Chapter 4

Yes! I'm back, Corona and College kicked my ass but I'm back with a burning passion for Harry Potter. (So much so that I am working on ANOTHER story parallel to this one.) First! To get some stuff outta the way, I may want to remind everyone that the timeline in this Fic is weird. It takes place AFTER 5th year, Sirius is dead. Bellatrix is also much younger in this, Closer to Harry's age but not a minor. I am aware that pairing the 2 is a little strange, and not entirely legal, but Harry is much older mentally than he seems. Bella still tortured Neville's parents, but she did so when she was under 18. It is weird, I know. Hopefully I'll be able to explain it well enough through the story.

They landed in a field. A heap of bodies unceremoniously colliding with grass and dirt before rolling away. They were alone, nothing but grass for miles in all directions, leave a tree in the distance. It was massive, branches extending out past the trunk in a sort of natural canopy.

While the view was gorgeous, the occupants of the field were not. Sprawled on the ground, one groaned, leaning to the side and finally landing on their back, looked to the sky.

Bellatrix was searching for answers to what the fuck just happened, but she was drawing a blank. It seemed as if the last 5 minutes were a dream but it was obviously not, her sore foot and sore...well everything accounted for that.

To her left was a body still on its stomach, his clothes singed on the sleeves and still slightly smoldering. His body ached more than hers, seeming as if his entire body was being ran through a dryer, hitting every side of the machine. He attempted to place his hands on his side and raise his upper body from the grass, but fell straight back down upon placing any modicum of weight on his shoulders.

Bella was able to get to her feet, swaying momentarily. She looked to her left and recognized Harry, making her way over. It was only 5 or so feet but it seemed a mile. She knew how apparition worked, and whatever the hell Harry had done was not it. Instead of getting sucked through a tube, the sensation she felt was more a rapid smack, like getting hit by the knight bus and getting carried on the grill instead of inside of the damn thing.

"Harry...Harry" she spoke, Her voice quiet. He seemingly heard her as he put his head to the side. Looking at her from the ground.

"Lit...Little help?" he said, trying once more to get off the ground. This time Bella was there to assist him, getting him to a sitting position. He sighed as he shifted the weight to his butt, glad to be rid of the grass that was tickling his nose.

"What the fuck was that?" He heard Bella say. Knowing he'd have to explain everything...again, he shook his head.

"Not now...We need to get over…" He took a breath between words, trying to regain his composure. "Get over there" he finally got out, pointing at the tree some ways away.

Bella seemed to be content with the answer, as she nodded and put an arm under Harry's shoulder, helping him get to his feet and start moving. "Ya know it's a little funny. A couple days ago, you had to help me eat...Now im the one helping you" She said with a smirk, side-glancing at Harry slightly. He just shook his head and nodded at the tree. Using Bella to stabilize himself, they slowly started their 30 yard walk to their destination.

Dumbledore sat in front of Number 4 Privet Drive. His head held high but his eyes downcast. He had a somber look on his furry face. Looking like he had gotten older simply by standing there.

The house was gone, nothing but black grass and a small crater. Muggles were seen walking by the wizard and missing home as if they weren't there. Going about their day and not worrying about spontaneous combusting homes.

The order had arrived shortly after the explosion had occurred. Albus was sitting in his office when it seemingly went bathsit crazy on him. Half of the baubles on his shelves blew up, with the other half jumping about and falling to the floor. The paintings of headmasters on the walls all shouted and shrieked. Some out of fear, others out of annoyance for being awoken from their slumber. Albus was immediately on alert though, these days it seemed as if he was always on alert. Making his way to the fireplace at the opposite end of his office far faster than a man his age has any business moving, throwing a handful of powder into the flames and calling an emergency meeting for all members not under-cover or overseas.

Albus was the first to the scene, making short work of the law enforcement and fire-men already there with some quick obliviating and a muggle repelling charm on the whole area. Mcgonagall and Flitwick were next, having been in their Hogwarts offices when the broadcast went out. Shacklebolt was the last one to get there, having been in an Auror meeting when the call was made.

"Merlin….Its gone" Flitwicks pitched voice rang out, breaking the silence they had all been keeping.

"How is it gone? Who did this and why? Was it Voldemort or his lackeys?" he continued, looking to his boss for confirmation of any kind. Mcgonagall was next with questions, but of a more focused subject.

"Where is he?...Could this have been...Been him?" Also looking to Albus.

"Possibly, we cannot know for sure. No magic signatures were left behind, save 3 near the back of the house...Or where the back of the house should be, I should say"

Albus finally spoke, his voice low but curious. The signature twinkle he was known for was nowhere to be seen, having died the second he arrived. He looked upon the carnage that was left of whatever had happened and had only one thought in his head.

"Where are you Harry"

Harry and Bella made it to the tree in a couple of minutes. Halfway through the walk Harry had broken off from her, feeling as though he could walk himself. Looking up at the tree, Harry sighed. He had hoped he'd never have to use this place, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't think he would.

Taking his wand from his holster, he aimed it high and muttered something under his breath. As his arm came back down, the tree slowly started to morph. It looked mostly the same, keeping its size and massive stature, but the branches above her head had shifted. Instead of a mass of leaves and branches, a wooden structure had appeared. It looked like a small shack held to the tree with rope and its own weight on the branches. Harry also looked up, smiling as the structure slightly, as if he was relieved it was simply there. Next he aimed his want at the foot of the tree, casting a gardening charm of all things. It dug a small 3 by 3 inch hole in the ground, where a coin was hiding, snug between 2 rocks with what seemed to be runes on the top. He levitated it so it was eye level, and placed his hand out.

"Hold on Bella, I-its a portkey" he said grimly, not looking forward to the transportation in his injured state. She nodded and he took that as que to drop the coin into his hand. As it landed, Harry and Bella were sucked into what seemed to be an extra small hose before landing in another heap on the floor of the shack in the tree. They both groaned at the same time, making Bella giggle after realising. She was the first on her feet, and after helping Harry up they both collapsed onto a couch a couple feet away. As she sunk into the pillows, she was able to get a look at the place.

She was in a small shack, but it had been amplified to be bigger inside. What should have only fit maybe a table and bed, instead had an entire workshop on one side, and seemingly a small apartment on the other. A bed was situated in the corner with a small counter with cabinets a few feet away, and a desk with books piled 3 feet high and one currently open. A thin layer of dust on everything had tipped her off that while someone had lived here, it had been abandoned for some time. A month or 2 maybe.

She looked at Harry to ask him about the place, but found his eyes shut and mouth closed, deep in a sleep he should have had 2 nights ago. She decided to keep her curiosity at bay for now, but made a mental note to ask when they were both rested. She leaned to the side as she drifted off, not even noticing she had started using Harry as a pillow. Bella drifted off to sleep as her hands rested on his chest, and, without knowing or not, Harry had put an arm around her as they slept. Not aware of the fact that a man who looked remarkably like a snake, was celebrating hundreds of miles away, finally convinced he had squashed the bug that was Harry Potter, once and for all.