It took the carriage coming to an abrupt stop for Harry and Narcissa to reluctantly pull away from each other.
They took their time, leisurely letting their eyes feast on each other's disheveled selves, lingering in a few spots just a beat longer. Her hair was artfully disheveled and her lips bore the marks of their passionate snogging. More of her skin was on display over her abdomen where he had pulled her top up and exposed her navel while they'd been making out, a testament to their heated moment.
Meanwhile, Narcissa did not shy away from openly admiring his slightly hairy chest, her eyes fixating on the mark she had left on the front of his neck. The hickey stood out boldly against his skin and a playful grin tugged on her lips as she locked eyes with him, finding a similar hunger mirrored in his gaze.
"Wow," she whispered.
"Wow indeed," Harry chuckled and kissed her again.
Reluctant yet understanding the necessity, they disentangled once again.
"I had a great time today," Narcissa whispered, resting her forehead against his. "Even though the day ended in a less than pleasant way, I wouldn't change anything."
Harry smiled.
"Come," he said lovingly, taking her hand in his. Narcissa acquiesced with a nod, gracefully climbing out of his lap. A warm flush tugged her rosy cheeks as she recalled the pleasurable sensation of his hardness against her core when she had been straddling him. She knew she was a beautiful witch and he was attracted to her, just as she was attracted to him, but the tangible evidence of his desire for her sent a flurry of butterflies fluttering about in her belly.
Hand in hand, they disembarked from the carriage, casting a brief glance around. They stood before the portcullis that led into the entryway of the large corridor south of the castle. A handful students were still meandering through, clutching large, bulging bags full of treats from Honeydukes in their hands, their voices filled with excited chatter.
Turning toward each other, they shared another loving smile before falling into step behind the excited students.
-Break-
"The fuck happened?" Lucius Malfoy whispered in rage as he saw the bastard and the bitch walk in hand in hand, all smiles. His wide eyes stared at their clasped hands and how the bitch was clinging on to the bastard like a common slut.
"Lucius," Rudolphus Lestrange hissed. "Those mutts that you arranged… they didn't turn their backs on us, did they?"
"Don't be barking mad, Lestrange," Lucius growled, his glare intensifying as he saw the bitch giggle like a silly bint at something the bastard said. "You were with me when we went to see them this morning. No way those filthy beasts would turn down a free meal."
"Then what the fuck happened?" Rudolphus retorted, glaring. "Why is the asshole and his bitch still here? Why are they acting like nothing happened? And why the fuck does it looked like those two were rutting somewhere?"
Lucius clenched his fists and gritted his teeth in rage. The way that bitch looked… it was evident that she had sullied herself with that bastard Peverell. He spat to the side in disgust.
"I warned you, Lucius," Rookwood said curtly. "You didn't listen. Those mutts turned on their word. That's why those two are here looking like nothing happened."
"No need to act so smug about it, Rookwood," Lucius snarled as he brandished his wand. "Come with me. We'll finish what those pathetic mutts couldn't even do anything about."
"Are you mad, Lucius!?" Yaxley hissed. "Attacking him in the school like this?"
"People will find out if we're caught," Rudolphus stated ferally instead of Lucius, glaring at the retreating figures of Harry and Narcissa who entered the castle and seemed to be walking toward the Grand Staircase. "I don't give a fuck about Black, but that bastard has to go."
"I told you all already. He's just another student. No way he can escape when we all corner him," Avery interjected before turning toward the other two. "Come now, or are you wimps?"
Rookwood and Yaxley exchanged a glance with each other before they turned back toward Lucius and Rudolphus and nodded. Together, the five turned around and walked away at a brisk pace.
On the way, they were met by a few more of their associates and they stopped agitatedly.
"How the fuck did they get away!?" Rabastan Lestrange hissed as he rushed toward them from one of the corridors with Nott and MacNair.
"Doesn't matter," Lucius hissed. "We're taking care of the vermin now. Where did you see them?"
"Peverell and Black were walking toward the dungeons."
"Good. Come, you all."
They all fell in line and walked behind Lucius toward the stairs that led to the dungeons.
-Break-
Harry and Narcissa made their way through the shadowy depths of the dungeons toward the Slytherin Common Room. They ignored the stares they got from several Slytherins and non-Slytherins alike and it was only when they reached the entrance to the common room that they finally came to a halt.
