LOVELESS

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ETERNITY:

He who binds himself to a joy

Does the winged life destroy;

But he who kisses the joy as it flies

Lives in eternity sun rise

- William Blake

Never in her life had she been so scared like she was now. The thought of what might come was unbearable, but also she knew what was coming, which made bubbles in her chest explode.

For seven long years had she been in this cell; for seven long years had she slept on an uncomfortable bed. For seven years had she heard everything she had ever experienced, through the Azkaban Guards: The Dementors. For seven years she hadn't seen anyone she knew, she had never had visitors – not that you were allowed. She shuddered unwillingly and rose to her feet. She looked around. There was a small sink, a toilet, and an old bed. She couldn't wait to get out of her cell and be able to take a real bath, instead of filling a cup all the time with water and then throw it at herself after which she would fill it again. She crossed her arms protectively across her chest; she really couldn't wait to get out. A lone tear fell by the memory of the reason for her being where she was. Why did no one believe that she had had to be under the Imperius curse? She would never, in her wildest dreams or imagination, kill or hurt anyone!

'It's seems the Ministry don't know how to tell the difference between innocent and guilty,' the now young woman spoke quietly to herself. Truth Potions were not used to uncover the truth, because it was easy to cheat through it. There's always a loophole.

A sudden chill ran down her spine and suddenly she could hear the screams again. She gasped and tried to stay focus, but with four Azkaban guards it wasn't the easiest thing to do. Screams, so many screams, and Hermione reasoned them to be when she had hurt people. When she had hurt people under the Imperius.

The jail door slid open magically, and the guards moved a bit to give her room between them. Hermione did not know what she could expect; she had only just received a letter, informing about that she would be going to a hearing. She suspected Dumbledore to have sorted things out. She glanced a last time in the mirror, and gave a low sigh when she did not recognise the woman starring back at her. Her hair was much longer and a tangled mess like ever before. Her skin was dirty, though beneath she suspected it to be rather white from not having been outside for seven years.

Her body was slimmer, almost too slim, and her jail clothes were hanging loosely on her body.

She stepped out of her cell, and heard the door close behind her. The four guars placed themselves on each side on her, making sure she did not escape. Honestly, how could she escape? She had not her wand and she wasn't animagus. They stepped out of the ward she had been in, and Hermione breathed out longingly as a ray of sunlight made it through a window further up. How she wished the sun could reach her and warm her cold skin, but the happy thought was removed by another scream, Hermione once again found herself shuddering uncontrollably.

They stopped as they neared another group of Dementors, and Hermione noticed they were keeping a prisoner too. She wondered if he or she was going to a 'meeting' too.

'Excited Mudblood?' A voice questioned before Hermione got the chance to see whom it was, though she recognised the voice right away.

'Don't talk to me,' Hermione snapped coldly, but Bellatrix only laughed at her. She wanted to ask Bellatrix if she knew what was going on, but a reasonable voice told her that if Bellatrix knew about things then she would've been told about things too. She supposed so anyway.

-Don't!

-Leave us alone!

-It hurts!

-Please don't kill me

A shrill laughter broke the screams

Hermione gasped for air. The Dementors, now eight, had taken a deep intake of breath, sucking in everything, leaving both women breathless and shaking.

'Hear what you've done! Can't you hear it! Don't you feel bad?' Hermione asked through gritted teeth. Bellatrix smirked at Hermione smugly, before they came to a halt in front of a large door. Feelings overwhelmed her, as did anxiousness, which made Hermione almost vomit.

'Feeling bad, mudblood?' Bellatrix asked, though Hermione could see that Bellatrix looked much paler and sick than she had done minutes before.

'Shut up, pureblood-bitch,' Hermione retorted.

They were silenced as the door opened into the room. Hermione and Bellatrix were escorted inside, and Hermione found herself gazing at least fifty witches and wizards. Her gaze skimmed the room and noticed that there was a high table with several people up there, but she couldn't see the Minister Fudge. Her heart leaped as she saw that on the side, by the wall, sat the Order of the Phoenix. She felt a knot tighten in her throat by the sight of her beloveds, they had come to free her she knew!

'Miss Hermione Jane Granger will go first,' the man in the middle of the high table stood, and Hermione was escorted over to a wooden chair with chains. She looked at it slightly horrified, not sure if she dared to sit. 'Sit,' the man spoke and Hermione's 'own' four Dementors sucked her life energy, making her too weak to stand. She gave a low gasp before she sat down in the chair.

