Title: Volva a Scelus
Author: Katu Backwards
Author email: katubish@hotmail.com
Rating: R (ish)
Summary: When a new boy begins school at Hogwarts, everything goes splodey. Sex, Voldemort, arguments, secrets, heroism, blood, and fluffy kittens named Foofkins.
Disclaimer: Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter, and so on, do not belong to me. As you might have guessed. Chaos Aberidge is mine, Jupiter is mine, so on and so forth. Use 'em if you want, just link me. By link me I mean give me the link.
The normal rule goes, if you want to know when I update, leave your e-mail in a review and tell me so. I can think of nothing to disprove this.
Constructive criticism welcome and encouraged.
Various mild ideas including but not limited to; humour style, beginning-of-chapter information, ending-of-chapter summary, and some random information (ie - Draco's middle name being Thomas, etc), borrowed from the oh-so-talented, charmingly bohemian, tragically impoverish writer Cassandra Claire.
And now we return you to your regularly scheduled fic.
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Jupiter sat on her bed and thought about her situation. Draco really hadn't promised her that he wouldn't tell, and she trusted Draco about as far as she could spit a rat. Things weren't going well. She wanted to owl Severus, but she didn't know if it would be wise. She still didn't know what the hell had happened between Harry and Draco, but that didn't worry her so much. She had a new friend, and she just didn't know what sort of mood to be in.
Deep in thought, she failed to notice Chaos hovering over her. He'd come in silently, and walked over to Jupiter's bed just as quietly. Jupiter tried to flop backwards onto her bed, but was stopped by Chaos's chest. She turned around and yelled.
"Jesus bloody Christ, Chaos! You scared me!" she cried, but Chaos just kept his benign smile, eye blank. Jupiter couldn't stay angry at him, and sighed. "You're an interesting guy, Chaos."
Chaos nodded and sat on the bed. "I like to think so. Lady is interesting, too. I find her very intriguing."
Jupiter blushed, despite herself. There was something about Chaos that unnerved her. Though he was calm and amenable, he also seemed a bit dangerous, beneath his exterior. He was never offended or embarrassed, and though he didn't seem to understand any form of humor, he was so...nice. All the same, a part of her piped up, he's not too intelligent, and he can't compare with Severus. She shook herself and looked up at Chaos, who was grinning dumbly as usual. She gave him a big smile, just for cheering her up.
He Grinned back, and leaned forward. He kissed her on the forehead, and Jupiter blushed. Part of her lit up inside. It was a little-used part of her called Morality. It spoke up.
"I really shouldn't be allowing Chaos to get so cozy with me, on my own bed as well. Severus wouldn't approve."
It was right, of course. She would have to tell Chaos.
"Chaos, I need you to know something."
He nodded, and looked eager-to-please.
"Chaos...I can't be with you." She noted his crestfallen expression and hastily continued, "I mean, I can't...kiss you and things. I can't."
Chaos merely looked confused.
Jupiter sighed. "Nevermind," she said, and then, internally, "Never try to tell a crazy person something about love."
***
At breakfast the next morning, Draco got a dread red envelope. He looked at it in horror, who would send him a howler? He picked it up gingerly, and the whole Slytherin table turned to watch. He'd barely loosened the seal when the howler shot open and Lucius Malfoy's voice projected like a loudspeaker out of it.
"DRACO THOMAS MALFOY!! HOW COULD YOU DISGRACE THE FAMILY LIKE THIS?! BEING QUEER IS ONE THING, PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE FAMILY TRAIT UNDER THE PROPER CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT HOW DARE YOU-HOW DARE YOU SEE FIT TO CONSORT WITH THE LIKES OF POTTER!! YOU ARE A DISGUST TO OUR NAME, AND I AM CUTTING YOUR ALLOWANCE IN HALF, YOU INSOLENT LITTLE TWIT!!"
Finally, the letter seemed to have served its purpose, and crumbled away into ash. Draco was as crimson as the envelope the howler had come in. Jupiter herself was shocked. She'd known they were friends, but she had no idea that it had progressed to more than that, and so quickly. She wasn't however, shocked to find out that Draco way gay. It seemed that this was not the general consensus. The Great Hall was filled with whispers.
"Harry and Draco?"
"A Slytherin and a Gryffindor, lovers?"
"But he's a Malfoy!"
"Say it ain't so, Harry!"
"Draco, you're REALLY seeing Harry Potter?!"
Jupiter turned to her beet-faced friend. "Draco!" she said in a reprimanding voice, "I didn't know your middle name was Thomas!"
***
A few days later, Lucius Malfoy received a Fone call (Fone is like Floo, only speaking instead of travelling) from his insolent twit...I mean son.
"What is it, Draco?" Lucius asked him calmly, and began to pour himself a glass of wine.
