Can I just say how sorry I am (once again) for not updating my story? Please let me apologise not only with personal words, but with a chapter. A long one. This one was extremely difficult to write for me because I had to intertwine my own plot with the one from the books (as I've mentioned before, I am following the book, not the movie plot). There are lots of contents that belong to J. K. Rowling in this chapter since I didn't want to change her already brilliant dialogues. It might seem that I've re-written everything from what I just stated but NO, the main part of everything is mine. I just had to adjust everything to make it more real.

Oh, just read and figure out what I mean yourselves..

Quick answers:

Amanda2308: thank you and yes, they will get together at some point. But I don't want to rush anything so it might be developed slowly. Nonetheless, I hope you continue to read and enjoy my story!

Hollowwind: thank you so much for the lovely reviews. I'm glad you like it and here's an update *cheers*

XenaHades: I am certainly glad to hear that. I simply couldn't imagine a light or fluffy story with these characters myself, so I'm keeping the darkness for sure.

Anon guest: at first it wasn't intentional, I just seemed to write it this way. But I do believe that this small detail makes Voldemort even more believable, for he does believe himself alone responsible for any success.

Read, enjoy (hopefully) and please review! x

11. Tug of War

You feed me fables from your head
With violent words and empty threats
And it's sick that all these battles
Are what keeps me satisfied

'Where is he?'

'Who?'

'Don't pretend you haven't got the idea of whom I'm talking about!' Bellatrix shouted, 'The Dark Lord, you imbecile, where is he?'

'How the hell should I know? I'm not one to get involved in his business, Bella.'

The dark witch was furious. Lucius was pathetic in every way possible. Had it not been for her, she doubted if he would've called a last meeting before the mission. All men were already dressed in their robes; the lot of them looked like an army of shadowed silhouettes.

'Well, if He isn't here, I guess that's how it should be. We shall leave without our Lord's last commands. For the last time, if any idiot still doesn't fully understand our plan of action, I suggest you ask Mr. Blonde over there,' she grinned and pointed at her brother-in-law who, by that time, was as red as the twilight sky, 'Because this is your last chance. If you screw up, I will personally make sure your arses ache with pain for all your pathetic existences!'

With a shiver and a group nod, her fellow death eaters prepared for apparition.

The sky was already dark by the time the lot of Lord Voldemort's minions got near the Ministry entrance. Confused, since there was nothing but a few buildings and an old telephone cabin around them, the black-gowned people slowly walked forward to where Lucius Malfoy led them. The certain dark haired witch snorted at the sight – the man finally received his so craved moment of attention. He walked over to that said booth and turned around to speak:

'This is the guest entrance. I've spoken to the Dark Lord himself and he too suggested us to enter the Ministry like this. Since there is no space for us all to fit in, we will come in pairs. 'Macnair, Mulciber, Avery and Dolohov – you and I go first, then Crabbe, Goyle, Nott and Jugson and you,' he pointed at Bellatrix as if saying her name would burn his tongue, 'Enter with Rabastan and Rodolphus.'

Without any further due, Lucius walked into the small space with the other four and, after murmuring something Bella didn't quite catch, descended down until there was no sight of them. Just when the second group of men mimicked the same thing, the raven haired witch stepped in with her husband and brother-in-law.

'Great. Now what?' Rodolphus hissed before a female voice echoed in the telephone box:

'Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business.'

'Bellatrix Black,' a slight cough intervened her speech but the woman continued, 'Lestrange, here to steal the prophecy for my Lord.'

'Thank you,' the same voice continued, 'Visitor, please take the badge and attach it to the front of your robes.'

A square silver badge slid out of the metal chute. Bellatrix picked it up and grinned to herself – Bellatrix Black Lestrange, stealing of prophecy was written on the small piece.

'I'm keeping this one.' she murmured and slipped it into her robe pocket.

'Visitor to the Ministry, you are required to submit to a search and present your wand for registration at the security desk, which is located at the far end of the Atrium.'

'Yeah sure, can we just go now?' the younger Lestrange brother snorted and suddenly the box shuddered.

Slowly, the three sunk deeper and deeper into the ground until no light could be seen. When the booth floor finally hit steady ground, the female voice wished them a nice day and the death eaters stepped into the ministry. Before they could look around the long, neatly polished hall, Lucius appeared in front of them.

'Now, let's go to the elevators,' he motioned his head to the left, where a shiny golden-gated lift stood, 'The Department of Mysteries is located on Level Nine. I suggest we all go there together. The Ministry should be empty by now but if, by any chance, you spot a worker nearby, don't kill him.' with that he shot a death glare at Bellatrix who sneered maliciously.

