Chapter 17: XVIINotes:this chapter is... chaotic, to say the least. a lot happens. this one has had me very stressed out, but I wanted to say thank you to my friend vivihuh for helping me figure out what was going to happen in this one, and also my friend eile24 for listening to me complain about it.
hopefully you guys enjoy it
Chapter TextHermione survived Devil's Snare, had solved Snape's potion challenge, woke up from being petrified from a basilisk, faced a (at the time, supposed) murderer, called a werewolf to save her and Harry, was knocked unconscious and forced to the bottom of Black Lake, faced a horde of Death Eaters in the Ministry of Magic, had Death Eaters break into Hogwarts and kill Dumbledore, and was on the run for months with Harry and Ron, trying not to get captured by Snatchers while hunting the remaining Horcruxes.
And, of course, being tortured and scarred by Bellatrix Lestrange after they were captured by said Snatchers.
For all of those situations, Hermione truly believed they were the scariest thing she had ever done in the heat of the moment, until some new challenge arose, and then that became the scariest thing she had ever faced.
Every single one of those paled in comparison to what was happening now, once more on Black Lake.
She didn't know whom to look at. Andromeda: struggling and hissing in her captor's hold, the right side of her mouth bloodied and swollen as if they had punched her trying to grab her. Narcissa: wide-eyed and staring at their father, her clothing stained and torn as if she had fought as well, her shoulders tensed and her jaw clenched. Or Bellatrix: her wand was out and leveled at their father's chest, her body so coiled with tension everything was shaking as she glared at Cygnus Black with enough hatred in her eyes it knocked what little breath Hermione had in her lungs out.
Hermione was racing through all possible ways to get out of this mess alive and unhurt, all of them, and was coming up empty each and every time.
Black Lake wasn't a terribly popular place for students to go to during Hogsmeades outing, and why would it be? It didn't make sense for students to want to come stare at water when they could catch up on shopping. They'd be lucky if anyone stumbled across them at all, and even if they did, what would barely trained student be able to do in the face of four Death Eaters and Cygnus? And what if the students were third or fourth years?
They could hope for a professor to come by, for whatever reason, though that was even less likely, as the professors that accompanied the students to the village spent their time relaxing in the Three Broomsticks.
Attacking was an option, as always, though Andromeda and Narcissa were wandless and at the mercy of the four masked men at their sides. Would Hermione or Bellatrix be able to react quick enough to make sure the younger two weren't hurt or apparated away somewhere? More odds Hermione did not like.
They were backed into a metaphorical corner, and Cygnus knew it.
"You made a mistake leaving on your birthday, Bellatrix," Cygnus said, unflinching even as the wand remained trained on him. He knew Bellatrix would not fire, not when it meant her sisters could be hurt in doing so. "Do you have any idea how embarrassing it was for your mother and I to have to announce to the party you had fallen very ill suddenly, and had to be carried to your room for the remainder of the night?"
He risked a glance towards the masked men, and Hermione had to wonder who was hidden behind the golden coverings. Was it Antonin Dolohov once again? Rodolphus and Rabastan? Dolohov had made it clear he wanted Hermione's head for what she had done to him months prior, perhaps now he would once more attempt that.
"The Dark Lord is willing to forgive all of your transgressions if you leave with me now. However, as I have said, if you deign to do your duty to our household, one of your sisters shall merely step in to take your place."
Which was the very last thing Bellatrix would want to happen, the sole motivation she had that permitted her to force herself into following Voldemort to begin with. She would never allow Andromeda or Narcissa to be forced into the things she'd one day have to do. Would never want them to fight the war they all knew was coming.
"Andromeda and Narcissa stay here," Bellatrix said fiercely, not taking her eyes off of her father, even as her sisters struggled to break away from the Death Eaters. "Tell those idiots to let them go, before things go badly for them."
One of the masked men, the stupidest one of them, laughed out loud at the statement. As if he had looked at Bellatrix, saw a small seventeen year old girl, and dismissed her entirely. Hermione knew that would soon be his mistake, if they could figure out a way to successfully attack without risking either girl in their grips.
Bellatrix continued, her voice resorting back to that stiff, emotionless voice, so different from the way she had been talking to Hermione only minutes ago. "Let them go, and you and I can return home, and I will do what it takes to get back in the Dark Lord's good graces."
That had Hermione startling, and she was only just able to keep from yelling out. Bellatrix couldn't possibly be serious right now, was she? There was no way she'd be so willing to return with her father, and throw away everything they were working towards?
"Let them go, father. Let the three of them return to Hogwarts. I am of age, no one can argue my decision to not return, whereas Dumbledore could get the governors involved should Andy and Cissy not go back."
What... the hell was she thinking? Hermione was coming up with a plan, did Bellatrix not know that? She just needed time.
