Battle of Hogwarts Part 1
Hermione threw up a strong shield as she fought alongside her mates. The great hall was an absolute mess, spells flew in every direction as light and dark battled in the once glorious grounds of Hogwarts.
Their was no side doing better than the other, both had equally downed bodies and Hermione was growing more tense by the minute. She still hadn't spotted her mother and she was secretly praying that her mama was thinking clearly enough to keep herself out of the fight for now. She couldn't risk someone downing her or her mother being forced to down someone before Hermione had the chance to reveal her mothers true allegiance.
Currently the Trinity were facing off against a group of Voldemorts best fighters. If she was remembering right from her research these were his second bests, only out ranked by his inner circle, all of whom hadn't been seen yet. The group of death eaters consisting of four unknown males amd three unknown females all carried cruel smirks on their faces. Clearly believing they were more than enough to take out the three teen girls who were currently guarding the stairs that would lead them deeper into the castle, determined to keep the fight at the front of their beloved school for as long as possible to minimise the damage.
"Together" Hermione whispered as she reached out with her magic to connect with Fleur and Dora's.
"Always" they whispered back as she felt their magics embrace hers.
"Protego" she whispered erecting a strong shield between them and the death eaters. Before beginning to concentrate on incapacitating the dark lords forces.
"Bombarda"
"Expulso"
"Confringo" the trinity called together aiming at the closet three death eaters. The spells connecting and taking them out in a viscious sounding series of snarls and shouts of pain.
"Oh clever little witches then" one man sneered as the final four of the group moved forward to replace the three that Hermione and her mates had taken out.
"You have no idea" Hermione sang back mockingly as she smiled somewhat innocently at him, causing a series of sarcastic chuckles to erupt from the death eaters.
"Cocky too int she?" An unknown woman snarked and Hermione reacted instantly when she saw the twitch of the womans wand indicating that she was winding up to send some type of spell their way.
'Expelliamus' she thought as she flicked her wand a second quicker than the death eater. Causing the death eater to widen her eyes comically as her wand went sailing out of her hand, straight into Hermione's hand who merely grinned and snapped the womans wand, rendering it useless as she still maintained the shield around her and her mates.
"She's not cocky at all, just that bloody good" Dora chimed smugly as the death eaters glanced at each other wearily, seaming to rethink their decision to go up against the three teen girls.
"Not zinking of running from zree little girlz are you" Fleur teased, smirking at them.
"As if" the only remaining male scoffed as the death eaters seemed to draw their shoulders back in offense and ready themselves to attack again.
"Don't toy with them girls" Andromeda's voice chimed with a chuckle as she appeared, knocking the disarmed death eater woman away from her girls. Making sure to leave the three death eaters who were still armed alone, more than confident that her girls could handle them together.
"Of course aunt Meda" Hermione smiled over her shoulder at her aunt. Andromeda smiled back quickly before darting off to help someone else.
Without a word the Trinity shared a quick meaningful look with one another before wordlessly casting stunners at the death eaters, sending all but one death eater back into the wall behind them, knocking them out. The remaining death eater managed to cast a shield just in time to obsorb the spell before slinging a 'sectumsempra' back at the teens.
Hermione laughed in amusement as she deflected the curse without effort amd engaged the death eater one on one while her mates concentrated on ensuring no other death eaters got close to the duel.
"Fuck" the woman cursed as she struggled to hold her shield while Hermione attacked, sending a barage of spells the girls way, each one stronger than the one before at her. Hermione took the spell fire expertly before casting a strong stupify followed by a bombarda then an incarcerous at the death eater, the woman could only watch on in fear as the first spell shattered her shield with its strength. She barely deflected the bombarda before the incarcerous hit her sending her toppling backwards her legs amd arms bound and her wand snapping on impact with the ground.
As Hermione rejoined her mates the castle fell silent as Voldemorts voice echoed earily throughout the grounds.
"All my forces are to retreat immediately. I give you all an hour to collect your dead and treat your wounded. Harry Potter I now speak to you. Look around you. At the destruction caused by your own cowardice as you hide behind your friends. I ask you to stop hiding and come face me. I will be waiting in the dark forest for you to come meet your fate. If you fail to show when the hours up, my forces will return and none shall be spared from the blood shed." His voice was malicious, knowing and cruel in its meaning. Hermione couldn't help but think it a little clever of him to appeal to Harry's morality. She knew her best friend felt guilty about his friends having to fight this war and she knew without having to see him to know that he would except his fate proudly.
