Meeting Bellatrix
June 18th 1996 - Department of Mysteries
The room was dark when they entered, the only light in the form of the soft white glows at the end of the group of six students wand and an even softer white glow from the various orbs that lined the room in rows all around them as Hermione limped along beside Harry, Ron and a few of Harry's friends.
Hermione could tell they weren't alone, she could smell the strong scents of at least five others in the room with them and it set the hairs at the back of her neck on end. Three unknown Alpha's, a beta and an Omega if she was smelling correctly. Though she hadn't ever had reason to doubt her abilities so she supposed she was right in her assessment.
Despite the one Alpha scent, chocolate and vanilla, laced with cinnamon and the smell of old books, that seemed much more appealing and strangely soothing to her, Hermione knew they had walked into a trap and therefore an incredibly dangerous situation.
"We aren't alone, this is a trap" she risked speaking up, terrified of the consequences she'd be subjected too if anything happens and she hadn't at least attempted to warn Harry of the danger.
"Shut it mudblood, no one cares for your opinion" Harry hissed, turning a disgusted glare on her and Hermione felt herself flinch, positive that if the boy who lived wasn't so concerned about finding and rescuing his godfather - Sirius Black - who was supposedly being held captive here by he who shall not be named then he surely would have physically reminded her of just how little he cared for her opinion. Not that she needed reminding, after five years of continuously trying to warn him of danger and then having to save him from said danger she felt his lack of regard for her was pretty obvious.
Not for the first time since coming to Hogwarts Hermione seriously wished she had been killed by that troll back in first year. She hated having to serve the obnoxious, full of himself, boy who lived and his friends. Especially when said boy continuously got her into situations like this one. She was disgusted with just how willing Ginny had been to lead Umbridge into the forest in order for them all to escape the school and make their way here to the ministry. All for some mission to save a man Hermione was pretty sure wasn't in any danger to begin with. She used to feel sorry for Ginny, being a fellow Omega but now she only felt the seeds of disgust and pity blooming. Over the summer Harry and Ginny had discovered they were mates and therefore Harry had taken Ginny under his protection officially. As a claimed Omega, Ginny was untouchable to all others and her continuous gushing and rash actions to please Harry made Hermione feel sick.
"Down here" Ron whisper yelled, pointing to a row just slightly in front of them and leading the group forward. The number 97 painted in large white lettering on the side and Hermione gritted her teeth to stop from issuing another warning or ripping into the idiots, marching towards all those unknown scents that she was sure meant danger. Resolutely ignoring the appealing scent that did nothing but make her feel safe even amongst a darkened room with unknown Alpha's.
The further down Isle 97 the small group got the stronger the scents got, she could also feel it when some of the scents began to change from there original indifferent scent to the much more demanding one of Alpha's trying to force another to submit.
She guessed it was them the unknowns were trying to force into submission and she could tell that both Ginny and Luna were struggling not to do exactly that. Harry, Ron and Neville didn't look to be doing too much better. She could see the sheen of sweat as it broke across their foreheads, giving tell to the struggle they were facing.
Yet she didn't feel all that bothered by the demanding scent, as much as it had grown in strength, the soothing scent she could smell had also grown stronger and for some reason she knew it was the only scent in the room that had hope of getting her to do anything. She prayed whoever the scent belonged too didn't realise that. She hadn't been forced to submit by scent alone since she was five and she would be damned if she let it happen here. She would already be punished severely when they returned to school for some reason or other she was sure.
She quickly and quietly cast a scent nullifying charm around the small group, seeing all five of her fellow students relax slightly in relief and Hermione almost rolled her eyes knowing that none of them would have thought about casting the spell if she hadn't have done.
"Hand it over Potter" the voice of Lucius Malfoy broke Hermione out of her thoughts and she realised she had got so lost in her mind she hadn't even noticed when they had come to a stop, when Harry had picked up his prophecy or when the death eaters had appeared in front of them.
"Where is Sirius, Malfoy?" Harry hissed and again Hermione felt herself cringe in fear at his tone as she stood, wand raised in the direction of the death eater that she now knew were responsible for the unknown scents around them.
"He is fine, it was all a trap set by the Dark Lord to get the prophecy, now hand it over and no one gets hurt" the blonde Malfoy man stated, his tone bored and matter of fact even as he stepped forward. Hermione raised her wand higher in preparation to defend them all from the man as he approached.
Her actions caused the female Alpha that Hermione vaguely recognised as Bellatrix Black to step closer, her wand aimed at Hermione, her eyes narrowed in challenge.
