𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤

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The village of Hogsmeade was bustling with life, students and villagers alike enjoying a crisp autumn day. Vivienne Florere was among them, taking a rare moment to enjoy the simple pleasures of a hot cup of tea from Madam Puddifoot's. She strolled down the cobblestone streets, the warmth of the tea cup in her hands a comforting contrast to the cool air.Suddenly, a loud explosion shattered the peaceful afternoon. Screams filled the air as black-cloaked figures apparated into the village, their wands raised and curses flying. The Death Eaters had launched an attack.Vivienne's wand was in her hand in an instant. She scanned the chaos, spotting students from Hogwarts running for cover. She cast protective charms around them, her heart pounding. Amid the confusion, a familiar, sinister laugh reached her ears."Capture them! Leave none standing!" Rodolphus Lestrange's voice boomed over the din.Before she could react, Rodolphus himself appeared before her, his wand aimed directly at her chest. "Ah, Professor Florere. A Mudblood teaching at Hogwarts. How quaint."Vivienne raised her wand, but Rodolphus was quicker. He disarmed her with a flick of his wand, and she felt the invisible ropes of a binding spell coil around her. She struggled against them, but they held tight."You're coming with us," Rodolphus sneered, grabbing her arm roughly. "The Dark Lord will be pleased."As he dragged her through the chaos, Vivienne caught sight of Bellatrix, her wild hair and manic eyes unmistakable. Bellatrix's gaze locked onto Vivienne, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. There was recognition, a spark of something old and unresolved."No," Bellatrix hissed, pushing through the throng of Death Eaters. "Leave her to me."Rodolphus hesitated, confusion flickering across his face. "But Bella, the Dark Lord—""Now!" Bellatrix snapped, her voice like a whip. Rodolphus reluctantly released Vivienne, and Bellatrix seized her, her grip like iron.With a surge of adrenaline, Vivienne wrenched herself free from Bellatrix's grasp, her wand back in her hand in an instant. She cast a powerful Stunning Spell, sending Rodolphus sprawling, and took off down a narrow alleyway."Vivienne!" Bellatrix's voice rang out, filled with fury and something else—desperation. "You can't run from me!"Vivienne ran, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She turned corner after corner, but the labyrinthine streets of Hogsmeade led her to a dead end. She spun around, her back against the stone wall, her wand at the ready.Bellatrix appeared at the entrance of the alley, her wand pointed at Vivienne, a twisted smile on her lips. "You've always been good at running, haven't you?"Vivienne's eyes narrowed. "And you've always been good at destroying everything you touch."Bellatrix laughed, a harsh, brittle sound. "Oh, Vivienne. Still so righteous. Tell me, how does it feel to stand against the inevitable?""It feels like I'm doing what's right," Vivienne shot back, her voice steady. "Something you never understood."Bellatrix's eyes darkened. "And what would you know of right and wrong? You, a Mudblood in Slytherin. You were always out of place.""I made my place," Vivienne said fiercely. "Just like I'll stand my ground now."Bellatrix's smile faded, replaced by a look of cold determination. "Very well, then. Let's see how strong your convictions are."The duel began with a fury, spells flying back and forth, the air crackling with magic. Bellatrix's curses were powerful and relentless, each one meant to maim or kill. Vivienne countered with defensive spells, her mind focused and clear despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins."Crucio!" Bellatrix screamed, and Vivienne barely managed to dodge the curse, the sheer force of it scorching the wall behind her."You don't have to do this, Bella," Vivienne panted, using the brief respite to catch her breath. "You can still change.""Change?" Bellatrix spat, her face twisted with rage. "Change is for the weak. I have power, and I will not be swayed by sentiment.""It's not sentiment, it's humanity," Vivienne countered. "You've lost yourself in this madness."Bellatrix's face contorted with fury. "You know nothing! You never did!"With a flick of her wand, Bellatrix sent a barrage of curses at Vivienne. Vivienne deflected them, but the force of the magic sent her stumbling. She gritted her teeth, refusing to back down."Do you remember when we were friends?" Vivienne shouted over the noise of the duel. "Before all of this, we were like sisters.""That was a long time ago," Bellatrix snarled, her voice cracking. "And you betrayed me.""I tried to save you," Vivienne said, her voice breaking. "But you wouldn't listen."Bellatrix hesitated, her wand faltering for just a moment. Vivienne saw the flicker of doubt, the shadow of the girl she once knew."You can still be saved, Bella," Vivienne said softly. "It's not too late."For a brief second, Bellatrix's eyes softened. Then they hardened once more. "You're wrong. It's far too late for me. And for you."Bellatrix raised her wand, but Vivienne was faster. With a flick of her wrist, she disarmed Bellatrix, the wand flying from her hand and clattering to the ground.The two women stood there, breathing heavily, the air between them charged with unspoken words. Bellatrix's face twisted with anguish and rage, and for a moment, Vivienne saw the girl she had once loved, lost beneath the layers of hatred and madness."Goodbye, Bella," Vivienne whispered, turning and running before Bellatrix could react.She fled through the streets of Hogsmeade, her heart pounding, tears streaming down her face. She had faced her past and survived, but the wounds were deeper than ever. As she reached the outskirts of the village, she stopped and looked back, her chest heaving with emotion.Bellatrix was gone, lost in the chaos of the attack. But Vivienne knew this wasn't the end. There would be more battles, more pain. But she was ready. She had to be. For her students, for herself, and for the memory of the girl she had once known.As she made her way back to Hogwarts, the weight of the encounter settled heavily on her shoulders. She had escaped this time, but the fight was far from over. And with Bellatrix on the loose, the stakes had never been higher.