The death eaters disappeared quickly, withdrawing from the school grounds almost instantly leaving the light to go about gathering their forces and treating the wounded as quickly as possible.
-----
"Ginny, Neville I need you both to go and retrieve another Basilisk fang" Hermione murmured as she pulled them into a hug, relieved to see that they were not showing any signs of harm.
"Take this and destroy it and trust me when I say that no matter what you see in the next hour or so Harry is and will remain alive" She said hurriedly as she pressed the The cup of Helga Hufflepuff into Ginnys hand.
"Okay" Ginny whispered as she held tightly to Hermione.
"There is fangs in McGonagalls office, we retrieved as many as we could when we dealt with the diadem" Neville replied matter of factly, as he tried to swallow his emotion, aware that now was not the time to allow himself to break down over the destruction around them.
Hermione nodded and offered her two friends a reassuring smile as they ran up the stairs the trinity had been guarding.
----
"Mione" Harry called as he finally located his best friend standing with her family. McGonagall, both her aunts, Dora, Fleur and surprisingly Draco Malfoy all stood off to the side in the great hall. Hermione had a protective arm around Draco as she whispered hurriedly into his ear.
Even from this distance Harry could see the relief filter across the Malfoy heirs face. Hermione kissed the blonde on the forehead before directing him to stand between her aunts, kissing their cheeks effectionately before turning and running to Harry. Wrapping her arms around him tightly. Cedric appearing from apparently nowhere and joining their hug.
"Its time isn't it Mione?" Cedric whispered as he looked at the green eyed boy who had become his little brother with worried eyes.
"It is but I promise this will work. Do you still have the resurrection stone Harry?" Hermione asked as she studied his worried features.
"Yes, I've taken it out of the snitch Dumbledore left me in his will" Harry replied, anxiety lacing his words.
"Good, make sure you keep a hold of it. When his curse strikes you'll black out for a moment, it will be painful but you must remain silent and still. Do not give away that you are still alive. Not until I give the signal. It is so important Harry" Hermione said quietly but her friends could hear the plea in her voice. A plea for them to trust her, a plea for this to work. A plea for everything to turn out alright.
"I know Mione, I trust your gut, trust me to do my part" Harry reassured his friend. Unsure how it had turned out him comforting her rather than she comforting him. He was about to walk willingly to his (hopefully) fake death after all.
"I do trust you Harry, always" she said offering him a watery smile that warmed his heart. He smiled back and pulled her back into his arms. He owed this witch his life ten times over, she had always been there for him, had sacrificed everything for him more than once without complaint and even more so since she found out her true identity and destiny. She had taken the burden of the wizarding worlds future without complaint and had given her entire Hogwarts experience to ensure that her friends and family, that her school and those she didnt know had the ability to defend and protect themselves and their loved ones. She had hidden who she was and willingly remained separated from her birth parents all for the protection of others and no one knew what she had sacrificed for them. She had given it all up graciously and he suddenly understood clearly just how much her sacrifice had hurt her as he gazed into her tired, longing eyes. Eyes that hadn't slept a full night in months. Eyes that were always quick to reassure, to offer help and kindness. Soft brown eyes that had already seen and experienced some of the worlds greatest evils yet still shone brighter with a warmth than anything he had ever seen.
"Its going to be alright Mione" he whispered.
"We've got this little sis, together remember" Cedric added as be slung an arm around both Hermione and Harry's shoulders.
Hermione smiled at them greatfully. Swallowing the strong emotions she felt brewing beneath the surface and drew herself up straight. Taking a moment to be thankful for the journey that had meant these two wonderful boys had become the brothers she never knew she wanted.
"Always" she said, sounding to both boys relief, so much more sure of herself and their destiny.
No matter how confident she sounded Hermione couldn't help the apprehension that settled in her chest as she watched her bestfriend of six years walk towards the castle exit alone, heading towards his own fate and she found herself praying hard that she was right about Harry being a horcrux, even if her analysis and research that all pointed to him being one bad been studied by her meticulously numerous times.
She sighed tiredly, running her hands through her hair.
"Come on Ced, let's give a hand with the wounded, it won't be long before it all starts again" she said, turning towards the greathall where the injured were being treated.
-----
"Harry Potter come to his death at lassst" Voldemort hissed with satisfaction as Narcissa stood beside her sister behind the dark man, watching the dark haired boy make his way towards them.
Narcissa felt her heart clench in apprehension as she watch the boy, she didnt understand how anyone could wish harm upon a child, yet here she was staying silent as Harry Potter walked towards certain death. Although she was pretty sure Hermione had planned for this and she refused to believe that when the dark Lord downed the boy everything would be over. She wasn't sure she could sit by and except a world ruled by such evil, no matter what her husband demanded she want, she could never want a child to suffer the way the children of this generation were.