Draco's angry voice came through the fireplace, "You know damn well what it is! Just because I'm dating Harry, doesn't mean you have to half my allowance. It's not like I'm buying him bloody flowers or anything with it. You're just bitter because he defeated your Dark Lord person way back in the day. What the hell has he done recently, huh? NOTHING. There's no reason for you to get so hissy about it. Unlikely couples are all the rage now, didn't you know? Me and Harry, Pansy and Finch-Fletchely, Jupiter and Snape-"
Lucius was beginning to be annoyed at his son's behavior when he'd spat out the Jupiter and Snape remark. Lucius turned to the fireplace with interest. "What's this about Jupiter and Snape?"
Draco spluttered. He'd accidentally told! "Nothing!" he cried, a little too quickly, "Nothing, I just want my allowance back!"
"All right, Draco. But only because of the information on Severus." And Lucius doused the fire, ending the call.
Lucius shook his head. He really did spoil that boy. Ah well. Severus and the Vrij's daughter. He was nearly twice her age, wasn't he? What a scandal.
"I can't help but wonder..." Lucius mused out loud, "What Master would make of this...?"
***
Draco sat heavily down on the dorm bed. What had he done? He'd just betrayed Jupiter's secret! He'd not meant to, he'd really meant to keep it. But then, what could his father do? He liked Snape, right? Draco's mind boggled. He would have to tell Jupiter. He stood up and prepared to head to the common room, where he knew she would be.
And, indeed, she was. Draco was almost disappointed as he sat down next to her. She was playing wizard's chess against Pansy, and losing horrifically. But she was laughing and having a good time. Draco couldn't tell her now, he realized, not with people around. He settled back into the cushions of the leaf-colored couch with a huge sigh. Jupiter glanced at him.
"What's the matter, Draco? Daddy got you down?" she asked. Her tone was joking, but she was actually worried about him.
"Oh gods, Jupiter, you have no idea," he said, and heaved another sigh. Pansy turned to him apologetically.
"Draco, if it makes you feel any better, I understand. It makes me feel much better to know that you weren't snubbing me off for some other girl!"
"Thanks, Pansy," he said bitterly, "Always so concerned about me."
Pansy didn't seem to notice the sarcasm in his voice, since she was too busy checkmating Jupiter.
"Good Geese!" Jupiter cried, throwing her hands up into the air with a laugh, "I'll never learn to play this game!"
"No," Pansy smiled, "I don't think you ever will. I used to think I was the worst player in this house. I was wrong."
"You're such a sweetie, Pansy. I'll play you to some one-on-one Quidditch, though, if you like!" Jupiter laughed, and Pansy shook her head. Jupiter might have sucked like hell at chess, but she was very good at Quidditch. It was her 'turf'.
Draco stood up and grabbed Jupiter's arm, standing her up. "Jupiter, I have to talk to you. Alone."
"Are you sure you're gay, and not shoving me off for Jupiter?" Pansy joked, but Draco ignored her. Jupiter looked Draco in the eye, and allowed herself to be led away into the hallway, while Pansy began to (try to) teach Chaos to play chess.
"Jupiter, I really need to tell you something."
"What? You're not gay? You're secretly in love with me?" she said with a smirk, but Draco's face stayed dead serious. "All right, all right. The suspense is killing me! Talk!"
"Jupiter, I really need you to take this seriously. This could be big trouble."
Jupiter saw the pleading in her friend's eyes, and her face softened into a look of concern. Draco began speaking again, "Jupiter, I accidentally told my dad about you and Snape. I didn't mean to, I-"
"Wait, You WHAT?!" Jupiter cried, and visibly bristled with anger. Her shoulders seemed to puff up, and she contrived to hover menacingly over Draco, who was a decent five inches taller than she, "You TOLD your DAD?! ACCIDENTALLY?! How the HELL do you accidentally tell someone something?!"
"Shhhhh, someone will hear!"
"I don't ruddy well care! And neither do you, apparently! How did it happen?"
"Well, I just-"
"Nevermind! I don't even want to hear it! Some friend you are, you...you..." she faltered, "...You faggot Malfoy scum!" she shrieked, and ran back into the common room in a snit.
Draco stood in shock. Jupiter had never openly shouted at him before. And she would never have used his sexuality against him normally. Draco sighed. Perhaps he shouldn't have mentioned it.
***
Jupiter stormed into the common room to find Pansy on Chaos's lap, talking to him and giggling shamelessly. He was smiling the benign way he generally smiled, and kept playing with Pansy's hair. Jupiter glared at them.
She was going to say something to Chaos, but she was too angry. Instead, she stomped up the stairs to her dorm and threw herself on her bed. She felt like shredding things to death. Preferably Draco Malfoy or Pansy Parkinson. As if she needed jealousy on top of worry and...
