not."
"How do you know?"
"I overheard one of the Weasley spawn discussing her and the red head's recent break-up."
"Well, they're friends, none-the-less." Narcissa said. She watched Bella walk between the door and window. "He can get her onside. Longbottom too." Finally, growing tired of the pacing, she took Bellatrix's arm, carefully, and drew her towards her, slowly like she was afraid Bellatrix would spook. "And you have me, Bella. I will never let you go back to that place. Never." Bellatrix allowed Narcissa to hold her, standing stiff. It had been a long time since she had been touched in such a way, and her body was beginning to panic. Narcissa, realising her sister would not relax any time soon, sighed and stood back. "Can you believe me at the very least?" The two witches held their gaze for a long time, before Bellatrix nodded, once, quickly. "Good. You may resume."
Narcissa stepped away, a lazy wave of her hand indicating her sisters dismissal as she fell back to the chair, and Bellatrix took up her pacing once more, worrying the floor with anxious steps. The house elf appeared with a small 'pop', yet Bella did not hesitate. "Your tea, misses." said the tiny elf. Narcissa thanked them quietly, and they disapparated away. Narcissa watched Bella for a long time, breaking only to pour her tea, and then a second cup. Time seemed to be passing very slowly in the small room. Eventually, Narcissa spoke again.
"Andy was here."
Bellatrix paused for a second, before turning to her sister. "I know." she said quietly. "I could feel her." Narcissa lifted the cup to her lips once more, raising her eyebrows in recognition of Bellatrix's words. "She was with the Granger girl. I saw her go to her at the door."
"I expect they're friends. She's always been comfortable around her kind."
"Muggleborns?" Bella rose her eyebrows at her sister, who just nodded. "Really Cissy. I didn't know you still believed all that crap our parents spouted." but the sister remained silent, occupied fully with her tea. Bellatrix rolled her eyes, sighing and throwing herself into the other available chair. She pulled the tea tray towards herself and helped herself to a cup. "How long do you expect us to be here?"
"Until this evening at least." Narcissa murmured. "The Longbottom child is due to see the memories today, alongside some of the order. McGonagall feels it best to get as many through as possible."
"I expect they will want to start the trials as soon as they can, they'll want everyone up to speed."
"Which trials?"
"Shacklebolt has been drawing together a new Wizengamot."
"Does he have the authority?" Bella only shrugged her shoulders. "How do you know?" Bella tapped her forehead conspiratorially, and Narcissa sighed. "Bella."
"I saw the letter the Granger girl received. The once they were discussing when we were ushered away."
"How?" Narcissa stared at her, before something clicked. "I forget how good you are sometimes."
"Plenty of practise for the past couple of years." Bella said darkly, then catching the look on her sisters face, added. "Don't worry, I stay out of your head. Can't bare to see Lucius more than I have to." She smirked at her sister, who only scowled at her.
"I don't think he will be getting out of this, you know."
"Of course he won't. He's a coward and a bastard Cissy. Never once have I had to feign my feelings towards him."
"We've all been cowards." Narcissa retorted, then winced as Bella smashed the teacup in her hands.
"Don't you dare." the dark witch said dangerously, towering over her sister who leant back a little in her chair, the only sign she felt uncomfortable. "You will never know what I have sacrificed. Never Narcissa. For all you have been through, you have been protected. You don't know what it is to kill, to torture, to burn all that you hold sacred. Never-" Bellatrix was getting herself worked up, her body twitching, magic rolling off of her in waves. Narcissa stood suddenly, holding her hand out towards her sister.
"You're right." she said, cutting Bellatrix off. "You're right Bella. I don't know." Bella looked at her for a moment, breathing hard, eyebrows scrunched. Narcissa saw a flash of the sister she has come to know over the years, the Lestrange version of her, which sparked fear in the blonde witch. Slowly, Bellatrix calmed. She sat back in her chair. "But I do know sacrifice Bella, you cannot deny that. I may not have taken the mark, but I have lived it all the same. My home, my family, watching the people I love be banished, killed and destroyed. It's been heartbreaking Bella."
There was a silence for a long time, before Bella sighed again. "I know." They looked at each other, blue meeting black, and words too heavy, too vulnerable, passed through their look. Gradually they settled back into the silence, waiting for the evening to come.
