Chapter 236. A Terrible Vengeance.
Castle Combe. Southwest England.
Late that evening, in an ordinary yet picturesque little village steeped in medieval charm, Severus lay on a bench outside a small restaurant, his head resting in Bellatrix's lap. Her unfocused gaze drifted across the star-strewn darkness above, as if she were lost in thought.
He was in no hurry to be anywhere else. He simply enjoyed the pleasant moment, ignoring the pair of curious eyes watching him from an unknown vantage point three houses down, just around the corner.
Bellatrix was weighing his proposal: to travel with him to France for several years. He made no effort to rush her or demand an immediate answer; there was no need.
He had made the offer a few minutes earlier, but she had withdrawn into herself, leaving him little choice but to wait. He shifted to settle more comfortably in her lap and took in the scenery.
The proposal had surprised her, though she had known for some time that he would not stay in Britain forever. Regulus had told her as much a couple of months ago.
On one hand, she was glad to receive the invitation. She wanted to go with him, to continue her training. Nothing more, or so she tried to convince herself.
But on the other hand, she had unfinished business in Britain. Beyond her family obligations, another heavy weight had settled on her shoulders, and if she left the country, she feared the Dark Lord might strike at her family.
Bellatrix understood perfectly well that Voldemort sought to manipulate Severus through her. Yet now, having realized how terrifying this "disgusting brat," as Voldemort liked to call him, truly was, she found it almost amusing how shortsighted the bastard was.
If she left with Severus, Tom would lose one of his levers over him. He might well vent his fury on her family. Soon Narcissa would marry Lucius, one of Riddle's most ardent followers, which would leave her exposed to an enraged master. Believing that the weak-willed Malfoy would protect her sister was stupidity beyond measure.
Then there was Regulus, who still wanted to join the Death Eaters. Though he was her cousin, the years they had spent together had made him a true younger brother in her eyes. She could not simply abandon them all and leave.
No matter how hard she tried to play the cold, true-born aristocrat, family meant everything to her. She was especially worried for her sister, and wanted a different life for her.
For these reasons, she could not bring herself to go. She would not abandon everyone to the mercy of fate, however harsh and indifferent she might appear.
"Squirrel, I'll say it again, I'm not rushing you. We still have a month and a half until September," Severus spoke gently, running his palm across her sullen face and meeting her eyes with warmth. "So don't rack your brain. Rest today, and think it over with a fresh mind another time."
"Tell me... can you kill?"
"I can," he answered calmly, already knowing what she meant to ask. "But do you truly want me to?"
"No." She shook her head without hesitation, placing her palm over his eyes. "I'll do it myself. This is my revenge," she added, her voice like steel.
She jerked her hand away, narrowing her eyes. When she felt moisture on her fingers and saw his insolent smile, she wanted to slap him hard.
"Sorry. When you're that serious, I simply can't resist flustering you."
"Tsk. No peace with you."
"And are you against it?" He rose abruptly, his face stopping mere millimeters from hers. "I thought you were the type who can't sit still, the type who needs something to do, or better yet, someone to hit, and hit hard. Am I wrong?"
In response, he received her trademark playful snarl, and her palm came to rest against his cheek.
"As for hitting, you hit the nail on the head. I'd love to hit you hard just so I'd never have to see that smug expression again. But I doubt I could manage it without ending up pinned to this bench afterward."
"Hm? Have you learned to see the future?" Severus raised an eyebrow in mild surprise, which left her momentarily puzzled.
"What...?" She didn't even have time to process the question before her wish came true. In a fraction of a second, they had swapped places, and now he loomed over her, one foot still on the ground, their faces inches apart.
"You know... this reminds me of that romantic comedy we saw recently. The situation is almost identical. If you were a vampire too, there'd be no difference at all." Hearing her words and seeing that mocking little face, his eye twitched.
"I agree. Muggles do love to romanticize these bloodsucking creatures. They should have been exterminated long ago." Bellatrix narrowed her eyes, as if plotting mischief, then felt a strange anxiety and tried to squirm away. He didn't let her. He covered her lips with his own, at the perfect angle for the observer.
For the first few seconds, she tried to push him away, but eventually gave in, wrapping her arms around her neck. She gradually began to respond, even occasionally attempting to gain the upper hand in their silent battle.
Only after several minutes did they pull apart, yet he made no move to rise. He merely bared his teeth slightly, looking down at her flushed face. She met his gaze with feigned displeasure.
"How did you do that?"
"I've had plenty of practice over the years. You kiss well enough as it is, but if you'd like, we can practice more often." He winked at her, laughter in his eyes, and her cheek twitched.
"That's not what I meant. Don't play dumb; it doesn't suit you."
"Fine. It's... magic."