And then there was that other matter. Why on Earth should she be jealous over Chaos? Surely she had no need to be, she had Severus. But she'd been so used to having Chaos like her, seeing him with another girl just bothered her no end. A small part of her mind pointed out that Severus was rarely around anymore, and it's hard to remain totally faithful in mind and heart to someone who is so often gone. But then, Chaos didn't even understand half the words she said!
"Why has my life suddenly turned to crap?" she asked out loud, covering her eyes with her arms.
"...Lady?"
"Go away, Chaos. I don't want to know. I've not no more vacancy to be miserable for right now. I might be able to fit some more misery in later, though, so be sure to check in at another time," she spat, and rolled over onto her side, curling her legs up by her stomach. Chaos touched her arm lightly, but she jerked it away. "I said, go away Chaos. I do not want to be touched. I do not want to be spoken to. I do not want to be looked at. Now go."
Chaos, saddened immensely, left the dorm silently.
***
Jupiter's next day at school was hellish.
Potions was boring, as normal, without her Snape. Now, more than ever, she wished for him to come back. She had no one to hold her and tell her things would be all right. She had no shoulder to cry on, to arm to keep her from falling to her knees.
She wanted Severus to be back. She didn't want him to be a Death Eater. She didn't want him to be in danger all the time. She stomped to The Great Hall for lunch, thinking angry thoughts. She didn't want Draco to have told their secret. She didn't want Draco to be alive. She didn't want Chaos to exist anymore, she never wanted to have met him, why couldn't everything just go back to normal?
She had never noticed how many classes she had with Draco and Chaos until today. She avoided eye contact with them, instead throwing herself into her work. But despite her studious attitude, it was damn hard to ignore Pansy's giggles from across the room. Jupiter glanced up once, to see her leaning against Chaos's arm and looking at him winsomely. She refrained from looking up anymore.
Finally, after Divination, in the hallway, Chaos grabbed her arm.
"Lady, stop running away."
"Listen, Chaos! I don't want to talk to you!" she cried, and broke out of his grip.
"Lady-"
"No, Chaos!" She rounded on him angrily. "I don't want you to be here anymore! I don't want you to exist! I don't want you to talk to me, or touch me, or watch me, or smell me, or anything! I really just want you to leave me alone!" she screamed. She was well aware of her classmates staring at her in shock. She ran off down the hallway, crying.
***
Jupiter ran into her room and slammed the door. She paced back and forth, clutching and un-clutching her hands, tears running down her face.
"Why does everything have to be so uncomfortable?" she wailed. And things were. She felt the emptiness of having Severus gone, the fear of Lucius Malfoy using her against her beloved, and having Chaos around was like having sand in your bed. Not deadly, but it made everything terribly uncomfortable.
What could she do? She was sick of school, a feeling that had never before posessed her. She'd always loved school, its busyness, the fact that it wasn't so empty and alone as her house back in Greece was. And now she didn't want to be here anymore. She didn't know where she wanted to be. She wanted to find Severus and move away with him, somewhere. Another world, where they didn't have to deal with things like Chaos or Voldemort.
She sighed, and fell back on her bed. She didn't have the energy to cry anymore, and it felts like her tear ducts were dry in any case.
There had to be something she could do to feel better.
***
"What's wrong, Draco?" Harry asked, leaning his head against Draco's shoulder.
"Nothing, Harry...I'm just distressed."
"Why? Your father isn't still getting you down, is he?"
"Why does everyone always assume it's my father I'm having problems with?!" Draco cried, sitting up quickly and hitting his head on the bottom of the bathroom sink, "Owww..."
"Ouch. I'm sorry, Draco...I just-"
"No, no...you were mostly right," he said, rubbing his head, "It's just that Jupiter guessed the same thing. I didn't know it was so obvious. But yes, it is mostly my father that's bothering me."
"How so, dear?" Harry asked, kissing Draco's ear lightly.
"First of all, I'm not ready to be called 'dear' yet. Secondly, if you want me to tell you a story, don't go kissing me there."
"Sorry, Draco."
"Please, call me Malfoy," Draco joked. It had always been a pet peeve of his when Harry and his friends called him 'Malfoy' instead of 'Draco'. And then Draco proceeded to tell Harry the whole story of him and Jupiter and the howler, and so on. At the end, Harry only had one thing to say.
"Ew...Snape?" he said, and made a face. Draco would have hit him with a pillow were there one available.
***
In a tiny clearing in a forest outside Hogsmeade, the Death Eaters formed a circle, The Circle. They waited, standing in anticipation, until their Lord arrived.
Severus Snape was among them, and almost visibly flinched when Voldemort Apparated. But luckily, the Dark Lord's back was to him. Snape had been more and more stressed lately, and was on the verge of breaking. All he could hope was that it would all be over soon. Little did he know that it quite probably would.
"Master," Lucius said quietly, "I bring you news."
Voldemort turned to Lucius. "Yes, Lucius?"
"Master, Severus Snape has not been faithful to you. He IS not faithful to you."
