You never planned to save her.

In fact, your entire mission had been built around stopping her.

The ruins shook as spells clashed through the air—Order members on one side, Death Eaters on the other. Smoke burned your lungs, debris fell from shattered stone, and somewhere in the chaos, you spotted her.

Bellatrix Black.

Laughing as curses flew from her wand, wild and terrifying and untouchable—until she wasn’t.

A blast from the far end of the courtyard sent a collapsed wall crashing straight toward her. You saw it before she did. One second. Maybe less.

You didn’t think.

You ran.

“Black—MOVE!” you shouted, throwing yourself into her, shoving her out of the way as stone exploded behind you. The impact sent both of you tumbling across the ground.

Pain ripped through your side. Dust filled your mouth. The world rang.

And then—silence.

When you managed to look up, Bellatrix was staring at you in pure shock. Not rage. Not mockery. Shock.

“You…” she whispered.

You struggled to breathe. “Don’t… get ideas.”

For the first time since you’d ever known her—she didn’t laugh.

Spells continued flying nearby. Someone shouted her name from the Death Eater ranks. You tried to stand and failed. Your vision blurred.

Bellatrix hesitated.

That alone was impossible.

Then, just as suddenly, she grabbed your arm and hauled you upright with surprising care.

“Stay alive,” she muttered fiercely. “You’re not done yet.”