'Yes, chief.' she rolled her eyes and followed the group.

When they finally landed in the needed department, the female death eater looked around. This place was a lot darker and gaunter than the ones she saw before. Main corridor was high-sealed and narrow; the black-tiled walls were bare, without any windows. The only sources of light were small torches which glowed with an almost-white-blue light. There was only one black door that led elsewhere; Bellatrix was sure that was their destination point.

'I don't have the knowledge of what exactly is hidden in there,' Malfoy spoke as if he read the woman's mind, 'The only ones that do are the Unspeakables, even our Lord does not know for sure. But what we do know is that the Hall of Prophecies is behind that door. And that, my friends, is where we're going.'

The man walked towards the door and turned the handle. It slowly opened and the mass of black-clothed people walked through to another hall. After the last of them entered, Lucius closed the entry and suddenly numbers of candles lit up a circular, dark marble covered hall with dim blue light. In front of them were several doors. None were marked or possessed even a slightest difference to the others. Soft murmuring filled the room – the hooded men were confused.

'Oh for the love of... Get out of my way you pricks!' Bellatrix hissed and slammed the middle door open.

Cautiously, she stepped into the dark place and with a silent 'lumos' lit it up.

She now stood in a long, stone cold chamber with ceiling high enough for a giant. Wherever the woman looked, the place was filled with towering shelves covered in small, dusty glass orbs which she knew were the prophecies. Each shelve was lit up in a blue light that shone from small candles placed every few steps ahead. Bellatrix's lips twitched with excitement and she turned to the men who, by now, were staring at her with great interest.

'I do believe this is the place, dear brother-in-law.' The witch smirked and walked further into the room, 'And what do you suggest we do now?'

'First, we have to find row ninety-seven. The Dark Lord's prophecy is somewhere around there. That's where we expect Potter to show up.'

'And what then?'

'We wait.'

Lord Voldemort paced back and forth in his dorms. Somehow he didn't feel as certain as he did before. What if his genius plan failed?.. No, it couldn't. His death eaters wouldn't dare fail him. Lucius would lead the mission well. Bellatrix... She'd do anything to please him. There was nothing to fear. But if, by any chance, his minions failed him, he would make them pay. Suffer the greatest pain any of them had ever experienced. Could he kill them even? Of course. What were they to him, the most powerful wizard of all time? Nothing but a bunch of meaningless souls, trapped in nothing else but mere meat and bones, that only had his attention when they succeeded in the tasks given by the dark wizard himself. He could get rid of them all, each and every... man.

A sudden knock on the door made the Dark Lord get rid of his thoughts. He cleared his throat and ordered:

'Come in.'

A short man with small, watery eyes and a rat-like face, known as Wormtail opened the thick wooden door and another person entered the chamber. Someone the snake-like man did not expect.

'My Lord.' Severus Snape bowed in front of him.

'Stand, Severus. What brings you here tonight?' he asked curiously and shot a quick glare at Pettigrew, 'You, leave.'

The frightened death eater obeyed without question, leaving the two alone.

'I heard about the mission tonight. I couldn't help but ask if my assistance was needed, my Lord.'

'Oh, you've already helped. The news about Dumbledore made this mission far more easy. Everything is going by plan right now even. You can rest.'

'Are you sure there is nothing I could-'

'Yes, Severus, I am sure. Never doubt me again.' Voldemort shot back coldly and then, with a nod, the black haired man left the room.

Ever since the Dark Lord's comeback, Snape tried to prove himself loyal to his master. The now-potions-master swore he was a spy and provided the death eaters with any Hogwarts information needed. However, Lord Voldemort didn't let anyone into his inner circle that easily. Severus would have to prove himself worthy of being in his ranks. The snake-like man would give him a task, far bigger than anything he'd ever done. It was because of his lack of trust he did not let Snape participate in the mission that day. He couldn't risk anything.

Still, he felt something far different from certainty. Something not quite right. Maybe he should visit the Ministry after all.

The death eaters had been waiting in the shadows for some time but it was worth it. The thing they sought was right in front of them now. Potter held the prophecy. He was foolish enough to bring others with him; more bodies to kill. Bellatrix grinned behind her mask – this should be fun. The children were right in front of them, mere meters away. Just when all of them stood around to look at the shining orb in Harry Potter's hand, Lucius walked out:

'Very good, Potter. Now turn around, nice and slowly, and give that to me.'

That was their sign. The show started.

The cloaked figures circled the students like prey. They spun around in black smoke, making sure there were no chances for any of them to escape. Potter looked here and there, his eyes wide with terror; some of them gasped in shock. The death eaters drew their wands into view. Lucius held his hand out and repeated:

'To me, Potter.'