With her step closer Hermione's eyes snapped to hers and both witches were momentarily stunned by the immediate connection they felt. Hermione feeling as if she were unable to look away from the gorgeous yet intimidating woman in front of her. She didn’t know what it was about the woman that made her feel like that but it unsettled her. She hadn't ever felt the need to keep looking back at someone and internally panicked. No good had ever come from her looking directly in an Alpha's eyes like this, she knew they saw it as her challenging their authority and did not wish for the witches Ire to be turned to her as a result. It was that thought and the internal panic that gave Hermione the strength to look away and she knew she had to be ready to fight as hard as she could to get Harry and the others away from the death eaters and too safety.
The next few minutes passed in an intense stair down between Harry and Lucius. Both Alpha's throwing barely concealed insults at each other. Lucius demanding the prophecy while Harry refused to give it to him and suddenly before she knew it, Harry was issuing the command that she knew to heed as her cue to do something to get them out of the situation.
"NOW!!" He hissed and Hermione had the first wordless 'bombarda maximum' fired off at the ground in front of the death eaters before he was even finished issuing the command. Sending the death eaters backwards to escape the debris created by the impact of Hermione's spell.
The group of students used the distraction to there advantage. Taking off back down the Isle in an attempt to get to safety. Harry passing the prophecy to Hermione with a growled "hide this" as they ran. She could hear when the death eaters recovered enough to give chase. Could hear Bellatrix's laughter as spells began to chase them.
Hermione continued to aim spells at the shelf’s around them, causing the prophecies that lined the room to begin to fall as the shelf’s collapsed. Adding difficulty to the death eaters pursuit of them as they also had to avoid the falling shelf’s and orbs while they chased.
Before too long the students found themselves in what Hermione recognised as a death room. A circular stone room with a dark arch containing a veil that she was sure would kill whomever fell in it.
"The floos" she suggested when Harry looked at her expectantly, fully aware that it would be up to Hermione to get them out of the ministry. He nodded and took off towards the floos at the back of the room, the other students following suit. Though as Hermione went to follow she didn't get very far.
Two arms wrapped strong a around her far too thin waist, a wand thrust up almost painfully Into her neck as she watched the other students all get grabbed by a death eater. Lucius grabbing Ginny as he came to a stop in front of Harry. Her wand removed from her hand and tucked somewhere on the other witches person.
Now that Hermione was held in these arms she realised that this woman was also the owner of the soothing scent she could smell earlier before she cast the charm to block out scent in the department of Mysteries and she found herself relaxing involuntary against the woman’s hold.
Being so thoroughly surrounded by the Alpha's scent had Hermione almost falling to the floor as she realised why she was reacting to the woman this way. To Bellatrix, to her mate. Her true mate and if it weren't for Bellatrix's arms tightening around her again Hermione knew she would have fallen.
When learning about mates in her Omega prep classes she had briefly allowed herself to wonder just what hers would be like, imagining whomever it was coming in and taking her far from the life she was trapped in. She never allowed herself to fully hope though and now knowing who her mate was she was reminded exactly why she had never allowed herself to fully hope.
Her mate was Bellatrix Black and the muggle-born girl knew fine well just what Bellatrix's view on muggle-borns was. She despised them, believed them to be filth. To be mudbloods and Hermione knew that the knowledge that her mate was a mudblood would infuriate the dark witch.
However despite this certainty she found herself leaning more of her weight into the older woman, trying to press herself as close as possible. Much more willing to risk trusting Bellatrix than she was at trusting she would survive whatever Harry and Dumbledore would throw at her upon their return to Hogwarts.
Bellatrix seemed to sense that Hermione wouldn't fight her hold on her or try to flee, changing her grip from one of threat and restraint to an embrace, holding Hermione's weight effortlessly as her wand lowered from where it was pressed against the Omega's neck.
"You probably don't care much for me, Lady Black" whispering Hermione began, taking a leap of faith that despite Bellatrix's dislike of muggle-borns she would at least listen to Hermione enough to get her out of all this. Allowing her anger at all the injustice she had faced to give her the courage to reach out to the woman that held her.
She knew the older witch was listening when she heard the gentle hum against her ear and had to suppress the shiver it evoked in her.
"I need to speak to the Dark Lord" she felt Bellatrix stiffen behind her in response and the whispered hissed of "Why?" demanded an answer.
"I can't explain properly here, or why I know it's what I need to do but I promise I mean him no harm" she couldn't help the plea from slipping into her voice, as she pressed herself further back into the woman. Praying that she would care enough to help her.