Cygnus pulled one of his hands out of his tailored pants pockets, waving it dismissively. "The governors are not any of our concerns, and I have no interest in permitting Andromeda and Narcissa to return to Hogwarts." He didn't elaborate on why the school's governors were of no concern, though having had experience with Lucius Malfoy, Hermione wouldn't have been surprised if he's been bribing them. "It's about time we distance ourselves from a school run by a man such as Albus Dumbledore." Cygnus scoffed as he said the name, smoothly sliding his hand back into his pocket. "Get over here, Bellatrix. We are going now."
"Not until I know for certain Andromeda and Narcissa will stay here."
"No."
There was nothing on his cruel face, nothing close to the usual emotions a father should have for his children. Nothing at all. He was a cruel, empty, heartless man. Money hungry and power.
Hermione wanted him dead.
"Nott, Burke," he said, not bothering to look at whichever of the men he was addressing. There was a subtle hint of a mocking smirk on his face, so different from Bellatrix's own. "Take my daughters back to the manor. Now."
Bellatrix had only just began to spin and face the Death Eaters as her sisters yelled for her, as Hermione started to try to run to them, when the two men holding them disappeared in a puff of black smoke.
The anguish with which Bellatrix screamed "NO!" tore through Hermione's heart, and she decided right then and there if Bellatrix decided to kill her father, she would not intervene. He deserved it for this and so much more.
Bellatrix turned to face her father, her shoulders shaking with the force of her rage as she hissed out, "If something happens to them, I will kill you."
"Enough with the dramatics. I'm tired of this game. Go home now."
"You didn't have to take them." Bellatrix sounded so broken, so entirely unlike her usual, self assured.
Cygnus merely shrugged, the action enough to make Hermione debate killing him now, herself. But she wouldn't, couldn't, even if her heart ached at having watched Narcissa and Andromeda be taken, and them powerless to stop it.
"I will not say this again. It is time to return home, now, or I kill the girl."
For the first time, Cygnus turned to look at Hermione, his face blank and his eyes dead, as if he had not just threatened to kill a seventeen year old girl just to get his daughter back in his grasp.
Hermione had expected a fight, or an argument at the very least, but the resigned way Bellatrix walked to her father, not even so much as opening her mouth? That had been the very last thing Hermione was ready to see, nor was she ready for Bellatrix standing beside her father, her eyes flat and emotionless even as she watched Hermione watch her.
"I'll allow you to say goodbye, Bellatrix, as you will not be seeing the girl again."
There were no tears in Bellatrix's dark eyes, nothing in her stance that would give away she felt anything at all, but... Hermione did not miss the barely there crack of Bellatrix's voice as she said, "We would have had fun together, dragon-rider." And then Cygnus was gripping Bellatrix's upper arm, and Bellatrix flinched at the contact, and then they were gone, Hermione all alone on the beach.
Dumbledore's giant office felt too cramped, too crowded, even with so few people in the room.
Hermione hadn't let herself cry, hadn't let herself collapse onto the rock and cry into her hands about how her friends were gone and she could do nothing to stop them. Hadn't let herself cry over Bellatrix's parting words. No, she did not have the time to let emotions get in the way. She sucked in a deep breath, forced her heart to calm, and marched from the beach back towards Hogsmeade, on the hunt for professors.
She hadn't needed to look for long, as a small army was quite literally marching directly at her, half a dozen professors led by McGonagall, Ted Tonks racing on the side to catch up. There was dried blood on the side of his temple, his eye slightly bruised and swollen, and Hermione just added hurting Ted to the ever growing list of things she could make Cygnus Black pay for.
McGonagall had pulled Hermione to the side while the other five professors stormed to the beach and the forests for any lingering Death Eaters, and Hermione took the time to talk to her favorite professor and give her a brief description of what had happened.
The woman's face was pinched and displeased, barely concealed fury in her eyes as she said they would be going directly to Dumbledore. The professors not at the beach were all instructed to bring the students still enjoying the outing back to the castle, as Hogsmeade was currently not safe, even if Hermione knew there would be no Death Eaters there any longer. Their mission, for whatever reason they were working with Cygnus, had been accomplished. There was no need for them to stay.
So Hermione raced with McGonagall back to the Headmaster's office, knowing the sooner they got there the sooner Bella and her sisters could be saved.
Professor Dumbledore had sent his patronus (a technique Hermione knew he would have only just recently developed, a spell known only by Order members) to Moody to come to the castle immediately. Moody had brought with him Elphias Doge, who like Dumbledore, did not look too different from the version Hermione had seen before in her time. Dorcas Meadowes was also present, a young with thick, dark hair, parts of the sides braided against her head, who could not be much older than Hermione herself, but stood with an air of confidence and skill that immediately reminded her of Bellatrix.
They were all talking over one another, with Moody and Doge arguing over the best course of action, McGonagall interjecting every now and again to remind them all the priority was the safety of the missing students, not Order business.
It seemed they all had forgotten Hermione was in the room entirely, her eyes red from crying and her throat sore from the effort. It was Dorcas who took a seat beside Hermione in one of the chairs and offered her a comforting smile. "Moody said they're your friends?"
"They are."
