AN: Not exactly the most seasonal chapter, but should have a fairly exciting cliff hanger. Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah for those who celebrate and Happy Thursday/Friday if you don't.

Chapter 17: Seeing Red

Amelia Bones frowned as she thought about the plan she was about to enact. It wasn't something she really liked doing or wanted to do, but at the end of the day it was the fucking lesser of two evils.

Still that woman was a crazy bitch. Having her released would be a total disaster. Yet, they couldn't let that thing not be destroyed.

The stipulations should take care of the bad press, provided Lucius agreed to the terms she was thinking of imposing, but still there was Augusta Longbottom to take into consideration which would mean this would even be more discrete than she wanted.

She frowned as she thought of her last encounter with the woman.

"You can't seriously be thinking of reviewing that Death Eater bitch's case, Amelia."

"I didn't know you fucking worked for the DMLE, Augusta." She said with an eye roll.

Personally, she couldn't stand Augusta. She reminded her a little bit too much of her own not so dearly departed mother, but she could understand where she was coming from. She'd be pretty upset too if word got out that Edgar or her sister-in-law's killers were trying to get out of jail too.

But at the end of the day, if Lestrange had a horcrux then she needed to barter for it. And sadly, the crimes she was convicted of weren't murder. If it hadn't been the cruciatus curse, the particular brutal circumstances surrounding the assault, the prominent members of society who had been attacked, it was unlikely a life sentence would be imposed.

She still shuddered at the fact she was having to barter with the devil's whore. Which is why she had decided that to get Bellatrix into isolation the situation was going to have to look realistic.

She may have smirked at what she had planned for the bitch.

It wouldn't kill her, but it certainly would get a point across.

And besides, if this deal actually went through, they would need what they planned to do to be realistic because Augusta and others would question it as she pointed out to Lucius just now.

"You just want to punish her."

Yeah, she did want to punish the bitch, but that was not even the point. Instead, she told the bastard, "Like you mentioned earlier, Azkaban doesn't exactly have the best of medical care. It will be questioned if she's randomly pulled out of her cell."

"But to do this?"

"She'll be fine," Amelia said. "She'll only be roughened up a little."

"You know what that potion can do," Lucius snapped. "Besides, it will never work. She's a witch and…"

"It will work," Amelia stated again. "It's the only way your client is going to get into the infirmary without raising eyebrows."

He glared at her, "I don't like it."

"And I don't like having to barter with that bitch," Amelia said. "Clearly, we can't have exactly what we want. It sucks, but that's life."

Lucius glared at her.

"Provided that what your client is telling you is true, she'll be getting out of jail from a life sentence for torturing two people. Two members of the Sacred Twenty-Eight might I add. I think her getting roughed up a little is fair play."

"I warn you, Amelia…"

"The bitch will be fine," Amelia said even though a part of her hoped she wouldn't be. "So, do we have a deal?"

He grimaced, "Let me consult with my client first."

"You do that," Amelia said. "But you make sure she understands everything, and I mean everything. And I want both of you signing the agreement. In blood."

"You can't be serious, Luc." Narcissa Malfoy couldn't believe what her husband had agreed to in her sister's case.

"It's the only option their offering and quite frankly it's her only option, Cissy."

She gave him a dubious look. "Only option? You sanctioned her being…I can't even say it."

He rolled his eyes, "She'll be fine, Narcissa. Amelia does have a point about Augusta having her nose out of whack. I can only imagine how she'll react if we get Bellatrix released."

"But she wasn't in her right mind," Narcissa said, "I don't know why that's so hard to comprehend."

"It's not even that she's in her right mind that is allowing her to even be considered for release," Lucius stated looking at her.

Narcissa didn't even have to have him elaborate to know what Lucius was referring to. "He didn't."

"According to your sister he did and that's even why Amelia was even willing to go this far."

Narcissa groaned but didn't seem surprised. "How many…"

He shrugged.

She frowned. "Andromeda suspected the scar was one."

He raised his eyebrow. "I noticed it's not even visible. I thought it was just an exaggeration as so many things were about his life."

Narcissa shook his head. "It was very visible before. Apparently, the night of the incident when he died the scar started oozing something that was not blood."
"It would be probable," Lucius said. "Depending how many times the maniac split it…"

She shook her head. "I'm glad it's gone whatever the case."