"You've got to tell me how you know where our common room is," Narcissa remarked with a shake of her head as she turned to face him.
Harry's lips curled into a smug smirk.
"One day, sure," he replied. A contented smile graced Narcissa's features as he leaned in, capturing her soft, pink lips with his own. Her arms instinctively came up to wrap around his neck and she pushed herself on her tiptoes, pressing her curvaceous frame against him. She hummed in blissful contentment as he held her by the waist and kissed her with passionate fervor.
It felt like hours had slipped by when they finally pulled away and looked into each other's eyes, the flames of love and passion reflected in their gaze.
"Until tomorrow, then," she whispered, a radiant smile lit up on her beautiful face. Harry nodded in agreement. With a final, lingering squeeze, they reluctantly released each other.
Watching Narcissa turn and retreat into the common room, Harry's smile slowly faded. Once she had disappeared from his line of sight, his expression shifted to one of focused determination.
"Luna, I need you to stay with her until I call for you," he communicated silently. "Stay hidden at all times. Only emerge if she's in danger."
Harry sensed his familiar's affirmative response in his mind and felt her detach from his shadow, vanishing from sight.
He darted his eyes from one side to another before he turned around and made his way toward the stairs leading out of the dungeon.
Strolling at a sedate pace, hands comfortably nestled in his pockets, he observed his surroundings casually. The sun had long since set and the castle was aglow with the warm light of lamps affixed to the walls, casting the corridors in the usual eerie radiance, a sight familiar to the denizens of Hogwarts. In the distance, Harry spotted Peeves, the resident poltergeist, gleefully chasing a group of young students with dungbombs in his spectral arms, prompting a chuckle from him.
The atmosphere around the castle seemed to have settled into a sense of calm, an almost carefree ambiance, in stark contrast to the impending turmoil that he knew was on the horizon. Voldemort was out there, still in the initial stage of his nefarious planning, and once he started his offensive, there would be little standing in his way.
Harry's mood took a sudden downturn as he wrestled, once again, with his decision to spare those he knew would soon be joining the dark bastard's ranks. It felt like he had dwelled on this internal debate incessantly, as if it consumed his thoughts. He was acutely aware of the heinous deeds they would eventually commit, dreadful people that they were who deserved to suffer the most severe punishment imaginable. Yet, he was deliberately choosing to let them live freely.
Ultimately, it came down to his unwavering sense of morality. He knew the possible consequences of his inaction, and the only thing holding him back from doing something about them was the fact that they had not become Death Eaters yet.
'Yet,' he mused, a bitter chuckle escaping his lips. Even in his own contemplation, he could not escape that fact that it was only a matter of time before it happened. 'Then why? Why am I not doing anything? Just because they are students? What Malfoy and his cronies tried to do today is proof enough that they are as vile as I knew them to be…'
His footsteps gradually slowed, eyes trained to the floor beneath him, lost in his morbid thoughts.
'Do I truly need to do this? Isn't it better to just get it done with? Nothing so far has indicated that any of them will turn out any different…'
Indeed, that was the extent of his discoveries so far. Out of all those who were at Hogwarts right now, the only one he did not have any misgivings for was Barty Crouch Junior. Everyone else had unveiled their true colors so far.
Exhaling a sigh, Harry ventured out into the courtyard, a chill sweeping over him as he was assaulted by the brisk, wintery air. He trod across the gravelly path, heading toward the Owlery. He had not contacted Aunt Dorea since she had gone to such great lengths for both him and Narcissa. A letter carrying his heartfelt gratitude was the least he could offer in return.
'I'll see if I can get her a necklace or something,' he thought, smiling. Materialistic it might be, but the gesture was what counted.
With perfect nonchalance, Harry ascended the Owlery stairs.
-Break-
"This way," Lucius Malfoy whispered, leading his group of thugs out into the courtyard.
"What about Black?"
"She's not the priority. Peverell needs to be offed right now. Yaxley, Rookwood, you two keep the perimeter. Make sure you alert us the moment you see someone. The six of us will rush the bastard," Rudolphus Lestrange grunted malevolently. The two boys exchanged a look and nodded.
Avery, MacNair, Nott, Rabastan, Lucius, and Rudolphus walked ahead of the two, wands out and at the ready.
"You've thought about how you'll dispose of his body, right?" Rabastan whispered from behind his brother as they discreetly walked ahead.