"Black's are a... unique choice in friendship," Dorcas said, her tone lacking any sort of menace or judgment. "I graduated two years ago, from Hufflepuff, so I knew of Bellatrix, everyone knows of her, and I talked to Andromeda a few times, but never had any conversations with Narcissa."
Hermione couldn't help but laugh at that, the sound small and weak, but a laugh nonetheless. She was completely unsurprised that Narcissa had made no attempts to talk to someone from Hufflepuff.
Dorcas held out a small metal flask, nondescript save for a plainly carved 'D' in the bottom right corner. "Want a drink? It'll help you feel better."
"Thank you," Hermione replied as she took a small sip, holding back the involuntary shudder as the fire whiskey slid down her throat, thick and overwhelming. She took two more small drinks before she returned the flask. She had no effort left to offer any sort of smile to the girl, so she did not even bother.
Dumbledore finally put an end to the bickering, not needing to raise his voice to gain the attention of the room. "There is nothing more to do be sitting in this room. Moody, Doge, I believe a trip to the Ministry is in order. Find out what you can regarding the Governors. We need to know who has sided with Cygnus Black."
It was only due to the gentle hand Dorcas laid on Hermione's shoulders that kept her in place. Dumbledore wanted Doge and Moody to look into the Governors? What good would that do them now, when Bella and her sisters were gone?
"They aren't saying they're not going to get them back," Dorcas murmured to her, clearly having noted her rising distress. "Just that it will take time."
Time they didn't have, not when Cygnus Black was involved, and so keen on returning his daughter to Voldemort.
It took one week.
One whole week of Hermione constantly asking questions to McGonagall and Dumbledore (whenever he was present). They entertained the questions, promising her they were doing what they could to ensure the safe return of all three Black sisters and monitoring the threat that Voldemort posed.
Whatever that meant, seeing as no one was forth coming with real answers to any of her questions.
It was a week of hell for Hermione, who could do little more than worry herself sick about the current state of her friends. Daniel had tried his hardest to distract her with request to help him in classes, and Steve and Victoria had spent more time than usual around her, but it was all for nothing. No matter what they tried to do, Hermione could not be distracted from thoughts of what Bellatrix and her sisters might currently be going through.
Had Cygnus handed over Bellatrix to Voldemort yet? If he had, in what ways would the Dark Lord make Bellatrix pay for her deceit and betrayal? To Hermione's knowledge, Dumbledore and Moody had not yet done anything with the information Bellatrix provided at Christmas, so there was a chance for her to feign innocence and claim she kept all his secrets, but of course, Voldemort could very well not believe her.
But it was exactly seven days after Bellatrix and her sisters had been forcibly taken from Hogsmeade that Dumbledore had Hermione come back to his office. This time, it was only the two of them and McGonagall in the room, and the moment Hermione stepped into the room, she found it hard to breathe. Her heart beat was erratic, her palms sweating, her hands clenching and unclenching.
Something bad had happened. Something had happened to Bellatrix or Andromeda or Narcissa or all of them and Dumbledore and McGonagall had brought her here to tell her this, to tell her she was never going to see them again.
The terrible, panic inducing thoughts kept racing through her mind, over and over and over again.
McGonagall noticed it all and motioned for her to sit, passing her a cup of hot tea quickly and urging her to drink it. Only once she relative control over her breathing did Dumbledore speak up.
"I must commend you on your ability to remain focused in a time of such heartache," the headmaster began in his rumbling voice. Had Hermione been the sort of person to criticize a professor, she might have pointed out she's never had a less focused week than this, but she stayed silent, waiting for Dumbledore to continue. "This week, the Order has worked tirelessly to try to find all three of our missing students. The reason it has taken us so long to do so is Cygnus Black did not stay at the manor. The Blacks are spread wide, and their considerable wealth permits them to have many homes. They were staying at one of those, and it took the Order a few days to track them down, and then sometime longer to plan how to proceed next."
Hermione could do nothing more than nod to show she understood, and was no longer on the brink of hyperventilating.
"The Order was able to track them to a house in Italy. I've sent word to Moody a few moments prior to your arrival, and they should be arriving shortly," Dumbledore continued, taking a bite of a crumbling dessert, pieces of which getting stuck in his beard. "We shall wait for their arrival, and continue from there."
Luckily for Hermione's rapidly fraying nerves, the Order did not take long to arrive. Once more it was Moody, Doge, and Dorcas, though this time Sturgis Podmore and Caradoc Dearborn were also in tow, and all of them immediately jumped into conversation about how they would proceed tonight.
Hermione listened rapidly as they debated the merits of each plan they all proposed, McGonagall periodically chiming in to remind them the purpose of this mission was
"Hermione stays behind," Moody decreed to them all. Hermione had been taking the time to process how young some of the people in this room, people who Hermione knew would not have an easy time over the next eleven years. She didn't have much room in her brain to focus on any of that though, not when Moody's words were sinking into her.
"What?" She scoffed, already feeling her anger flaring. "That's preposterous. Of course I'm going."
