Finding her voice
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June 19th 1996 - Malfoy Manor: Bellatrix's POV
Looking down upon the small Omega girl that lay in her arms Bellatrix couldn't help but worry. Her Omega wouldn’t let her not hold her close. Whenever Bellatrix wasn’t beside her the girl had been crying and whimpering in her sleep, something that tugged almost painfully at the dark witches heart.
The way both her sisters were continuously glancing at one another with concerned expressions did nothing to alleviate the dark witches worries as the two worked quickly and efficiently on healing her little mates body. She had known her Omega wasn't in a great way when she had first taken hold of the girl, though she hadn't realised at the time just how bad a condition her mate was in until now. She had been far too caught up in the battle.
Too determined to cause as much harm as she could in an attempt to disrupt Dumblefuck and his merry band of manipulators to realise that her mate was merely a few blows short of near death and her defensive shield had drained her of the very little energy she had. Though she hoped her mate would not take too long to recover as the dark Lord had dropped by to request their presence as soon as her Omega was up and about again.
"How bad?" She asked, pinning them with her eyes as both her sisters finally pulled their magic from the girl. Deciding to cut to the chase, not in the mood in the slightest to have them sugar coat anything when it came to her mate.
"She'll be fine, she will need a few days to heal properly and for her magical core to recharge but we've managed to heal all dangerous wounds she had" Andromeda replied curtly, sensing her sisters impatience, feeling as if letting Bella know her mate was safe may lessen the blow at just how dangerously close the girl had been to dying.
"What were her wounds sister?" The dark witch hissed, sensing her sisters reluctance to divulge.
Gulping a little Narcissa decided to take the lead having more experience with her eldest sister and being the only one out the two of the younger Black's that Bellatrix was not mad at.
"She had thirteen fractured bones, two broken fingers and a broken foot. She had a variety of internal bruises, one particularly nasty one on her torso from what appears to be a foot and she is severely malnourished. We also found evidence of prolonged curse exposure. The tremor she has makes me believe the cruciatus was a particular common experience for her" Narcissa finished, falling to her knees as the smell of an angry Alpha grew in the air around them, forcing both Andromeda and Narcissa to show their submission to their eldest sister.
"Bella please" Andromeda choked out as both younger Black's struggled to keep calm under the pressure around them. Though it wasn't her sisters begging that snapped the dark witch out of her boiling fury at finding out just how badly her Omega had been harmed. It was the girl herself who suddenly tensed, her eyes shooting open as she whimpered in terror, the smell of her Alpha being so angry pulling her from her unconscious state. Survival instinct kicking in and taking precedent over any Injuries she hadn't been healed completely of.
Bellatrix snapped her head down in the direction of her mate, her eyes widening in horror when she realised that her current state was terrifying her Omega. Her girls eyes glazed over in fear as she strained to get herself as far away from the aggravated Alpha as she possibly could. After all nothing good ever came from being so close to an angry Alpha. She could tell the girl was searching for her wand as she tried to extract herself from Bellatrix's arms and the usually self assured witch froze in confusion before glancing at her sisters for help. Completely unsure how to approach calming her mate down without completely dominating her.
"Let her go Bella, she won't calm unless she feels a little more in control, show her that you aren't going to force her into anything" Andromeda offered and although Bellatrix really did not want to let go of her mate. The girl who had almost died ensuring Bellatrix's back was protected, she decided that her Omega sisters probably knew best what would work.
Within seconds of Bellatrix releasing the girl, she had sprung off the bed and backed herself into the furthest corner of the room, silently casting 'accio' to call her wand to her hand and despite the obvious worrying situation they were in Bellatrix couldn’t help but be impressed with her mates skill level even as the girls wand came up, aimed at her.
"Before you approach her slowly, reign in your pheromones, they're rather aggressive right now and as you approach talk to her, explain what's happening" Narcissa added and Bellatrix only paused in her silent appraisal of the girl long enough to nod at her sisters before her eyes found the girls, wanting the eye contact with her mate. Surprisingly enough, for a witch who took pleasure often in reducing others to such a terrified state, looking into the fearful chocolate orbs of her Omega helped Bellatrix regain control of her anger, unable to find any joy in knowing her mate was reacting so fearfully to her and she began pumping out soothing pheromones to help her mate calm down.
Though she ensured to keep them light in the air so her mate wouldn't feel as if Bellatrix was trying to force her to calm down.
Approaching slowly, Bellatrix made sure she kept her hands out in front of her in a gesture of peace, seeing her mate constantly flick her eyes between Bella’s own and the dark witches hands. Which for the first time in her life Bellatrix was glad to not have her own wand in her hand, certain that her little witch would see that as a threat in her current state.
"Its alright sweet girl, I won't harm you, I give you my word" the dark witch began, slowing her steps as her mate flinched back when Bellatrix didn't stop moving forward.
