The Cost of Silence
I knew watching my sisters growing up that they were more alike than they knew. Andromeda never wanted to believe the things we were taught. Bellatrix, well I could see she didn't completely believe either. But she was raised to be an obedient pureblood daughter, so she pretended. Me? Well, I simply stayed silent in the background. I knew my fate lie in an arranged marriage to Lucius Malfoy. I was ok with that.
The night we heard what Andy had done, I spent comforting my sister as she cried herself to sleep. Bella loved Andy. Her brave sister, who would rather be disowned by her family than follow their beliefs. Secretly, I admired her too. And still, I stayed silent.
Not long after this Bella began talking about Voldemort. Lucius talked about him too. Bella said he was a handsome, powerful, charismatic wizard. So unlike the man she had been forced to marry. I could see she was beginning to have feelings for him. While I did not agree with her or my husband's statements about the man, I kept my silence.
Shortly after we heard Sirius had also went against family. The sweet, funny, brave boy was not only sorted in Gryffindor, but refused take the dark mark. I know Bella wishes she could have been the same. I know i did. Thru this too, I stayed silent.
When Bella's beloved Riddle was destroyed by a mere infant, I could see she was slipping slightly over the edge into insanity. While I wanted to point out he couldn't have been that powerful and great if a mere infant had destroyed him, I held my tongue.
After Bella, in a fit on insanity tortured the Longbottoms and was thrown into Azkaban, I knew this would be the end of her sanity. If she was ever to leave, she would never be the same. So I waited for years in silence as she wasted away in that awful place.
Then it happened, the thing Lucius had always feared, the Dark Lord returned. I knew this time was going to be worse. I worried for my family, my husband, my only son. Would we survive this madness? In silence I waited to see just how badly things would become.
Then that night at the Deptartment of Mysteries happened. And Bella in her complete Azkaban increased madness, killed our cousin Sirius. Sweet, funny, brave cousin Sirius. It was almost too much for me to bear. I bit my tongue to stifle the grief. I could taste the blood as I fought to keep silent.
Finally the time had come that we had to answer the call of the Dark Lord. He wanted to attack Hogwarts. Draco. My son was there. I didn't want to fight only find my son. I knew I had to remain silent if I wanted a chance to get to him.
The Potter boy faced the Dark Lord bravely. And when the green light struck him, I just knew he had a chance to survive. Maybe he could tell me where my boy was. I asked him as I pretended to check him for life. I could have cried for joy when he briefly nodded yes. Yet, I remained silent. Following behind the Dark Lord on the walk from the forest I could only hope to see my son. I just wanted to take him from here, even Lucius agreed. There, on the steps was Draco. Dishelved, dirty, and looking so close to breaking. When he approached us I grabbed his hand to reassure him. Just a little longer. In the chaos that followed Potters re appearance, I nodded to Lucius and we made our way from Hogwarts.
Now, I am home, with my husband and son. Looking at all my silence has almost cost me. Never again will I keep quiet. Never again will I almost lose my family for someone else's aspirations. I refuse to remain silent.