"You're a liability," Moody said flatly, staring at Hermione with crossed arms and a scowl on his face. "We do not know the sort of trap we could be walking into. While Cygnus Black is not a member of Voldemort's circle, his daughter was and possibly still is. We do not know if Death Eaters will be present at their house, or even if we can trust Bellatrix any further."
Hermione jumped from her seat, anger way more elevated than only moments before. "Bellatrix is not with them," she all but yelled, hands curled into fists. "I told you! She only went with her father to protect Andromeda and Narcissa!" If they truly believed Bellatrix was voluntarily working for Voldemort again.... "I am going with you."
One way or another, whether they liked it or not, Hermione would be at whatever vacation home the Blacks were currently operating. It would make it easier if the Order would just agree to bring her along, but if they truly believed she would be more of a nuisance than anything else (as if she didn't have experience already), then she would manage it herself, and make sure her friends were safe. And that Moody did not try to do anything stupid to Bellatrix under the pretense of thinking the girl to be working with Voldemort once more.
She had opened her mouth to say part of if not all of those things, but Dorcas beat her too it, once again laying a comforting hand on Hermione's shoulder and saying, "I don't think it's our smartest decision to leave Hermione behind. Yes, she hasn't trained with us, but from what Dumbledore has said, she is a knowledgeable witch who can defend herself. Plus, she'll be able to comfort her friends better than any of us, if need be. And, of course, if Bellatrix Black is once more working with Voldemort," she sent a quick look to Hermione to let the girl know that was not what she believed, "well, she's convinced her to leave him once before, she can do it again. I vote Hermione comes."
"This isn't up for a vote, Meadowes," Moody hissed firmly. "She is a child still under the care of Hogwarts."
"I am of age," Hermione argued quickly, sensing Moody losing his patience. She needed to make her case now, before Dumbledore or McGonagall sided with the Auror and she truly did get stuck in the castle tonight. "I need to go. I need to be there."
"Professor Dumbledore," McGonagall spoke up as Moody and Hermione quickly got into a rather loud debate about Hermione's decision to go. "She is a student of our school, we must keep her best interests in mind," Hermione tensed as her professor spoke, not figuring this would be going in her direction either. "However, I fear it will do Hermione no good should she be forced to stay here worrying over the fate of her friends any longer. She has continuously proved herself to be a talented witch, both in the classroom and out."
A pointed look at Hermione to let her know what McGonagall thought of her constant fights and duels with Bellatrix early on, and Hermione gave a sheepish look back to the woman.
"Miss Meadowes is correct in her assumption Hermione is key to tonight's success. I never would have imagined condoning putting a student in the line of fire, but exceptions need to be made occasionally. Tonight is that time. I vote Hermione be permitted to attend."
Hermione could have reaped with relief at having McGonagall's support, especially when Dumbledore was watching her contemplatively. Finally, after a long beat of silence, he said, "I agree. The choice remains in Miss Potter's hand, should she wish to be involved tonight, as she has stated numerous times she is of age. The decision is her."
"I'm going," Hermione said immediately, already thinking of all the possibilities they could face. None of it mattered. She was seeing Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa again. They would be coming home with her. That was the only thing repeating itself in her mind as the Order began discussing the details of their plan, and when each step needed to be conducted.
Hermione was getting them back.
The Black's vacation home in Italy was smaller than Black Manor, but no less luxurious, and for a moment Hermione was in awe of the sort of wealth it must take to live like this. The thought barely lasted before Moody was quietly addressing all of them, their small group crouched behind a fence on the outskirts of the property, all looking up at the white stone and concrete.
"We are going in there entirely blind. We have no idea the amount of people in the house or if any are Death Eaters. Everyone stays vigilant, keep your wits about you. Stay within your assigned group," Moody said, his tone graver than anything Hermione had heard during her time here. "Okay, let's move now."
There were split into two groups of three, with Hermione remaining with Moody and Dearborn's group, so Moody could keep an eye on her. Dorcas was partnered with Doge and Podmore. The latter group would search the first floor of the house while Hermione and her group took the second level.
It was two in the morning, and they were hoping to catch the family unaware, but Hermione had been to Black Manor, knew the amount of wards placed around the property, and knew that even though Dumbledore and Doge had spent the last few hours slowly and inconspicuously removing the wards for the Order to slip through, it would only be due to a struck of stupid luck that Cygnus Black remained sleeping throughout this operation.
"Doge, all wards are down?" Moody asked, just to double (triple, quadruple) check that the wards had, in fact, been removed. Dumbledore himself had said as much. Doge merely nodded, used to the young man's paranoid antics by now. "Then let's go. Keep your wands and heads up. Unforgiveables cannot be used- they'd draw too much attention. Everything else we will be able to justify should the need arise. Let's go."
They moved quickly and with surprising ease onto the property, and Hermione doubted she was the only one who held their breath when they crossed the line where the wards should have been. But when no alarms sounded, when no one rushed from the house, she let a sigh of relief slip through. One hurdle down, countless more to go. Nevertheless, it brought her one step closer to her friends.