'Where's Sirius?' the dark haired boy asked harshly, desperately looking for a way out of the situation.

Bellatrix laughed out loud at that. How could he be so stupid, so foolish to believe their scam? The brat had no idea what he put himself and his little friends into.

'The Dark Lord always knows!' she stated.

'Always,' Malfoy repeated before turning to the boy again, 'Now, give me the prophecy Potter.'

'I want to know where Sirius is!'

'I want to know where Sirius is!' the raven haired woman mimicked. She saw the panic in Harry's eyes; if only the Dark Lord was here to watch this.

'You've got him,' he continued, 'He's here. I know he is.'

How stupid.

'The little baby woke up fwightened and fort what it dweamed was twoo,' Bella mocked in a scary baby voice, devouring the panic she saw rising in each and every one of their victims.

Potter shuddered near his ginger friend – the woman was almost sure that was a Weasley – and muttered:

'Don't do anything. Not yet –'

'You hear him? You hear him? Giving instructions to the other children as though he thinks of fighting us!' Bellatrix shrieked with laughter by then. She never thought the famous 'boy who lived' to be as thick as that. How could this bloody idiot weaken the greatest dark wizard of all time?..

'Oh, you don't know Potter as I do, Bellatrix,' said Malfoy softly, 'He has a great weakness for heroics; the Dark Lord understands this about him. Now give me the prophecy, Potter.'

The death eaters laughed again when Harry tried to convince, more himself than the people around him, that Sirius Black was there. Held like a prisoner, waiting for the boy to release him. The nee Black cackled loudly. How she wished her cousin was actually there, writhing on the floor, screaming in pain as she tortured him. One day she would put him in his place. This, however, was nothing but a dream.

Suddenly, six more wands were drawn out, this time to their direction. They actually wanted to fight. Bellatrix saw Lucius send her a glare of disapproval; she had to tone down the urge to attack.

'Hand over the prophecy and no one need get hurt,' said Malfoy coolly.

'Yeah, right!' Potter started laughing, almost hysterically, 'I give you this - prophecy, is it? And you'll just let us skip off home, will you?'

'Accio proph-'

'Protego!' Harry shouted and deflected Bellatrix's spell.

'Oh, he knows how to play, little bitty baby Potter,' she said, staring at the green eyes in front of her with utmost hatred; the spell she wanted to use so badly was on the tip of her tongue, 'Very well, then –'

'I TOLD YOU, NO!' Lucius Malfoy roared at her, 'If you smash it -!'

She knew she couldn't do anything that could possibly harm the prophecy. But that meant safety to Potter only. Everyone else was free to play with. Bella took a step forward, slowly removing her mask to her staring audience. One, almost familiar looking boy, stirred awfully at the sight of her.

'You need more persuasion?' she asked, her heart racing rapidly inside her chest, 'Very well - take the smallest one,' she pointed at a red haired girl behind the Weasley boy, 'Let him watch while we torture her. I'll do it.'

The others circled around her prey, as if their bodies could keep the woman from attacking her. Potter stood in the front:

'You'll have to smash this if you want to attack any of us,' he told Bellatrix. 'I don't think your boss will be too pleased if you come back without it, will he?'

Her eyes widened but she held her wand still. There was no questioning the Dark Lord would kill them all if they failed to get what he desired.

'So,' the boy continued, seemingly on purpose, 'What kind of prophecy are we talking about, anyway?'

Bellatrix frowned. No way that old fool Dumbledore hadn't told him what was it her Lord so eagerly wanted to get.

'What kind of prophecy?' she re-asked, 'You jest, Harry Potter.'

'Nope, not jesting,' he said, green eyes running through the mass of them like a trapped animal's, searching for a way out, 'How come Voldemort wants it?'

The dark witch started shaking with anger:

'You dare speak his name?' she whispered, eyes still wide in shock.

'Yeah,' he confirmed, standing still, 'Yeah, I've got no problem with saying Vol-'

'Shut your mouth!' Bellatrix shrieked, each word dripping with venom, 'You dare speak his name with your unworthy lips, you dare besmirch it with your half-blood's tongue, you dare –'

That didn't shut him up. The boy who lived interrupted her; he said that the Dark Lord himself was not pure-blood. The witch almost burned with despite at the spot. How dare that scar head talk like that? She raised her wand and pointed it right at his chest; she had enough:

'STUPEF-'

'NO!' Lucius shouted and quickly deflected her red jet.

