The Graveyard

She’s screaming, begging and crying. Pain. That’s all there is for her and all there ever will be. Oh she thought she was so clever. A stinging hex to prevent Harry from being recognized, a sac filled to the brim with an infinite number of books. The brightest witch of her age and her light was growing dim.

Bellatrix Lestrange had them captured all because Hermione with all those thoughts in her head, hadn’t thought to teach the boys about jinxes.

She’d have continued down that road thinking of her regrets and mistakes but fuck was her brain on fire.

And then it wasn’t.

“Where did you get that?” Bellatrix asked. Her voice held some hidden not that caused a stirring in her brain but it was turning to jelly.

A firm slap crack slowly ed her head to the side and she sobbed.

“Answer me!” Bellatrix shouted, this time sounding frantic. “Where did you get this necklace?”

“Bellatrix?” A second voice called.

“F-from my mother. I’m adopted.” Hermione said, not sure anymore why it was important..

“Fuck. Fuck!”

The pressure of her body was gone and hushed whispers echoed in the room. Hermione turned onto her stomach, sobbing and tried to crawl away, somewhere, anywhere.

“Get back here, filth!” Bellatrix shouted if a bit too loud. She yanked Hermione back and flipped her onto her back. Those curls might have tickled her skin if it weren’t for the pinpricks of pain radiating throughout her body, just underneath her skin. “Please forgive me. I did not know, and I think you don’t either.”

“What?” Hermione asked and was shushed.

“I will get you out of here.” She whispered. “But it will hurt. Just a little more.”

“Oh god.” Hermione said and then she screamed. Perhaps it was helpful to Bellatrix, perhaps it wasn’t. She would never know because fuck her brain was on fire. Did she already say that?

“It seems I’ve broken another one.” That evil voice said and Hermione whimpered. She felt fine but was she insane now? That could explain the weird interlude from earlier. “I’m off to dispose of her. I’ll be sure to display her nicely for Potter.” As she drug Hermione by the collar Bellatrix’s cackle rang through the halls.

Oh god. She couldn’t move, why couldn’t she move? Was she paralyzed from the cruciatous? She couldn’t feel either which was nice considering her body was slapping a concerning amount of stairs on the way out.

“Burning another body, Lestrange?” someone asked.

“Oh no. This one I’m going to mangle. I’ve decided to try my hand at art.” The cackle she released was the finest piece of acting Hermione had ever heard. She didn’t have to see the person she was talking to in order to feel his unease. She was feeling it herself.

“Oh. Cheers.” He said and was gone.

“We’re almost there.” She said under her breath. The sigh Hermione wished she could have released…as it was, her breathing was on automatic. Technically she was super relaxed if you didn’t count the fear stressing out her neurons.

True enough Bellatrix took a few more steps and then turned on the spot.

They arrived in a forest and Bellatrix switched from dragging Hermione to a fireman’s carry.

“Your necklace,” she started, “Is about as old as my family. It’s been passed down for generations amongst the men and women of your family. If I recall correctly you’re supposed to be incredibly bright. Bet you’re shitting bricks to know the entire history of the wizarding world has been around your neck all this time.”

She was in fact shitting bricks. She nearly tossed the damn thing out in her preteens.

“Yeah well, shit a few more while you’re at it. Long story short, that necklace grants you certain highly coveted privileges. You’re practically royalty amongst those who can remember, and my loyalty is to you.”

At that moment her body came alive. She gasped and spasmed, causing Bellatrix to drop her with a swear.

“Just in time. The cabin is up there.”

“Harry. Ron.” She wheezed. Bellatrix rolled her eyes.

“What? Now?”

 Hermione looked up at her incredulously and the woman sighed.

“Fine. Let’s get you inside and I’ll bring them. You’ll have to remove this mark off of me though.” She lifted Hermione again, this time bridal carry and placed her gently on the sofa. She kneeled in front of her and bowed her head.

“Don’t panic.” She said as she rolled up her sleeve. “It’s just tradition. You’ll have to remove the mark if you want me to go back there. It’s simple since the bond we share is stronger than his magic. Just – “ she broke off and a pained look overcame her. The mark was moving, winding itself like a snake. Bellatrix began gripping her head and Hermione wondered if now was the time to panic.

“Bellatrix…” she said weakly. “You are sworn to me alone.” The Black haired woman cried out but nodded.

“Keep going.”

Hermione shook her head. She had nothing more to say and even that was a stretch. She felt stupid, but powered through.

“You belong to me. He has no power here!”

Just like that the tattoo evaporated and Bellatrix cried out once more, still gripping her head.

“Oh that bastard.” she shouted. “I’ll kill him.”

“Harry and Ron first.” Hermione said. Then added. “Please.”

 I’ll be back with your men-children.”

With that she was gone and Hermione freaked out which was definitely not the same as panicking. Within moments the woman was back and tossing two bodies on the floor in front of her. She kneeled once more.

“It’s done.” She said.

“What the hell –

Hermione !”

“What have you done to her Lestrange?”

“Where the hell are we?”

“Boys!” Hermione shouted upon seeing Bellatrix had no intention of moving. “She’s saved us for the moment.”

“She also tortured you.” Ron shouted. “Can you even stand?”

“Would you like me to quiet them?” Bellatrix asked and Hermione nodded. She was too weak to yell at them like they needed.

Immediately Bellatrix stood and turned towards them. It was enough to silence them but she added a silencing spell and forced them to kneel as well. She nodded to Hermione and then headed towards the kitchen.

Ron’s utter shock nearly sent her into peals of laughter.