"No matter what you see in there," Moody whispered to her as they reached the door. "You need to keep yourself in control. Losing yourself and letting your emotions get the best of you will result in nothing good. If you want your friends, and all of us, to walk out of here together, you have to stay calm and focused."
Even as her heart raced with every step she took, Hermione never felt more focused. They would be successful tonight. There was not any other sort of outcome that would be acceptable.
Dorcas reached the door first and spelled it open, all of them holding their breaths once more before stepping over the threshold, wands out and illuminated.
Hermione did not waste time looking around at the decorations and layout as she had done at Black Manor, not when Dorcas' group was already heading left while Moody led them to the spiral staircase to the second level. The occasional torch shined light on the dark wood floors below their feet, but aside from that they remained alone and in the dark.
Upon coming across the first closed doo, a set of double brown wooden ones, Moody motioned for Dearborn to quietly ease it open. It revealed a small library, no candles lit, probably meaning no one was there. They wouldn't risk the time to search a most likely empty room, but would circle back to do so later if everywhere was empty as well. The next room was smaller, easier to tell no one was in due to the simple office layout, and so she moved on from that as well. It was the third door that held the most promise so far, for when she tried to turn the knob nothing happened. It was locked.
A quick spell from Moody rectified that, all of them looking around to make sure no one had heard him whisper the incantation, before the door was pushed open, and they finally came across a bedroom.
The lack of decoration or any identifying objects in the room gave them no sort of insight to which family member resided in here, if any did at all, or if it was merely a guest room. A quick search of the room and the attached bath revealed nothing, with the closet and dresser being empty as well. Hermione felt as frustrated as Moody looked when he announced they needed to keep moving.
When were they going to find anyone? Was anyone even here? Dumbledore had seemed so sure the Black's retreated to this vacation home, but what if their information was wrong, wherever he had gotten it from? Each day that passed without Bellatrix and her sisters back in Hogwarts was another day that Hermione worried over the safety of her friends.
"Hermione," Moody said in a harsh whisper, gaining her attention when she failed to leave the bedroom. "We need to move."
She nodded her apologies and slipped from the bedroom, trailing between the two men as they once more hit another door, unlocked.
Dearborn was in front, with Moody bringing up the lead, and that meant that when the first spell was thrown their way from somewhere inside the bedroom, Moody grabbed Hermione by the back of her t shirt and threw her to the side as Dearborn threw up a quickly conjured shield, blocking the red beam aimed at his chest.
So they weren't mislead about the whereabouts of the Black family at all. Only about catching them unaware.
"Stay down!" Moody commanded to Hermione at the same time he threw his own offensive spell into the darkness of the room. There was no way he was able to see the person's location, and had to just be aiming in the general vicinity of where the spell came from. "Dearborn! How many?" He chanced a look in Hermione's direction and saw her trying to stand. "STAY DOWN!"
As if she'd sit back and do nothing. Dearborn grunted a response that sounded like 'no idea', though she couldn't be sure, not when Hermione pushed herself to her into a crouched position, risking a look around the doorway into the room right as one of them cast a spell to light the torches.
Hermione didn't know where to look: Cygnus, wand out but spells no longer flying now that Hermione had entered the room; Bellatrix, wand partially raised, her face paler than Hermione ever recalled seeing, with heavy bags under her eyes, favoring her left side as she stood, one shoulder raised higher than the other; the two other men in the room at the back, all dark haired and pale enough to suggest some sort of relation to the Blacks; or at Andromeda, barely standing, held up more so by the tight grip the masked man had on her upper arms, her head lolled to the side, one eye blackened, and her lip swollen and angry with dried blood.
Her friend, the first one to whole-heartedly welcome her to the school, who had teased and mocked her about Bellatrix, who had defended their friendship to her sisters countless times. She was someone Hermione had come to love, and looking at her now, Hermione vowed Cygnus was not walking out of this encounter.
All of them were going to pay.
Cygnus most of all, who stood between his two daughters and the man.
Andromeda thrashed against the man holding her, and the whimper she made when it caused the wand to dig farther into her skin was the breaking point for Hermione. They had kidnapped her friends, beat Andromeda, and now used her as a shield. Something dark and oily slid over Hermione's mind, blocking out any sort of rational thought, save for getting her friends to safety and making the picks who did this pay. It was so entirely unlike her and she didn't care at all, not now.
Moody stepped into the room as well and quickly canvased it, taking in all three people on the opposite side, the way the the doors behind them onto the balcony were open, a gentle breeze swaying the curtains on either side.
Where were the other three members of their group?
"I'm here on official Auror business," Moody began, his voice loud and clear, his wand raised to Cygnus. "By order of the Ministry, lower your wand, lay on the ground, both of you. Release Andromeda and Bellatrix Black right now."
