𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗻

Chapter 17: Only Mine

The forest was ancient.

Branches tangled above like claws clutching the sky, and the moss underfoot muffled every sound. Fog lingered between the trees like a secret too heavy to lift.

Vivienne stood still at the base of a twisted elm, her wand lowered.

She wasn't sure Bellatrix would come.

The letters had been brief. Dangerous. Written in charmed ink that burned after reading.
Tonight. North of Ashbourne. No traps.
— B

But Bellatrix never did anything without a trap in mind.

Vivienne touched the small cut on her arm from their last encounter. It still ached.

A rustle behind her.

She turned just as Bellatrix stepped into view — eyes gleaming like twin obsidian blades, cloak trailing through the leaves, wand already in hand.

"I see you followed instructions," Bellatrix said, her voice cold, but smooth. "Obedience suits you."

Vivienne raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't obedience that brought me here."

"No," Bellatrix smiled thinly, "just obsession."

Vivienne said nothing.

Bellatrix moved closer, slowly circling. "So. What now? Another kiss? Another plea for redemption?"

Vivienne's jaw clenched. "You called me here."

Bellatrix stopped, inches away. "I wanted to see if you'd come unarmed again."

Vivienne's hand twitched.

Too late.

With a flick of her wand, Bellatrix sent a Disarming Spell so sharp it sliced the air. Vivienne's wand flew into the leaves behind her.

"Predictable," Bellatrix purred.

Vivienne didn't back away. "If you wanted to kill me, you'd have done it already."

"I'm thinking about it."

Vivienne stepped closer — fearless, defiant. "Then think faster."

Bellatrix shoved her.

Vivienne shoved back.

The tension broke like a dam.

They crashed into each other — not with tenderness, but rage. Bellatrix struck first, a stinging hex across Vivienne's shoulder. Vivienne countered with her fists, knocking Bellatrix into a tree trunk.

For a moment, they grappled — hands on cloth and skin, anger and memory colliding — until Bellatrix twisted and slammed Vivienne to the ground.

She straddled her, wand at her throat, breath ragged. "Say one more word, Vivienne. One more."

Vivienne stared up at her. "You're still in love with me."

The wand trembled.

Bellatrix's lips parted.

And then — a snap of twigs.

A voice behind them:

"Well, well. What have we here?"

Lucius Malfoy stepped into the clearing, wand drawn, eyes icy with disapproval.

Vivienne froze.

Bellatrix turned like lightning, still crouched over Vivienne. "Lucius."

He didn't smile. "The Dark Lord would be most displeased to know his most faithful is meeting her... old pets."

Vivienne's heart thudded.

Lucius raised his wand at her. "I think I'll deal with the problem myself."

Vivienne tensed.

But then—

Bellatrix spun and disarmed Lucius in one fluid motion. His wand flew from his hand, and before he could blink—

"Stupefy!"

Lucius crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Silence.

Vivienne stared up at her.

Bellatrix stood there, chest heaving, hair wild, wand still pointed at her brother-in-law's limp form.

Then she turned slowly, eyes narrowing.

"No one touches you," she said softly, dangerously. "No one... but me."

Bellatrix stood over Vivienne, wand still raised, breath ragged, her silhouette trembling like a blade held too long over flame.

Lucius lay motionless on the ground.

"I shouldn't have done that," she said, voice thin, like it might vanish if spoken too loud.

Vivienne sat up slowly, watching her carefully. "But you did."

Bellatrix said nothing.

She stared into the trees like she could will the world to forget.

"You saved me," Vivienne added, gently now. "That wasn't for show."

Bellatrix looked down. "He'll know. The Dark Lord always knows."

Vivienne stood, brushing dirt from her robes. "Then maybe you've already made your choice."

"No," Bellatrix hissed, stepping back. "Don't you dare twist this. You don't get to walk in here and— and turn me into you."

Vivienne frowned. "Into me?"

"Full of guilt," Bellatrix spat. "Full of rules. Of shame. You left because you couldn't handle what I was becoming."

"I left," Vivienne cut in, voice sharper now, "because what you were becoming terrified me. Because I loved you. And you— you sold yourself to something that kills love on sight."

Bellatrix laughed bitterly. "It was already dead."

Vivienne stepped forward. "Then why are you still fighting me?"

Bellatrix looked at her.

Eyes like coals. Lips like a warning.

"I don't know who I am without him," she whispered. "Without purpose. Without rage."

Vivienne said, "You were someone before him."

Bellatrix's voice trembled — only once. "I was yours."

The forest fell quiet.

Not even the wind moved.

Vivienne's breath caught — not because it was beautiful, but because it was true.

Bellatrix shook her head violently. "I don't want this. I don't want you undoing me. I don't want to remember what it felt like to— to feel human."

She was crying, and it enraged her.

She turned her back, pacing in broken circles. "You don't know what it's like to love something that poisons you."

"I do," Vivienne said. "Your name was that poison."

Bellatrix stopped.

Then, in a voice barely above breath: "Then why did you come back?"

Vivienne answered, firm and unwavering: "Because I'm still the only one who knows where to find what's left of you."

Bellatrix turned, hollow and furious.

"Then dig, Vivienne," she whispered. "But don't be surprised if you find ashes."

And for the first time, she didn't flee.

She just... sat.

Next to Vivienne.

And for the next several minutes, neither of them spoke.

They only watched the forest hold its breath.