"I don't think it matters what you do and don't mean, filth like you" the words were hissed and Hermione couldn't help the small whimper that escaped her lips nor the involuntary flinch that overtook her body at the older witches words. She could tell that Bellatrix was about to decline, about to tell her she didn't care for what Hermione needed and the realisation that her only chance at salvation was about to slip past her brought tears to her eyes.
"Please... I know I'm nothing, I know I'm filth but please don't make me go back with them, please Lady Black" her words were quieter than meant and came out more begging and vulnerable than she had ever meant to be with anyone. She silently cursed herself as the tears spilled down her face.
Suddenly feeling herself being turned around by the older witch Hermione averted her gaze, not at all willing to look the woman in the eye. Feeling unworthy in every sense of the word.
Her chin was grasped lightly, her head forced back up gently as she was made to meet the witches scrutinising stare. She didn’t think she had ever seen someone look at her so intensely nor had anyone looked at her with such a devastating mix of emotions before. Longing, love, lust, disgust, suspicion all playing across the gorgeous face in front of her.
Though she supposed the woman must have seen something in her face that made her change her mind. Her features softening as gentle hands wiped the tears from Hermione's cheeks and the move was so tender, so much kinder than anything she had ever before been offered that it caused fresh tears to spill, dampening her cheeks once again.
"Alright... Hush now, I'll take you" the witch whispered tenderly, bringing Hermione back into her body, tucking her face into her neck so the Omega could take comfort in her scent.
"Once we've got the prophecy I'll take you back with me little one"
"I have it" Hermione whispered back and at Bellatrix's raised eyebrow she continued "the prophecy, I have it. It's in my left hoodie pocket, spelled to protect it from harm" she explained and let Bellatrix reach into her pocket to check. The older witch smiled slightly, more an upturn of the corner of her mouth than anything but it was enough to let Hermione know she was pleased.
Before anymore could be said the sound of several pops echoed around the room and both witches found themselves tuning back in to the conversation around them just in time to see Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix arrive.
Hermione found herself flipped back around and back in a restraining grip once again as the dark witch re-raised her wand on her neck.
"Play along" was whispered in her ear as the older witch gently nuzzled her quickly before firming her grip around Hermione.
"Subtly press the dark mark on my arm and push some of your magic into it" it was a command not a request and Hermione didn't think twice about doing as she was told to. She brought her hands up to the witches arm as if she were gripping it in an attempt to get free and let two of her fingers press against the mark, channelling her magic into her hands she pushed her magic outwards, feeling her Alpha shiver slightly behind her as she did so.
"Good, that's enough" the words were purred, much gentler than the previous command and Hermione felt herself preen proudly at the praise.
Without warning Hermione found herself spun, the elder witch spinning with her as Bellatrix sent a flurry of spells at the order members whom had now began to attack the death eaters. She couldn't help but be highly impressed with Bellatrix’s sheer power and skill as the dark witch effortlessly protected both herself and Hermione, returning fire much quicker than her opponents all while holding Hermione close with one hand.
She could feel the magical energy in the air around her as Bellatrix fought and she knew the feeling was one that if she wasn't careful she could grow addicted too. She focused herself on the fight and the magic all around her. Allowing her senses to expand.
She could feel the spells as they formed around her and it was this concentration that allowed her to sense the hex aimed at Bellatrix's back by an unknown order member. She didn’t really think about her next actions nor did she allow herself to dwell on just how quickly she had jumped to Bellatrix's defence but she found herself flinging up a strong shield around the dark witch seconds before the spell would have hit her.
Hermione hissed when she felt the spell bounce of her shield but any discomfort was forgotten about when she felt the dark witches arm tighten around her in support. For such a simple gesture it was comforting and made Hermione feel so much better about the trust she had placed in the older witch.
They continued like that, Bellatrix fighting and Hermione throwing up shield after shield to stop the many hex’s and spells thrown at the dark witch. At some point the atmosphere changed and Hermione couldn't help the whimper of fear that escaped her lips when the strongest dominating scent of Alpha she had ever smelt filled the room, causing fear and sheer terror to course through every fibre of the young witches body which had began shaking and trembling uncontrollably.
Her mind flashing back to times where she was left completely and utterly broken after an attack by her father or Harry or even Dumbledore. So lost in her own memories she didn't notice when Bellatrix stopped fighting in concern, nor did she notice when the dark Lord had ordered Bellatrix to take the clearly distraught witch back to base and take care of her and by the time Bellatrix had got her to the floo in order to get her out of the ministry her entire world had gone dark as unconsciousness claimed her. Her body and mind shutting down without permission in an effort to protect herself from reliving anymore of those horrific memories.