"Why" the young witch whispered, her eyes doubtful but Bellatrix could clearly see just how much the change in pace and her voice was calming her girl.
"Because you're mine, my mate, my Omega and I'd rather die than allow harm to come to what is mine so please take a breath and calm down for me" Bella replied honestly, keeping her tone quiet and gentle but no less truthful. Smiling softly in a way she hadn't done since she was a child when she saw the relief flash across her mates face, the girls posture relaxing slightly. Wand lowering and Bellatrix took the opportunity to get rid of the space between them. Pressing her body against the younger girls and pressing her against the wall.
"You feel it though don't you, sweet girl, you know you're mine" Bellatrix continued speaking, marvelling at how much those words seemed to relax her mate as she brought her hands up to the girl. One gripping possessively at the brunettes hip while the other threaded through the girls thick curly locks, gripping gently as she guided the girls head to the side, exposing her throat.
"Use your words sweet girl" Bella murmured, pressing a kiss to her mates pulse point, smirking victoriously as she felt Hermione shiver and relax further into her, the girls hands coming up to grip the front of the dark witches dress.
"Yes Alpha" was Bella's whispered reply and her smirk grew though not for a second did she allow her own sense of victory at the title pull her away from her mate, merely taking a gentle grip of the girls pulse point with her teeth, biting lightly. Their proximity was appearing to help her mate, keep her calm and was rather quite pleasurable for Bella too. She hadn't ever considered that holding her mate, having her mate relaxing against her could feel so good, especially when her mate tilted her head herself, further exposing her neck to the older witch.
"Good girl" Bella whispered more than a little proud of how quickly she had calmed her mate and how accepting her mate was of Bellatrix's rather possessive behaviour which filled the dark witch with hope, she was known for her possessive nature. All Alpha's could get possessive and territorial but the Black's were renowned for their extreme possessive nature, their inherit dislike and aggression towards anyone that was even remotely a threat to their possessions and their absolute need to claim and dominate when their mates are threatened or touched by anyone else. She knew Hermione would need to be strong and patient when it came to those scenarios and the girls easy acceptance to a tamer version of how bad Bella could get had her hoping the girl would cope with her rather well.
Pulling back enough to get a proper look at the girl Bella waited patiently for now much calmer, warmer looking chocolate orbs to meet her own dark eyes before speaking again. Smiling gently at the girl.
"Now that you're calmer sweet girl we have a few things to talk about together. The dark lord is intrigued by your request to speak with him as am I. We also have to have a conversation about your parentage, what would you rather do first?"
Bellatrix tilted her head to the side, raising an eyebrow at the clear sign of confusion on Hermione's face as the girl looked at her in awe.
"You're... you're giving me a choice?" The brunette whisper, completely unaware of the heartache such innocent words caused the three other occupants of the room, Narcissa and Andromeda having stayed to observe and be on hand should their sister need assistance.
"You will always have a choice Hermione. You may be my Omega but while I expect a certain degree of respect and submission from you we are equals sweet girl, I will never treat you as any less, nor will I allow others to treat you any less" again the dark witch found herself answering honestly, her eyes blazing with conviction as her mate studied her face, presumably for any trace of deception in Bellatrix's words. She wouldn't find any, for Bellatrix knew she was being nothing but honest with her young mate. She saw no reason to lie to the girl, the girl who had clearly known much deception and harm in her short years.
Hermione smiled slightly, the first smile Bellatrix had seen cross the girls delicate features and it warmed her heart slightly. "Okay, I want to tell you everything but I can't relive it again and again so can we wait until we are with the Dark Lord please" she whispered, her voice a little more sure than it had been before.
Bellatrix smiled and nodded her head.
"Of course, just let my sisters look you over first and then I will take you to him" the dark witch replied, finally stepping back from the girl and guiding her over to sit on the edge of the bed they had been in previously.
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As Hermione walked through the grand double doors into the room Narcissa had called the drawing room, she pressed herself further into Bellatrix as many competing Alpha scents met her nose, putting the young witch on edge. She tightened her grip on her wand and Bellatrix's skirt wishing she could simply curl herself back around the fierce woman and stay there. She felt safe in Bellatrix Black's arms, as if no one and nothing could ever harm her again and it was a feeling she wished she could hold on to for eternity. She knew it was foolish to indulge in such thinking, believing anyone would keep her safe had always gotten her hurt in the past but knowing Bellatrix was her mate made Hermione's want to believe her that much stronger.
Looking around the room Hermione had to bite her cheek to stop herself from showing any outward sign of her terror at the many many faces all peering at her. Many sneering or leering at her, many more studying her as if she were a laboratory experiment. Their gazes made her uncomfortable and she knew that if it weren't for the way her mates arm tightened around her waist, drawing her against the older witch that much closer she would have most probably made a run for it, especially when she realised that many of the Alpha's were directing their pheromones at her, trying to get her to submit and while it would not have the intended affect on her it still made her feel very unsafe to the point she barely managed to conceal her whimper from escaping too loudly.