He nodded. "The boy seems healthier."

He had only met Harry once or twice since he had relocated to the manor by all accounts he seemed like a very nice boy. A bit quieter than Draco and not as near as spoiled, which was expected given the boys background. He wasn't the boisterous Gryffindor he thought he'd be by any means. Maybe it was because he was still recovering from his injuries, but the boy surprisingly was quite studious and actually seemed interested when Lucius discussed his History of Magic readings with him. Something he wished his son had interest in.

"He's doing much better," Narcissa said. "I'm hoping that he'll be able to visit Sirius sooner than later. It would be good for both of them."

He couldn't argue with that. The boy deserved to get to know his father. His mother on the other hand….he didn't trust Bellatrix even though he knew she was sane.

It really was hard rationalizing that she wasn't the crazy bitch he had thought she was for all those years.

Even the woman herself knew she was a bit of a danger which was why she had agreed to take Amelia's deal.

"A fresh start would be good," She said. "I can't go back to life as well…this."

This being Bellatrix Lestrange

He was sort of surprised she accepted her situation so easily. He thought she might fight want her old life back, but she didn't she seemed resigned to her fate. He hadn't even told Narcissa exactly was going to happen in part because he couldn't. Blood binding contracts had made it impossible, even with the power of attorney that Bellatrix had previously signed.

"Are you sure you want this? There's no going back after…" He had told Bellatrix.

"Versus what, staying here?"

He sighed. "It might not be as easy as a process as you think it is."

"I've dealt with worse," she said.

"Your entire life…"

"My entire life is already gone." She said.

"Your husband."

"Siri deserves not be chained with what I've become. No one does." She said, "You know what I've done, Lucius. Innocent blood does not deserve to be tainted by it."

He grimaced. He did know what she did. Even if it was against her will, some of the things she did…

He thought about mentioning the boy, but he couldn't. Both Narcissa and Sirius had sworn him not to tell her about Harry until she seemed emotionally sound and she was not by any means.

"If you're sure then,"

She nodded signing the deal that ended her life as Bellatrix Lestrange.

Bellatrix knew something was coming.

She had after all, signed the papers. Lucius did tell her something would happen. But she didn't think the something would involve her having a muggle cellmate.

In particular, Petunia Dursley.

That raggedy ass looking woman who had screamed relentless about her freak of a nephew and how the world should be glad she abused him.

Harry Potter.

Her son would've been around that boys age that's what she thought every time that bitch would rant about how he deserved it and now they decided to throw her in the same cell as her because they had to make room for new meat.

Imagine to her surprise when it was that pervert Pettigrew that was thrown into Petunia's cell.

He looked as vile as he did a decade ago but fatter and with less hair. She had always found him to be the most repulsive of Sirius's friends. And she was right. She really was glad when Siri had agreed not to have Peter over at their house.

"He creeps me out," She remembered telling him.

"I don't think you have anything to worry about," Sirius said. "I'm pretty sure he doesn't swing that way, but I'm fine with him not coming over here."

She rolled her eyes. "The creepiness extends to other things, Sirius. It's not just sexual. Surely, you've noticed. Didn't you mention he was the one who had the brilliant idea for you to throw Snape into Lupin's path."

He grimaced. "It was my fault, Bella, don't try to put the blame somewhere else."

"It was his idea though, wasn't it?"

"Admittedly," Sirius said, "But I'm still the one responsible."

"Yes, but Pettigrew is a creep. I don't want him here and I really think you should take a deeper look at your friendship with him. I don't think you really want to be friends with him either."

She was right since it turned out Pettigrew was a Death Eater.

She remembered how close he was to him. How he laughed at her. At what she became.

"Well, well, well," He said. "If it isn't the Dark Lord's bitch."

He had always called her that or a variant of that.

"Traitor," She hissed keeping to her Death Eater persona. At least Pettigrew was rightfully scared of her when she became the dark lord's pet. You never knew when she was going to throw a crucio on someone. And somehow that delighted the Dark Lord, her torturing others. The only thing that delighted him more was him torturing her while she performed her duties.

She grimaced thinking of how he cursed her almost every time before he climaxed.

He laughed seeing her expression, "I'm his most loyal servant of all. You should do well to remember that, whore."