Her heart had broken as she had to stand beside her husband and son watching Hermione Granger suffer at the hands of her sister. The girls screams still haunted her nightly as she knew they did her sister and her son. She had found Bellatrix sobbing in her room the evening the girl escaped and although Bellatrix hadn't given away much of what had her so tormented, the words she had given away filled Narcissa with hope that maybe her sister could redeem herself.
"I didn't want to hurt her Cissy, her screams, I cant get them out of my head" Bellatrix had whispered before sobbing harder and refusing to say another word. Narcissa had held her sister, thinking back to the last time she had held her sister like this.
It was the night her sisters little girl had died. Bellatrix had sobbed until she couldn't keep herself awake any longer. When she had awoken the next day it was like her sister had flipped a switch, Bella refused to show any emotion and Narcissa still mourned the loss of both her niece and her sister, she was convinced that Bella's sanity had died that night alongside her daughter.
Until recently that is when her sister had escaped Azkaban. The dark witch had in many ways seemed somehow softer, hopeful even. More sane than she was before her arrest and Narcissa knew that she would hold out hope for her sisters redemption until the very last second.
"Harry Potter come to die?" The snake like voice of the dark lord drew Narcissa out of her own head as he sneered at the teenager who had now come to a stop several feet infront of them. The death eaters that stood behind Bellatrix and Narcissa laughed gleefully and Narcissa was sickened all over again when she heard her husbands tell tale laugh.
"Certainly seems that way doesn't it" the boy answered criptically and Narcissa was secretly pleased to see the glimmer of defiance that shone in his startling green eyes. He did have his mothers eyes, she thought sadly as she remembered the smiling face of Lilly Potter, the muggle-born that captured the hearts of many.
"It does, and you surprise me yet again, it seems we have finally found a Potter that can follow simple instructions" Voldemort sneered tauntingly.
"I may have came here willingly as you so politely asked but don't think with my death dies the resistance, if you believe that your more foolish than I thought" Harry snarked, eyes continuing to glint defiantly as he stood hands clenched in fists at his sides, surprising Narcissa when he made no move to arm himself with his wand.
Voldemort scoffed and the death eaters chuckled humorously.
"Stupid boy, without you there is no resistance surely you know that" the snake like man hissed in annoyance.
Narcissa smirked behind the dark lords back when the boy laughed at him. Wishing she had the nerve to defy the dark man so bravely as the young gryffindor did in this moment even as he faced his own imminent death.
"Clearly you haven't met my sister yet" Harry Potter said smugly before continuing.
"Because clearly if you had you would know she is the real reason we stand proudly, defiant and united but enough small talk Tom, do your worst" he finished raising his chin defiantly.
"Very well" Voldemort hissed before his wand snapped out quickly.
"AVADA KEDAVRA" he shouted and Narcissa watched in horror as the man her husband had forced her to follow murdered a teenage boy in his pursuit for power and control.
The spell hit the boy with a blinding green flash, launching his lifeless body into the air before it crumpled onto the forest floor.
It all felt rather anti climactic to Narcissa as cheers erupted behind her and the Dark Lord turned, his face looking far too smug and victorious. As if striking an unarmed seventeen year old boy was a great feat of magic and solved all the wrolds wrongs Marcissa sneered inwardly, disgusted by the man that stood infront of her.
"You, check on the boy, I want to know for certain he isss dead" the dark Lord hissed as he pointed towards Narcissa.
Narcissa shrank back slightly from his hollow eyed stare before snapping into action. Hermione's warning to do as she must to survive ringing throughout her mind.
She made her way towards the boy quickly before kneeling over his prone body. She drew in a breath and blinked the tears from her eyes. It would do her no good to cry over a boy she did not know infront of a group of sadistic power-hungry fools she thought as she tentatively reached out to feel for a pulse on a boy who was the same age as her own son.
Narcissa barely concealed a gasp when she felt his heart beat steadily. Strong beneath her fingertips. His eyelids fluttering and his eyes connecting with her own, pleading for her silence. Narcissa knew what he wanted from her and she vowed silently to comply.
"Draco?" She whispered quietly turning her head to allow her hair to fall infront of her lips, concealing them from the hungry eyes behind her.