"My bottomless bag will do for now. We can send it out of the castle with an owl. The servants will take care of disposal," Rudolphus replied curtly.
Everyone nodded. It was the best plan in their opinion.
"Where's the bastard even going?"
"Looks like the Owlery," Lucius muttered.
"Nice. Plays perfectly into our little plan. No one will come this way at this hour anyway," Rudolphus grinned ferally.
"Take cover."
As one, the eight hid behind a large wall and Lucius peeked to see Peverell ascending the staircase.
"We're out in the open, Lucius. Anyone could see us," Rookwood warned.
"No one will be here at this hour," Nott replied. "They've all come back from Hogsmeade. It's shower time."
"Keep a lookout in any case," Lucius instructed, looking at Rookwood and Yaxley who nodded. The two split from the main group, each taking position at opposite ends of the courtyard and keeping an eye on the incoming corridors.
"Let's go," Rudolphus hissed and rushed out from behind the wall the moment he saw Peverell walk into the Owlery. "Today, that bastard will get what he deserves."
"No unforgivables," Lucius warned. "We don't want to trigger any castle wards. Cast to kill, but be sure to keep it discreet. No exploding spells either."
"Nott, raise up the privacy ward around the Owlery," Avery whispered. The boy hastened to follow the command.
"That's it," Rudolphus grinned. "Nice and easy, boys. Let's get this pest neutered."
As one, they took position outside the door.
"Ready?"
With a resounding crash, the door swung open and the first salvo of spells rent the air. Owls hooted and flew away from the owlery, startled, as Lucius and Rudolphus surged forward, their eyes carrying their lethal intent. The other four shadowed their footsteps, and all quickly took up strategic positions around the room. They had their backs to the walls as they formed a circle, and their triumphant eyes bored down on the crumpled, bleeding figure sprawled on the dirty floor of the owlery.
"Well… well… well…" Rudolphus taunted with a menacing smirk. "That was a job very well done, boys. Very well done indeed."
A cruel satisfaction painted the faces of the future Death Eaters, a twisted display of malevolent triumph, as they beheld the sight of a prone and bleeding Peverell. He lay sprawled on the grimy floor, his eyes mere slivers of consciousness amidst the darkness that threatened to engulf him. His wand remained untouched, a pitiful testament to his helplessness in the face of their ambush.
The once-pristine fabric of his shirt bore witness to the violent assault, now a tapestry of gruesome wounds and splatters of crimson that marred its once-clean surface. The cruel artistry of their cutting curses had wrought havoc, leaving a trail of jagged gashes that crisscrossed his chest and belly, each one a demonstration of the unrelenting brutality they had unleashed upon him.
"I must say I'm disappointed, Peverell," Lucius said dispassionately. "I expected much more from you. At least a spell. Alas, it seems you were more pathetic than I thought."
A malevolent chorus of grins stretched across the faces of the Slytherins, their expressions twisted in sadistic satisfaction. Lucius Malfoy, the mastermind of this vile assault, leaned over the fallen figure with contempt dripping from his lips. With a cruel snarl, he spat on the already bloodied form, a final, degrading act that served as a venomous punctuation mark to their ruthless assault. The room seemed to reverberate with the palpable aura of malice, a suffocating presence that hung heavy in the air.
"Get ready, boys," Rudolphus smirked. "Make sure this piece of shit is given the exclusive treatment. Cast away."
In perfect synchronization, the six wizards directed their wands toward the wounded figure of Peverell, unleashing bolts of malevolent red, ominous purple, dark gray, and agonizing yellow that converged upon him. Not even a single sound of pain escaped his lips as the cutting curses cruelly severed his limbs. The gouging curse rent his belly asunder, casting a gruesome spray of blood and entrails across the dirty room. Avery's bonebreaker splintered his ribs, while Lucius' merciless cutting curse swiftly decapitated him, extinguishing the last flicker of life from his eyes.
In a mere five seconds, the body was reduced to an utterly unrecognizable, nightmarish display of carnage. Each wizard's spellwork had contributed to the grotesque transformation, leaving no trace of the man who once lay there, prone, never having had any chance. Nothing remained but a haunting evidence to the evil these wizards were capable of.
