Willing change: revised edition

6

Hermione's eyes scanned the books that lined the walls. She was happy that Narcissa showed her this room, she needed a distraction. She finally pulled a book from the shelf and began reading. She had lost all track of time when she got past the first page. She shifted her weight and heard a creak that made her freeze. She thought to herself, 'just the floor' and kept reading then she heard the distinct sound of a door closing.

She stared at the book as she listened closely, hoping it was just Narcissa or Draco. She heard the slow tapping of heels on the floor as they walked calmly down the hall. The tapping grew closer and Hermione unknowingly gripped the book harder and harder. She stiffened when she heard them stop just outside of the door. She pretended not to notice and kept reading. She could feel a pair of eyes like they were burning into the back of her head. Then her heart sank as there was a loud annoyed grunt and the tapping picked up speed down the hallway and an angry voice called out.

"Cissyyyyy!"

Hermione could feel herself sweating as she placed the book back on the shelf. Her hands trembled and she could hear the fighting between the two sisters.

"You brought that filth here?"

"Bella, please."

"Don't, get her out or I will!"

"You will do no such thing."

"There is always another option!"

"Yes Bella, tell me. If you two are truly sharing pain and inflections what will killing her do?"

The manor went silent for a moment before Narcissa spoke rather loudly. 

"Hermione, come here please."

Hermione's body refused to move. This woman just threatened to kill her. She forced her legs to move and walked down the hallway until she found Narcissa standing in the doorway to a small room.

"Come in."

Hermione walked in the room and her eyes were instantly met by the cold angry one of Bellatrix. She sat in a chair looking like a child who just got their favorite toy taken away. Her brow twitched a bit as she stared at Hermione.

"Hello, Bellatrix."

"Don't speak to me, mudblood!"

Narcissa snapped at her sister.

"Bellatrix!"

"Shut it Cissy, I was not told of this little plan of yours her fate is on your shoulders?"

"Can you not just play nice?"

Hermione took a step back.

"I can just go for now…"

"Nonsense, sit Hermione."

Hermione sat in the open armchair adjacent to Bellatrix. She felt as if she had been thrown into the middle of a fight with two teenage girls. She looked at them both shortly before she noticed Bellatrix was already brandishing her wand, not even trying to hide it. Hermione must have shown that she saw it because Bellatrix gave her a grin that made her spine go cold.

Narcissa stood between the two of them, rubbing the bridge of her nose. She sighed, tilting her head back shortly before looking at her sister.

"What can I do to make you see that you at least need to try?"

"Do you even know if the prophecy is about her, it had my name on it. 'Girl of gold' could be anyone!"

Hermione spoke up quietly, trying not to anger Bellatrix any more than she already was.

"Prophecies only work for the people they are about… so that being said if I touch it and it says the prophecy then it's me…"

"See Bella, now give me the prophecy."

Bellatrix's nose scrunched up as she gripped her wand hard.

"No."

"Do you not want your answer? Or are you just afraid of it, Bella?"

Bellatrix clenched her jaw and glared at Hermione with pure hate as she dug the prophecy of her dress pocket, quickly handing it to Narcissa.

"It will change nothing."

"Okay, Bella."

Narcissa handed the orb to Hermione who held it in her fingertips, looking at it. For a moment it looked like the prophecy would not respond to her. Just as Bellatrix began to laugh, the orb started to speak.

"Muddied blood will combine with pure. The dark lord's second and girl of gold. The two bonded will end the suffering. The dark lord will come to an end."

The three women looked at eachother. Narcissa with a look of satisfaction, Hermione fear, and Bellatrix one of pure rage. Hermione could feel the air around her thicken. She knew something was about to happen.

Bellatrix stared at her as her head began to tingle with pain. She hissed through her teeth.

"You filthy wretch!"

With that Bellatrix pushed herself out of the chair, the chair flipping backwards as she seized Hermione's throat. She effortlessly lifted her off the chair and into the air, grinning. Hermione grasped at her hands, trying desperately to free herself, earning a tight squeeze.

Bellatrix laughed as the girl began to struggle  to breath. As she went to finish the job she felt her chest tighten. Her grip loosened for a moment before it tightened again, the woman determined to get out of the shadow of this prophecy. Her chest tightened even more and she dropped Hermione into the armchair and staggered back gasping for air.

Narcissa checked on Hermione, other than a nasty bruise forming around her neck she was fine. She looked over to her sister who stood hunched over grabbing her chest.

"Do you see now?"

Bellatrix glanced at Hermione shortly before stumbling  out of the room and disappearing down the hall.