Quickly, Bellatrix examined it. It was as Harry described. She tossed it on the floor a ways away from herself and the downed teenagers. She then cast a strong incineration charm on it. When the fire from the spell subsided, Bellatrix retrieved the diary and found it to be in perfect condition. Bellatrix looked down and saw that all three teenagers were staring at her and the diary with confusion. "Just checking to see that it is the genuine article," she said, pocketing the diary.
Bellatrix then grabbed Leo Black, dragged his inert body across the landing, and sat him up against the wall. "The curse will wear off in a little bit," Bellatrix told the teenagers. "I will even send Kreacher to make sure that you get home all right." She moved Rose, and then came to Ginny. As she was dragging Ginny off the stairs, noise from the ground floor announced the arrival of some interlopers.
"Rose! Leo!" came Lily Potter's voice.
"Ginny, are you here?" Mrs. Weasley's penetrating voice echoed through the house.
Arching her eyebrows in surprise, Bellatrix looked down at the teenagers. Perhaps they had been smarter than she had realized. Triumph gleamed in the two girls' eyes and relief in Leo's. They fully expected that their mothers would overpower and apprehend Bellatrix.
Bellatrix stepped to the edge of the stair railing, keeping out of sight, and peered down to the ground floor, recognizing Molly Weasley and the former Lily Evans, now Potter. She turned back to the teenagers and in a voice just loud enough for them to hear she said, "If you think those two cream puffs can take me in a duel, you have got a surprise coming. As it is, their presence is rather convenient. I will be on my way, and you will be home sooner than you would have been otherwise. Thanks for the diary."
Smiling, Bellatrix raised her wand and made to apparate, but discovered that there was a ward blocking apparition. Her smile turned into a frown as she stared down from the upper floor to the two mothers below looking for their children. Was it possible that they had taken such extreme precautions?
Several small explosions sounding from the front of the house ended Bellatrix's speculation. She looked down to the ground floor and watched as half a dozen dark-robed and masked figures burst into the house, stunning Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Weasley. A chill passed through Bellatrix as she heard a familiar voice.
"It should be in the basement," Rodolphus Lestrange said, motioning some of the Death Eaters toward the back of the house.
Bellatrix watched as Rodolphus and all but three of the Death Eaters moved swiftly toward the basement entrance. The remaining three Death Eaters stood guard over the unconscious forms of Mrs. Potter and Weasley. Letting out an inaudible sigh, Bellatrix looked back at the teenagers who seemed to be confused and scared. She looked back down to the ground floor where the Death Eaters were standing guard over their prisoners. Her mind racing, Bellatrix tried to think of something she could do that would save the two mothers without putting the diary at risk. Before she could even form a plan, the other Death Eaters returned from the basement, one of them carrying a small chest.
"What are we going to do with those two?" one of them asked Lestrange.
"We'll take them to Malfoy Manor," Lestrange announced deliberately, preparing to leave. In another moment, the Death Eaters had departed with their prisoners in tow.
As soon as they were gone, Bellatrix let out a very frustrated sigh. She was reasonably sure that Mrs. Potter was Harry's mother. He would be rather cross when he found out about this fiasco-especially seeing as it would not have happened without Bellatrix initiating the meeting with the three teenagers. Bellatrix imagined that Harry would want to make some sort of rescue effort. It would be very difficult, although not impossible. The Death Eaters were taking their prisoners to Malfoy Manor, and Harry did have the Malfoy family ring.
Wincing, Bellatrix turned and waved her wand to release the silencing spells on the teenagers. If she and Harry were to do anything, they would probably need some help. She reckoned it would not be difficult to convince them into helping.
.....
Harry was slowly thumbing through a spell book when Bellatrix returned to the flat. He heard her enter through the front door and walk toward the bedroom where he was sitting on their bed, propped up against headboard. He looked up as she entered the room, noting that she seemed on edge. "Did you get the diary?" he asked, wondering if something had gone wrong.
"I got it," Bellatrix began, "but there's been a problem." Quickly, she explained about the Death Eaters capturing Lily Potter and Molly Weasley and about why they had been at 12 Grimmauld Place at all. "I assumed that you would want to do something," Bellatrix concluded.
Harry suppressed a sigh, put the book down, and nodded. "Yes, if there's anything at all we can do, we should do it."'
"It is because Lily Potter is your mother, is it not?" Bellatrix said.
....
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