"I'm going to hit you."
"For what? I told the truth!" He filled his voice with as much grievance as he could muster. But her skeptical expression made it clear she didn't believe a word. He sighed. "You know, when someone you love doesn't believe you, it hurts. I wasn't lying. It really is magic. Time magic."
"Time magic?" she asked, surprised. "That's… very dangerous. You'd better stop studying it," she added, her voice utterly serious. She meant every word; the worry was plain on her face.
She had reason to be concerned. Time magic was an exceedingly perilous field. Killing oneself in the past or future was among the better outcomes of such games.
The case of Eloise Mintumble was proof enough. She had accidentally traveled from 1899 to 1402, spending five days there. Upon her return, her body aged five hundred years in an instant, and she died at Mungo's.
But the worst part was that her presence and her conversations with wizards of that era had altered the timeline, causing the "deaths" of their descendants: they were simply never born. According to calculations leaked by the Department of Mysteries, the number was at least twenty-five.
The most blatant violation of time, however, was that on the very day she returned, Tuesday lasted two and a half days, while Wednesday lasted only three hours.
The Ministry of Magic tried to cover it up, of course, but failed completely.
From that point on, time magic was partially banned. Study was permitted only with Ministry approval and close supervision, while time-travel magic was banned outright. Violation meant a direct ticket to Azkaban.
Time had become a dangerously unstable substance in incompetent hands, and Eloise Mintumble's case proved it. She might not have been the only one, but those other incidents likely went unnoticed, or were buried by the Ministry and other authorities.
Severus listened with understanding, but he had no intention of doing anything reckless. He wasn't mad enough to tamper with the timeline; he knew the risks of such games all too well.
"Mm? Are you actually worried about me?" His radiant smile made Bellatrix freeze like a child caught mid-mischief.
"What? No! I don't care! Do you hear me? I don't care whether you croak or not! I'm just… worried about time! What if you do something that affects everyone?!"
"All right, all right, calm down. I believe you." Yet his pleased expression said otherwise, making her want to sink into the earth and not emerge for a month, just to avoid seeing that smug face. "It was my new invention, the Time Slowing Spell," he said, finally taking pity on her and changing the subject. "So far, the range is terrible, just ten meters around the caster, but it works on spells too."
"So it doesn't affect you?" she asked, trying to sound indifferent and failing miserably.
"Correct."
"How much does time slow inside?"
"That's a secret." He flicked her nose, earning a displeased look, then rose and offered his hand. After a slight hesitation, she took it, and the next moment she was in his arms. "But of course, once you become my wife, then I…"
"Be careful with time magic. It's a dangerous field, and I don't want to lose such a valuable source of knowledge." She rolled her eyes, unsurprised by his words or his stunt, but her tone was serious as she warned him.
"Don't worry. I know my limits." He gently ran his hand across her cheek and kissed her again. "How could I leave such a beautiful girl alone…"
"Enough for today." She pulled away, turned, and took a few steps before stopping. "Good night. And thank you for today." With that, she vanished, leaving only a faint dark haze that dissipated after a few seconds.
"Still, embarrassing her is a pleasure, but…" He sat back down on the bench and pulled popcorn and soda from his wallet, grinning devilishly. "…the evening isn't over yet. The most interesting part is just beginning."
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At the same time, in the twilight-shrouded drawing room of the Black house, Bellatrix appeared with a soft pop, her cheeks burning scarlet against her fair skin.
Clutching the hem of her dress and biting her lip, she hurried out and crept up the stairs so she wouldn't disturb her uncle and aunt. Reaching her room, she slipped inside just as quietly and closed the door behind her.
Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief, but the moment she turned on the light, she froze. Her sister was sitting calmly on the bed, a mysterious smile on her face, her gaze mocking.
"Well, sister… tell me."
"W-what is there to tell…?" she asked, swallowing and nervously twisting the fabric of her dress. She tried to keep a straight face, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her completely.
"Why, about Severus, of course. The one my big sister was kissing so passionately on that bench."
In that instant, Bellatrix's legs went weak and the color drained from her face. Narcissa's smile widened, nearly becoming a smirk.
*Wait… could it be…* For a moment, Bellatrix recalled the strange expression on Severus's face when he'd kissed her, that hint of danger. She had clearly cast masking charms to ensure no one would notice them. That could mean only one thing. *…he set me up!*
"Come on, Bella, don't stay quiet. Tell me everything! You know I can keep a secret!" Narcissa's eyes burned, making her deeply uncomfortable. "And by the way, have you two done 'it' yet?" A faint blush colored Narcissa's cheeks as she delivered the final blow. Her older sister's hands trembled, her thoughts filled with only one name. *SEVERUUUUUUUS!!!*
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