"You had no grounds to enter my home, attack my family, and hurt my daughter." Cygnus waved a hand towards Andromeda, who did manage to scowl at her father, despite how much that must have hurt her mouth to do so. "We will not be cooperating with you, or the others downstairs in my house. All of whom I have on good authority are not Aurors, and therefore have no excuse to be here." He looked to Hermione as he said, "And as such, Bellatrix is here of her own free will, defending her family and home. Are you not, Bellatrix?"
"I am," Bellatrix replied, and Hermione's heart leapt at the sound of her voice, even the words were not what she imagined hearing. Bellatrix did not look in Hermione's direction once, not as she said to Moody, "You need to leave now."
"Bella-" Hermione took a hesitant step forward, desperate to be closer to Bellatrix, desperate to knock out the masked man, desperate to do so many different things to Cygnus. "Bella-"
"Don't call me that, Potter," Bellatrix snapped, finally training those perfectly gorgeous dark eyes on Hermione. "Get out. You made a mistake coming here." Her body was as still as possible, but Hermione did not miss the fraction of a dip in her wand arm, nor the slight twitch of her mouth and nose when she did move, as if... as if that movement had hurt her. Was Bellatrix injured as well?
"You heard my daughter. Leave, before I decide to stop being generous." Cygnus' tone was that of a man who believed he had won, a man under the impression he was untouchable. It was a thousand times worse than anything Lucius Malfoy could hope to achieve, and Hermione had to restrain herself from lashing out. That feeling only intensified when he placed a possessive hand on Bellatrix's shoulder. "My daughter has tired of you, girl, you embarrass yourself coming here."
That wasn't true, and Hermione would not allow the words to affect her. Even if Bellatrix wasn't vocalizing the fact that her father was wrong, it was still a false statement. Every single part of her being believed it. Bellatrix was not herself right now. If she truly wanted to be here, if she truly was so tired of Hermione, she would be the one saying that.
If Hermione had learned anything over the past few months, it was how much Bellatrix enjoyed taunting and playing with her toys. Kicking Rabastan at Hogsmeade, verbally sparring with Andromeda until her sister body checked her, antagonizing Hermione until spells flew...
This Bellatrix, silent and deathly pale and slightly wobbly, eyes alternating between the Order and her sister... that was not a girl that wanted to be in this situation, but was doing so anyway. To what end? To protect Andromeda from a further beating? Something to do with Narcissa, who Hermione needed to find before they left?
"Bellatrix is an of age witch, if she chooses to remain here that is her decision," Moody began, causing Hermione to throw caution to the wind and spin around to glare at him. There was no way he was looking at Bellatrix right now and still thought she could possibly want this? "However, as a show of good faith, let us return Andromeda and Narcissa to Hogwarts."
Andromeda's eyes were fluttering opened and closed slower and slower with each passing moment. They needed to get her out and seen by a mediwitch soon. Bellatrix too. How though? The last encounter with Cygnus had ended with him disappearing with all three girls. But Hermione was with others now, skilled Aurors and duelers, even if Moody was a bloody cockroach for ever thinking Bellatrix would voluntarily stand by her father.
"Though it is not your concern, Auror, I am in the process of pulling all of my children from Hogwarts school. The paperwork is in my office. None of my children are leaving here tonight. In fact, should this pointless interaction continue, none of you will be leaving either."
Hermione had a sinking feeling things were about to get a lot worse than they already were. Andromeda looked like she was on the verge of losing consciousness, and Bellatrix didn't seem too far off, not by the way she was favoring one side over the over, her eyes hazy and her skin paler than normal.
What had Cygnus done to them over the past week?
Where the hell was Narcissa?
Moody must be able to tell as well, as he shifted slightly closer to Hermione, as if he'd knock her away again should the need arise. As if she'd let him. He slipped back into conversation with Cygnus, once more asking the man to allow them to leave without any sort of altercation beyond this. Hermione didn't know if he genuinely was willing to walk away, or if it was a distraction.
And didn't care, not when Bellatrix was staring right at her now that Cygnus was occupied.
She hardly moved, could not risk her father noticing anything, but kept motioning with her eyes to Andromeda, who continued to weakly struggle against her captor. Bellatrix made the motion with her eyes again and again, doing it in an unending loop.
Was she trying to tell Hermione to get Andromeda out? Leave her, and take Andromeda out? Hermione would not. She'd get them all out tonight. Bellatrix would not be left behind.
Hermione subtly shook her head, and Bellatrix did the motion again. No, Hermione said once more.
And then-
Bellatrix's already thin patience must have worn out, and Hermione could not decide if that was a saving grace or something to damn them all, not as Bellatrix moved quicker than she ought to be able, backing up until she had a clear view of Andromeda and the masked man.
And then things all started happening in rapid succession, started of course, by Bellatrix.
"STUPEFY!"
All eyes had been on Moody and Cygnus. None of them, save Andromeda and Hermione, had noticed Bellatrix throw her wand up and aim it at the golden masked man. He threw back into the wall and dropped, unmoving, and Bellatrix had only just those few seconds to throw up a protego spell to save herself from being hit with a curse from Cygnus.
