"Is that! Oh my god, it's her!" A rather distressed voice screeched, growing louder and louder above an unmoving Hermione.
She was now fully conscious and very much aware, but from past experience she knew to remain completely still, like an injured foul. Except Hermione didn't know of the predators stalking her, the voices were distinct, however the lack of vision only hindered her identification.
"You're hiding her aren't you? My son, harbouring the most wanted girl in the Order." It was a women's voice, paternal and caring, yet an overwhelming sense of fear cut through her words like a sharp knife, "If your farther were to here about this-"
"Well where is he then!" Snapped the second voice, much stronger than the other, "Only it seems his top priority is regaining control over the others, pushing his way to the top. Just like last time."
Hermione noticed a slight change of tone in the last sentence. It sounded more reflective rather than angry, the kind of drop expected from someone giving bad news. A sign of emotion almost.
"HERMIONE!" finally, a voice she could recognise, "Stay away from her! She's got nothing to do with you!"
Harry's words led to a pause, a break in the atmosphere. It were as if she could hear the person next to her thinking and feeling. Guilt. Jealousy. But most of all, an overwhelming sense of protection.
"I think you and I both know that's wrong, Potter."
Then it clicked.
Malfoy.
Harry, still with eyes on Hermione, pointed his wand directly at the sly Slytherin, completely disregarding Narcissa Malfoy who Hermione now knew was the other figure. She shifted slightly so everything came into view.
Harry was outnumbered but it were as if his bravery and determination fuelled his confidence, making him seem more dangerous by the second. Malfoy could sense this. But he had the advantage.
"You had one job, Potter." Malfoy looked back at Hermione, bloody and bruised on the floor. Harry's grip on his wand grew stronger, as if you could hear the wooden fibres beginning to snap under his hand.
One job. So open ended, and yet such an oddly terrifying phrase. However, Hermione had no time to ponder.
Harry didn't retaliate with words. He let their overdue stair off bubble and brew before swinging his wand in pure anger. The huge stone support beam was ripped from the wall and thrown towards the floor. Harry was not that stupid, however. Hermione felt as if the rubble fell at a much slower rate than expected, it was also a surprise to see a wand fly directly past the Malfoy's and land next to Hermione's limp body. Her wand. She tried to regain her footing, to see a glimpse of Harry before he-
The rubble crashed onto the floor in an organised confusion of brick and stone. It was no doubt to Hermione that Harry had done this on purpose. She couldn't help but smile slightly, his courageous and genuinely impressive act may have just saved her life. I suppose he owed her that after all their countless dangerous missions when defeating Voldemort. She chuckled to herself before glancing around. Her emotion soon dissolved. The corridor was now dark, with no apparent end, just a long quiet path into the unknown.
Hermione picked up her wand and held it tightly. She searched her pockets for Bellatrix's wand. Malfoy hadn't taken it.
Hermione thought this would've been the first thing he'd have done, or was Malfoy really that stupid.
Now, of course, Hermione wanted to believe this but she knew just how clever the boy really was. Not to mention Harry throwing her the wand back, it was almost a sign of inevitable danger. Along with the isolating walls, damp atmosphere and-
"Oh dear." a cold, unnerving voice emerged from the shadows, as if the figure was watching from above.
Hermione instantly turned on her feet, wand pointed into the distance with a shaky wrist.
Fear was something everyone faced, and for most its very easily overcome. For Hermione, the idea of fear had become so normal to her it merely seemed as if she was in its presence all the time. As if it were engraved in her very bones. That is until this moment.
This moment felt like no other.
Hermione didn't just hear the voice, she could feel it. As if it traveled through her blood, her soul, and back into the shadows like a boomerang.
Her reality became distorted. Whispers of noise danced around her like a deadly tango. But that voice. Such a bitter tone, and yet Hermione felt herself entranced in the spiral of sinister desire.
A pair of beading eyes pierced the darkness. Hermione froze.
That's when she saw it.
The deep black crazed hair. The witch like withered fingers. The defined outline of someone Hermione thought she'd never have to see again.
It couldnt be.
The light drew a face. A tired expression, yet the sight of Hermione only highlighted the figure's interests. Like a dog with a bone.
Hermione couldn't muster a word even if she tried. It were as if her mouth was glued shut by the endless stream of fear pouring from her gaping eyes.
Bellatrix Black approached the girl, until they drew eye to eye. Mere feet apart. The raven haired Witch stared deep into Hermione's souless face, a devilish smile overcoming her.
Hermione stood lifeless, unable to process such an unfathomable circumstance whist being fozen in complete fear. Unknowingly her hand moved across to her forearm, almost sqeezing it tightly. Her eyes trailed down, so did those of her stalker.
