The courtyard was chaos.

Shattered stone, flying sparks, screams, and the crack of spells tearing through the air. You were barely keeping your footing as the battle raged around you—Order on one side, Death Eaters on the other.

And right across from you— Bellatrix Black.

Her laughter rang through the destruction as she dueled three witches at once, wild and unstoppable. You should have run. You knew that. One wrong move near her meant death.

But you froze.

You felt it before you saw it. A curse forming—dark, thick, wrong—aimed not at Bellatrix…

At you.

Time slowed.

You turned just as the spell was released. You didn’t even have your wand raised in time. Your body locked in place, fear stealing your breath.

And then—

Someone slammed into you from the side.

You were knocked to the ground hard, your shoulder screaming in pain as the deadly curse streaked past where you had just been standing and shattered the stone behind you.

Smoke curled through the air.

When you looked up—your heart stopped.

Bellatrix stood between you and the enemy caster. Her back was to you. Her wand was raised.

For one impossible second… She had chosen you.

The opposing Death Eater stared at her in shock. “You moved,” he said.

Bellatrix’s voice was low. Dangerous. “Pick a different target.”

The battle surged again, but the moment was burned into your chest. You scrambled to your feet, shaken, your gaze locked on her as she fought with furious precision—protecting the space where you stood without ever looking back.

When it was over, the courtyard lay in ruins. The survivors retreated on both sides. You stood frozen, searching through the smoke.

And then she was there.

Bellatrix stopped in front of you, breathing hard. Dirt marked her face. Her eyes searched yours—intense, unreadable.

“That curse would’ve killed you,” you whispered.

She scoffed weakly. “Obviously.”

“Why did you—”

“Don’t,” she snapped, turning away. “You don’t get to ask that.”