"Hush, I've got you" Bellatrix whispered, being the only one close enough to hear it and determining just how upset all the fools were making her mate. It was putting Bellatrix on edge and she could feel her temper rising. A temper she was determined to fight for now to spare her little mate the fright she would surely experience.
"Everyone bar those that require to be here for this clear out now, you should all be ashamed of yourself" a harsh voice barked out from behind the brunette and Hermione felt herself tense even further, highly relieved when Bellatrix drew her into a hug, allowing Hermione to tuck her nose into the dark witches neck at her scent gland and if anyone in the room balked at seeing the usually aggressive and brash older witch so caring and soft they weren't brave enough to comment.
The dark lord sounded furious, surely he wouldn't have much patience for her. She was a mudblood after all, Hermione's own thoughts began to race away from her.
"Ah Bellatrix, your Omega is awake at last I see" a much calmer voice spoke up once the room had emptied.
"Yes my lord, she woke a short time ago and requested we all spoke together as she did not want to have to repeat the story more than once" Bellatrix replied, bowing her head briefly in respect, not releasing the girl from her arms yet. Sensing that she needed a few minutes more to calm herself.
"Understandable, and what were the extent of her injuries?"
As Bellatrix, Narcissa, Andromeda and the Dark Lord discussed her injuries Hermione took the opportunity to take in deep breathes of her Alpha's scent, calming herself down and refocusing her brain now she had a moment to think.
She had woken up terrified and being calmed by Bellatrix, having the older witch pin her to the wall, pressed so tightly against her, having the witches mouth on her neck had felt wonderful and as much as it calmed her it did nothing to help her think so she was grateful for the few moments she had been granted by the conversation around her.
When she was ready, slipping her mind set back into a calm, confident indifference Hermione squeezed Bellatrix gently to get her attention and smiled a little when the dark witches eyes automatically landed on hers.
"Are you alright to talk now sweet girl?" Bellatrix whispered, unable to hide or filter the affection she felt already for her little mate as she gently brushed a stray lock of brown behind the girls ear.
Hermione nodded, unable to respond verbally as she took in the soft look of adoration on the fierce witches face. It was a look she had never had directed at her in her life and so it startled her some what. Reinforcing that maybe she had infact made the right decision in giving herself so easily to the Dark lords best or worst (depending on what side of the war you were on) lieutenant.
"Alright, when you're ready" the dark witch replied her voice a little louder than before as she turned Hermione round to face the dark lord, keeping her arms wrapped loosely around the girl for various reasons. Mainly because she wasn't at all keen to have her little mate away from her arms and also as much as she knew deep down it wouldn't happen but there was the slim chance that this was all a set up and Hermione would make an attempt on her lords life, which she couldn't allow.
"My full name is Hermione Jean Granger sir, I was raised by muggles though I have no idea who my real parents are because I was adopted by John and Jean Granger when I was 2 weeks old from a muggle orphanage in London." The brunette began, her voice void of any and all emotion and Bellatrix watched as her Lord seemed to sit up a little straighter to listen to the girl.
"So what would a muggle born like you, Harry Potters mudblood want with an audience with me Ms Granger?" The dark man asked, his voice lacking the usual callousness and disinterest he usually possessed. No one in the room failed to notice the girl flinch at his words, the scent of a distressed Omega rising subtly around them.
"I needed out sir, I'm so tired of never being enough there. All my life I've been taught I am worth little more than an Alpha's slave and bed warmer. Beaten till I cannot move and punished for the slightest things that truly do not inherit punishing. I believed that's just how the world was, how my life was to be until the day I got my Hogwarts letter and met Professor McGonagall. She was the first Alpha ever to show me any hint of kindness and I was beyond excited at what I believed was a fresh start for me, a chance for equality and justice far from my muggle fathers reach. I was devastated when the reality of what I was walking into presented itself and no matter how hard I tried to prove I was worth something more than my status, than my dynamic it just gave Dumbledore more and more reason to target me, to use me and how better to do so than have me serve Harry" the brunette didn't even try to hide the sneer and utter contempt in her voice when she mentioned Hogwarts headmaster and the golden boy of the light side.
She glanced up for the first time, meeting the dark man's gaze as she kept her eyes and expression completely open and honest. Willing the dark lord to allow her to keep speaking before interrupting. His small nod of encouragement and surprisingly understanding eyes was all the permission Hermione needed to continue.