Snape's heart froze, and he stood still. If he fled, it would prove Lucius right. Lucius was probably bluffing anyway, he couldn't have any proof, could he? Could Snape pull off this fantastic lie?
"You know this, Lucius?"
"I have reason to believe, Master." Ah. So he didn't have any proof. That gave Severus better odds at bluffing his own way out of it.
"Actually, Lucius, I have reason to believe you are right," the Dark Lord whispered, shooting a glance at Snape that burned right through his facade. Severus knew, right then, that if he didn't move NOW, he would die. He Disapparated, and Voldemort nodded gravely.
"Let him go," he said, holding up a restraining had as some of the other Death Eaters prepared to Apparate. Goyle, who'd all ready begun, splinched himself mildly, and had to be magicked back together. "He will be taken care of soon enough."
"Master, if I might make a suggestion...?"
"What is it, Lucius?"
"Severus has been having an affair with a student of his, Jupiter Vrij. I have reason to believe that she is one of his greatest weaknesses."
"Can any of you confirm this?" Voldemort said, and two heads nodded. Voldemort seemed satisfied. "I am pleased, Lucius. I will send someone to fetch her. Aberidge!"
A hooded figure stepped forward and nodded smartly.
"Retrieve this Jupiter. Bring her to me."
"Why?"
Voldemort's eyes narrowed. He had a horrid temper for stupidity and defiance, but this one was an important insider, and much more faithful than Snape. "Because I command it!"
"Does she belong to you?"
"Yes! She does, in fact. Does she not, Vrij?" he said with a hideous smile. He looked at another Death Eater, who nodded emphatically. "She was given to me. I want to collect her. Now go!"
Chaos nodded sadly and Disapparated.
***
Severus Apparated as close to Hogwarts as was allowed and made a break for it. He could only hope he'd make it inside before anyone caught up with him. No sooner had he thought that than a hooded figure Apparated close to him. Severus tried to push himself to go faster.
Soon he noticed that the figure was walking towards Hogwarts almost leisurely. Obviously a trick to get him to slow down. Well, Snape wasn't about to let the opportunity to get a huge head start pass by. He sprinted all the way to the front doors of castle, brushing past a confused-looking girl, and rushed inside, and to Dumbledore's office, with a few shouted passwords on the way.
When he finally made his way up to Dumbledore's office, panting and heaving, Dumbledore sat him down in a chair and offered him a cup of tea, specially prepared for him. Snape didn't know how Dumbledore knew he was coming, but he was in no condition to worry about it anyway.
"Lucius said...Voldemort...I was going to die..." he gasped, but Dumbledore hushed him and pressed the tea into Snape's trembling fingers. He took a long sip, and sighed deeply.
"Now, Severus, tell me what happened," Dumbledore said quietly, once Snape seemed recovered enough to form sentences. Once the occasion had been recounted, Dumbledore gave the haggard man a sad, yet relieved look. "I guess this is the end of your spying days, young Severus."
Snape had never wanted to hear that phrase more in his life. And while he didn't feel like a 'young Severus' any more, he was immensely ready to leave the whole Voldemort business behind. He felt bad, knowing that he was the only inside source Dumbledore had, but he could hardly go back, could he? Not if he was going to be killed.
***
Jupiter lay on her bed, tired and depressed. She missed Severus, missed Draco. It was all her fault, too. She should never have gotten involved with Severus, never have told Draco. Now Severus would lose his job, and Draco would never speak to her again. That was something she was so good at, messing things up. She wondered if it wasn't too late to try and set things right...?
She decided she'd go find Chaos, since she really had no reason to be mad at him, and it would be easier to apologize. She got up and made her way downstairs and outside, without much trouble.
It was dusk, and the sky was misty and a little chill, but mostly nice. She stood on the steps for a moment, and breathed in the beautiful, cool country air. It smelled like rain, which cheered Jupiter a lot. If Chaos wasn't outside, she thought, it would be no big deal. She walked down the marble steps and stood in the wet grass, enjoying their cold moisture under her bare feet.
It was then that she looked up, and saw that a dark figure was hurtling towards the doors, and as he shoved past Jupiter, she saw who it was.
"Severus!" she cried, but he was gone down the hallway. She started back in after him, Chaos forgotten, but then she heard someone shout.
"Lady! Lady!" and her silver-haired friend approached her.
"Oh, hello Chaos!" she said. She supposed she could find Severus later, though her heart ached to see him again. She sighed and looked up at Chaos. "Look, I want to..."
"No, Lady. Do not speak. Come with me."
Jupiter was confused, but the boy had a death grip on her wrist and he was dragging her away from the school. She followed him, vaguely wondering why they were heading to the forest, and if he knew it was dangerous.
***
Chaos was furious. Lady belonged to HIM. Not to Voldemort. His Lady. HIS Lady. HIS! He rounded on Jupiter once the two of them were inside the forest. He grabbed her to him and fought internally.