The night was unnaturally still as Vivienne lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling. The events of the day played over and over in her mind, the confrontation with Bellatrix leaving her restless and troubled. Sleep was an elusive comfort, her thoughts a tangled web of memories and unresolved emotions.

Finally, unable to stand it any longer, she rose from her bed and walked over to her desk. She opened a small, ornate box and took out an old, silver ring. It was an unassuming piece of jewelry, but to Vivienne, it held profound significance. It was one of a pair of enchanted rings she and Bellatrix had exchanged during their time at Hogwarts, a symbol of their bond.Vivienne slipped the ring onto her finger and whispered an incantation. The ring warmed against her skin, a faint glow emanating from it. She closed her eyes, focusing on the connection, hoping it still held after all these years."Bellatrix," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I need to speak with you. Please, meet me in the Forbidden Forest."For a moment, there was nothing. Then, she felt a faint tug, a response through the bond. She opened her eyes to see the ring glowing brighter, signaling that Bellatrix had received her message.---Vivienne moved silently through the dark corridors of Hogwarts, her heart pounding in her chest. The castle was quiet, its ancient stones bathed in the pale light of the moon. She slipped out a side door and made her way towards the Forbidden Forest, the night air cold against her skin.The forest loomed ahead, a mass of shadows and twisted trees. She hesitated at the edge, her resolve faltering for a moment. But she took a deep breath and stepped forward, the familiar path guiding her deeper into the darkness.She reached a small clearing, the same one she had visited before. She stood there, waiting, the silence pressing in around her. After what felt like an eternity, she heard a soft rustling behind her.Vivienne turned to see Bellatrix emerging from the shadows, her wand in hand, eyes gleaming with suspicion and curiosity."You've got some nerve, Vivienne," Bellatrix said, her voice low and dangerous. "Summoning me here. What do you want?"Vivienne swallowed hard, her hand instinctively gripping her own wand. "I need to talk to you, Bella. There's so much we left unsaid."Bellatrix's eyes narrowed. "There's nothing to say. We chose our paths, and they don't cross anymore.""They do, Bella," Vivienne insisted, stepping closer. "They cross more than ever. You're on a path of destruction, and I can't just stand by and watch."Bellatrix laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. "You think you can save me? After all this time? How naive.""It's not about saving you," Vivienne said, her voice steady. "It's about understanding. About trying to reach the part of you that still cares."Bellatrix's expression hardened. "There is no part of me that cares. Not anymore. That part died a long time ago."Vivienne felt a pang of sorrow. "I don't believe that. I saw it today, in the alley. You hesitated.""I should have killed you," Bellatrix hissed, her wand twitching in her hand. "It would have been easier.""Then why didn't you?" Vivienne pressed. "Because you know there's still something between us. Something worth fighting for."Bellatrix's eyes flickered with something—anger, confusion, perhaps even regret. "You're deluded, Vivienne. I serve the Dark Lord. There's no place for sentiment in this war.""And what has it brought you, Bella?" Vivienne asked, her voice softening. "Pain, suffering, loss. Is that what you want for the rest of your life?"Bellatrix's grip on her wand tightened, but she didn't cast a spell. "You don't know anything about my life.""I know enough," Vivienne said gently. "I know you once had dreams, hopes. I know you're not the monster you pretend to be.""Enough!" Bellatrix shouted, her voice cracking. "This is pointless. You can't change me."Vivienne took a step closer, her eyes locked on Bellatrix's. "Maybe not. But I can remind you of who you were. Of who you can still be."For a long moment, they stood there, the tension between them palpable. Bellatrix's face was a mask of conflicting emotions, her eyes dark and stormy.Finally, she lowered her wand slightly, her shoulders slumping. "Why, Vivienne? Why do you care so much?"Vivienne's heart ached at the vulnerability in Bellatrix's voice. "Because I loved you, Bella. And a part of me always will."Bellatrix's eyes widened, and for a moment, the hardened mask slipped, revealing the girl Vivienne had once known. But it was fleeting. Bellatrix's expression hardened again, and she shook her head."You're a fool," she said quietly. "And your sentiment will be your downfall."With that, she turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Vivienne standing alone in the clearing, her heart heavy with the weight of their conversation.Vivienne watched her go, a mix of sorrow and hope swirling within her. She had reached Bellatrix, if only for a moment. It wasn't much, but it was a start. And she would keep fighting, for herself, for her students, and for the memory of the girl she had once loved.As she made her way back to the castle, the night seemed a little less dark, and the weight on her shoulders a little lighter. She had faced her past and survived, and now she was ready to face whatever came next.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗻Where stories live. Discover now