"Safe, Hermione has the Tonks' guarding him" Harry whispered softly, his eyes conveying his understanding and conplete trust in her to do the right thing. Hermione had obviously let the boy know she had been in contact with Narcissa and if Hermione was trusting her with her bestfriends life Narcissa was eager to prove her trust well placed, even if she still did not understand the girls willingness to help her or the weird pull she felt towards the girl. She nodded subtly before pulling her hand away from his neck and straightening her back.
"Dead" she called loudly, looking over her shoulder as she stood and moved away from the boy.
"Good" Voldemort replied, something resembling a smile lacing his horrific face. To Narcissa it looked more like a grimace and only made the man look even uglier than was usual.
"Now, Halfbreed" the dark man spat as he turned towards Hagrid, who had been captured in the earlier fighting. The half giant was currently bound in thick rope that was held in the hands of six of Voldemorts strongest men, ensuring that the man didn't flee.
"You can have the honour of carrying him to the castle. I think its time we showed this little rebellion exactly what happens when someone daress defy me" he hissed, motioning for his men to lead the man towards the motionless boy.
It broke Narcissa's heart to see the man who had been around offering happy grins and words of encouragement to all students since she began at Hogwarts aged 11 look so utterly sad and defeated. His eyes swollen and red as tears trailed down his face silently. His gaze never leaving the body of the teen, who obviously meant so much to him, laying on the forest floor.
------
"By now, Harry will have met Voldemort - yes I'm saying his name, he will try to kill us regardless of what we call him. Besides fear of the name only increases fear of the person and we cannot allow him that power over us" Hermione said loudly, addressing the mass of students, professors, Order Members and others who were standing infront of her.
She paused, allowing the murmur of agreement to dwindle down and the hall to fall silent once more before she continued.
"He will have met and Voldemort will have cast his killing curse, he will now believe that Harry is dead and with him our defiance. But I assure you Harry is very much alive. He was a hurcrux so infact all Moldyshorts has done is destroy the piece of his own soul that was residing within Harry. However when they arrive here on the castle grounds you must all react as if you believe he is dead" Hermione told them clearly.
"Why?" Cho Chang asked as she looked at Hermione curiously.
"Good question" Hermione smiled "we need him to believe Harry is gone, he will stop the destruction to our school long enough to gloat, he may even ask you all to reconsider switching sides and pledging yourself to him" she continued and paused again when loud cries of 'NEVER' carried throughout the hall.
"Indeed" she replied, smirking at the crowd below her as many chuckled, recognising Minerva McGonagalls signature saying rolling off the young brunettes lips. A girl that many only knew from the pictures in newspaper articles, depicting her torment at the hands of her own parents. A girl that they all knew from others was the kindest soul they had ever met, who had stepped up to lead a rebellion against a great evil. Standing proudly infront of them, defiant against all those that would seek to belittle and harm her for simply being born.
"In this pause I will adress everyone and I will warn you, you will all learn things tonight that you previously didn't know, most will shock you but I ask you to remember that us students have been preparing for this day since I was eleven years old. We have many safety measures in place to ensure our victory and it will all be revealed tonight. No matter how shocking or unbelievable what you hear is to you I ask that you place your trust in me, your trust in us students and your trust in Albus Dumbledore, who until the day he died did everything he could to prepare Harry, our friends and I for this moment" Hermione finished as she looked around the hall, keeping her expression honest and open.
"I place my trust in you no matter what" came the voice of Andromeda Tonks who was standing off to the side watching her niece stand proudly, her mates at her side as the little brunette prepared them all for what was to come.
"I too place my trust in you mo sholas anns an dorchadas" Minerva chimed in, smiling fondly at the little witch.
"Thank you Aunt Meda, Grandmama" Hermione smiled, nodding in acknowledgement of their declaration. Not that she had ever doubted they'd do this but she knew they had spoke out deliberately. If two of the most prominent witches on the side of the light could place their trust in her then the others were likely to follow. Their trust in Andromeda and Minerva having been built over years of friendships and hardships.
Her smile grew as she heard the declaration repeated by her peers and various adults across the hall, others nodding their head in agreement.
"Thank you all. Now this will turn into a battle, I ask that you know it is not compulsory for you to fight. You can leave with your families if you prefer. It will not be held against you. Those willing to fight I ask you protect each others backs. Blackbirds Army" she said, turning now to address the mass of students "I ask you to remember your training. You fight in threes, you protect one anothers backs. You stick together because it is together that we will end this war once and for all" she finished.
"You are all strong fighters, we taught you the skills, it is you that perfected them. Trust in yourselves and your peers" Dora added as she stepped forward, grasping Hermione's hand.