The spell hit a shelf and glass orbs shattered on the ground. White, smoke-like figures appeared in thin air, but that wasn't what concerned her.

'HOW DARE YOU DO THAT? DID YOU HEAR WHAT THAT FILTH SAID ABOUT OUR LORD?'

'Bella, we need the damn prophecy sa-'

'Shut up and let me kill that fucking brat right now! I'll take him to where the bloody hell he belongs – under the ground!' she pushed the man aside, but he quickly grabbed her wrist.

'DO NOT ATTACK! WE NEED THE PROPHECY!'

'He dared - he dares –' shrieked Bellatrix incoherently, 'he stands there - filthy half-blood -'

'WAIT UNTIL WE'VE GOT THE PROPHECY!' bawled Malfoy.

All eyes were on them – the death eaters stood still, not sure which one of them they should listen to. The children couldn't move from the spot; they were trapped for good.

'You haven't told me what's so special about this prophecy I'm supposed to be handing over,' Harry spoke once again, causing the two to stop fighting.

'Do not play games with us, Potter,' Lucius hissed.

'I'm not playing games,' the boy said.

'Dumbledore never told you the reason you bear that scar was hidden in the bowels of the Department of Mysteries?' Malfoy sneered.

'I - what?' he asked, curiously this time, 'What about my scar?'

'Can this be?' said the blonde death eater, looking around at his fellow black-cloaked men, astonished by the information he heard, 'Dumbledore never told you?' he repeated, 'Well, this explains why you didn't come earlier, Potter, the Dark Lord wondered why you didn't come running when he showed you the place where it was hidden in your dreams,' the man grinned, 'He thought natural curiosity would make you want to hear the exact wording.'

'Did he?' said Harry, 'So he wanted me to come and get it, did he? Why?'

'Why?' Lucius repeated again, 'Because the only people who are permitted to retrieve a prophecy from the Department of Mysteries, Potter, are those about whom it was made, as the Dark Lord discovered when he attempted to use others to steal it for him.'

'And why did he want to steal a prophecy about me?'

'About both of you, Potter, about both of you.' he sighed and continued, 'Haven't you ever wondered why the Dark Lord tried to kill you as a baby?'

The boy looked up at Lucius and for a moment their eyes met, green orbs staring into the grey ones rather intensely.

'Someone made a prophecy about Voldemort and me?' Harry asked, causing Bellatrix to stir again, 'And he's made me come and get it for him? Why couldn't he come and get it himself?'

'Get it himself?' the woman cackled in response, 'The Dark Lord, walk into the Ministry of Magic, when they are so sweetly ignoring his return? The Dark Lord, reveal himself to the Aurors, when at the moment they are wasting their time on my dear cousin?'

'So, he's got you doing his dirty work for him, has he?' the boy continued, 'Like he tried to get Sturgis to steal it - and Bode?'

'Very good, Potter, very good,' said Malfoy slowly, 'But the Dark Lord knows you are not unintell-'

'NOW!' yelled Harry.

Everything happened so quickly, as if someone reversed a film tape – voices shouted 'reducto!' here and there, the towering shelves fell apart with hundreds of glass prophecies crashing to the ground. Their victims ran away, further and further with every hit of an orb.

'What are you waiting for?' Bellatrix screamed, 'GO GET THEM!'

The men jumped up and spurted forward as if someone pushed the 'start' button. The woman death eater ran after them, sending a red jet of light in every direction she possibly could. She saw red hair move past her and hide behind the door. Suddenly it hit her – there were more places, more chambers in this department. Rooms of which the children had no idea about.

'To the door, everyone, NOW!'

Lucius nodded in agreement and they vanished in black smoke, moving to the entrance as quickly as possible. Bellatrix burst into the same hall. Suddenly, a shriek of pain cut sharp in the silence and she spun around to face the Prophecy hall once again. Just before the black door closed, she noticed one of the death eaters get crushed by a massive shelve, followed by hundreds of white ghostly figures rising from the ground. She felt movement behind her back.

'Leave Nott, leave him, I say - his injuries will be nothing to the Dark Lord compared to losing that prophecy!' Lucius roared, 'Jugson, come back here, we need to organise! We'll split into pairs and search, and don't forget, be gentle with Potter until we've got the prophecy, you can kill the others if necessary - Bellatrix, Rodolphus, you take the left; Crabbe, Rabastan, go right – Jugson, Dolohov, the door straight ahead - Macnair and Avery, through here - Rookwood, over there - Mulciber, come with me!'

'You're not the boss of me.' Bella hissed but did what she was told.

Rodolphus kicked out the door on the left and she walked in, wand drawn out.