"Master says...Master says..." he mumbled, looking around dodgily, "But I...Master says..."
Jupiter was confused, and more than a little scare, but she trusted Chaos insofar as to know he wouldn't harm her. Her bare feet were uncomfortable, standing on the sticks and twigs on the forest floor. She was just about to tell Chaos to let her go when Chaos turned and looked into her face. She froze, and looked into his good eye. She saw something there that horrified her beyond belief. It was something she'd never excepted to see in that crazy green eye...Lust. The violent, animalistic, male need to mark their territory, one way or another.
"My Lady," he growled in her face, teeth bared, "MY Lady!"
Jupiter opened her mouth and let out a yelp. She struggled to get away from Chaos, but the boy was a great deal stronger than her. Finally she threw herself away from him, and made a mad dash for the edge of the forest. Chaos ran quickly ahead of her and blocked her way. Desperately, she turned around and headed deeper into the forest, with Chaos running through the brush with ease behind her.
Jupiter could feel her chest begin to tighten as the asthma took hold, but she didn't stop. She could hear Chaos shouting, and once or twice she felt the touch of his fingertips on her back, spurring her on, faster and faster.
She wanted to scream, wanted to cry, but she didn't have the lung capacity. She couldn't keep going, not like this. It was a losing battle. She ran straight into a rock face. To high to climb, too wide to go around. Chaos had cornered a wheezing Jupiter, who was looking fast for a way out. She knew she couldn't run anymore, her asthma was killing her.
"Why do you run, Lady?"
"Chaos..." she said, and had to gasp for oxygen after every word, "Don't...do...this..."
Jupiter doubled over, breathing desperately, trying to keep her lungs from imploding. Then Chaos grabbed her, and spoke, his face not more than an inch away from hers.
"Dance with me, Lady."
***
Jupiter awoke, slowly.
The last thing she remembered was the sensation of pain as her clothing was torn from her by long, sharp-nailed fingers. Then her lungs finally gave up, and she passed out. Now here she was, naked and cut, probably from those same nails. She sat up and felt distinctly painful in her lower regions, which she found to be bleeding, also. She then noticed where she was. She looked around her, at a group of sinister-looking cloaks, draped over their anonymous owners. She recognized it immediately. It was a hated memory of her childhood. She stood up quickly, trying to retain dignity, even while undressed.
"Ah, Vrij," came the hissing, whispery voice that had haunted Jupiter's dreams as a child, "Jupiter, is it not?"
Jupiter, neither cowering in fear, nor bristling with rage, stood inside the circle of Death Eaters. She knew, had seen what happened to people who stood inside The Circle. And she was terrified out of her mind.
Then the Dark Lord spoke again, "Jupiter, I turned you away as a child, do you remember?"
Jupiter did not reply, but he knew she remembered. She remembered everything...
***
It was many years ago, and Jupiter was six. She was excited, she was about to be judged.
"Now Jupiter," her father said, cradling her on his lap, "I want you to remember, The Dark Lord Voldemort is going to come tonight. He is going to judge you, and tell you whether or not you are fit to be one of his. You want to be one of his, don't you?" he said, in an encouraging way.
Jupiter nodded enthusiastically. She hoped she was good enough, good enough to be like her parents and live up to her father's expectations. Her father had smiled and patted her tummy.
"If you are chosen tonight, Jupiter, I will be so proud of you!" her father cooed at her. She hugged him around his neck.
"He'll choose me tonight, father, I know he will!" she cried, and she jumped off her father's lap and hurried off to her room.
She'd had the servants clothe her in a dress as green as poison, and had them put her hair up in a french braid. She'd spent a good hour admiring herself in the mirror and tweaking her outfit before her mother called her downstairs. She bounded downstairs and into the kitchen, where her mother was standing. Her mother was in her ritual robes, and she smiled as Jupiter came down.
"I've gotten you something!" she said, smiling brightly. Jupiter's face lit up.
"What?"
Her mother produced a package from behind her back, and handed it to Jupiter. The little girl tore open the package and pulled out the present gleefully. "My own robes! Just like yours, with the hood and everything!" She hastily put them on, and then hugged her mother.
"You're so darling in those!" she said, and hugged her daughter. "Now, go in the living room. He'll be here any minute!"
Jupiter had been allowed to stay up late for the occasion, and it was nearly midnight when Voldemort Apparated into the living room. There was no bang, no puff of smoke, just a small pop, and the appearance of the Dark Lord.
"Is this the girl?" he'd asked her father. His voice sounded like a plague of locusts, like a hissing, scratching, forced noise. Her father nodded. "Hello, Jupiter," he said, and Jupiter gathered up her nerves.
"Hello, Master," she said, in just the manner she had been taught. Voldemort laughed and looked at her father.