"Zey are correct, trust in each ozer. Ve cannot let our 'earts be consumed by zee darkness. Ve fight today for a freer world, for equality but ze most important zing is ve fight today for eachozer" Fleur replied, stepping up to Hermione's other side and grabbing her hand also. The trinity of light raising their joined hands in unity.
The three teen witches smiled softly as they watched everyone standing infront of them reach out to eachother. Clasping hands and raising them up, imitating the trio that stood infront of them as they stood silently in a clear show of strength and determination.
There moment of unity was cut short when Cedric ran inside the wall slightly out of breath.
"They're coming" he said clearly. His face apprehensive as Hermione led everyone towards the doors of the greathall and out onto the once magnificent courtyard that now stood covered in rubble and ruin.
-----
Bellatrix swallowed in anticipation as they approached the courtyard. She stood proudly on the dark lords left, Rudulphus mirroring her on his right. They were the picture of his perfect servants. His best fighters. His lieutenants. His right and left hand but Bellatrix smiled a small smile as the realisation hit her that this moment is the moment she and her husband had been working towards for twenty odd years. The moment that seventeen years of separation from their baby girl would come to an end and they would be able to rejoin their girl, fighting for a better world, fighting against the man she had spent all these years faking her service too. She didnt understand how he had so foolishly trusted them. He was well aware that for a Black, which she was first and foremost before anything else, family was the most important thing in this world and would always triumph over everything.
She glanced to her right and caught sight of her husband who grinned at her in response, silently acknowledging the importance of what was to come. Bella grinned back, her eyes sparkling lovingly at him before turning back to face the castle as they continued their silent ascent to the courtyard.
Arriving in the ruins they were met by the other side, all already standing in the courtyard as if they meant to greet them and Bellatrix smirked inwardly as she noticed their numbers. They were far greater than the Dark Lord had anticipated. They far outnumbered them and their death eaters. It seemed her little witch (because who else could be that smart if not Bella's girl) had held back some of their fighters in preparation for this moment.
She saw the dark Lord visibly flinch when his eyes took in the scene infront of him. He obviously underestimated their numbers Bellatrix thought sarcastically. Her eyes automatically searching the crowd infront of her for her girl and her eyes lit up when she spotted her girl standing front and centre, flanked by Nymphadora and the pretty Veela.
The three girls looked gorgeous as they stood, hands clasped together, heads held high in defiance. Bella also noticed that her bond mother Minerva stood directly behind Hermione, Bella's sister Andromeda flanking her to the right and Andromeda's wife flanking her to the left. They were the picture of unity and Bella felt her heart clench at the thought. This was her family standing infront of her. Her mother, her sisters, her niece and future daughters all standing strong in the face of adversity, together and determined. The sight only increased her longing to join them.
'Soon mama' came Hermione's voice in her head and Bellatrix's dark brown eyes snapped over to meet her daughters lighter brown eyes as she drew in a sharp breath and forced the emotion deep within herself. Her girls words acting as the reassurance that she needed. She didnt know how her girl knew she needed to hear them but Bella would be forever grateful. Her girls words keeping the longing and the doubts of whether or not she would be welcome at bay with the promise that she would be reunited with her family soon enough.
"Harry Potter is dead!!" Voldemort laughed, drawing Bellatrix's attention from the kind brown pools of her little girls eyes.
"No!! No!" Screamed the young Weasley girl dashing forward as if she meant to get to the Potter boy but the girl was caught about the waist by someone who Bella assumed was also a Weasley if the hair was anything to go by. The crowd infront of them also crying out in protest and outrage.
"Silence, stupid girl!" The dark lord hissed. Raising his wand towards the sky. His snake Nagini appearing at his side, hissing menacingly.
"Harry Potter is dead. With him dies any hope of defeating me so with that knowledge I offer all those with pureblood the chance to reconsider their misplaced defiance, it would be a waste to shed anymore of what is superior" he hissed as he addressed the large group infront of him that made up the 'light' side of this light against dark war.
Surprising everyone, including Bella, the Longbottom boy, Neville, if she remembered correctly, limped forward standing tall when he came to a stop and Bella was pleased to see that the boy had grown into a strong looking lad, his defiantly glinting eyes matching all those that stood behind him.
"I'd hoped for better, but I suppose you'll do" The dark lord hissed, laughing. A sound that sounded more like a weaze than anything else. Bella forced herself to laugh alongside the death eaters beside her. Displaying her signature manic cackle and she didnt fail to see how many infront of her winced slightly in response as they cast her weary glances.
"Harry may be dead but he lives on in us all. In here" Neville started, gesturing to his own heart. "He gave his life for our freedom, for a better future, we cannot fail him now by backing down to a bully" he finished drawing himself up to his full height.
