Chapter Text
Bellatrix hated reconaissance work. She much preferred to be in an out causing havoc and mayhem. Less chance of being captured that way, she had delayed too long at the Longbottom residence before her capture. Only now months after her being freed from Azkaban did she feel physically restored.
Mentally, the madness still remained, a curse on the Black's. There were unconfirmed rumors in the Black family that one day it would be ended. But no one knew how or by what design. The Black family did not hold much stock in the art of divination. Even though a prophecy had doomed them centuries before she was born.
Lucius or someone else must have used a powerful imperius to get the Minister of Magic to have everyone clear out of the building in the middle of the afternoon. Or, more likely, an obscene amount of gold. Whatever favorable results Lucius obtained were far more likely to come from money than wizarding talent.
Anyone with a modicum of common sense would know that this was a trap. But, then again, the trap was for a fifteen-year-old boy. Bellatrix hoped that the dumb bitch Umbridge didn't prevent the boy from coming somehow. She was not part of the plan, even though she tried to gain her Dark Lord's favor. Lucius had told those living at Malfoy Manor of the draconian policies the witch had enacted at Hogwarts. There had once been a small rebellion force lead by Harry Potter and his mudblood friend according to Draco's letters to his mother. But, they had been snitched on and caught, and Dumbledore left the school. Bellatrix had an appreciation for the punishment doled out on the snitch, the sign-up sheet had apparently been charmed. Last she heard the girl was still covered in boils that spelled sneak on her face.
Bellatrix looked to her left as if drawn and spotted her initials on a glowing orb. B.D.B. and H.J.G centaur 1951. She had a prophecy about her? Why had nobody ever informed her? When she saw that it was made by a centaur she understood immediately. If her father had been informed when she was born of a prophecy made by a creature, he would have ignored it entirely. He probably had tried to have it destroyed, but there were certain rules regarding prophecies. She picked it up without anyone else noticing and pocketed it for listening later.
A muted whisper brought her back to the present situation. "I hear voices and footsteps. He is here and not alone. Make sure the prophecy is retrieved at all costs. The minister would prefer we do not cause any destruction to this room" Lucius reminded those gathered around him. Bellatrix didn't really care what the minister wanted. If destruction was required to achieve her Lord's aims. Then destruction would be done.
Bellatrix listened to the approaching group and heard a female whisper for them to be careful. She felt an unusual warmth in her chest at the sound that she didn't have time to think about. At least the boy had someone with him with a modicum of sense. At least the female voice knew this was a trap. From the shadows they watched the boy pick up the prophecy regarding him and the Dark Lord. Severus had heard most of the prophecy when made, but it would be useful to know the entire piece. Bellatrix heard the boy asking where Sirius was and shook her head.
Lucius approached the group and demanded the prophecy. The boy refused immediately and once again demanded to know where Sirius was. This was the boy who had defeated her lord somehow? Bellatrix suspected it had more to do with the boy's mother or father. The Dark Lord had refused to discuss the matter with anyone after his return to bodily form.
Bellatrix watched the group, noticing the girl with bushy hair not unlike hers as a teenager. She was obviously the brains in the group from how she was trying to organize those around her. The boy mentioned her Lord's blood status and she rebelled. It was a carefully guarded secret that he was not a pureblood. Bellatrix hated the reminder. A boy in the group reminded her of the auror she had once tortured, that must be the Longbottom heir. Knowing Augusta she was likely disappointed in the boy Bellatrix saw in front of her. The boy was taller than the others but obviously timid. Bellatrix was not really paying much attention to the banter back and forth between Lucius and the Potter boy. She rather imagined this must be what schoolyard confrontations were between the boy and Draco.
Bellatrix heard the girl instruct the rest of the group to destroy the prophecies as a distraction and then run. Bellatrix grinned, so they were going to get to play some. She could have stopped the girl's spell, but this was going to be more fun. Knowing she had her own prophecy safely concealed in her robes, she didn't care about anyone else. Except for the Dark Lord of course.
The Death Eaters chased the group of teenagers back through the Department of Mysteries. At one point Bellatrix felt a pain go through her chest and she nearly fainted. Her mind processed the possibilities but she knew distraction could lead to her capture or death. Bellatrix felt her intuition lead her to a room and she followed it. She found the mudblood laying in a pool of blood, hit by a curse in the chest. Bellatrix was bollox at healing charms and spells, but Narcissa was a tremendous healer. Capturing the girl would put a dent in the plan's of the Light. Bellatrix highly suspected the boy was alive in no small part to the witch laying in front of her. She hesitated only a moment and then grabbed the girl and apparated to Malfoy Manor calling for her sister as soon as she reappeared. Narcissa came immediately upon her call and stopped when she saw Bella kneeling besides the girl.
