True Love Conquers All (sequel to Loving You)

Chapter XXVI {Stitching Through the Pain}

i stand, staring at the full length mirror in front of me, in the room me and Hermione share at this cottage. i lift my shirt up and over my head and through it across the room. it hits the wooden floor and skids to a corner. 

i stare at my bandaged abdomen. the middle part of it was stained red from excess bleeding. Harry and Ron had bandaged me up the night we got back from Malfoy Manor. Harry had to hold my shoulder while Ron walked around me holding the foot long gauze. 

i ripped the tape that was holding the end of it together and began unraveling it, making circle motions around my stomach area. 

when it was fully off i through it on the ground as well.

i examined my injury for what it was. the knife had almost hit rib, almost. the skin on the outer layer of the injury was a dark velvet, almost black. the flesh on the inside was a lighter, less harsh red. 

i picked up the little white box that i had smuggled from Bill and Fleur's room. i opened the lid and all the muggle first-aid essentials were in there. you would think after almost seven years of magic training they would teach you a spell to heal human flesh. my injury was to far fetched for just a cleaning and re-bandaging. i needed something that would let me move around, let me go with Harry, Ron and Hermione. 

i picked the needle up and put the thread through the little hole at the end of it. i had seem my mother sew clothes as a child, shouldn't be much of a difference. 

i brace myself and, shakily, press the needle into on side of my injury. i hiss out in pain and tears brim my eyes. 

when it was fully in my skin i turned the needle the opposite way, towards the other side of my injury. the two flabs of skin pulled together as i took the needle out and started again. 

after an hour of crying out in pain, cleaning up blood, and Hermione almost walking in on me, i had finished. i stare at the diagonal line of stitches across my stomach. i was no doctor but i was pretty sure my terrible stitching job is going to leave a scar. 

these stitches may help me get through a couple of days but not forever. i picked up the white box and shoved it into my bag, pulled my shirt back on and walked out of the room like nothing had ever happened.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and i all stand around a square wooden table, very serious expressions on all of our faces.

"you're sure its hers?" Ron asks Hermione

"positive." Hermione reassures

"Vanessa? are you sure that's your mothers?" Ron asks

"as sure as i can be." i say holding the strand of hair between my index finger and thumb

Harry places the two wands on the table, the ones he showed Ollivander, and extends the longest to Hermione.

"i reckon you should take this then." Harry says

"can't i use the other?" Hermione asks with a look of disgust on her face

"you heard Ollivander. its Harry's now." Ron says

"but i hate that thing--that's the wand that killed Sirius! how can i hold it and not feel.." Hermione begins

"-if i can hold it, you can." Harry interrupts

Hermione looks him in the eye, then takes it. 

"how will we know what it is when we get in there? after all, a Horcrux can be anything." i ask

"i'll know. i can't explain. its like...they sing to me." Harry says

Ron, Hermione and i give him troubled glances.

"that's a bit scary." Ron says

"it is, Harry. did Dumbledore ever say anything to you, something that might explain why-" Hermione begins

"no." Harry butts in "i just know. when one's near." 

we all stare at him, silently, when a floorboard creaks. we turn and watch shadows appear: Bill and Fleur. Fleur hands Hermione a long black dress and hands me one as well.

"this is the closest i could find to what you two described." Fleur says with a smile

"its perfect." Hermione says

"thank you, Fleur." i say

Fleur nods and steps back, standing next to Bill.

"you're leaving, aren't you." Bill says

"in the morning." Harry says

"and Griphook?" 

"he'll be leaving too."

Bill nods, staring off briefly. "listen, i don't know what you're up to, but i know goblins. if you've struck any kind of bargain with Griphook, you must be exceptionally careful to live up to it. if you don't...he won't be forgiving." 

"so you've taken polyjuice potion before and you know that it's going to taste absolutely horrid." Hermione says as we both stand in one of the bathrooms in the cottage

"yeah" i laugh taking one of the flasks from her

Harry and Ron were outside waiting for us. seeing as this potion doesnt last long we need as much of a head start as possible.

i tilt my head back and take a sip, the horrid fluid running down my throat, burning it slightly.

i look in the mirror and my features go from my regular ones to some much harsher. my long black hair went to a curly bob, my face aged about 20 years, my eyes going from blue to a dark brown almost black color. my fingers extending in length and my lips being tucked in a bit. i was the exact replica of my mother and, to be honest, i was horrified. 

i turned to my right to see Hermione looked exactly like Bellatrix. as both of us saw each other we both let out a loud scream.

"well, how do we look?" i ask as Hermione, Griphook and i approach Ron and Harry. Griphook gripping the Sword of Gryffindor.

"hideous." Ron approaches Hermione "that is you in there, isn't it?"

Harry eyes Griphook, who is studying the sword.

"you can give that to Hermione to hold onto, all right, Griphook?" 

Hermione extends the beaded bag. Griphook eyes Harry and then, grudgingly, lets the sword drop within.

we all stand in a tight circle. as Griphook's hand joins ours--we vanish.