'What is this place?' he frowned at an object floating next to him, 'Looks like a planet of some sorts.'

'Look around, Roddie dear, I don't know about you but this looks like space to me...' she sighed - what a bloody moron she had to marry, 'Of course it's a planet you idiot. What should concern you, however, is a prophecy, or brats that might know where it is, get it? Now start looking.'

The room was dark and seemed never-ending; one couldn't see its walls or ceiling for everything was floating in mid-air. The witch drawled forward, looking around for any signs of Potter. The prophecy wasn't the only thing she wanted now. Revenge. She would make that filthy insolent half-blood pay for everything he said about her master. All the lies and stories he made up to provoke her... How proud would the Dark Lord be if she not only brought him the thing he asked for but Harry Potter himself with it too!

'Bella, I think I see someone!' her husband's voice reached her ears.

'Wha – where?' she re-collected her senses and ran to him.

'Oh fuck. It's one of us - Crabbe. What do we do with him?'

'Shit! We can't drag him with us, can we? Just leave him in this chamber, the brats were here before, they won't come back.'

'Right,' the man nodded, 'Let's go.'

Just when the two reached the exit, a voice from behind stopped them:

'Bella! Rod!'

'Rabastan? Weren't you supposed to be with Crabbe here?'

The younger Lestrange ran up to them and caught his breath back; Rookwood was right behind him.

'I was but – he ran after th – this blonde one and she cursed him somehow.'

'It doesn't matter anymore,' Bellatrix snorted, 'Let's get out of here, follow me.'

With a swift 'bombarda' she burst the door open and entered a lighter hall. Once her eyes adjusted to the light, she looked around – and spotted him. Potter.

'There they are!' she shrieked, 'Stupefy! Stupefy! STUPEFY!'

Red jets flew across the room and into the door as the boy closed it behind him. Rodolphus ran into it and started pounding his bear-sized fists. It was Rookwood who grabbed him by the shoulder.

'It doesn't matter!' he shouted in glee, 'There are other ways in - WE'VE GOT THEM, THEY'RE HERE!'

'Let's go find the others and seize the brat!' Rabastan ran to the opposite direction and, in a few moments, came back with two more death eaters.

'Go, try every door possible! We need to get in!' roared Bella and ran to the side door.

The men slammed and crashed into any entrance they found but they were all sealed. After a few unsuccessful tries, they finally hit the right one. Rabastan shot the door open and, with a quick 'stupefy', sent a blonde girl flying backwards.

Bellatrix surged into the room and glued her eyes to the one she sought for:

'Get Potter!' she shrieked and ran at him.

He dodged from her spells but the raven haired woman laughed maniacally. She knew she was faster, stronger, better... The only thing in her way was that glass ball clutched in his hand.

'Bella, look out!'

'What the hell are you on about?' Bellatrix shot back but it was too late;

She tripped over something that seemed like an oversized bowl filled with thick yellowish fluid, which spilt on the ground. The witch fell into the wet mass; her wand flew out of her hand to the opposite direction. After a few seconds, pain crept up her skin. She felt as if something burned her and it didn't take long to find the source of it: grey smoke rose from the spilled liquid, air around her rose up by a hundred degrees. Bellatrix shot up on her feet like a bolt:

'My wand! Where's my wand?'

'Oh sh -, Bella, don't move!' Rodolphus ran up to her, 'Scourgify!'

The burning pain lessened with every second until she felt cool and unharmed once again. She kicked the bowl aside and spotted her wand. But that wasn't the only view of her interest. In front of them, Potter and his two friends tried to rescue Weasley from the brains that were now straddling him. None of them reacted when she came closer.

'Stupefy!' she hissed and her spell hit the smallest girl in the face.

The other men behind her started sending various spells to their direction; Bellatrix herself ran after Harry. She kicked at chairs and tables, threw various objects to any side she could if they were in her way. He shot stinging jinxes at her but she deflected them all. She saw the door the five of them entered the room through and, after figuring that the boy was heading to it, clashed into smoke and flew forward. After the last death eaters entered the hall, same door vanished. The lot of them started laughing - there was nowhere else to go; Potter was trapped.

'Potter, your race is run,' drawled Lucius Malfoy, pulling off his mask, 'now hand me the prophecy like a good boy.'

'Let - let the others go, and I'll give it to you!' said Harry desperately.

'You are not in a position to bargain, Potter,' said the blonde man, his pale face flushed with pleasure, 'You see, there are ten of us and only one of you: or hasn't Dumbledore ever taught you how to count?'

'He's dot alone!' shouted a voice from above them; Bellatrix turned around to see who it was, 'He's still god be!'