"In my fourth year I met a Beauxbaxton student. She is an Alpha, she saved me from a beating I had run from. My body was too weak at the time to survive if I had stayed a moment longer. She took me to the room of requirement. Healed me, gave me food and told me that the way I was treated is barbaric, that Britain is stuck in the dark ages and is the only country she knows that still clings to such disgusting views and I could do nothing but cry in relief that finally someone other than I had spoken out about the injustice around me. She told me to use the room of requirement whenever I could. To educate myself in the same magical knowledge the Alpha and Beta students had access too. So I did. I became the best at everything and grudgingly Dumbledore named me the brightest witch of my age. But such a title means nothing in our world when it's bearer is a muggleborn Omega girl. This year, a few days ago infact my muggle mother, an Omega, passed away. Her dying words to me were that she didn't want me to make the same mistakes she did, she wanted me to fight for a better world. A world where muggleborn Omega's didn't have to live in fear. Where we were valued and cared about as any other member of this society because despite our status we have just as much to offer. I had despised my mother until that moment. I had thought her weak, unworthy of the title. After all Omega or not, what mother let's there mate beat a defenceless 4 year old, or throw her 8 year old down steps, locking her in a basement for days till she is near death. What mother willingly joins the abuse. If I were her I certainly would not have allowed my child to suffer in such a way." Hermione spat, unwilling to allow just how much her mother had hurt her to show. She couldn't afford to fall apart now, not when for the first time in her life she felt like she was truly being heard. The dark lords surprisingly soft expression, the reassuring, strong embrace of her Alpha and the soothing scent of every member of the room giving her the strength to keep pushing through in what she needed to say.
"I sat with her, despite the many ways she failed me as my mother, I held her until she took her last breath and as I left my fathers home I vowed that I would do all I could to ensure that when I eventually have my own daughter she does not come into a world that would rather see her bow down than thrive. I didn’t know how I was going to do such a thing. I believed I was alone in how badly I wanted to see the current world we live in fall. That was until I saw Bellatrix in the ministry. When I knew she was my Alpha, I knew I had two choices. To fight her and return to the life I despise or put my faith in her and by proxy you sir. I chose to trust her. To trust you and no matter what you decide I will stand by that decision. Bellatrix is my Alpha, I am her Omega and I will not betray her. All I am hoping for is a chance to prove my worth, to fight for something important. Something that would mean my children never have to fear the way I have had to do my whole life." The brunette finished, taking a deep breath and returning her gaze to meet the dark lords and the look of surprise and pride in his eyes warmed her a little. For a man that she had been taught to fear he did not at all appear in this moment as the sadistic evil he was painted to be.
"Firstly Ms Granger, thank you for the trust you have placed in me. It isn't everyday one so young chooses to go against everything they have been taught to fight for something better. Secondly and please do not take this as an insult but as much as I want to believe you have told me the truth, as much as I do infact believe it, it would not do for me to be so quick to accept a story, is there any way you can back up your words?" His voice was soft, the gentlest Bellatrix and the other occupants of the room had ever heard it and the dark witch couldn't find it in herself to be annoyed by his disbelief of her mate. Anyone could see the girl was being honest. Could detect her pain and anguish in her scent but she knew as a man that Dumbledore had tried to kill permanently numerous times he really could t afford to act carelessly.
"I understand sir, I would be a little disappointed if a man as powerful as you took everything at face value" the brunette, surprising everyone in the room, chuckled gently before she continued.
"The only way I can think to prove my words is by allowing you into my mind, I will lower my shields and let you look at anything you want to because in all honesty I really do not have anything to hide" she replied, smiling a little at him in understanding. She didn’t want him to feel like he was asking to much of her.
"I am grateful you would allow me to do such a thing and I will accept the offer. However I will not enter your mind. I will have Bellatrix and Narcissa do so later in private young one. If they report back that you are as genuine as you appear to be then I will offer you a position in my ranks. Personally overseeing your training. Is that acceptable to you?" He replied, ignoring the surprised and bewildered looks that appeared on his followers faces. He was more than aware he never showed such interest in their training. But something about this girl, a girl, much like him who had known such harsh treatment in the muggle world and then the magical world, he could feel her potential, the raw strength of her magic and he wished to nourish her as best he could.
"Thank you sir" Hermione whispered suddenly feeling a little overwhelmed with the kindness he was showing her. Completely unused to such a thing.
"Its no issue Ms Granger, when you are ready, have Bellatrix help you with a DNA test as well. Now I shall wish you a good evening" he dismissed kindly, seeing the clear exhaustion in the girls eyes even as she fought it. He hadn’t realised it was so late and knew the young girl would need all the rest she could get, she was severely malnourished and underweight and he quietly hoped that Bellatrix would make the girl eat plenty in the coming days He turned and apparated on the spot. Leaving the Manor to oversee other matters.
Leaving behind shocked followers and a girl who now knew that she had infact made the right decision as she was pulled against her Alpha tightly and led out of the room.