Tender Ties

This story takes place in two times, and two hearts divided by war.
Past and present. Lily and Bellatrix.

~.present.~

The night was warm, for a late summer’s night, and the breeze was gentle against her pale scarred skin. Bellatrix ran her fingers over a familiar name carved in stone over an old grave. She had gotten free from Azkaban and the only person she wanted to see was dead. The name was one of a lover she had been betrayed by, but betrayal only made her stronger and ready for what she had to do. She glanced at the name next to it and growled, blasting the tomb stone into dust. Nothing was worst that the furry of a scorned heart, maddened by years of lonely thoughts and haunting dreams.
Lucius loomed over her shoulder and scowled.
“We have unfinished business, Bella.”

The Department of Mysteries echoed in voices using magic against one another. Death eaters versus Dumbledore’s Army. Harry fought next to his Godfather against Lucius Malfoy. Bellatrix flew around the room laughing insanely.
“Nice one, James!” Sirius shouted, causing her attention. She looked down and saw a boy that looked identical to her greatest hate, James Potter!
Bellatrix watched and eyed the boy, waiting for his weakness. Malfoy’s wand was shot from his hand and he was cast back into a wall. At that moment she noticed Harry eyeing her brother with a son’s love. She knew where it would hurt most.
“Avada Kedavra!” She shouted the forbidden spell and watched, as in slow motion, her brother fall between the frame, killing him. Harry, half in grief and shock, pursues Sirius's murderer, to the Atrium of the Ministry.
“Crucio!” Harry screamed, but the spell only knocked her down.
Bellatrix turned and was about to fight back when she was sucked into the boys eyes.
“Lily…” she whispered in barely a voice as those eyes, that belonged to her greatest love, Lily Evans. Shaking her head she watched the young boy debate in his head. She tapped into his mind while Voldemort was busy trying to corrupt him. She dipped into his memories and saw her, Lily. She was a kind and gentle mother, she saw things Harry could not remember from just an infant but his eyes saw, and his ears heard and held some memory of all those events in his early life.
How Lily had grown, she was still as beautiful as Bellatrix remembered.

~.past.~

The darkness of the room was more than enough to draw Lily back to bed as she walked to her window to see what the tapping sounds were. On the side was a surprise; Bellatrix held on to her broom and waved in a coy manor. Lily looked around the empty room and then opened the window. Her short black chemise moved gently as the wind blew across her skin.
“What are you doing, Trix?” She smiled, her voice was thick with worry she found older girl exciting and random. She grabbed her thin black robe to cover herself, suddenly feeling dangerously underdressed.
“This is all a dream…” The wild Slytherin giggled, extending her hand to the dazed Gryffindor. Lily was brave at heart, but understood that they would be punished for being out so late. Looking deep into Bellatrix’s grey hopeful eyes she reached out and took her lovers hand. Pulling her unto the back of the broom the girls yelped as the stick lowered under their weight then regained itself. They laughed nervously and flew off towards the black lake on the south side of Hogwarts.
Lowering down to the waters surface Lily dipped naked foot into the lake, it rippled as waves poured sideways from the dragging motion. The full moon made it almost like day under a giant cloud. She squeezed her arms around the taller girl. Bellatrix looked over her shoulder, her long black hair flying about from the warm summer breeze. It was only the first week of their third year so the nights we’re still warm enough to be comfortable for flying.
“I wonder if this really is a dream.” Lily smiled as the broom curled upward into the clouds. It had been along summer apart, and nothing was sweeter than a new year of forbidden love. Resting her head against Bellatrix’s back, she thought of how nice it would be if they didn’t have to sneak around. The muggle side wouldn’t allow Bellatrix (who hid nothing about her powers) to use any magic, and most of the wizarding side were against muggle-born and pure-blood couples.
“If it is, I don‘t want to wake up.” She whispered.
As they flew lower towards the lake Bellatrix twisted on her broom to fold her arm around her lover when the lack of concentration caused the broom to dropped them into the cold. For miles around high-pitched screams from the stunned students shivering as they pulled themselves back unto the broom.
“Trix!” Lily cried as they landed on the grassy shore. Bellatrix was laughing hard as her pajama pants sunk down and her thin white tank top lift nothing to the imagination.
“Sorry, I lost my train of thought.” The older girl sniffed back tears from laughing as she twisted her long black curls into to fists and wringed the water from it. She tossed her head back, her hair flew back in slow motion as Lily watched in awe. She couldn’t take her eyes off of her. Forgetting herself ,she let her robe fall from her body and walked to her lover, taking the other face in her hands she spoke.
“Please kiss me.” Her trembling lips begged.
Bellatrix grabbed Lily’s wet red hair and pressed their faces together in a passionate embrace, everything about the Slytherin was passionate. She was hot headed, wild, adventurous, and madly in love with the one person her world wanted her to stay away from; a muggle-born.
Their kiss lengthened , hands moved wildly over each other’s bodies. Lily grabbed Bellatrix’s waist and pulled her down into the soft damp grass. Water rolled along their limbs as they undressed quickly. The heat burning inside them kept them warm enough to fulfill their desires. Fireflies flicked out of the grass and fled, fearing they would be rolled on as the girls moved around in the grass. Lily found herself pinned and moaned as cold wet fingers found her left nipple, hungry lips found the other. A knee road up between her legs, spreading them as Bellatrix licked, nipped, and sucked her way down past a navel and between a creamy pair of thighs.
Lily gripped the grass beside her, it was the only thing keeping her from slipping over the edge too quickly, it was a cold reminder that this was not a dream. She gasped as a rough cat-like tongue dove between her pussy lips and attacked her swollen bud. It wasn’t long before she climaxed, shuttering and stuttering incoherently. Bellatrix kissed along her thighs lapping up every flavor she could find until she felt grass stained hands against her shoulders pulling her forward. She looked into Lily’s emerald, almond shaped eyes and smiled softly, this was more than just teenage curiosity, it was love.
“I would rather die than give you up.” She whispered, leaning down to steal a kiss before Lily rolled her over, still panting over her orgasm, her head was dizzy from the emotions flowing through her, but her heart was clear in what she felt.
“And I would die if you gave up on us.” Lily closed her eyes and kissed her lover back. She shook all thoughts of the other side world and grinned. “No more talk, I want to love you inside out.” She lowered her head and returned the attention back to the task at hand. Soon Bellatrix had forgotten about her worries and only felt the love that the girl’s shared between them.