Bellatrix drew closer, reaching over slowly to the girls arm, attempting to take it in her own, as if to admire her work. But Hermione jolted back suddenly, even to her surprise. Bellatrix raised an eyebrow, still as silent as ever. They locked eyes once more.
It was such a powerful stare. No traces of magic, no visual elements, not even a sound. But the pair could feel it. A feeling like no other.
"My wand." Bellatrix shattered the silence, a cool and rather unnerving whisper. It wasnt a question.
But their connectedness did not break. Hermione's expression did not change as she felt Bellatrix's warm breath against her neck.
The raven haired Witch couldnt help but smirk at the girl's sheer courage and defiance, not many had stood up to the wrath of Bellatrix Black before, wandless or not. She didnt want to admit it, but Bellatrix was impressed.
She took a step closer towards the girl, stalking her like a vicious predator. Hermione didn't hesitate this time however, moving back until she felt a cold, damp wall agaisnt her skin. But Bellatrix did not stop. In fact, the witch grew so close to the girl that Hermione could practically feel her slender body against her own.
Bellatrix reached into the girls pocked, retrieving her wand slowly, as if to taunt her, like she knew it was there all along. Hermione did nothing. She couldnt. Her body, not only frozen with fear, but almost drawn to the women infront of her, in a way that Hermione had not quite expected.
Now, Hermione was completely terrified of Bellatrix, every inch of her body writhed with fear, but the idea of her being back was something the girl just couldnt get her head around. Not only did she question how this was even possible, a dream perhaps, but she grew mostly annoyed at herself for not feeling the one emotion she craved the most. Anger. As if Bellatrix was removing Hermiones frustration and replacing it with sheer fear. It were as if Bellatrix had invaded her mind.
What Hermione failed to ponder was that Bellatrix had never left. She had always haunted Hermione, ever since that day at Malfoy Manor. Even the brightest witch of her age could be oblivious to the darkest of magic. Or rather Hermione had unknowingly secluded the very idea of researching it.
"How-" Hermione shakily attempted a question through her newfound mask of courage, seemingly silly considering the dark witch infront of her. But Bellatrix reached out her hand, placing her finger across the centre of Hermiones lips.
No silencing spell, no hex, nothing. Hermione found this very odd. Her heartbeat quicked at the feeling of the witches touch, so much so she swore Bellatrix could hear the thumping of her heart, probably enjoying the sound of fear radiating from her victim.
This isnt real. This isnt real. Hermione repeated in her head, to her it became a method of staying in control but most importantly keeping calm. Everyone knew of Bellatrix's unpredictable nature, for Hermione she'd just wish the Slytherin made it quick.
Bellatrix cackled.
Had she heard me. Hermione thought.
Bellatrix smirked at Hermione, she was loving every second of this, to see the girl clueless and unknowing.
"Ill let you into a little secret mudblood," Bellatrix said coolly, her body still pressed against the Gryffinfor with no where to run, "No matter how clever you think you are, you are weak."
Hermione could hear the change in her voice, as if her frustration was brewing like a deadly potion. Tears welled in the young witches eyes, she was trapped. Bellatrix was well and truly playing with her food.
"I will never leave you, because im forever inside here." Bellatrix slowly took her finger and placed it upon Hermiones forehead, laughing gently.
All Hermione could do was stare into her enemy, as if trying to search for a last grasp of shame, which Hermione began to realise had no real logic at all. Bellatrix Black had no remorse, she was utterly evil, and always had been.
Their stare grew intense, but this time it was different. Black spots danced through Hermiones vision, the longer she stared the worse it became. The Gryfinndor broke their eye contact, gripping her head as an immense pain shot through her skull. It was as if she was reliving that curse. The curse she swore would never leave her lips ever since it obliterated her soul.
The women infront of her maintained a blank face. She cocked her head slightly at the young witch crumpled on the floor, as if to suggest she was none the wiser.
"Regardless of my extreme talents," stated Bellatrix boastfully as she towered over Hermione, "The most torturous thing for a surprisingly, brainy mudblood is the not knowing."
Hermione gave one final look towards Bellatrix, who had practically spat the words at her, but she couldnt run, or go anywhere for that matter. The excruciating pain still simmered in the girls body leaving her hopeless at the raven haired witch's feet.
But Bellatrix was right. The suffering inflicted on her was nothing compared to the discomfort she felt about being in the dark. Both figuratively and literally.
The young gryffindor was at the hands of the devil.
...
"Hermione."
A voice.
But the girl only saw black. Her eyes unmoving as if stuck down with fear. But she could hear someone. A faint whisper lingered in the air, along with Hermiones growing heart beat mirroring her pure terror.