"GET HER!" Bellatrix screamed, distracted, as she blocked spell after spell from her father, Moody and Doge quick to join in as well, all of them now facing Cygnus as Hermione raced to Andromeda, who had collapsed onto the floor when the man was forced to release her.
The other two men in the room, who until now had remained still and silent, jumped into action as well, both skilled enough that yes, Hermione knew for sure they were some sort of Black. Everyone started yelling spells over one another, lights of all colors coming from wands.
In an entirely reckless decision, Hermione threw her back to the battle as she raced to Andromeda's side. The younger girl's eyes widen as she said, "Watch-!" and Hermione had time only to spin, her wand half drawn, her body acting as a shield to Andromeda, as a curse was sent her way, aimed directly at her chest.
And bounced off of a shield, curtesy of Doge, who did not have time to acknowledge her relieved thanks. Hermione didn't care, not as it gave her time to look at Andromeda. Hurt, undoubtedly, but alive. Now, if they could just find Narcissa, they could get out of here.
"Where are you hurt? Where is Narcissa?" Hermione kept running her hands over Andromeda's arms lightly, knowing they didn't have time for this, not when there was an unconscious Death Eater beside them and three furious Black wizards at their backs, all of them wanting them dead.
"I'm- fine." Andromeda blinked slowly once more, worrying Hermione further. "Cissy is in the basement with my mother."
Hermione could only hope the reason the other Order members had not come to their aid was that they found Narcissa in the basement, and were getting her to safety.
"Can you walk on your own?" Hermione seriously doubted it, but she needed to ask. The longer this conversation went on, the longer they remained vulnerable, and the longer neither of them could help in the fight. Worse, they were little more than distractions as Moody and Doge kept having to throw up shields to keep them from being hit.
"I don't- I don't know," Andromeda said despairingly, and once more her eyes widened, her hand shooting out to grip Hermione's wrist weakly, and Hermione turned again, watching, unable to intervene, as a red spell hit Doge in the stomach, sending him spiraling to the ground.
He did not get back up again.
Moody couldn't go to his aide, not when him and Bellatrix were still trying to take down Cygnus and their relatives. It was a fight to behold, that was for sure, as aside from Doge's collapse, neither side had been able to place any serious spells on the other.
They were doing considerable damage to the room, though, as every blocked spell ricocheted and slammed into furniture, a wall, some decorations, anything it reached first. Hermione ached to join, but she could not leave Andromeda weak and defenseless here. She'd never forgive herself if something happened to her best friend in this timeline.
But watching Bellatrix and Moody block assault after assault was weighing on her, and even the sight of Moody landing a successful stunner into one of the unknown men, taking him down, did little to console her. It did leave the two sides matched once more, and seemed to give their side the boost it needed, and Bellatrix sent five spells in rapid fire towards the other man, the last two finally hitting their mark and taking him down as well.
"End it now," Moody said, once it became two-on-one. "This doesn't have to end terribly for you, Cygnus."
"Or it could," Bellatrix shrugged, her face reddened with exertion, a shimmering sheen of sweat on her skin. "That sounds fine to me."
"You idiotic girl," Cygnus hissed, all of their wands aimed but none casting a spell, the fight seemingly paused so they could go back to arguing. "You are foolish to believe he'd ever let you or this family go. I hope your misbegotten devotion to your sisters or your carnal desires with the girl are worth the pain and torture you will receive for disobeying him twice now."
That sounded ominous, and given the tract record of how this timeline was going for them, did not seem like it would play out in their favor. Hermione stood now that the fight was over, and held out a hand for Andromeda to grip onto. Once she had the girl standing, albeit very shakily, she slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. They didn't move any closer to the others, but Hermione felt better standing and facing them all.
Bellatrix looked to them for one second, and Hermione knew that was a slight dip in her shoulders as some of the tension eased at seeing her baby sister upright and away from the Death Eater.
Cygnus noticed as well, and his face shifted to one of further displeasure and revulsion, enough so that he went as far as to open his mouth and-
"Say one thing about Hermione or Andromeda, and I will cast the killing curse on you right now."
Hermione knew Bellatrix was deathly serious right in that moment, much to the detriment of the timeline.
"You would kill your own father over the likes of the girl and your sister?" Cygnus looked disgusted at the thought. Not at being killed, for he seemed to not take that part earnestly, but at the fact that Bellatrix valued Hermione and Andromeda more than him. "Your sister, who has been a disappoint since the moment she nearly killed your mother coming out, your sister, who-"
He didn't get to finish the sentence, for Bellatrix moved at a pace that Hermione couldn't properly track. Cygnus did though, and blocked the stunner quickly. The battle resumed, Hermione once more using her body to block Andromeda. The only difference was this time she was standing, and could throw her own spells into the mix. She couldn't move as easily as the others, not when Andromeda was resting so heavily on her side, but she was able to block them both well enough, and throw offensive spells at Cygnus.
