The Heart's Deepest Desires

Hopes Destroyed

Each one of them disappeared in a swirl of darkness. All but Bellatrix and Snape.

They swooped around the evening sky. Their mark appeared numerous times. They searched furiously. What for, no one knew. 

"What's wrong, Bella?" Voldemort asked accusingly. "Why are you still here?"

"I will find them, my Lord," she said, her eyes glistening with determination. "I will bring them to you." 

And with a cold laugh, she was gone.

"And what about you, Severus?" Voldemort flashed to Snape. "Do you feel guilt? Maybe fear?" He looked over Severus's face with deep suspicions. 

"No, my Lord. I'm thinking. Who would brave enough to encourage your rage?"

And with that, he was gone as well.

Bellatrix knew where she had to go. She knew where they would be. With their precious little boy, Harry, of course! Where was Harry? Hogwarts. It was so simple. Severus was following close behind her, just out of sight. 

She raced to the castle and suddenly stopped just before it. How silly of them, she thought. No protection whatsoever! Don't they know that Voldemort knows all?

She walked in through the front doors as if she owned the place. Empty. She walked through the hallways. The only things that knew her presence yet, were portraits. She snickered. She came upon the doors to the Great Hall. With a smirk, she slowly pushed the door open. There they were. 

Everyone. The students, the teachers. The Potters. She stepped forward, unnoticed, and with a wave of her wand, she had Lily and James. Too easy, she thought.

That's when everyone gasped and turned to the door.

"Bellatrix Lestrange! Let them go at once," demanded Dumbledore.

She cocked her head proudly and smiled. "Make me."

Dumbledore raised his wand, but it was too late. She was gone. How could they have been so naive! 

She alerted all the other Death Eaters and in a flash of black, they were back at Malfoy Manor. Standing in a circle with their catch struggling in the middle.

Severus stood behind the crowd. Lily caught his eye and stared at him with desperation and pleading in her beautiful eyes. They were glistening with tears. Severus's eyes began to swell. What could he do? He started to step forward to set her free but caught himself. He looked away, pained, and left without notice. As he slipped out the door, he heard her scream. His heart swelled and he shed a tear as he ran away.