"She is trained well, Hayredin. I confess I am impressed."
Hayredin smiled and gave a small bow. "Thank you, Master."
Voldemort lifted the girl up with a wave of his wand, and had a good look at her. She giggled once at the factshe was flying, but supressed it quickly. Voldemort peered into her eyes. She could feel those red orbs probing thourgh her head, into the back of her mind, and she did not turn away. After what seemed like an hour, Jupiter was set down, and Voldemort looked at her parents.
"She will not do. She can never be one of mine."
"Master," began her father, "Surely-"
"Do you accuse me of seeing incorrectly?" The Dark Lord asked in a menacing whisper.
"No, master!" her father cried, and fell to his knees. And without any more words, Voldemort disappeared. Jupiter had looked at her father, who gave her one look of total, utter disappointment, and left. Jupiter could feel the tears coming, could feel her tiny heart breaking. Her mother looked at her with a look of loss, but she gave Jupiter a kiss on the forehead, and then both her parents left the room.
Jupiter crawled miserably up onto the couch. He hadn't chosen her! He hadn't thought she was worthy! She began crying, now, she cried harder than she could remember ever having done before. She had disappointed her mother and father, and she knew, at that moment, the shame she brought to her family. She spent the rest of the night on the couch, crying, until she fell asleep. And she'd lived with that guilt ever since...always knew she was a failure, and that it was her fault she'd not been chosen. She was just wrong. She was broken, somehow. She-
"I see you do remember, Jupiter," said Voldemort, jerking her from her reverie, "You do. You were unfit. You were disappointing. You were unworthy!" he hissed, and Jupiter fought back the tears she hadn't cried since she was young, "You could never be, can never be one of us, one of mine."
Jupiter's shoulders shook silently, and she shut her eyes tight to stop herself crying. Nonetheless, a tear escaped the crush of her eyelids and slid down her cheek. She could feel the disdainful glares of the assemble rank on her, disapproving.
"Tears?" Voldemort said, mockingly, "You cry because of the dishonor you cause? What happened to the fiery little brat I saw so many years ago? You are not only unworthy, you are weak."
Jupiter, despite all her years of self-discipline in matters of emotion, despite her unwillingness to be made a fool of, broke out into a sob. She shuddered with the force of her tears. She had always known, always known it, that she was a disgrace and a fluke. But to hear it all said to her, by the very person she was brought up to love and revere, was too much. She dropped to her knees in grief.
Voldemort made a strange hissing noise, which she soon identified as laughter. It rasped and it wheezed in a horrible, tomb-dry sound of cruel mirth. And the moment he stopped this cacophony, his voice turned deep and rash.
"Crucio."
Author: Katu Backwards
Author email: katubish@hotmail.com
Rating: R (ish)
Summary: When a new boy begins school at Hogwarts, everything goes splodey. Sex, Voldemort, arguments, secrets, heroism, blood, and fluffy kittens named Foofkins.
Disclaimer: Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter, and so on, do not belong to me. As you might have guessed. Chaos Aberidge is mine, Jupiter is mine, so on and so forth. Use 'em if you want, just link me. By link me I mean give me the link.
The normal rule goes, if you want to know when I update, leave your e-mail in a review and tell me so. I can think of nothing to disprove this.
Constructive criticism welcome and encouraged.
Various mild ideas including but not limited to; humour style, beginning-of-chapter information, ending-of-chapter summary, and some random information (ie - Draco's middle name being Thomas, etc), borrowed from the oh-so-talented, charmingly bohemian, tragically impoverish writer Cassandra Claire.
And now we return you to your regularly scheduled fic.
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Jupiter sat on her bed and thought about her situation. Draco really hadn't promised her that he wouldn't tell, and she trusted Draco about as far as she could spit a rat. Things weren't going well. She wanted to owl Severus, but she didn't know if it would be wise. She still didn't know what the hell had happened between Harry and Draco, but that didn't worry her so much. She had a new friend, and she just didn't know what sort of mood to be in.
Deep in thought, she failed to notice Chaos hovering over her. He'd come in silently, and walked over to Jupiter's bed just as quietly. Jupiter tried to flop backwards onto her bed, but was stopped by Chaos's chest. She turned around and yelled.
"Jesus bloody Christ, Chaos! You scared me!" she cried, but Chaos just kept his benign smile, eye blank. Jupiter couldn't stay angry at him, and sighed. "You're an interesting guy, Chaos."
Chaos nodded and sat on the bed. "I like to think so. Lady is interesting, too. I find her very intriguing."
Jupiter blushed, despite herself. There was something about Chaos that unnerved her. Though he was calm and amenable, he also seemed a bit dangerous, beneath his exterior. He was never offended or embarrassed, and though he didn't seem to understand any form of humor, he was so...nice. All the same, a part of her piped up, he's not too intelligent, and he can't compare with Severus. She shook herself and looked up at Chaos, who was grinning dumbly as usual. She gave him a big smile, just for cheering her up.