"Itty bitty squibby Pettigrew," She hissed out. "You'd be best remembering who your betters are."

"Fucking freak," She heard the muggle who was in the cell next to her say. "Fucking, fucking freak."

Who knew the muggle cursed? It was like dealing with Amelia Bones. For someone who deemed herself an upstanding member of society—she had only heard Petunia mumble hundreds of times in the past few days—she loved to curse.

"Will you shut the fuck up already?" She hissed at Petunia. Merlin, she wished she could curse her.

She didn't know what it was about the woman but she hated the sight of her. Maybe it was just because she was a child abuser. Having so many lost children and then someone who bragged about almost killing a child she wanted to…

It was too bad she didn't have a wand.

Pettigrew was laughing at her inaction.

"Is that the best you can do, whore. Yell at the filthy muggle. Our lord would be so disappointed. He might have to curse you, pet."

He smirked as she said that last bit as she had flash of Pettigrew being there one of the many times she had serviced Riddle.

He was laughing at here there like now as she did things she didn't even want think about clad in only the collar Riddle personally picked out for her.

"Not so high and mighty now, bitch." He had said smirking at her not caring that it would later result with her shooting him with a Crucio whenever the Dark Lord demanded it.

She grimaced knowing now the collar, the name, everything was probably a joke on her husband's animagus form. A joke she did not get at the time.

It wasn't just Pettigrew that saw her. Everyone at one point or the other hand been there witnessing the things she did. The Dark Lord either liked an audience or liked seeing her humiliated. She felt herself wanting to wretch when suddenly she felt her cellmate grab her from behind.

What the fuck…

The bitch was trying to strangle her. If her nails didn't scratch her to death. She really didn't think Petunia was the killing type. But then again, she had almost killed her nephew and probably would've had she had the chance.

She wasn't going to let a fucking muggle strangle her. She may have not had the strength she had at one point, but she knew how to fight physically from years of dueling and then years of being his lieutenant. She attempted to try to ram the bitch into the stone side of their cell only it didn't go as well as she expected. While the bitch crashed into the stone, she did as well. It skinned her up bad and she had banged her head on the wall too. And worse, the bitch kept attacking her. Attacking her to kill.

Punch after punch. Bella gave all she got but it seemed like the muggle was intent on killing her. She knew calling for a guard would be pointless no one would come even the dementors…

No, she was not going to let the muggle kill her.

"You wretched bitch," The muggle said continuing to try to kill her pulling at her hair, punching at her despite the fact Bellatrix punched back. Why wouldn't she fucking stop? She just kept going. Bellatrix was getting tired of dealing with this shit, but she continued dodging when she could and hitting back when she could.

Her stamina wasn't what it used to be and as much as she hated saying it the muggle had that over her—probably only because she had been in Azkaban for days versus the decade Bella had been there.

The muggle looked like she had never been in a fight in her life. She had kept going on and on about how she was a homemaker, a housewife, and Bellatrix could see that. What she didn't expect was for the woman to be attacking her like a trained killer.

She felt herself growing short of breath and Petunia continued hitting her telling her freak. She then grabbed her eyes. She was trying to gouge out her eyes. Bella groaned as she felt the woman nails cut in her flesh. She wanted…needed a wand…she needed to survive.

She then had something occur that had only happened a few times in her life. The last time was when she was nine after she was particularly brutalized by her parents and had found herself apparating out of the family home—she had a flare of accidental magic.

Flare.

Fire. Somehow fire had shot out of her hands and surrounded her and Petunia and all she could feel was the burn as Pettigrew laughed on. And the pain, oh the pain.

Siri I'm sorry, she thought, as she found herself fading into the blackness.

Harry Black was surprised when he got a package from his father's owl a Eurasian Eagle Owl (Copernicus) this morning. It wasn't that he wasn't used to getting packages from his dad. Since they had started owling each other he got all sorts of things, his favorite being some of the wizarding candies he sent. His dad wasn't lying about those magical marshmallows being good. But a mirror? What the heck…

It was then he saw the note stating what the mirrors were—communication mirrors of all things. Apparently, his dad had its twin and wanted him to call him.

Harry couldn't help but feel nervous.

