After the Dawn

Chapter 8

Harry Potter was slumped at the desk in the master nedroom oft 12 Grimmauld Place.

His room was unusually messy as he never liked Kreacher to go into his room... and he hadn't bothered to clean it himself for several weeks.

The crimson bedcovers were rumpled... his possessions were scattered haphazardly around the room... and a thin layer on dust had settled on the windowsill.

The large mahogany desk was littered with quills... bottles of ink... pieces of of parchment with hastily scrawled out lines... several piles of books... clippings from several different magazines... all featuring the same witch. A witch with long dark waves of hair and a haughty, imperious gaze...

Spread out on the desk beside a half empty bottle of firewhisky was a rather crumpled copy of the Daily Prophet. His green eyes scanned one particular article... even though he had read it so many times the words no longer seemed to hold any meaning for him.

Death Eater and notorious murderess Bellatrix Lestrange was thought to have died in the Battle of Hogwarts.

However it has come to light that she not only survived... but has escaped the castle dungeons where she was being imprisoned and is currently at large.

This reporter wonders why the Order of the Pheonix did not alert the Wizarding Community to the escape of such a dangerous fugitive. Only after there had been several sightings of the witch by reliable witnesses did the Order even admit she had survived.

In a bizarre twist it would seem that none other than Harry Potter was the last to have seen her before her escape. Sources inside Hogwarts castle say he was found unconscious and wandless on the floor of her cell. It is supposed that she somehow managed to disarm Potter and stunned him with his own wand. All I can say is... what was Potter doing there in the first place? And how did she manage to disarm him? The circumstances are indeed... highly suspicious.

Since the news of her escape just over a week ago Auror's have been working around the cloak to secure her capture. Despite several tip offs and numerous raids on buildings where she may have been hiding (in particular Malfoy Manor... home of her sister Narcissa Malfoy) they are no closer to finding her.

Yesterday Kinsley Shacklebolt, recently elected Minister for Magic; issued a staement saying that they are putting all their efforts into to finding her and encouraging the Wizarding Community to remain vigilant. In his own words.. "Lestrange should be considered armed and highly dangerous. Anyone seeing her is not to approach her but but to contact the Auror office immediately." He also stated that when (or should it be if) Lestrange is captured she will be subjected to the Dementor's Kiss.

No doubt a wise decision... considering how easily she slipped through their fingers.

This reporter wonders if they will do any better at capturing her than they did when her cousin... Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban 5 years ago.

If the ministry's track record for capturing escaped felons is any indication... Bellatrix Lestrange will elude capture for some time yet.

- by Rita Skeeter

He pushed the paper away sighing heavily. For what must have been the dozenth time guilt overcome him about his part in her escape. It was his fault. If not for him she wouldn't be out there somewhere. If she hurt someone... if she killed someone... it was his fault.

And yet... he couldn't help a shudder when he thought of the fate that awaited her if she were caught. To have her soul sucked out of her... to be left as a hollow shell... to have everything that made her Bella gone forever. Just the thought of made him feel sick to his stomach. No one deserved that... not even Bella. Especially not Bella...

He rested his head in his hands. It pounded hollowly from the firewhisky he had drank... and his thoughts were confused and fragmented. Particularly when it came to Bella. Part of him hated her... but the other part was longing to see her again. He couldn't even decide what he'd do if he did see Bella again... kiss her... or kill her.

Ginny had been by earlier. She had wrinkled her nose when she had smelled the whisky on his breath. Unlike Rita Skeeter Ginny was of the opinion that it wouldn't be long before they caught Bella. Harry had had to conceal the stab of pain he'd felt at the thought. It wouldn't have done for Ginny to realize the ambivalence of his feelings about Bella. Particularly as she had not yet quite forgiven him for saying her name.

He suppose he should be glad she hadn't asked him why he had been to see Bella... or why there were so many pictures of Bella on the desk...

She had tried to tidy his room up a bit but she had soon given up... abandoning the task with a very Molly-ish sigh. Her look of disapproval as she had got a good look at the dark shadow on his jaw... and the state of the clothes and hair had also been very Mrs Weasley-ish. She had hugged him warmly and told him firmly to take care of himself before she had left.

After she'd left he hadn't been able to stop himself comparing the two women. They were like day and night. Ginny was the day... bright, cheerful and shining... warming him by her very presence. And Bella was the night... dark, dangerous, mysterious... and seductive beyond measure.

He was drawn to both of them in different ways... but it was Bella that was consuming his thoughts he looked out in his window into the misty darkness.

Suddenly he saw something small and winged moving in the dark. He squinted as it came closer. It was a small owl... so black it very difficult to see against the almost starless sky.

It landed on the dusty windowsill and looked at him expectantly with his large amber eyes. It looked well cared for. It was plump (though not fat) and it's plumage was glossy. As he held out its leg he saw there was a note on it. Curiosity burned in him as he wondered who would be writing to him. No one he knew had a bird like that.

Suspicion dawned on him as he untied the note from the bird's leg. As he unrolled it his suspicions were confirmed by the spidery writing.

- Harry

I wanted to thank you for your wand. It's working very well... much better indeed than I expected.

It was clear that I couldn't stay very long at my sister's so I have been hiding out in the countryside. Obviously I can't tell you where exactly in case this letter is intercepted. My dear nephew has been sneaking me food (Damn Gopalblatts 3rd… or is it 5th Law) so I have been quite comfortable. I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that. Hahaha.

As I'm sure you've heard in the ... Daily Bullshit... I mean Daily Prophet I've been several steps ahead of the Aurors. My old friend hasn't been very flattering has she? Not that I expected anything else from her. She never says anything nice about anyone... as you well know.

I've been very tempted to pay you a visit. I don't know about you but I keep getting very graphic flashbacks of that night you woke me up...

Hows the little girlfriend? Do send her mother my regards won't you?

- Bella

P.S The owl is called Hecate. I know you don't have one anymore... so you can keep her if you like

He looked up at the owl. She hooted softly... watching him as if measuring him up. He reached out to stroke her glossy feathers. She gave him what was clearly meant to be affectionate nip... leaving a deep cut in his knuckle.

He swore loudly at the pain and started to suck the bleeding gash. When he looked down he noticed a 2nd postscript at the bottom the letter

P.S.S Be careful. She likes to bite more than I do.