"Neville's right!" Hermione shouted, stepping forward, flanked by her mates, prompting a chorus of "here, here" to ring across the courtyard.
"Foolish" The dark lord spat. "I give you all one last chance to lay down your wands and pledge your allegiance to me" he hissed, glaring at Hermione before turning his cold eyes on the rest of the group infront of him.
"Draco" Lucius called from behind Bellatrix. "Draco, come" the Malfoy git barked as he glared at his son who stood at the back of the group gathered infront of them, on the steps of the castle entrance. Bella watched as her nephew looked around wildly before his eyes landed on Hermione and she was surprised when at a subtle nod from the little brunette Draco began moving forward, the boy clearly seeking guidance from the girl as if he would only comply if she so wished.
'Tell aunt Narcissa to move towards Draco and meet him halfway' came Hermione's voice in her head. Her tone urgent.
'Cissy, go towards your boy now' Bellatrix sent to her sister through their mindlink bond. Ensuring her tone was commanding, leaving her sister no choice but to comply. She watched as her daughters eyes locked onto Narcissa, following her aunts movements closely as Draco finally made it out of the crowd in between the two sides. As Narcissa and Draco met in the middle Bella felt apprehension coil in her gut, as understanding washed through her. this was it. This was when her daughter was going to start taking the dark lords foundations apart, brick by brick. Starting by making an example of the Malfoys.
"Draco" Hermione's voice rang out, loud and strong. Halting the movements of Narcissa and Draco who had began to move slowly towards the dark lords forces. Bella watched in anticipation as her nephew grasped his mothers hand and began leading her towards Hermione, not taking his eyes of the Dark Lord or his father.
"What is this? The Malfoys traitors?" Voldemort hissed as he turned towards Lucius.
"N...n..no my lord, they're merely confused" Lucius Malfoy stuttered and Bellatrix shuddered at the display of cowardice from the Malfoy Lord.
"Narcissa, Draco. Come here this instant" Lucius commanded as he stepped forward. His face expectant. Slowly turning to one of rage and cruelty as his wife and son continued to back away towards Hermione.
"Come here now, I am the head of this family and you will do what you are told" Lucius spat. "Need I remind you what happens when either of you defy me" he hissed, taking another step forward as he raised his wand and cast an incarcerous towards his wife. His actions were so fast that Narcissa didn't have a chance to throw up a shield so her face was one of absolute shock, mirroring Bella's, when the spell bounced off an obviously very powerful shield that had appeared infront of Narcissa and Draco.
"I don't think so" Hermione snarled at the dark lord and Lucius. Fury lighting her eyes and Bella couldnt fault her, she felt the same and would have reacted the same way if she could safely. After all Draco and Narcissa were their family. Narcissa was her girls auntie. An aunt she had never gotten the chance to know. Draco her cousin and although it was foolish to so openly challenge Voldemort she couldn't fault her girl for reacting so quickly to protect her family even if that family was clueless as to who the girl was.
Narcissa cast a thankful look towards the little brunette who nodded and smiled softly at her aunt before motioning behind her, as if to instruct Narcissa to move into the crowd. Andromeda and Teddy Tonks moving to flank the young Malfoy heir and his mother protectively. Bellatrix's eyes watered slightly as she watched Andromeda place a hand reassuringly on their youngest sisters shoulders as if to let Narcissa know she was safe and her baby sisters tense stance relaxed slightly under the touch of the older sister she had not spoken too in twenty years.
"Don't you dare Narcissa. Bring my son over here this instant before I make you both regret your defiance" hissed Lucius, his face twisted and red in anger.
"She won't and you wont do anything of the sort Lucius" Hermione spoke again. Bella watched intently as her little girl moved forward, stepping between Lucius' line of sight, concealing Narcissa and Draco slightly from the furious man. Her mates following closely. Their steps in sink with Hermione's as she came to a stop infront of the light, facing off against Lucius and the dark Lord.
"Oh and a mudblood like you will stop me" the greasy haired git spat and Bellatrix bristled slightly. Not at all pleased with hearing anyone disrespect her little girl. The poor excuse for a man, sneered as he raised his wand up pointing at Hermione.
"Before you cast a spell consider carefully Lord Malfoy. For if you engage me in a duel I will claim your houses, your wealth, your wife and your heir when I disarm you. I have already issued two formal warnings to the house of Malfoy." Hermione taunted, emphasising Lucius' title as she rolled her wand lazily between her fingers in a move that was so like her that Bellatrix felt pride engulf her. She also noted happily that her girls knowledge of the old ways was impressive. It meant that if Lucius did engage her in a duel and lost (which Bellatrix knew he would) Hermione would automatically claim the Malfoy lordship.