The broom swiftly dropped to Lily’s window. “I am still cold and wet, I shall die from a common muggle flu.” Lily joked as she jumped into her room and turned to kiss her lover goodnight. It was another sweet kiss that lasted too long and was held such fire between their lips that Lily smiled.
“Don‘t be silly Lily, just climb into your warm bed and rest, and remember, I‘ll be watching you tomorrow for any time we can snatch from our busy lives.” Bellatrix sighed, wishing they could spend the whole day together instead of sneaking around every night, the lack of sleep was hard enough, but knowing she just couldn’t hold Lily any time she wanted was maddening.
“Goodnight.” Lily smiled sadly, she would ask Bellatrix to stay in her empty room if she didn’t fear people finding them in the morning. What would they say about the head girl of Gryffindor? Who would trust her? What would they say about her being involved with a female, and a Slytherin at that? To many questions that only brought too many worries. She stripped and climbed into her bed, Bellatrix had been wrong, the bed was not warm, nothing felt right at that moment, everything was bitter and cold.

The sun rose all too soon. Lily felt like a vampire as she shielded her eyes from the rays of light and stalked about her room in the shadows, yawning every once in a while. On the other side of the School Bellatrix was sleeping in of course, she had a free block first class and would not need to in class for another hour. But even the hour wouldn’t help her mood today.
“Bella!” A loud snotty toned voice called from the entrance of the girls wing on the Slytherin side. Bellatrix stuffed her head under a pillow and groaned. “Not today…” But her name kept echoing up over the stairway to her room. Tossing on a skin tight short black dress she swung her robe over her arm and marched towards the voice. Tripping over he knee high boots she snatched them along the way. At the bottom of the stairway stood a boy with long short platinum blonde hair, tapping his foot as he leaned against the door frame and inspecting his nails for any imperfections.

The first class’s ended as students flooded the halls, Lily rolled her eyes as James Potter, an arrogant bullying toe rag, gave her puppy-dog eyes and attempted to start a conversation. “Lovely weather we‘re having.” He smiled as the clouds finally parted in the grey sky. “Yes…lovely.” Lily groaned as stormed ahead. It wasn’t that she hated the boy, she just could never understand why pure-bloods were so high on themselves. Bellatrix was simple, she just didn’t like anyone. A smile crept across Lily’s full lips as she thought back on the night before. Bellatrix did, how ever, like her very much.
A sudden impulse drove her towards the far door down the hall. She entered and felt confused. Bellatrix closed the door behind her and shrugged. “I know you hate it when I use spell‘s on you, but I had to get you in here, and this was the only way I could think of. I just-”
“Trix…” Lily shook her head.
“No! Hear me out, this is urgent, there‘s a wizard killing muggle-born witches and wizards, he wants to make the wizarding world pure-blood again, I heard it from that pretty boy, Malfoy.” She stammered, only using her insult to color the conversation.
“Killing them? But can‘t anyone find him and punish him?” Lily spoke.
“It sounds like there are pure-bloods on his side, I’m sure they would protect him. You don‘t understand how strongly some pure-bloods hate the muggle world.”

Bellatrix took Lily in her arms and held her. “I just can‘t bare the thought of someone killing you, even if you are a muggle. I don‘t like you‘re kind, Lily, but I truly love you. Please tell me that you‘ll never put yourself in any danger.”
Lily nodded. “I would never do anything stupid, Trix, but if someone was in danger how could I just turn my back?” Bellatrix smiled, and Lily noticed a dimple on her right cheek. “You have a dimple!” She giggled. Bellatrix shook her head and giggled. “And you have the attention span of a fork.”
“Fork‘s don’t have an attention span…” Lily frowned as they chuckled lovingly at the other. It May have been early, but the girl’s were already thinking of tonight.