'I, Henry Pierce Bahrat - Minister of Magic, declare this hearing for open,' the Minister sat down, and Hermione was surprised that finally Fudge had been replaced. Another man stood up and cleared his throat.

'Miss Hermione Jane Granger was found guilty in premeditated murder, on 21 muggles as witches and wizards –including her own family- in 1997...' the man spoke. 'Charges were following: 16 years in the Azkaban prison...' Hermione restrained her memory, had she really killed 21 and why didn't she remember it. She damned the Imperius curse for existing. The man sat down and the Minister stood again.

'As said you were to sentence 16 years in Azkaban, and you have now spent 7 years for now for being traitorous towards the world of good. Due some negotiation, you have been granted freedom,' Hermiones heart lifted, but what did he mean by negotiation?

'Minister,' Hermione spoke politely, 'what do you mean by 'negotiation'?'

'Miss Hermione Jane Granger you can choose to stay in Azkaban or begin a life as a muggle, though under strict surveillance and rules. You have been set free in exchange that you will promise never to enter the wizarding world again, your wand with be destroyed.' Hermione gasped and turned her gaze towards Dumbledore, in hope that he'd object to this matter. But, Albus Dumbledore was sitting stoned, not even looking in her direction. She tried getting eye contact with just someone from the Order, but people mostly sat with bended heads or were looking at the Minister.

'How can you do that?' Hermione spoke and rose from her seat in rage. Wands were pulled out and pointed at her, forcing her to sit down again. 'The wizarding world is my home! How can you judge me for something I've never done?' Hermione screamed uncontrollable and stood up again, but only to have wands pointed at her. She breathed out and ran her fingers through her hair.

'Miss Granger,' the Minister said coldly, 'Your wizarding money are being transferred to a muggle account which has been set up for you. If you ever enter the wizarding world you will put into a cell in Azkaban again. Have a good life.'

'No! I swear I didn't do it! I'm innocent! Stop! Dumbledore, you have to believe me! I would never harm you Harry! Ron!' Hermione screamed. Their faces seemed to unknown to her. They had lost their faith in her. Four guards came over to get her out of the room.

She tried to free herself from their magic, but it didn't work. Surprisingly Bellatrix Lestrange started laughing frantically.

'You should listen to the mudblood,' she laughed cruelly again, Hermione stopped and turned around to the laughing Bellatrix.

'No...' Hermione spoke breathlessly. 'It was you...' Hermione said in a delicate voice and felt like fainting.

'Yes it was I!' Bellatrix stood up; the room was silent. 'You all!' She pointed at every person in the room, 'you think she did it, but it was me! I did it!' She let out a side-splitting laugh again, 'I got my revenge, I got to crack Hermione Granger, a filthy mudblood! Seven years in Azkaban for something she never did!' She laughed loudly and Hermione tried to launch herself towards Bellatrix, but the four guards' magic was too strong and she only lost her strengths.

'You ruined my life! You stupid BITCH!' Hermione screamed, trying to push away the guards.

'And it was my pleasure...' Bellatrix bowed towards Hermione and all the others.

'Mrs Lestrange, you say miss Granger is innocent?' The Minister questioned.

'Unfortunately yes. I don't want her to take credit for something I did. I would have told you sooner, but I waited for the opportune time, when the little mudblood was in the state she is in right now,' an evil grin spread across Bellatrix's face.

'I TOLD YOU I NEVER DID IT! YOU WOULDN'T LISTEN!' Hermione screamed and tried to wrestle herself out of the grab of the Dementors, but with no luck whatsoever.

'Precisely, they ruined your life as much as I did...' Bellatrix laughed and made herself comfortable in the chair. 'And I must say it was quite easy. Poly juice potion and then I was off to kill everyone...' she smiled greatly as if it was the best thing ever. 'Well, I wasn't the only one... We were three different persons to compose as Hermione Granger, it was a lovely time...' Bellatrix's eyes lit up, 'oh wait till you hear the best! You probably can't remember it mudblood,' she looked at Hermione for a second, 'we tortured you for long, really long. The night your dear parents were killed, you were there. I tortured you for a long time and then used a quick Obliviate and got you away. Wouldn't be any fun if they made you remember things...' Bellatrix laughed furiously and Hermione felt everything coming back to her.

-Don't kill my daughter!

-Leave them alone!

-Mudblood this is your own fault!

Her knees weakened and before she knew it, she had passed out.