A temporary council, council of magical law, is what Kingsley had proposed. The group sat, listening as Mafalda Hopkirk talk through how the trials will work, Hermione trying to focus particularly hard. She felt incredibly guilty. A part of her knew, once Mafalda had awoken in that alley way, that she could have been in danger. Hermione taking her identity, breaking into the ministry under the guise of being her, infiltrating the muggleborn trials. The scar along Mafalda's face was enough for Hermione to know she had made this woman's life very difficult, and she had every intention on finding a way to make it up to the witch.
Andy, on the other hand, seemed to be in a state of fear. Her eyes darted around the room, wincing if anyone spoke up suddenly. Hermione tried not to, but she couldn't help being distracted from the conversation, watching the other black sister carefully as she reacted to the narrative of the meeting. Hermione wasn't sure if she should be here. Kingsley knows the family she comes from, and as they had already discussed, at least three of them would be on trial in a matter of days. Was Andy Tonks really the right person to have on their cases? Was that fair? Hermione pursed her lips. Fairness, she surmised, had gone out the window long ago. No room for fairness in war, and no matter what they said, it didn't feel over to Hermione. Not yet.
"And you think it wise, Minister, to hold these trials here?"
"The school is not in use, Headmistress, and it's wards are some of the safest in the wizarding world." responded Mafalda, leaning forward on the desk.
"Of course, but surely this is something best held at the ministry?"
"We can't Minerva," Kingsley responded, "Not yet. We dont yet know who we can trust, and until I am sure we are all fighting for the same team, I would much prefer doing this here. I want them tried and sorted as soon as possible. We have suffered too long to drag this out now."
There were a number of nods around the table, those few selected agreeing with the new Ministers words. "Very well." McGonagall responded. "In which case I want time to get those who need not be here either back home or to St Mungo's. I will not have innocents who have not consented to see these people again to be subjected to this."
"I agree." said Shacklebolt, nodding to Mafalda to make note.
"I suspect there will be journalists?" asked Hestia Jones, a witch Hermione recalls Harry mentioning once. She seemed nice, serious but friendly enough.
"I don't think Voldemort himself could keep Skeeter away." chuckled Kingsley, and there was a muttering of humour around the table. Hermione leant back in her chair. She wasn't sure how she felt about another potential run in with Rita Skeeter, last seeing her just after the trials-wizard tournament. She caught Andy's eyes, who seemed to brighten as Hermione focused on her. She gave her a small smile, before refocusing on Kingsley.
"I'm not sure if I am the right person for this Minister." she said, not daring to look at the faces that had turned to her in shock. "I'm not sure I can be completely impartial with everyone on trial."
"This is personal for us all, Miss Granger." said Kingsley, kindly. "There is not a person in this room, or outside this room, who has not lost someone to this war, or had their life changed significantly as a result. None of us can forget that, step away. That is not why you have been asked to be here."
"May we know why?" asked McGonagall.
"Because I trust you, and I know, without a doubt, that when the time comes, you will be able to put your emotions second to logical thought. This will be as fair as it can be. We will see to it." That seemed answer enough for McGonagall. Hermione felt comforted by the words. This was more than her. "Of course, i must warn you, that some of you may be called as witnesses." He was looking straight at Hermione as he spoke.
"We will?" she frowned.
"Yes. On that I cannot give you choice. However you all have a choice to leave this room now. If you do not think it's for you. I will understand, and we will hold no judgement against you."
Hermione's eyes once more wandered to Andy, who was fidgeting with the ends of her hair. The woman looked extremely uncomfortable, and yet she did not move. Hermione considered her own position for a second, looking to McGonagall, then Kingsley, who's eyes were still boring into her. She gazed at him, evenly, her mind flashing through the past seven years like a ghastly highlights reel. All the suffering, all the pain, all the love and friendships and fighting. It was all coming down to this. An end, a new beginning. She nodded firmly. Kingsley smiled, turning back to Mafalda.
"How long do we need to clear the castle?" he asked.
A shorter chapter today, but a couple of long ones to come. Please comment and let me know your thoughts! Do we want more from Bellatrix's POV?