"As if a filthy little mudblood like you could defeat a lord" Lucius spat as he stepped forward. Wand out, ready to cast.
"I feel it's only fair I warn you Lucius that my first order of business will be striking you off the family tree, Anulling your farce of a marriage to Narcissa and appointing Narcissa Malfoy as temporary head of house until Draco is of age to claim his birth right." Hermione sang as she also stepped forward, raising her wand.
Lucius didn't reply to Bella's daughters clear taunt and warning with any sort if comeback. Choosing to instead cast a 'sectumsempra' her way. Bellatrix was impressed as she witnessed her daughter bat Lucius' spell away as if it was nothing. Something she repeated with the barage of spells he sent at her in an impressive display of agility. She did not return fire nor look strained as she continued to shield and deflect the spells aimed at her.
She watched as her daughters mates suddenly grinned smugly as Hermione's hand snapped out infront of her and Lucius' wand soared into her outstretched hand before Lucius found himself on his back, his legs and arms bound tightly. Her daughter ending the duel by casting a wandless and wordless 'expelliamus' followed by a wordless and wandless 'incarcerous'.
"I hereby claim the Malfoy title as is my right pertaining to the successful disarmament of Lucius Malfoy in a duel adhering to the laws of the sacred twenty eight. So I say so mote it be" Hermione declared smugly as she was enveloped in a flash of gold light. The old laws clearly acknowledging the girls victory over the house of Malfoy.
"Draco, as discussed." Hermione said as she offered a reassuring smile to the two bewildered Malfoys and Bellatrix had to stop herself laughing at the expression if shock and admiration engraved onto her baby sisters face as Draco took hold of her arm and the pair of them disappeared with a soft pop. She cast her eyes to her other sister and noticed that Andromeda wore a smug grin on her face as her eyes met Bella's. They sparkled warm yet playful as she offered Bella a subtle wink and the dark witch couldnt help but feel warmed at the offer of reassurance. Her heart fluttered in anticipation as she turned her attention back to Hermione.
"A lord defeated by a mudblood" voldemort spat as he cast the killing curse at Lucius in disgust before rounding on Hermione.
"And you, you filth dare challenge a pureblood, your superior" he hissed as he raised his wand towards her maliciously.
"Ah ah, I wouldn't if I were you. You haven't a clue who you're speaking too" Hermione said, smiling cheerily at the man. Showing no sign of fear as she stared the darkest man to have lived in the eye.
"Oh do I not, by all means enlighten me" The dark lord hissed angrily. Clearly not amused with a teenager calling his knowledge into question. Especially a teenager he thought to be a muggle-born.
Hermione laughed, her eyes glinting in a similar manner as Harry Potters did no less than an hour ago.
"Indeed, first however" the brunette said cheerfully "Slytherin go" Hermione nodded and her words were followed by various small popping noises as members of the dark lords ranks and the ranks of the light disappeared. Her words obviously a prearranged signal to move some among both sides to safety Bellatrix assumed, although she would have to ask her daughter how she did that because she had heard not even a whisper that her little girl had infiltrated the dark lords forces.
"You see I'm what YOU would call a witch of superior blood, a pureblood but I am a pureblood who was raised in the muggle world, around oh I'd say seventeen years ago, my parents made a what I'd say was a very hard decision. The decision to hide me in the muggle world" she declared and her smile grew at the gasps that rose behind her as well as from infront of the little witch behind Bellatrix. Her declaration clearly surprising the majority of her own army as well as the dark lords.
"Oh yes" she sang, casting her eyes over the group of death eaters infront of her before coming back to rest her eyes on Voldemort.
"I am a pureblood. Born the heir to no less than two of the sacred twenty eight. However my parents had been working undercover for years. Hiding among your ranks in order to bring you down from the inside and they knew that I'd be powerful. They wouldn't risk a bully such as yourself getting your hands on me so decided to have me raised in the muggle world until I was old enough to navigate our world. I had no idea who I was until I was fifteen when my muggle adoptive parents were imprisoned for abusing me and my adoptive mother handed me a letter. A letter left to me, written by my birth mother, explaining why she had done what she had done and who exactly I was. The letter encouraged me to seek out my aunt and my grandmother. My aunt told me the rest of my mother and fathers story" she said proudly before turning to address those behind her. Completely at ease with having her back to the dark Lord and Bella would have thought it a foolish move if she hadn't noticed both Dora and Fleur raise their wands in the dark lords direction in a clear warning. Her daughter clearly trusting her mates implicitly to watch her back.