'Neville - no - go back to Ron -' the dark haired boy asked, but his friend didn't listen.

'STUBEFY!' Neville shouted again, pointing his wand at each Death Eater in turn, 'STUBEFY! STUBE-'

Rodolphus quickly seized the boy from behind, holding him tightly as he tried to escape from his grip. It was pointless; some death eaters laughed at the sight.

'It's Longbottom, isn't it?' Lucius sneered, 'Well, your grandmother is used to losing family members to our cause: your death will not come as a great shock.'

'Longbottom?' repeated Bellatrix, and a truly evil smile lit her gaunt face – that's why the boy looked familiar, 'Why, I have had the pleasure of meeting your parents, boy.'

'I DOE YOU HAB!' roared Neville.

He started twisting and kicking even harsher than before and Rodolphus couldn't keep him in place any longer.

'Someone stun him!'

'No, no, no,' said Bellatrix. She looked transported, alive with excitement as she glanced at Harry, then back at Neville, 'No, let's see how long Longbottom lasts before he cracks like his parents… unless Potter wants to give us the prophecy.'

DON'D GIB ID DO DEM!' the boy roared again, 'DON'D GIB ID DO DEM, HARRY!'

Bellatrix raised her wand and pointed it directly at him:

'Crucio!'

Neville screamed, his legs drawn up to his chest so that the death eater holding him was momentarily holding him off the ground. Rodolphus dropped him and he fell to the floor, twitching and screaming in agony.

'That was just a taster!' said the witch, raising her wand so that Neville's screams stopped and he lay sobbing at her feet. She turned and gazed up at Harry, 'Now, Potter, either give us the prophecy, or watch your little friend die the hard way!'

When she saw Potter finally holding out the prophecy, two doors burst open and Bellatrix frowned in irritation. Quickly heading her way was none other than her cousin Sirius with four others.

With a grin on her face, she headed towards the newcomers, blasting every spell she knew at them. She flew around the hall, searching for the one person she wanted to duel so badly. She promised herself and her Lord – when the time came, she would take the first chance and kill the blood traitor.

She saw him fight others; he wasn't as bad as she thought. Then again, no other death eater was a mach for her either. She was the Dark Lord's favourite. His very best dueller, his most faithful and most powerful. Bellatrix easily deflected every spell that came her way, her eyes never leaving the silhouette of her relative.

'Stupefy!' roared a feminine voice from behind her.

Her jaw dropped when she realised who the woman was. Andromeda's daughter.

'Well well well, what do we have here...' the older witch spoke in-between casting curses, 'Andy's little girl!'

'Don't you dare call my mother like that!' her niece shrieked, 'You don't deserve it!'

'Look how much I care!' she cackled, sending another stinging jinx that made her opponent crash into the wall, 'I guess I'll cleanse our family tree twice today, what'd you say –'

'Hey Bellatrix!' a man's voice echoed in the hall; the dark haired woman grinned, 'I thought you missed me the most!'

'I have.' she smirked and, without any hesitation, sent a jet of red light at Sirius.

The duel began. The two ran and dodged from hexes without resting. Ground started shaking under their feet; the intensiveness of their battle was unbearable.

'Oh come on, Sirius, you're so much younger than me. Where's your good shape?' she mocked him while sending spells at the younger man.

'I hear from one who can't even hit her target!' he laughed, 'They call you one of the most feared witches but I have no clue what they fear you for!'

'Crucio!' she cast the spell but Sirius avoided it.

'It's probably your face they fear, not the magic!'

'CRUCIO!' the woman started shrieking by then, but her cousin kept averting her hexes, laughing as he did so, 'CRUCIO! CRUCIO!'

Sirius avoided another red jet before yelling mockingly:

'Come on, you can do better than that!'

The second jet of light hit him squarely on the chest.

The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened in shock.

Bellatrix froze still; her eyes never left the ones of her younger cousin as she saw the life leave them. He fell through the ancient archway and disappeared behind the veil. It took a moment to realise that the man wouldn't come back. Ever.

She did it.

'He's deeeeaaaaad!' the witch screamed triumphantly, 'I KILLED SIRIUS BLACK!'

Before she could form another sentence, however, a bright jet of light shot right past her shoulder. One of the Ministry workers, a tall, dark-skinned man tried to stun her. She inspected him closely – an Auror. She deflected each and every one of his spells with ease, sending a hex of her own every now and then. Blood and adrenaline were pulsating in her veins, ruby liquid clawing at her own skin, desperately looking for a way out. Bellatrix felt more alive than ever. She was finally... free. Her mind broke loose from the invisible chains that still had hold of it. There were no more promises to hang onto. The woman raised her wand once again in an attempt to end another pathetic life that crossed her path...

