157DISCLAIMER:- Harry Potter belongs to J.K.R. and this is a fanfiction.
CH 2:- We meet Again
Harry woke up slowly from his nightmares as the rays of the morning sun filed themselves in his room. He was alone in the house and could rest however much he wished but he knew nothing good would come out of his sleep. That endless loop would just play itself until his brain burst out. Better to be up and about.
He slowly dragged himself out of the door and went in the bathroom directly opposite. After cleaning himself up a bit and finishing his morning rituals, he went back to his room to pass some time. His thoughts went back to Sirius but he shook himself and got up, just in time for his stomach to make a grumbling sound.
He had not eaten since yesterday's breakfast and so, this was expected.
He went through the door and made his way down the stairs to the kitchen, never noticing the pair of violet eyes following his every move from the dining table. He got some eggs from the refrigerator, cracked them and put the flame on. That's when his eyes shot up and he saw her.
Harry saw Red.
Bellatrix had heard his door being opened and then another, which she assumed was the bathroom. She had heard the creak of the stairs and seen him coming through the kitchen door. She had sat calmly on the same chair all night, contemplating what to do in the morning. Although Bellatrix would do as he wished and take her punishment readily, she wanted him to understand her situation first. Or at the very least, help him in any way she could.
So, she was as fast in getting out of the aforementioned chair as he was in lunging at her.
Harry jumped and tried to grab her but she dodged him and ran out the kitchen door as fast as she could.
"Potter, wait. Listen to me." she cried but she knew he would not be tethered as easily. And so, she ran for her dear life.
"YOU KILLED HIM, YOU BITCH." He shouted running after her and lunging again but she moved just to the side at the last second and Harry crashed into the wall.
"AHHH..I WILL KILL YOU, LESTRANGE."
She quickly ran up the stairs and into the bathroom and locked herself inside. Harry bolted after her but could not stop her from locking up the door.
"GET OUT BITCH, YOU WILL PAY FOR WHAT YOU DID."
He shouted from outside the door while simultaneously trying to break it by sheer force of will. Bellatrix too was pushing the door from inside to counterbalance his efforts.
"Potter, listen. I am not here to harm you."
"GET OUT OF THE BATHROOM."
"Potter, I will accept any decision you make, but first you have to listen to me."
Harry was confused. A million thoughts were running through his mind at the moment. How did she enter the bloody house? What happened to the blood wards? Where are the order members? Why am I not dead? If he remembered well, she was sitting very quietly in the kitchen, even before he entered. And why was Bellatrix Lestrange running from him. The insane woman who was the most feared death eater, running, just like that. Something was wrong, very wrong.
And then he heard what she said. Listen to her? Accept any punishment? Was this woman Bellatrix or some imposter. Am I dreaming again? Harry pinched himself and was reassured that this was not a dream. Then, what in the name of Merlin's pants is going on?
Harry took a deep breath and finally answered through gritted teeth. "Come out and I will listen what you have to say."
"Promise, Potter?"
"Don't make me any more mad than I already am, Lestrange. Come out."
"Promise first"
"FINE. I PROMISE. NOW GET OUT OF THAT FUCKING BATHROOM."
Harry had forgotten up until now that he didn't even had his wand with him at the moment. He cursed himself inwardly but there was no time now. Oh well…
Bellatrix slowly and cautiously opened the door and peeked outside. He was standing there with crossed arms and a very exasperated calm expression stuck to his face. But Bellatrix could literally feel his anger towards herself. She knew it was a matter of time before his hold on himself loosens and she dies a very horrible death. She'd have to do something fast.
Harry saw her and despite the itch in his fingers, which ached to strangle her throat, he stood his ground. He too was curious what this insane witch had to say.
"Potter, listen to me very carefully." She started.
"FASTER" He shouted. It was getting difficult. The longer he saw this woman, the clearer that image of Sirius falling through the veil played in his mind.
" I did come here to kill you but not anymore. I don't want to kill you now. I want to help you defeat my mas-the dark lord."
Harry blinked. He was getting more and more confused by the second. She came here to kill him, but won't do it now. And help him defeat Voldemort…what in the name of hippogriff's dung is going on?
"And I am to believe that? Just like that?"
"Umm…yes?"
And Harry lunged again. She was taken by surprise this time and was lying on the floor while Potter strangled her before she had the chance to blink. He was choking her and she was struggling for the air. But she did not hit him, in the hope that he would see it and perhaps, let her explain a little better. Or, well, it would be better this way. There were worse ways to die.
She knew this was her end. She prayed to whatever deities decide her future in afterlife to have a little mercy. She was amazed and horrified simultaneously that Potter could do this. Well, maybe, he is a better match for the dark lord than anyone believed. And just then, when she thought all hope was lost, Potter released her hold on her and moved off her.
She took a lungful of air and her heavy breaths were the only sound in the suddenly silent house.
She looked sideways and saw Potter looking with wide eyes in her direction. He seemed as surprised as she felt.
Harry had lost all control of his body for a few seconds. He instinctively lunged and started the process of strangling the unarmed woman. When he finally came back to his senses, he was repulsed by himself. Although he hated this woman by all his heart, he could not kill her. Not when she wasn't even defending herself.
For an indeterminate amount of time, they both just stared at each other.
"You know, Potter, you are not the only one with a shitty life story."
"What are you babbling about, Lestrange?"
And she told him. Everything.
Harry was shocked. Really shocked. If what this woman was saying was true, then she was just a product of a really shitty upbringing, and the cruelty of Voldemort. He deliberately snapped her mind and molded her into what she became. He knew that sometimes an assailant himself was a victim but he couldn't have thought of Bellatrix falling into that category.
He couldn't bring himself to hate her now. He couldn't forgive her either for what she did her entire life, but it wasn't entirely her fault. He just hated Voldemort even more now.
"What are you doing here, then?"
"I told you, I want to help you. I can't possibly go back. He will know immediately and I don't wanna die like that, because I know I won't survive again."
Harry could sympathize with her, but the idea of taking the help of Bellatrix seemed too surreal. So, he asked her something else.
"How did you enter the house?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, how did you breach the blood wards."
Bellatrix grinned for some reason and he could see the shadow of the insane Bellatrix in her. But only a shadow.
"There are no wards, Mr. Potter"
And Harry saw Red again. This time, for a certain white bearded old man.
AN:- That's it for ch 2. Tell me how you feel about this. I forgot the disclaimer last chapter, so I have put it there, although I don't see the need, since this IS a fanfiction site, so its fairly apparent. Thnx for your reviews, favorites and follows everyone. Its nice to be appreciated. :)