"This is what I warned you inside about. What I am about to reveal will shock many of you but you must remember to trust in me" she said, her voice quieter as she made eye contact with as many from the light as she could, receiving small nods of encouragement in return before turning to face voldemort again.
"You see Tom Marvello Riddle, while you were too busy lying about your own blood status, too afraid to admit who you really were, my parents wormed their way into your elite" she explained as she nodded towards Bellatrix subtly, telling Bella to be ready. Bellatrix nodded back, smiling proudly at her little girl. Reassuring her that it was okay to reveal her identity.
"I have not lied, who are you to dare address me as that name" Voldemort shouted and Bellatrix could tell he was unnerved by the girl infront of him, calmly explaining he had traitors within his elite army as if she were discussing something trivial like the weather or her favourite book. She watched in horror as he motioned his familiar Nagini to attack subtly and the snake began to approach her daughter, hissing and coiling in preparation to strike the little witch.
Without thinking both she and Rudulphus took off towards their daughter, throwing a shield around her. Bella noticed a sliver of silver glinting on the ground close to her where the sorting had lay looking rather beaten and in a move that she would later wonder how she pulled off, the dark witch swooped down, pulling out the sword of Gryffindor from the hat as she propelled herself into the air and brought the sword down upon Nagini in one smooth motion. Cutting through the snakes head moments before it could successfully reached Hermione. The snake erupted in an indignant hiss as its head fell turning into a cloud of black smoke, the face of Voldemort emerging, screaming in agony as the snake shattered and the smoke cleared. Taking the distorted image of the dark lords face with it.
Bellatrix dropped the sword and hurried to her daughters side, taking the hand her daughter extended to her in place of the hug she wanted to pull her child into, knowing that it was not the time to indulge in her daughters presence yet. Rudulphus doing the same as they turned to face the dark Lord. Proudly standing united with their child for the first time in seventeen years for all to see.
"Who am I?" Hermione repeated, laughing as she recovered from the near death experience and bringing her eyes back to Voldemort. "I Tom, child of a pureblood witch amd muggle father am Hermione Andromeda Narcissa Black Lestrange daughter of Bellatrix Lestrange neé Black and Rudulphus Lestrange and I nor my family will ever stand with you" she said raising her chin proudly as she declared her name in public for the first time.
Bellatrix preened with pride as cheers erupted behind her and she heard quiet murmurs of "atta girl" , "you tell him mione" "that's my girl" and "how didnt I put it together myself, the resemblance is uncanny" coming from those that stood backing her little girl. Others chuckling in response.
"No!!!" The dark lord screamed angrily as he stood from where he had fallen when Bellatrix had destroyed his last remaining horcrux.
"You throw your loyalty to me away for the sake of a child!?" He hissed as he turned furious eyes on Bellatrix.
"My loyalty never lay with you to start with Tom. It has always been with Albus Dumbledore, my family and later MY daughter" Bellatrix spat distainfully as she glared back at the man she had been forced to fiegn allegiance too for far too long. She didn't even attempt to keep the possessive emphasis of 'my' at bay when referring to her daughter, she had been forced to hide her girl for far longer than a mother ever should have too and she needed everyone to know she was claiming her girl proudly now that she could do so.
"And you? You feel the same?" He hissed at Rudulphus.
"You know me well enough to know that their is only one person in this world I'd ever pledge my loyalty to and that is my wife and when she came along my child" Rudulphus retorted as he tightened his hold on his little girls hand as a strong feeling of protectiveness engulfed him. He too was beyond relieved to be able to take his place by his little girls side finally after seventeen years of having to hide her for his girls own safety.
"Fine" the snake like man hissed "you will die alongside your wife and child and all who would dare defy me" the dark Lord barked cruelly. His face contorting inhumanely in his rage at being fooled by the witch amd wizard he had trusted more than anyone.
Hermione's laughter startled everyone as she interrupted the dark lords angry declaration.
"I think you're forgetting one extremely important detail my lord" the brunette sang condescendingly as she dropped her parents hands and retook her wand from her sleeve where she had tucked it safely. Bowing mockingly at the snake like man.
"And what iss that pray tell child" Voldemort said in utter annoyance.
"For you to have any chance of succeeding Harry Potter must be dead" Hermione stated as she smiled knowingly at the dark lord, her words causing a flicker of confusion and doubt to cross the dark man and his followers faces.