"I need to return to the ministry Cissa, but the girl has been greviously injured. I don't know why, well I'm trying not to consider the reasons at the moment, but I was drawn to this girl and to protect her. Please heal the girl, while I return and try to help your husband retrieve the prophecy." Bellatrix watched Narcissa look between her and the girl and then nodding, withdrew her wand and began to cast the appropriate healing spells. Bellatrix released the girl and apparated back to the ministry. She folllowed the noises and shouts to a room with an arch in the center. Bellatrix was sure she knew what the archway was, she could hear the whispered voice of her Father she had killed, coming from the archway. Lucius had still not obtained the prophecy, she was able to come behind the Longbottom boy and grab him as a hostage.
The boy was braver than she suspected, assuring Harry he should keep the prophecy over him being released from Bellatrix's grasp. Lucius and the boy struggled and she saw the prophecy fall from his robes and shatter. An ethereal voice rose from the shattered orb and Bellatrix released her hold on the Longbottom boy to rush over in order to hear as much as she could. Unfortunately, all she was able to hear was that "neither can live while the other survives."
Chaos then broke out as members of the Order entered the room from the top of the stairs. Bellatrix spotted both her niece and her cousin Sirius among the group. She hoped for the opportunity to duel her cousin, they had fun practicing their dueling while growing up. Perhaps her years in Azkaban would finally give him a chance to defeat her. In the end, she sent a stunning spell toward Sirius and he was distracted by the boy, the stupid boy who had walked right into a trap, and her cousin fell into the veil.
Bellatrix felt her mind break as she watched her cousin fall into the veil. She had not meant to kill him, a Black did not kill another Black unless in greatest need. She had been enjoying the duel and their insults flowing back and forth as if they were teenagers again. Bellatrix could hear herself singing "I killed Sirius Black" repeatedly as she ran from the room. She had tried to apparate away after she saw Sirius fall, but wards had been set against further apparition. She could hear someone chasing her and knew it would be the Potter boy. She reached the ministry atrium where the floo network was located and heard the boy yell "Crucio" and she turned. "You have to mean them, boy, you don't hate me nearly as much as you need. I'm not even sure you could use the killing curse on me." She saw the pain in the boy's eyes from the death of her cousin. She smirked at him, she may have liked Sirius, but this boy held no place in her heart. She felt the Dark Lord before she heard him.
The Dark Lord was about to kill the boy when Dumbledore interfered. Bellatrix watched the pair duel in fascination, she was an expert at dueling. But these two used magic in ways she had never seen in dueling. The fight came to a standstill and Bellatrix and the Dark Lord made their mistake as aurors and ministry officials flooded the atrium.
The next morning- Hermione
Hermione awoke with a deep pain in her chest, but apparently still alive. She felt something foreign against her throat and reached up to touch it. It was a hard metal and she realized it was some type of collar. Turning her head slightly she could see that a chain ran from the collar to the wall. She had been captured during the battle then. And yet, whoever had done so had seen fit to heal her. She sat up as much as she was able and saw that she was in comfortable clothes. Her clothing the night before must have been destroyed by the curse and her blood. She needed to relieve herself but also felt extremely weak and dehydrated. A door opened and Narcissa Malfoy walked into the room with an odd look on her face.
"Ah Miss Granger, it is good to see you awake. You were seriously injured when you were brought to me. You will need potions over the next few weeks to rebuild your body. The curse almost cut you in two from shoulder to hip. I did the best I could and any scarring should be minimal. I realize you probably need a drink and to go to the bathroom. Which would you prefer first?"
Hermione was in shock at being addressed in a kindly manner by a Malfoy. Perhaps she was still asleep and dreaming this. She pinched herself on the arm to check, but no, she was awake.
"Thank you for healing me Miss Malfoy. I don't understand why you did so, or why I'm chained to the wall. But, I think bathroom first. I'm afraid if I drink first the feeling of water entering my system may lead to an accident." Narcissa merely hummed at this and walked over toward Hermione. She left the collar on but removed the chain that had attached it to the wall. She helped Hermione to her feet and let her lean into her until she regained her balance.
"I realize my treatment of you right now is a different kind of shock to the system. I promise everything will be explained in due course by my sister Bellatrix. I promise no harm will come to you as long as you are in my care as a healer. This is my home and my word is law in my own Manor." Hermione looked up at Narcissa who gazed back with steel in her eyes and she nodded. She would have to trust Narcissa at her word for now at least. Narcissa helped her into the bathroom and with sitting down. Hermione flushed with embarrassment at the level of assistance she needed.
"Miss Granger, I trained to be a healer before I gave birth to Draco. I promise you, I am able to separate any feelings I have towards you personally, and treat you as a patient in need of assistance."
This was enough to relax Hermione so she could use the toilet. She glanced at the shower but knew in her weakened state that was out of the question for today. Narcissa followed her glance and looked at her.
"I cleaned all the blood from your hair and body yesterday with a washing spell similar to scourgify but for the body. I realize it is not the same as a hot shower, but it will have to be enough for now."