'I think that's enough, Bellatrix.' Albus Dumbledore said coldly and tried to disarm the witch, but she avoided the spell without struggle.

Bella quickly sent a stunner at her previous opponent and, after seeing him hit the ground roughly, ran to the stair case as fast as she possibly could. She deflected a spell someone had aimed at her and made her way up the steps. The woman death eater heard someone else run behind her. She was being chased.

She kicked out the black door that stood in her way and entered the same brain room again. Never looking back, she aimed a curse over her shoulder and after hearing a tank slam down on the ground, reached for the exit. She ran through a circular black hall and through another port. She froze. The witch now stood in a long, dark, polished corridor she knew she'd seen before. A golden glow from the other side of it answered the question before she even asked it. Shuddering from the sound of someone's feet tapping on the floor, she reached the lift and pushed the button marked 'Atrium'. The doors slid shut and the last thing she saw before rising up were two green eyes burning with hatred.

The moment her feet hit solid ground, Bellatrix almost threw herself out of the lift and ran towards the visitor entrance. She successfully dived from another spell and turned around. Harry Potter was sprinting forwards to her. She aimed another spell at dodged behind the Fountain of Magical Brethren: the spell zoomed past him and hit the wrought-gold gates at the other end of the Atrium so that they rang like bells. There were no more footsteps. She had stopped running. She saw him crouch behind the statues.

'Come out, come out, little Harry!' she called in her mock baby voice, which echoed off the polished wooden floors, 'What did you come after me for, then? I thought you were here to avenge my dear cousin!'

'I am!' shouted Harry, and a score of ghostly Harry's seemed to chorus I am! I am! I am! all around the room.

'Aaaaaah,' Bellatrix grinned, 'Did you love him, little baby Potter?'

The second after, he rose from the fountain and pointed his wand at the woman before shouting:

'Crucio!'

Bellatrix screamed in surprise and fell to the floor. It wasn't painful, the spell, so she stood back up. This time, she wasn't laughing anymore. The boy had used an unforgivable spell on her and, even though it didn't have enough force to cause her the physical agony she knew the curse could, she wouldn't put up with it. She whipped her wand in a quick motion but her opponent dodged behind the fountain again. Her spell hit one of the statues, blowing one of their heads away.

'Never used an Unforgivable Curse before, have you, boy?' she yelled. She had abandoned her baby voice now, 'You need to mean them, Potter! You need to really want to cause pain - to enjoy it - righteous anger won't hurt me for long - I'll show you how it is done, shall I? I'll give you a lesson –'

She screamed 'Crucio!' before he could react. The spell hit another object when he ducked down again.

'Potter, you cannot win against me!' she cried.

She moved to the side, trying to aim her wand directly at him. She swiftly turned to the right when her prey backed around the statue once more, aggravating the shot for her. She couldn't let him get away. Not this time. If only she could get to the prophecy...

'I was and am the Dark Lord's most loyal servant. I learned the Dark Arts from him, and I know spells of such power that you, pathetic little boy, can never hope to compete – '

'Stupefy!' yelled Harry. He had edged right around to where the goblin stood beaming up at the now headless wizard and taken aim at her back as she peered around the fountain. She reacted so fast he barely had time to duck.

'Protego!'

The jet of red light, his own Stunning Spell, bounced back at him. Harry scrambled back behind the fountain and one of the goblin's ears went flying across the room.

'Potter, I'm going to give you one chance!' shouted Bellatrix, 'Give me the prophecy - roll it out towards me now - and I may spare your life!'

'Well, you're going to have to kill me, because it's gone!' the boy roared and her eyes widened in fear and shock, 'And he knows!' he continued with a mad laugh, 'Your dear old mate Voldemort knows it's gone! He's not going to be happy with you, is he?'

It couldn't be. He was making fun of her that's it. Yes, the boy was simply lying. Messing with her head. He wanted her to be afraid, miserable. What would the Dark Lord say if it was true? What would he do to her?

'What? What do you mean?' she cried, and for the first time there was fear in her voice.

'The prophecy smashed when I was trying to get Neville up the steps! What do you think Voldemort'll say about that, then?'

'LIAR!' she shrieked, angry and terrified at the same time – what if.., 'YOU'VE GOT IT, POTTER, AND YOU WILL GIVE IT TO ME! Accio prophecy! ACCIO PROPHECY!'

He laughed again, making her screech in fear. It couldn't be; the brat was lying.