It was one thing to write to his dad, but it was another thing to talk to him, but obviously he almost immediately used the mirror not even waiting to talk to Aunt Narcissa about them.

He hadn't seen her this morning. Oddly, her door had been closed which was rare for her. He wondered if she had been with a patient the previous night.

Not that he thought she had a problem with the mirrors that is. He was just used to having her bounce things off of when it came to him and his father.

As nice as the letters were, he still didn't know his dad. Sometimes he didn't know how to respond to him. He wanted to get to know him more and he knew as soon as he was well enough he could go visit him in Switzerland. Aunt Narcissa had said so much.

He never found himself to be exceptionally brave. He knew that he had been sorted into Gryffindor house before the accident, but he didn't see how. He had always been sort of cautious at least when it came to dealing with the Dursleys. Running after a troll seemed unlike him as he told his aunts.

"Good," Aunt Andromeda said. "Because that was extremely foolish."

Out of the two of them, Aunt Andi was more of the disciplinarian. Not that he had been punished for the troll incident, he couldn't remember it. When they had told him about it, he didn't recognize any of the names of the other kids who were with him. Not the boy who died who was apparently one of his friends or the girl who it seemed have her own issues after what had happened.

He suspected she was one of his aunts' patients. Not that they could or would tell him. He just saw the looks they shot when they talked about Hermione Granger.

He was still frowning when a man's face appeared in the mirror: his father's face.

He was far thinner than in the pictures that Aunt Narcissa showed him. That was to be expected. He was apparently ill. Ill enough where he couldn't take care of him or go skiing.

Which must suck since apparently the place he was staying at was great for skiing and at one point his father was really good at it. He said he would teach him when he did get to go to the slopes—the place was spelled to have snow all year. He and Mum had gone skiing a lot.

He frowned at the thought of his mum.

His dad had told him a lot more than his aunt did, but he still didn't know much about her or knew much about what happened to her.

"Harry?" His dad finally said.

"Dad?" He asked it felt weird saying that, but he didn't want to call him Sirius.

"Pretty cool, huh?" His dad said. "My friend Remus charmed these mirrors. I thought it would be an easier way for us to communicate versus letter."

"I didn't mind the letters," Harry said.

"I know," his father said. "I….I…it's nice to finally talk to you, son."

Harry nodded. It was the first time he heard his father's voice.

"How's your leg?" His father asked sounding oddly like Aunt Narcissa. Probably because he was also a healer.

Everyone in his family had been it seemed, but his mum. She had apparently been into dueling. It did not seem like something Harry would be really that interested in himself. He had dodged way too many bullies in life and trolls.

His leg was testament to that.

"Skelegrow is gross," He found himself telling his father. "I get that you can't alter the flavor of the potion, but it is brutal. Tastes like acid."

"I doubt you ever had acid."

"I did have those acid pops you bought me. Aunt Narcissa wasn't happy about that and had me spit them out before I could burn a hole in my tongue. Not that I could keep it in my mouth long to do that sort of damage."

His dad laughed. "Of course, Cissy would be worried about you burning a hole in your tongue. I think she was guilty of doing that when she was younger, not that she'd ever admit it."

Harry agreed Aunt Narcissa would not admit it. "I'm surprised you know about it."

His father shrugged. "I only know because of Bella…your mum."

Harry frowned, "Do you mind me asking how she is? Aunt Narcissa said she's in condition to take care of me but…but is she okay?"

"As far as I know," His father said. "I…I'm trying to make sure she will be."

"What happened?" Harry started to ask but the question was never answered because at that point, Aunt Narcissa entered the room.

She looked awful.

That was really the only way to describe it and that it was not Aunt Narcissa. Usually, she was the most put together person Harry had ever seen. Even when she was taking care of him in the worst of his attacks…she still looked elegant. But her face was all red and blotchy. Her dark hair looked like it hadn't seen a brush in weeks, and she was still wearing her bathrobe.

"Cissy," His father asked.

"Sirius," she said just now noticing the mirrors. "I see you surprised Harry."

"I did," He said. "What's going on, Cissy?"

"I need a word with your father," she told Harry.

He gave her a look.

"It will be okay," she said.

Yet, somehow Harry did not think it would be.

Chapter 18 Preview: There is fallout from Petunia and Bellatrix's fight.