Suddenly, an eerie and unsettling aura hung heavily in the atmosphere, sending shivers down the spines of all six wizards. A paralyzing stillness overcame them, causing their heartbeats to skyrocket. Like massive appendages forged from solid stone, colossal arms burst forth from the ground before they could blink, trapping them in an unyielding embrace and robbing them of any hope of escape or freedom.
"What the fuck is this!?"
Rudolphus's enraged voice pierced through the struggle, laced with a mixture of disbelief and fury. He fought vehemently, straining against the enormous arm's unyielding grip that had ensnared him, refusing to yield an inch. A collection of grunts and strained efforts echoed around him as his cronies too wrestled with the unrelenting embrace of the immense stone appendages, their bodies contorted in a desperate bid for freedom.
"Aaarrrggghhhh!"
The resounding cry that erupted from the mouth of Thomas Avery immediately drew their attention and their eyes widened in shock and disbelief as they took in the scene.
Lucius's voice reverberated through the room, a mixture of horror and disbelief seeping into his tone as he bellowed out the young man's name. His eyes widened in stunned disbelief as he beheld the grim spectacle of his comrade, his limbs twisted and shattered, dangling piteously over the arm that dispassionately dropped him to the floor.
"Shit! These will squeeze us to death if we move too much!" Rabastan cried out, grunting as he felt the pressure on his bones and joints. Immediately, he ceased his movements.
A sudden, ominous sound of footsteps reverberated through the room, jolting them from their desperate struggle. Their heads swiveled in unison, eyes widening in sheer disbelief, as the figure of the very wizard they believed they had killed mere moments ago materialized out of thin air before them, wearing a malevolent smirk that sent shivers down their spines.
"I must say, I expected much more from you lot," Harry Peverell called out, relaxed.
"Peverell!" Lucius whispered in shock. "H-how? Y-you… I killed you!"
"A pretty shit job you did, Malfoy," A wicked grin played across Harry's lips as he deftly flicked his wand. Their eyes widened in shock when they beheld the shocking revelation: the person they believed they had killed was nothing but a transfigured piece of meat. "One of the many owl treats you'll find in this place."
"You tricked us," Malfoy hissed.
"Wow, there is a brain in there after all," Harry called out in a mock-surprised voice. "Shame it's pretty limited though."
Malfoy and his lackeys seethed with a venomous rage, their faces contorted with hatred as Harry's initial mirthful gaze bore into them. The atmosphere grew tangibly frigid, a sinister chill settling over the owlery, as if the very air had turned hostile in response to the impending confrontation. Harry's once mirthful countenance transformed in an instant, his eyes now ablaze with a murderous intensity that sent a shiver down the spines of the six Slytherins.
They stood rooted in place, trapped in a nightmarish display of dread and fury. Fear and anger blended on their faces, creating a stormy brew of emotions that mirrored the tumultuous conflict raging within them. They were acutely aware of the magnitude of their mistake, the realization settling like a heavy weight in their chests. In their hubris, they had unwittingly made a ruthless adversary, someone whose power and resolve seemed to eclipse their own. Yet, their stubborn pureblood pride rebelled against the notion of conceding defeat, refusing to acknowledge the gnawing truth that they stood outmatched by a so-called filthy half-blood.
"You truly thought you could do anything to me, Malfoy? Lestrange? Truly?" Harry nonchalantly asked, his steps measured as he circled around with an aura of dismissiveness. He spared them nothing more than a cursory glance, his expression one of indifference and derision as he scoffed at their impotent rage. "I warned you, didn't I? I told you to keep away from me and mine, and you would live. It seems your inbred little brains could not comprehend a simple warning, hmm?"
"You better release us, asshole!" Rudolphus Lestrange shouted, spittle flying out of his mouth. Harry's face contorted into a disgusted sneer.
"Just shut your piehole, you inbred buffoon," he called out and idly whipped his wand. Their eyes widened in horrified disbelief as, in an instant, Lestrange's lips vanished, leaving behind a gaping void where his mouth once was. The sudden and brutal display of magic rendered them speechless. "Now, where was I? Oh yes, my little warning. I seemed to have truly hurt your pathetic pureblood pride, eh Lucius?"
Lucius Malfoy remained silent as he cast a seething glare at the smug bastard. The air seemed to crackle with tension under the weight of the animosity between them.
"I told you I won't be lenient the next time, and you better believe I don't plan to," A steely resolve settled into Harry's gaze and he flicked his wand.