'Avada Kedavra!' she shrieked and a jet of bright green light shot right past the boy.

'Nothing there!' he shouted, 'Nothing to summon! It smashed and nobody heard what it said, tell your boss that!'

Her eyes widened and she crouched when familiar red pupils appeared out of silent black smoke. Her Lord came to the ministry - it wasn't supposed to happen. Harry Potter was saying the truth. She had failed. Her mind realised the truth but her heart still refused to believe it.

'No!' she screamed, 'It isn't true, you're lying! MASTER, I TRIED, I TRIED - DO NOT PUNISH ME – '

'Don't waste your breath!' yelled Harry, unaware of the new presence, 'He can't hear you from here!'

'Can't I, Potter?' said a high, cold voice.

The woman watched how Lord Voldemort pointed his wand right at the other's chest. He stood there, unmoving, his black robes streamed to the sides from a slight blow of wind that reached the Atrium.

'So, you smashed my prophecy?' said Voldemort softly, staring at Harry with those pitiless red eyes, 'No, Bella, he is not lying: I see the truth looking at me from within his worthless mind...' the pale man sighed, 'Months of preparation, months of effort - and my Death Eaters have let Harry Potter thwart me again.'

He wasn't just disappointed in her. Her master loathed them all.

'Master, I am sorry I knew not, I was fighting the Animagus Black!' sobbed Bellatrix, flinging herself down at Voldemort's feet as he paced slowly nearer. He would understand, he himself agreed that the scum needed to be taken care of. For good, 'Master, you should know – '

'Be quiet, Bella,' he said dangerously and shut her up with a glare, 'I shall deal with you in a moment. Do you think I have entered the Ministry of Magic to hear your snivelling apologies?'

'But Master - he is here - he is below – ' she tried again but he didn't listen. Voldemort had his eyes on the boy only.

'I have nothing more to say to you, Potter,' he said quietly, 'You have irked me too often, for too long. AVADA KEDAVRA!'

Before Bellatrix could react, the statues her opponent had ducked behind rose up and came to life. She ran for good as Dumbledore cast another spell at the figures and an oversized marble witch started chasing her. She screamed and sent stinging spells behind her back but it was useless – they all streamed off its chest. The statue dived at the witch and she felt herself being pinned to the floor, without any way back.

She had nothing else to do but watch. The woman tried to kick and punch at the gigantic figure that held her but there was no point – the statue didn't move one bit. Bellatrix twitched and screamed for her Lord but he didn't hear her. Voldemort was fighting the infamous headmaster of Hogwarts. Spells flew in every direction, glass was shattered from the fight. Light battled darkness, fire fought water. Bella had never seen him so angry, so concentrated, so... powerful. His magic was everything and more, the sight of him duelling like that was way beyond anything she had imagined. He moved swiftly and securely, as quick and cunning as a serpent. For a moment there she lost her senses – no longer did she feel like the woman hopelessly pinned to dark wooden floor in the Ministry of Magic. She was the only audience of a great, majestic performance. It looked like an act – every jet of light seemed to appear at the right moment, in the right place. Water splashed in the air and fire burned against it. It was almost... beautiful.

And then she caught her breath back.

For a few seconds Voldemort was visible only as a dark, rippling, faceless figure, shimmering and indistinct upon the plinth, clearly struggling to throw off the suffocating mass.

Then he was gone and the water fell with a crash back into its pool, slopping wildly over the sides, drenching the polished floor.

'MASTER!' screamed Bellatrix.

It couldn't have ended. Her master... he had to be somewhere. Surely he wouldn't leave her again, not after all these years she sacrificed for him? He couldn't, simply couldn't... Actually, he could. She failed him so why would he spare a last glance at a hopeless woman like herself? He had other things to worry about, new plans to come up with... Bellatrix sobbed against the grip of her captor – she just wished he was alive...

Out of nowhere, a scream of agony filled the area. The woman turned her head to the side to get a better view of things. Harry Potter was twitching on the ground with his hands grasping his own forehead. Then, a foreign voice spoke from his mouth:

'Kill me now, Dumbledore,' her Lord spoke through his prey, 'If death is nothing, Dumbledore, kill the boy.'

Harry's scream reached her again and then, as soon as it started, it was gone. The boy lay down silently, he was almost calm. His body was still trembling but the pain had vanished from his face. Bellatrix shook violently – there they were, the two of them. And she was alone. She searched for someone, anyone to grasp onto desperately but there was no one.

Then, flashes of green flames filled the Atrium and a cold pale hand grabbed her wrist. She caught the sight of red, soulless eyes before disapparating.

He didn't leave her.

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