Narcissa helped Hermione back into the room with the bed and helped her sit up in the bed. She used her wand to raise the head of the bed, making it easier for Hermione to sit up and drink a glass of water.
"For now, Miss Granger, you are in no danger here as I already said. As long as you stay in this room and don't go wandering around. There are others here who would do you harm, despite the protection offered by the collar around your neck. If you promise to remain in this room I will not chain you to the wall again. Will you be a good girl?"
Hermione wished she had been able to look at the collar around her neck now, she wondered why it offered her protection in Malfoy Manor. She ignored the feeling she felt being asked if she would be a good girl. She had only recently figured out she liked witches over wizards. She didn't want to think about if had any kind of kinks while currently being captured by the Dark. She didn't trust her voice not to squeak so she merely nodded her assent. Narcissa looked at her briefly and then smirked, "Interesting" before calling for a house elf to bring Hermione breakfast. After making sure the girl had enough to eat she exited the room. Hermione ate slowly, she didn't want to overeat after being injured. She finished eating and then looked around the room. The room was very basic, there were no windows or decorations on the walls. An empty bookshelf was against one wall, a tragedy in Hermione's mind. The door opened but this time it was Bellatrix that entered the room and Hermione started.
"I mean you no harm, little witch. I'm the one who brought you here for my sister to heal you last night. I felt your injury in my body and I nearly fainted, then I was drawn to your body and not understanding why in the moment. I brought you here for my sister to heal. But, I know now why I was drawn to rescue you last night. And why I placed the collar of protection around your neck, it looks quite fetching on you. Have you seen it?"
Hermione just shook her head no, she couldn't comprehend what was going on. First Narcissa and now Bellatrix were behaving in such a friendly manner to her. A muggleborn! If Voldemort walked in with a smile on his snake face she would probably keel over and die from shock.
Bellatrix conjured a mirror and walked closer to Hermione, holding out the mirror for the girl to look at. Her face was pale and her hair was a mess were the first things she noticed. She lifted up her neck and looked at the collar around her neck. It was a dark metallic color with a green filligree design that was very beautiful, the front had been where the chain had been attached.
"Why did you put a collar on me?" She asked with a whisper as she continued to examine it in the mirror as she glanced at Bellatrix. Bellatrix was looking at her intently, a look on her face that indicated she hoped Hermione liked how it looked.
"It is an old pureblood custom. The collar symbolizes that any whom would harm you, must face the full wrath of the House of Black. Yet, even still there are those outside this room who would risk my wrath because of their hatred of muggleborn."
"But don't you, your family, and the Dark Lord, all hate muggle-born?"
Bellatrix sighed and sat down in a chair next to Hermione's bed. "There are those on the side of the Dark, who do indeed hate the muggle-born. I and my sister do not share those beliefs, although Lucius does and has an outsized influence on my nephew. I know of your feud and heard how you punched him. I'm sure he quite deserved it. His mother will talk to him when he returns from Hogwarts. As you know the Dark Lord is a half-blood, he despises what he saw as his muggle-born father's weakness. It makes for excellent recruitment propaganda to rail against muggle-borns."
"So, he utilizes pureblood hatred of muggle-borns, but does not mean to truly exterminate them?"
"That is correct, your friend Harry does not know. But, Lilly Potter nee Evans was desired for recruitment during her school days by Severus. He had a desire to court her but not the means. That she chose James Potter is a large reason that he is such a git now. But that is for another time. The Dark Lord understands that you a tremendously powerful witch. We have heard much about you from Draco and other children in the Dark. As well as Severus, I daresay he wishes you had been sorted into Slytherin."
"I guess I can understand that, but you said earlier that you felt my pain and were drawn to rescue me. Why?"
"It was purely selfish reasons I assure you," Bellatrix said with a somewhat goofy smile. Hermione thought the smile was a little cute before she caught herself. She couldn't think Bellatrix Lestrange was cute!
"I discovered a prophecy last night. Before you and your friends make a wreck of the Hall of Prophecy. It is about me...and it is about you. If I am correct that your middle initial is J?" Bellatrix said as she pulled the prophecy orb from her robes. "I confess that I listened to it multiple times already..it gave me hope that I never had before. I realize it will be much for you to digest. But, I'd like to listen to it together. If we may?"
Hermione looked at Bellatrix hard, trying to determine if this was some type of trick. But, eventually decided that no, she could trust this was not an elaborate plan to trap her. She had looked into prophecy on her own time after dropping divination. Creating a fake prophecy orb was time-consuming and draining. There would not have been time to do so since last night. Bellatrix watched her eyes and then decided Hermione had made her decision to touch a button on the base. A deep, ethereal voice came from the orb as the head of a centaur appeared above the orb.
"One born from Mud, will soothe the madness of Black, uniting houses, changing destinies, the Reign of the Dark, and a wizarding dynasty."
Hermione sat back into the bed. Bellatrix Lestrange...were they soulmates?