The room resounded with a symphony of agonized wails, a cruel cacophony that reverberated off the stony walls of the owlery as the unyielding stone arms tightened their merciless grip. They squeezed their bodies, shattering their arms and making them cough blood. For the first time, they felt primal fear surge through their veins as they stared at this madman who they had angered beyond belief.
Harry's malevolent eyes full of searing determination blazed with a righteous fury that pierced their very souls as he glowered at them.
"You sent those werewolves to attack me and Cissa, with full intention of killing me and letting them do whatever they wanted to do to her," Harry hissed. "You will pay for that."
Lucius let out a guttural cry filled with sheer agony as the unyielding stone arms constricted with even greater force, ruthlessly dislocating his shoulder. Tears streamed down his face, mingling with the blood and sweat that marred his once-pristine visage. The sickening pop of his dislocated joint echoed in the air, etching the searing pain into the core of his being.
"You know, Malfoy, I've been playing nice for way too long. I had the power to put an end to you and your sorry lot ages ago, but I held onto this tiny hope that maybe, just maybe, you'd wise up. But after what happened today, it's crystal clear now. There's no redeeming you and your worthless thugs. You're nothing more than an annoying nuisance that needs to be dealt with, once and for all."
"Peverell!" Nott's voice cracked, a desperate plea accompanying his groan of pain. "Come on, man! You don't have to do this!"
"Yes!" MacNair cried. "We get it! We fucked up! We'll steer clear of you, we promise! We'll never bother you, I swear!"
"Shut up, you bastards!" Rabastan Lestrange snarled, glaring at him with utter loathing. "This asshole can't do anything. Already he's in deep shit after doing this to us. He knows damn well he can't get away with anything, let alone killing us!"
Amidst their feeble groans, a hearty chuckle resounded, and their gazes fell on a smirking Harry. He regarded Rabastan with a gaze that conveyed what he thought of him – a petulant child.
"I can kill you right here, right now, and send your filthy carcasses packing in that bottomless bag your brother is carrying. And funnily enough, we're in the owlery as well. Though it looks like the owls have been spooked a bit too much. No worries though. There are more ways to get such a small package out. Why, wasn't that your grand plan for me?"
A collective chill settled over the owlery and everyone's eyes bulged out in disbelief at Peverell's words. It didn't take long for realization to dawn on Lucius' face.
"Traitor! Who is it!?" The blonde ponce bellowed furiously, enraged beyond belief. Suddenly, he bent over as the rocky embrace around him constricted with brutal force. More bones fractured and splintered, making the sickening sound echo around the otherwise silent room.
A wave of disbelief washed over them. Their eyes, wide with incredulity, remained fixed on Harry. That had indeed been their plan and apart from them, only Yaxley and Rookwood were aware of it.
"It's pretty easy to get word around on short notice," Harry said nonchalantly, tossing a galleon in the middle of the grotesque circle of rocky limbs. Their eyes focused on the coin and they saw the message clearly emblazoned on the glinting surface.
"Unlike others, at least someone in your pathetic group knows how to pick the right side."
As if on cue, the door to the owlery opened gently and the Slytherins' eyes widened as they set sight on the one who had betrayed them. Eyes filled with murderous rage, they stared at the stoic visage of Augustus Rookwood.
The previous day…
Harry Peverell kept a steady grip on his wand, its tip poised just beneath the chin of the dark-haired wizard. The air hung heavy with tension as the latter merely kept his hands raised in a gesture of voluntary surrender.
"You seriously expect me to believe that?" Harry asked with a scoff.
"I don't," Rookwood replied. "That's why I'm ready to prove myself."
A brief silence hung in the air as Harry fixed a shrewd gaze upon him.
"Go on."
"Lucius has lost himself. No, he lost himself a long time ago. Only now I've decided it's enough. He doesn't care about the consequences of his actions, and I don't want any part in his foolishness."
"Get to the point, Rookwood," Harry said impatiently, digging the tip of his wand deeper.
"He's planning something. He's not told us yet, but whatever it is, it'll happen tomorrow in Hogsmeade. Knowing Lucius, he would do it outside the village, so I won't venture much further if I were you."
Harry's gaze bored into the young wizard with sharp intensity. He had to admit he was genuinely intrigued. He had not expected one of their own ranks to turn cloak, and it had caught him off guard. Yet, it appeared that Rookwood possessed the brains to make the right judgment.