He Grinned back, and leaned forward. He kissed her on the forehead, and Jupiter blushed. Part of her lit up inside. It was a little-used part of her called Morality. It spoke up.
"I really shouldn't be allowing Chaos to get so cozy with me, on my own bed as well. Severus wouldn't approve."
It was right, of course. She would have to tell Chaos.
"Chaos, I need you to know something."
He nodded, and looked eager-to-please.
"Chaos...I can't be with you." She noted his crestfallen expression and hastily continued, "I mean, I can't...kiss you and things. I can't."
Chaos merely looked confused.
Jupiter sighed. "Nevermind," she said, and then, internally, "Never try to tell a crazy person something about love."
***
At breakfast the next morning, Draco got a dread red envelope. He looked at it in horror, who would send him a howler? He picked it up gingerly, and the whole Slytherin table turned to watch. He'd barely loosened the seal when the howler shot open and Lucius Malfoy's voice projected like a loudspeaker out of it.
"DRACO THOMAS MALFOY!! HOW COULD YOU DISGRACE THE FAMILY LIKE THIS?! BEING QUEER IS ONE THING, PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE FAMILY TRAIT UNDER THE PROPER CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT HOW DARE YOU-HOW DARE YOU SEE FIT TO CONSORT WITH THE LIKES OF POTTER!! YOU ARE A DISGUST TO OUR NAME, AND I AM CUTTING YOUR ALLOWANCE IN HALF, YOU INSOLENT LITTLE TWIT!!"
Finally, the letter seemed to have served its purpose, and crumbled away into ash. Draco was as crimson as the envelope the howler had come in. Jupiter herself was shocked. She'd known they were friends, but she had no idea that it had progressed to more than that, and so quickly. She wasn't however, shocked to find out that Draco way gay. It seemed that this was not the general consensus. The Great Hall was filled with whispers.
"Harry and Draco?"
"A Slytherin and a Gryffindor, lovers?"
"But he's a Malfoy!"
"Say it ain't so, Harry!"
"Draco, you're REALLY seeing Harry Potter?!"
Jupiter turned to her beet-faced friend. "Draco!" she said in a reprimanding voice, "I didn't know your middle name was Thomas!"
***
A few days later, Lucius Malfoy received a Fone call (Fone is like Floo, only speaking instead of travelling) from his insolent twit...I mean son.
"What is it, Draco?" Lucius asked him calmly, and began to pour himself a glass of wine.
Draco's angry voice came through the fireplace, "You know damn well what it is! Just because I'm dating Harry, doesn't mean you have to half my allowance. It's not like I'm buying him bloody flowers or anything with it. You're just bitter because he defeated your Dark Lord person way back in the day. What the hell has he done recently, huh? NOTHING. There's no reason for you to get so hissy about it. Unlikely couples are all the rage now, didn't you know? Me and Harry, Pansy and Finch-Fletchely, Jupiter and Snape-"
Lucius was beginning to be annoyed at his son's behavior when he'd spat out the Jupiter and Snape remark. Lucius turned to the fireplace with interest. "What's this about Jupiter and Snape?"
Draco spluttered. He'd accidentally told! "Nothing!" he cried, a little too quickly, "Nothing, I just want my allowance back!"
"All right, Draco. But only because of the information on Severus." And Lucius doused the fire, ending the call.
Lucius shook his head. He really did spoil that boy. Ah well. Severus and the Vrij's daughter. He was nearly twice her age, wasn't he? What a scandal.
"I can't help but wonder..." Lucius mused out loud, "What Master would make of this...?"
***
Draco sat heavily down on the dorm bed. What had he done? He'd just betrayed Jupiter's secret! He'd not meant to, he'd really meant to keep it. But then, what could his father do? He liked Snape, right? Draco's mind boggled. He would have to tell Jupiter. He stood up and prepared to head to the common room, where he knew she would be.
And, indeed, she was. Draco was almost disappointed as he sat down next to her. She was playing wizard's chess against Pansy, and losing horrifically. But she was laughing and having a good time. Draco couldn't tell her now, he realized, not with people around. He settled back into the cushions of the leaf-colored couch with a huge sigh. Jupiter glanced at him.
"What's the matter, Draco? Daddy got you down?" she asked. Her tone was joking, but she was actually worried about him.
"Oh gods, Jupiter, you have no idea," he said, and heaved another sigh. Pansy turned to him apologetically.
"Draco, if it makes you feel any better, I understand. It makes me feel much better to know that you weren't snubbing me off for some other girl!"
"Thanks, Pansy," he said bitterly, "Always so concerned about me."
Pansy didn't seem to notice the sarcasm in his voice, since she was too busy checkmating Jupiter.
