To a Better End

Chapter 57

July 9th 1978

It wasn't surprising how quickly people got over the deaths of muggle parents. Nor was she surprised by the way the talks of the attack dwindled away to nothing. She was just disappointed. Sure, this lit a fire under Sirius, James, and Remus, but everyone else didn't seem bothered. It had only been a month, and people were acting like it never happened. No reports about trying to stop Voldemort. No sorrow to the grieving families. It was just radio silence.

Either the Wizarding World didn't truly care about muggles or Tom had already infiltrated the Prophet. Or both.

Nevertheless, Draco convinced Hermione to go with the act. Match her attitude to every other pureblood. He wanted her safe, and the safest thing to do was act the part. So she did. Or she tried to at least. She had written to Bella several times in an effort to get her to get drinks or even practice duelling. But she hadn't heard back from her or either of the Lestrange brothers.

Reggie still made a couple of late-night appearances in need of healing, but few words were exchanged between them. He seemed to be getting better at his missions, and Hermione wasn't sure whether to call that good or bad. His injuries were nowhere as severe as that last night. But he wasn't looking like himself.

Hermione had just finished setting up the shop and reorganising it to better suit the space she had. She was admiring her work when she heard a single tap on the window. She turned and saw a grey owl hovering. She furrowed her brow; it was an unfamiliar owl, and she wasn't expecting anything.

The owl began to tap on her window incessantly until she finally opened the shop door and allowed it to drop the letter into her hands. With a glance at the seal, she groaned in frustration loud and abruptly.

"You just give me one moment." Hermione grabbed the quill and wrote on the letter a huge "NO" before bringing it back to the owl. "You be sure to nip that old man's hand if he sends you back with another one of these letters."

The owl took the letter back from Hermione and flew off. Hermione turned and wiped her hands together as though she was getting rid of any Albus germs. Just as the door fully shut, the bell dinged again.

"No rest for the wicked," she muttered. "How can I help you," she said unenthusiastically. Instead of being greeted by a customer, she was looking at the marauders.

"Don't sound so eager," Sirius quipped.

"It's already been a long day," she responded with a sigh. "Anything I can do for you today?"

"Well," James began, "In light of recent events, a lot of us are making some big decisions."

"If you're going to try to push me to join the Order, the answer is still no."

"No, Remus was quite clear that you were not interested in that. I just... Well, Lilly and I are going to be getting married soon and-"

Whatever James planned on saying died on his tongue when the door opened again. Everyone turned to see Bellatrix Lestrange walking - no, limping... She was limping into the shop. Hermione immediately ran to her cousin, grabbing her arm and helping her in. Her eyes were sunken in, and her entire body was shaking.

"What is she doing here?" Sirius asked through gritted teeth.

From her peripheral vision, she should see James taking a defensive step in front of his friends. That's good. They needed to stick together as much as possible. Hermione didn't even bother answering the question. She had a feeling that this would happen. Her worlds would collide at some point.

"Bella, what happened?"

"I'm sorry, little dove." She was squeezing her eyes closed while her whole body shuddered.

"Mina," Remus said from behind James. "What is Bellatrix doing here?"

It was this kind of attitude that wouldn't mend a broken relationship. She wasn't sure what she expected. Strong-willed Gryffindors find their opinions and can't be swayed.

"Bella is my cousin just as much as Sirius is."

"Just as- Mina, you can't be serious. You know what she is!" Sirius yelled.

Hermione brought Bella to a chair and turned to look at the wizards. "I know that she is a product of her family. I had the fortune of being raised away from you lot. Look at you. Are you going to stand there and revel in her injuries or are you going to help?"

"We're leaving," James declared, leading the marauders out. He turned in the doorframe, glancing back at Hermione. "Lily and I are getting married. I... I don't think you should come."

James left without another word, and it was probably for his benefit. Hermione was seething from this petty interaction. Turning back to Bella, she cast a cooling charm and began checking her for injuries.

"I'm not injured," she murmured.

Hermione's eyebrows knitted together. "Well, you're obviously not well."

"They'll never forgive you, you know." Bella was avoiding the topic. Hermione kept looking her over, trying to figure out what got her in such a state.

Cupping her cheek, she looked into her cousin's dark eyes. "That's okay. We have each other."

"My sweet, little dove," she said, touching her hand and giving a weak smile.

Hermione pressed again, "Bella, what happened?"

"It didn't go how he wanted."

"Who?"

Bella shivered. "The Dark Lord. He... he wanted me to... but I couldn't. I couldn't do it to you."

"Do what?"

She was shaking her head, closing her eyes tightly. "You wouldn't join him willingly. He didn't like that. He... He likes to have his way."

"What did he want you to do?"

"I was... I was supposed to Imperius you. Get you to join and fight for him. I couldn't. I couldn't take away your choice." Bella was sobbing as she spoke.

Hermione was beginning to piece it together, but she needed to be sure. "What did he do to you?"

"I refused to use an unforgivable, despite his direct orders. So he chose one to use on me."

"Oh, Bella." Hermione never thought her heart would for Bella the way it did, but she found that the tears fell from her eyes of their own accord.

Bella looked at Hermione and wiped the tears away. "I wouldn't change a single decision. I won't have him take away your choices. I won't have him take you."

"You didn't deserve that," she said honestly.

Bella's shakes were finally subsiding, but her lip still quivered. "Mina, I'm... I'm scared. I've never been so scared."

"Shh, I've got you," she said, pulling Bellatrix into her embrace.

"My head feels so clouded. So much anger. I... I can feel my control slipping."

Hermione held back a sob. This was how it happened. This was the start of it. She was going to lose one of her closest friends to her destined fate of madness. And then her friend would torture her, relishing in the way her dirty blood would spill onto the floor. Bella was succumbing to the madness that would take her over.