"How do I know you're telling the truth?"
"I had no business coming here in the first place, but you're the only person who has triggered Lucius so much. Your family name is legendary and I've known since the first day that Lucius has been making mistake after mistake in going after you. You only have my word right now and I hope to prove myself tomorrow, if you'll allow me."
Harry leveled another piercing gaze at the young wizard, searching for any hint of hidden motivation.
"Alright, Rookwood. I'm willing to give you a chance, but before I do this, I'd like something in return."
Intrigued, Augustus looked at him.
"I believe an Unbreakable Vow would be a far more telling measure of your sincerity than any mere gesture you might make."
The man's eyes widened in surprise, his gaze fixated on the figure that emerged from the shadows behind Peverell. It was someone he knew all too well.
"Bellatrix here can be the binder," Harry announced. "So what would it be? Are you truly serious about this or… was all of that just talk?"
Augustus Rookwood's eyes fell on Bellatrix Black and a nervous lump formed in his throat. The young woman was staring at him a feral intensity, and it filled him with an unsettling feeling that she would tear his throat out if he so much as stared wrongly at the wizard in front of him. He could not help but wonder just what Peverell had done to tame this witch so efficiently that she had become so loyal to him.
Despite his sudden unease, he remained resolute in his intentions. In the end, it was an easy choice. He had made his decision, and now it was time to see it through.
He was ready to bear whatever consequences might follow his judgment.
Present time…
"You fucking traitor," Rabastan hissed through clenched teeth, his rage palpable.
Rookwood's response was eerily composed. "This is the way of the world, Rabastan. This is just business. I simply chose the side that's more beneficial to me."
"Shut your damn mouth, Augustus!" Rabastan snarled. "You're nothing but filth. And I hope you die the worst death imaginable."
Rookwood met Rabastan's venom with a cool, indifferent look. He glanced toward Harry when he addressed him.
"Yaxley?"
Wordlessly, Rookwood flicked his wand and the stunned and defenseless form of Corban Yaxley floated inside the wide room.
"You may do the honors with him, if you want," Harry shrugged carelessly.
Rookwood stared at the stunned wizard with a steady gaze, his lips pursed in contemplation. "I never had any quarrel with him. I'd rather abstain."
"Then I guess I get to have some fun with this one," an enthusiastic voice sounded from behind them and Harry resisted the urge to sigh. Bellatrix sounded way too eager for his liking.
"Just make it quick, Bellatrix."
The woman nodded eagerly and her wand materialized in a swift, practiced motion. Harry's gaze briefly grazed the curved walnut wood before he averted his eyes. A series of bolts—crimson, purple, orange and gray emerged from it in quick succession.
The broken figures of the Slytherins watched with detached eyes as Yaxley's body was torn asunder just like the transfigured form of Harry had been some time ago.
"Anyone among these you want, Rookwood?"
Augustus Rookwood regarded the broken forms of his former associates with a chilling air of indifference.
"Not truly, but I'm available should you need a wand."
Harry nodded and gestured toward Nott and MacNair.
"Bellatrix—"
"I'll take Rudy and his rude little brother," the young woman smirked ferally. Harry shrugged.
"Least work for me then," he muttered, his gaze fixated on the most grievously battered among them, nothing but disdain in his eyes.
Lucius was writhing in pain and so was Avery, but there was no mistaking the look of utter hatred in their eyes.
"This is for the hundreds of lives you would've surely taken someday," Harry whispered with hatred and with a swift, decisive flick of his wand, he severed Avery's head, watching dispassionately as crimson pooled on the unforgiving floor.
Looking over, he observed Rookwood who had also made quick work of MacNair and Nott. Their lifeless forms lay at his feet and a silent nod passed between them.
Rabastan, drained of all resistance, met the glowing tip of Bellatrix's wand with a stoic detachment.
"Just get it done with," the future Death Eater muttered, pushing through the haze of pain.
"Gladly," Bellatrix smirked and cast the cutting curse, severing his head off.
Unlike his brother though, Rudolphus' eyes were still glaring maliciously at everyone in sight. He was joined by the pitiful figure of Lucius who was sprawled out on the floor in a wretched state.
"Oh Rudy," Bellatrix said mockingly. "How delusional you've always been… thinking you'd have any chance with me…"
There was a gaping hole where his mouth used to be, and Bellatrix smirked.