It had been only a few weeks before talk of the new wizard was heavy on every one’s lips. More and more pure-bloods were turning their backs on the muggle world and joining sides with the wizard named Voldemort. And to his followers, Lord Voldemort.
Nervous muggle parents were taking their students out of the magic world and blocking all contact. Lily had managed to stay, her mother and father still worried, but they understood that Lily may be brave, but she was not stupid. She also had a lot of knowledge of the arts and did not need much protection from anyone or anything.

“Lily!” James called as he raced down the hall. Lily stopped and sighed. “Yes, James? Do you wish to tell more about the weather, cause I-”
“No, I needed to tell you something, but I can‘t tell you here, can you meet me by the south entrance tonight at midnight?” He pleaded. Lily only had time to nod before he smiled and ran off in the other direction.

“A date with James Potter?” Bellatrix sneered, she did not enjoy the male gender period, and even if James was a pure-blood she still didn’t like the idea of Lily visiting him alone. “It seemed very important, I just cant allow myself to deny that it might have something to do with Voldemort. What if he knows something?”
“Yes, he might, I never thought of that…” Bellatrix sighed. “Fine, go have your fling, just remember I‘m always watching you, so you can count on me to fly there in a heart beat and sweep his head clean off his shoulders if he tries anything.”
Lily nodded and chewed on her bottom lip. She was looking forward to tonight.

Lily sat on the steps as the twelfth chime cleared the air and she heard a rustle behind a near by bush. “Lily, in here!” James hushed as he opened the bush and motioned for her to join him. “Potter, seriously, why are you coaxing me into a bush?” She snickered, but joined him anyways.
“I think you should be more careful around any pure-blood students, the teachers have been finding things. Like Lucius Malfoy has been accused of aiding in the disappearances of some muggle first year. It‘s crazy! Now all the students that are pure-blooded are being questioned about things, like their parents, and what they know about Voldemort. I know you‘re amazing in everything you do, and you don’t need a guy to protect you, but I wish you‘ll be careful. I know we got off on the wrong foot, but I have changed, I was such a perk to everyone, I just didn’t get it until this whole Voldemort thing started. I don‘t think it‘s right.” James frowned and shook his head. “No one has the right to do those things to innocent people just because of what they are.”
For the first time in her life Lily felt a spark towards James at the moment, his compassion and caring nature was finally coming out. “Thank you, James. I will keep an eye out for anything odd.” She stood and turned to leave but paused. “Would you like to talk more tomorrow night?” She asked, he nodded, and the triangle began to weave itself into a firm knot of secrets, lies, and heart break.

Slowly Bellatrix changed, she stopped being kind towards others, more unkind than before, her temper was short, and she didn’t seem herself around anyone other than Lucius. Lily noticed this and it concerned her greatly.

“Bellatrix…” Lily whispered as she tossed small stones against the grey eyed girls window. Even thou Bellatrix was on the other side she did not answer. Her hateful eyes closed as she turned and returned to her work.

Lily stopped her in the hall one day and begged to go somewhere to talk. Bellatrix sneered and laughed loudly. “Why would I talk to a filthy mud blood?” Lily gasped and held her hand to her lips, she ran off before anyone could see her tears, she did not notice the pained grey eyes watching her leave. Bellatrix walked towards her room alone, but her aching heart was the only company she could afford to keep.

She would spend the rest of her years watching Lily and James become closer. The bitter rage that built inside her heart turned Bellatrix into one of the best Death Eaters of all time. She would use her contacts to protect her precious Lily, and no matter what she tried she could not get close enough stopping the dark lord. She longed to return to Lily and tell her she hadn’t meant for all the agony they felt and why she had to leave her.

“Oh my Lily…” She sobbed in to her pillows at night, and had many haunting dreams of Lily’s new life with James.
“James…” Her hungry lips snarled, laying her bed awake at night, thinking of how she would love to just kill him.

~.present.~

Bellatrix was tossed from Harry’s mind as Voldemort appeared in the room, she giggled deep in throat and watched her dark lord.
“Do it…” He coaxed, testing Potter’s well. Harry turned his wand on Voldemort who only cast it to the floor with a growl or frustration.
“So weak…”
Between Dumbledore appeared, ready to defend the boy.
“How foolish of you, to come here tonight, tom. The orders are on their way…” The old man spoke as he stood strong.
“By which time I shall be gone, and you… shall be dead!” Voldemort smirked, posing fo battle. Dumbledore drew his wand and the battle began. Harry flew into a corner out of fire, while Bellatrix scurried to escape. As the green smoke surrounded her she glance at Harry. She felt angry that the blood of James Potter lived on, but as she closed her eyes and all those memories of Lily came back, she was happy to know a little part of Lily was still alive in someone.

~.past.~

“I would rather die than give you up.” Bellatrix whispered, leaning down to steal a kiss.
“And I would die if you gave up on us.” Lily smiled.