Chapter Text
"Your timing was horrible." Ursa says to Snape through the connection. "They came before I could escape."
"Sorry I told you as soon as I knew." Snape replies.
***
"Where did you go Bellatrix?" Narcissa asks Bellatrix when she returns. Bellatrix ignores Narcissa and heads to the cellar.
"Where did they go?" Draco asks Narcissa.
"She did not say anything."
"Let go of me you mutt!" They hear Ursa yell.
"Ursa? Where are they?"
"Where is it?" Bellatrix asks Ursa in the cellar, where Greyback is restraining Ursa.
"Why would I tell you?" Ursa snaps.
"Last chance, where is your wand?"
"No."
"You know you could just pat her down." Greyback says.
"Then I could not do this." Bellatrix says as she draws her wand. "Crucio!" Ursa screams echo through the manor and Narcissa and Draco follow the sound. "Where is it?" Bellatrix asks when she stops.
"Hip." Ursa answers through gritted teeth. Bellatrix takes Ursa's wand from her hip and smiles.
"Now was that so hard?" Bellatrix pockets Ursa's wand and puts her wand to Ursa's head. "Now to deal with your treachery. Crucio!" Bellatrix curses Ursa as Narcissa and Draco reach the cellar.
"Bellatrix, what are you doing?" Narcissa asks as she tries to grab Bellatrix's arm. Bellatrix pushes Narcissa away.
"Get her out of here Draco." Bellatrix snaps. Draco hesitates and Narcissa draws her wand. She points it at Bellatrix but Draco restrains her before she can cast anything.
"Stop hurting her!" Narcissa says as tears fall from her eyes.
"Now Draco!" Draco tries to take Narcissa away gently but has to resort to dragging her. Draco manages to get Narcissa away and upstairs. Bellatrix stops cursing Ursa.
"Now can I have her?" Greyback asks.
"I told you the Dark Lord will want to be the one to kill her."
"Fine." Greyback says as he pushes Ursa to the ground before he goes upstairs. Bellatrix stays at the door for a minute, casting protections. Ursa crawls to the nearest wall and sits with her knees to her chest.
Upstairs, Narcissa pins Bellatrix to the wall when they arrive. "How dare you hurt my daughter after I told you not to." Narcissa says.
"She is not your daughter anymore." Bellatrix says. "As the oldest living Black, she is disowned now."
"You cannot do that."
"Yes I can. She is a blood-traitor and a traitor to the Dark Lord. I have been tolerating her because of you but betraying the Dark Lord is where I draw the line."
"Let me talk to her."
"Why? Just accept the truth already Narcissa. She was never planning to protect you like she promised."
"I want to talk to her."
"Fine, if that will finally make you accept it." Bellatrix, Narcissa, and Draco go back downstairs and stand outside the cell like door.
"Ursa..." Narcissa starts. "Come here Cub."
"I can't." Ursa replies. "I don't want to see you."
"Ursa please tell me the truth. Did you plan on coming home this summer? Who are you loyal to?" There are a few seconds of silence before Ursa stands and walks over to the door, tears streaming down her face. Narcissa reaches through the bars and cups Ursa's cheek. Ursa puts her hand over Narcissa's.
"I'm so sorry." Ursa whispers.
"No."
"I wasn't planning on coming home this summer... or ever."
"No."
"To answer your other question... the Order. I have always been loyal to the Order. I'm sorry." Narcissa breaks and starts crying again. Draco gently holds her. "I am so sorry. Draco." Ursa nods for him to take her away and Draco carefully leads Narcissa away.
"The Dark Lord will take care of you later." Bellatrix spits.
"If I don't find a way to do it first." Ursa goes back to her corner and breaks down. She uses her connection to speak to Snape. "The manor cellar. I just broke my mother's heart."
"I take it she asked about your loyalties?"
"Yes. I could see the second her heart broke on her face. You'll take care of them... when he kills me?"
"Of course."
"I'm glad you showed up in the tower when you did... I... I was about to do it myself. I knew if he hesitated much longer, Bellatrix may have done something to him." Ursa stays silent for a minute. "Do you think it would work? If I tried to kill myself without a wand."
"Where is this coming from?"
"I'd rather kill myself than let the Dark Lord kill me."
"It won't work Ursa. You are a powerful witch, but I don't think it will work." Ursa sighs.
Ursa doesn't move for a while. When she finally does, she goes to the cellar door. She points her fingers at the door. "Finite Incantatem. Alohomora." She tries to open the door and is thrown back from it. "Bellatrix was prepared for that. Should never have told her I could do wandless magic."
In the middle of the night there is a noise on the stairs. Ursa looks at the door to see Draco opening the door. "Dray?" Ursa questions.
"Shh." Draco shushes as he runs over to her. He kneels next to her and hugs her tightly. Tears spring from Ursa's eyes.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm s-"
"Shh you have nothing to apologize for."
"I betrayed you and Mother."
"I know, but I also know you did it to try and protect us."
"I couldn't... I couldn't let you kill him."
"If Auntie hadn't come when she did... I almost gave in and accepted your help. Now we need to get you out of here."
"No, Draco no. If he finds out that you helped me escape, he'll kill you."
"I know."
"I can't let you help me. She can't lose you too."
"I have a plan." After Draco explains his plan, they hug again. "I love you."
"I love you too." Ursa replies. "Take care of her."
"I will." They hug tightly one last time before they both stand. Draco walks back out of the cellar, closes the door, and puts the protections back up. Ursa gets into position against the wall next to the door. Draco comes back down the stairs and removes the protections before opening the door.
"Stupefy!" Ursa casts with her hand. Draco falls to the ground and Ursa picks up his wand. Tears stream down her face as she points it at him. "Obliviate." Ursa drops the wand and wipes her tears. Green flames engulf her and she transforms into her phoenix form. She flies upstairs and quietly lands, back in human form, outside Narcissa's room. She tries to open the door to find it locked. "Alohomora." She whispers. The lock clicks open and Ursa opens the door. She quietly closes it behind her. She looks at Narcissa sleeping peacefully. She sees the tear tracks on Narcissa's face and Ursa's eyes fill with tears again. Ursa tiptoes over to Narcissa's vanity, freezing when the floor squeaks. Narcissa doesn't move and Ursa continues to the vanity. She opens a drawer and quietly digs through it until she finds her wand. She takes it out of the vanity and puts it in its holster. She quietly walks over to Narcissa. She moves Narcissa's bangs and kisses her forehead. "I'm sorry Mother." She whispers. "I'm so sorry." Narcissa wakes up slightly.
"Ursa?" Narcissa mutters. Ursa walks over to one of Narcissa's windows and opens it. Ursa takes one last looks back at Narcissa.
"Goodbye Mother." She transforms into a phoenix and flies out the window. Narcissa's tired brain registers that Ursa was actually there and she sits up just in time to see Ursa fly out her window.