"You don't need to speak. Your eyes are shouting," she chuckled. "You'll die today, Rudy. But not before knowing something."
Her voice transformed into a malicious snarl as she spoke, venom dripping with every word, "You and your fucking cunt of a father thought you could buy me!? That you could lay a claim on me? You wanted to lay a hand on me, you filth!?"
Every word dripped with malicious intent, punctuated by a vicious spell that sliced through the air like a blade. With each syllable out of her mouth, a cruel cutting curse followed, cleaving off large chunks of flesh that plummeted to the floor with a sickening splatter. It made for a gruesome sight.
"You never had any right! None of you had any right! Not over me! Not over my sister!" She snarled, glaring at Malfoy who returned her glare the best he could in his wretched state. "There is only one man for my sister, and there is only one man for me!"
Before anyone could blink, Bellatrix furiously grabbed Harry by the collar and smashed her lips against his.
Harry's breath caught in his throat, his senses reeling from the sudden, unexpected contact. Before he could even begin to process the whirlwind of emotions, Bellatrix abruptly pulled away, furiously glaring at Rudolphus.
"Keep that sight in your mind as you rot in hell, you fucking scum!" She snarled and whipped her wand forward. A bolt of malevolent crimson shot out of her wand with deadly precision and cleaved through the massive stone arm that was crushing Rudolphus, tearing through the man's torso and separating the top half of his body from the bottom in a gruesome display of magical power and control.
Lucius could only manage a feeble groan at the sight of his destroyed associates. In the span of a mere half-hour, their grandiose plans, their aspirations, their very desires had all been mercilessly torn asunder.
Defeated, he forced his eyes off the floor and trailed them up the bastard's body.
Harry had quickly pushed Bellatrix's sudden action out of his mind, resolving to address it later on.
He met Lucius' pitiful gaze with his own and scoffed in disgust.
"As much as I'd love to deal with you right now, Malfoy, there's someone else who deserves to make that decision. Rejoice. You get to live for a little while longer."
A bolt of crimson collided with Malfoy's face, rendering him unconscious in an instant. His body collapsed to the dirty floor in a graceless slump.
Harry surveyed the gruesome aftermath of the carnage. The floor was marred by splatters of blood and scattered remnants of flesh. With a weary sigh, he flicked his wand and cleaned the floor. Another flick of his wand sent the massive stone arms dissipating into nothingness. The corpses fell on the floor with a wet squelch, unleashing a fresh wave of crimson that further stained the floor.
"What a chore," he muttered dispassionately.
Half an hour later, an exhausted Harry Potter was led through the Slytherin Common Room under his Invisibility Cloak toward the sixth-year girls' dormitory. Bellatrix kept a firm hold on his arm as she walked, glancing at him occasionally and biting her lower lip in nervousness.
"I don't know what came over me back there," she whispered.
Harry chanced a look at her nervous face and sighed.
"We'll talk about it later. For now, we need a good, sound sleep. You sure it's fine with me being here?"
"You need good company right now. Don't worry. No one dares to come in without my or Cissy's permission. They know to keep away," Bellatrix replied with a hint of pride in her voice.
Harry shook his head as they entered the dorm and he looked around.
Bellatrix stepped out of the cloak as the door closed behind them and Harry took it as his cue to put it away. Narcissa was nowhere to be seen, although he could hear her humming in the bathroom.
"Must be taking a bath," Bellatrix announced.
Harry nodded and took a seat on one of the chairs, waiting expectantly for his lovely girlfriend who emerged from the bathroom mere minutes later. However, his eyes widened when he saw, to his shock, that she had walked out stark naked with only a towel wrapped over her head.
Time seemed to stand still as their gazes locked in a shared moment of wide-eyed shock. Suddenly, Narcissa's startled cry pierced the stillness as she hastily covered herself with the towel, staring at him with her eyes wide in alarm.
Off to the side, Bellatrix observed the scene and a peal of laughter bubbled from her lips. Slowly, their gazes shifted toward the hysterically giggling girl who, upon seeing their incredulous expressions, laughed harder.
Before either of them could react, the brunette flicked her wand and their eyes widened even more as both Harry's and Bellatrix's clothes vanished as well, rendering them entirely naked.
"Now we're all even," she smirked, throwing her wand on the table.
Stunned beyond words, Narcissa could only muster an aghast, "Bella, what the fuck!?"
TBC.
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