She could still see Bellatrix's face behind her eyes. Like she was still there. Her body trembled, sweat dribbled down her cold body.
But that pain. The excruciating shock returned. Her forehead burned. Not warm. Cold. Freezing. Like a block of ice against her skin.
Hermione screamed, she didnt know what else to do, she could almost seek comfort in it now. Almost. But her eyes abruptly shot open, causing the young witch to jolt upwards. She gasped for breath as hands reached out to keep her still. Hermione grew desperate to escape.
"Hermione." A reassuring voice redirected the girls attention to her side where a nurse stood holding a wet flannel, which Hermione now suspected as the damp object against her forehead. She once again froze, but this time not from fear, but from pure relief. She was safe.
St Mungos hadnt changed that much since Hermiones last visit, she vowed to spend as much time volunteering here in aid of Neville's parents, but since the war the time had simply ran away from her.
Hermione dazily glanced around the room, still clutching at her head. Dozens of beds lined the ward, all filled with injured patients. In fact it was safe to say not a single bed was clear, Hermione sat up suddenly as if the pain she had felt was replaced with concern.
"She's in here!" Shouted a familiar voice, luckily for Hermione this person was plastered with worry, she knew they were friendly.
Ginny came running in towards Hermione's bed, dodging nurses as she went, followed by an agitated Mrs Weasley and Harry.
"Hermione, im so glad you're safe!" Ginny exclaimed as she protectively embraced her friend, it felt good for Hermione to finally smile again. Harry joined Ginny in checking over the witch, who still looked rather dazed by recent events.
"Hermione, we're so glad to see you, and I know its the last thing you want to do right now," Harry spoke directly, while perching on the end of her bed, "But we need to know what happened."
Hermione wasn't surprised by Harrys question, her disappearance and injuries were a mystery to the rest of the Order. A single tear fell down her cheek, looking off into the distance as if she were replaying her recent encounter.
"The thing is," Hermione began explaining ad she wiped her eyes dry with her sleeve, "I'm struggling to determine if what I just saw was real."
Harry and Ginny both shared purplexing looks, Mrs Weasley's eyes shot over suddenly at the injured Gryffindor. Hermione knew that look. It was the same look Ron used to give her when he was holding something back.
"I-
Hermione was cut off by a thunderous noise. The door to the ward had been blown off its hinges. Panic. The one word to describe the utter chaos that had errupted throughout the room.
Harry and Ginny instantly drew their wands, but before they could engage in any conflict, Mrs Weasley ordered them to take her arm. Hermione's eyes caught a masked figure holding a wand, directly aiming it towards her. The spell danced through the air, Hermione once again felt helpless, but before it could reach her Ginny grabbed her hand.
...
"The Burrow!!" Exclaimed Ginny, "Surely this isnt safe!" Both her and Harry were overwhelmed with emotions. Not to mention Hermione, who had barley had time to process it all. She perched down on a bench outside the burrow to regain her breath.
"It was the first place I thought of Ginny!" Mrs Weasley fired back, "They cant follow us, we're safe for now."
Before Ginny could strike back at her mother, Arthur came running out the door. "Molly?! What's happened?! Is everthing okay?!"
Arthur didn't get much time off these days, being higher than ever in the ministry his work had become even more demanding. So when the opportunity of a day away from his office arised, he had no hesitations. Of course family time was the most important thing for the Weasleys, especially after Fred's painful death.
Harry and Ginny rushed over to Hermione, still overcome with pure adrenaline, while Mrs Weasley worked on calming her husband down.
Hermione's eyes flooded with tears. Never again did she think she would have to feel this afraid.
"Arthur I didnt know! Believe me I wish I was there to protect them." Harry could hear the pain in Molly's voice. Her and Arthur embraced eachother, the thought of their children and loved ones fighting alone, without them, was utterly horrifying. After the war the couple vowed to protect their family through anything, they couldn't loose anyone else.
"Where is Kingsley! We must report this! I cant believe-"
"Report it? The whole ministry was attacked dad i don't expect many people to have not heard about it!" Ginny rather aggressively exclaimed.
"Well everyone but me I suppose!" Arthur had to hold his anger back, he couldn't even fathom the idea of another war, he refused to let his family go through that much danger again, "If theres talk of another uprising we must act fast, ill gather the Order."
Arthur kissed Molly and turned to start to head back into the Burrow.
"It's much worse than that." Hermione lifted her head slowly to face the group.
No one spoke, all eyes were on the young Gryffindor. It was difficult to determine who looked the most rattled.
"Bellatrix is back."
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