It should have been impossible for him to last as long as he was, but he was a Black, the patriarch of the family, and Hermione had watched Bellatrix defy the odds in a battle enough times to know how skilled the man was, and how long he could probably keep this going if they didn't manage to get the upper hand.
Or, it would have, had Cygnus not made a horrible mistake.
His wand was pointed right at Bellatrix as he began to do a movement that had Hermione's stomach sinking, his mouth forming the damning words.
Hermione didn't give herself time to think or second guess or try to figure out a better solution.
Not when Cygnus was saying, "Ava-"
"BOMBARDO MAXIMA!"
The white beam of light exploded everything.
The room was spacious, but even a Black house was not big enough to survive such a powerful explosive spell, not when done in doors, and especially not when done in a room that had already been taking a beating.
Hermione heard a scream that very well could have been her own as her and Andromeda were forced backwards into the wall as a loud explosion overtook them all as it slammed into the wall by Cygnus, immediately destroying it. The impact rocked them all, and a smoky, hazy mist from the destruction of the stones covered the room. There was another loud crack, Hermione trying to blink the dust from her head even as her vision swam, and then the ceiling was falling.
Hermione threw herself overtop of Andromeda's body, throwing a shield above them both as pieces of stone rained down. She could do nothing but endure it, and hope the others were able to do the same.
Even as her heart was racing, her mind going over where everyone was standing before she reacted and cast such a powerful spell in such a small space.
She hadn't been able to think of anything but stopping Cygnus was casting the killing curse on Bellatrix. Her body had acted without her mind's approval, and before she even recognized what she was doing the spell was out. Had she had time to think, she might have chosen a less severe one. Mainly because the closest person to Cygnus was Bellatrix.
Hermione very well could have just damned them all for nothing, if her own spell had harmed Bella.
There was another yell, deeper this time, and through the ringing in Hermione's ears she could make out her name being said by that deep voice, followed by Andromeda's, Doge's, and Bellatrix's. Definitely Moody. She breathed a sigh of relief to know that at least he was conscious, and cursing up a storm as more pieces of the walls and ceiling collapsed.
He was saying something, something other than their names, but Hermione couldn't say for sure what it was, not when the ringing was still so loud, and she could finally feel Andromeda stirring beside her. She felt more than heard the girl give a pitiful groan of pain. Hurt, but alive. It was enough for now.
What the hell happened to Bella?
Hermione thought she was screaming her name, over and over, but she wasn't sure if she was thinking it or voicing it.
Moody spoke again, followed by a deep groan that she didn't think belonged to him. Hermione hoped it was Doge, and not Cygnus or the others, even if that would make her a murderer.
Murderer. The word clanged through her, forcing another gasp from her mouth as her blood froze and her heart nearly stopped. Murderer. She'd be a murderer if they all didn't walk from this room tonight. Even if the person she killed was Cygnus, she- she-
Through the dust, Andromeda's blurry face came into her line of sight, her skin dusty and bloodied, but whole. Andromeda said or mouthed her name, once, twice, placing her hands on either side of Hermione's face.
"Hermione." A third time, this time coming in over the slowly subsiding ringing, and Hermione was able to blink her into focus. "We need.. to move." Andromeda's voice was little more than a wet gasp. "The ceiling."
The ceiling was slowly coming down, in big and small chunks. It was a matter of luck none had fallen on them, but how had their friends faired?
Murderer.
Andromeda was pulling Hermione's hands as another body came into somewhat of a view, more a silhouette than anything for a second or two before she could make out Moody, even if he looked wrong.
It took her too long to realize why.
Bloodied and limping, Moody had a body thrown over his shoulder.
Even through the dust, through the most likely concussion she had given herself, Hermione would have been able to recognize the main of wild hair peaking over Moody's shoulder.
Bellatrix.
Dead, or unconscious?
Hermione didn't let herself consider any other possibility aside from unconscious, not as she forced herself to stand, nearly collapsing from the wave of dizziness and nausea that overtook for a moment.
"Can you walk?" Moody asked, eyes large and wild as he looked them over. Hermione gave a jerky nod. She wasn't sure she could walk, nor did she know if Andromeda could, but they'd have to make do. They needed to get away. "Good. Apparate out of here. Now. To the house."
As gently but quickly as possible he laid Bellatrix on the ground, and Hermione held back her choke of panic at the sight of the girl. She looked more bruise and blood than skin right in that moment, and Hermione couldn't make out if she was breathing through the dust.
Another piece of ceiling fell, this one closer to them than the others.
Hermione didn't want to leave, not when everyone else was still in the house.
Was Narcissa still in here?
"We-" she tried to say they couldn't, tried to say the names of their friends still in here, but the wall closest to them crumbled. The outside was completely visible, the outside air sucking out some of the dust. "Moody-"
"GO." His voice sounded panicked for the first time she's ever heard. "NOW."
He would save the others. He would, he would, he would.
Murderer.
With an anguished, panicked cry, Hermione gripped Andromeda's hand, her other tightly wound around Bellatrix's shallowly moving chest, and apparated away.