"Good Geese!" Jupiter cried, throwing her hands up into the air with a laugh, "I'll never learn to play this game!"
"No," Pansy smiled, "I don't think you ever will. I used to think I was the worst player in this house. I was wrong."
"You're such a sweetie, Pansy. I'll play you to some one-on-one Quidditch, though, if you like!" Jupiter laughed, and Pansy shook her head. Jupiter might have sucked like hell at chess, but she was very good at Quidditch. It was her 'turf'.
Draco stood up and grabbed Jupiter's arm, standing her up. "Jupiter, I have to talk to you. Alone."
"Are you sure you're gay, and not shoving me off for Jupiter?" Pansy joked, but Draco ignored her. Jupiter looked Draco in the eye, and allowed herself to be led away into the hallway, while Pansy began to (try to) teach Chaos to play chess.
"Jupiter, I really need to tell you something."
"What? You're not gay? You're secretly in love with me?" she said with a smirk, but Draco's face stayed dead serious. "All right, all right. The suspense is killing me! Talk!"
"Jupiter, I really need you to take this seriously. This could be big trouble."
Jupiter saw the pleading in her friend's eyes, and her face softened into a look of concern. Draco began speaking again, "Jupiter, I accidentally told my dad about you and Snape. I didn't mean to, I-"
"Wait, You WHAT?!" Jupiter cried, and visibly bristled with anger. Her shoulders seemed to puff up, and she contrived to hover menacingly over Draco, who was a decent five inches taller than she, "You TOLD your DAD?! ACCIDENTALLY?! How the HELL do you accidentally tell someone something?!"
"Shhhhh, someone will hear!"
"I don't ruddy well care! And neither do you, apparently! How did it happen?"
"Well, I just-"
"Nevermind! I don't even want to hear it! Some friend you are, you...you..." she faltered, "...You faggot Malfoy scum!" she shrieked, and ran back into the common room in a snit.
Draco stood in shock. Jupiter had never openly shouted at him before. And she would never have used his sexuality against him normally. Draco sighed. Perhaps he shouldn't have mentioned it.
***
Jupiter stormed into the common room to find Pansy on Chaos's lap, talking to him and giggling shamelessly. He was smiling the benign way he generally smiled, and kept playing with Pansy's hair. Jupiter glared at them.
She was going to say something to Chaos, but she was too angry. Instead, she stomped up the stairs to her dorm and threw herself on her bed. She felt like shredding things to death. Preferably Draco Malfoy or Pansy Parkinson. As if she needed jealousy on top of worry and...
And then there was that other matter. Why on Earth should she be jealous over Chaos? Surely she had no need to be, she had Severus. But she'd been so used to having Chaos like her, seeing him with another girl just bothered her no end. A small part of her mind pointed out that Severus was rarely around anymore, and it's hard to remain totally faithful in mind and heart to someone who is so often gone. But then, Chaos didn't even understand half the words she said!
"Why has my life suddenly turned to crap?" she asked out loud, covering her eyes with her arms.
"...Lady?"
"Go away, Chaos. I don't want to know. I've not no more vacancy to be miserable for right now. I might be able to fit some more misery in later, though, so be sure to check in at another time," she spat, and rolled over onto her side, curling her legs up by her stomach. Chaos touched her arm lightly, but she jerked it away. "I said, go away Chaos. I do not want to be touched. I do not want to be spoken to. I do not want to be looked at. Now go."
Chaos, saddened immensely, left the dorm silently.
***
Jupiter's next day at school was hellish.
Potions was boring, as normal, without her Snape. Now, more than ever, she wished for him to come back. She had no one to hold her and tell her things would be all right. She had no shoulder to cry on, to arm to keep her from falling to her knees.
She wanted Severus to be back. She didn't want him to be a Death Eater. She didn't want him to be in danger all the time. She stomped to The Great Hall for lunch, thinking angry thoughts. She didn't want Draco to have told their secret. She didn't want Draco to be alive. She didn't want Chaos to exist anymore, she never wanted to have met him, why couldn't everything just go back to normal?
She had never noticed how many classes she had with Draco and Chaos until today. She avoided eye contact with them, instead throwing herself into her work. But despite her studious attitude, it was damn hard to ignore Pansy's giggles from across the room. Jupiter glanced up once, to see her leaning against Chaos's arm and looking at him winsomely. She refrained from looking up anymore.
Finally, after Divination, in the hallway, Chaos grabbed her arm.
"Lady, stop running away."
"Listen, Chaos! I don't want to talk to you!" she cried, and broke out of his grip.
"Lady-"
"No, Chaos!" She rounded on him angrily. "I don't want you to be here anymore! I don't want you to exist! I don't want you to talk to me, or touch me, or watch me, or smell me, or anything! I really just want you to leave me alone!" she screamed. She was well aware of her classmates staring at her in shock. She ran off down the hallway, crying.
***
Jupiter ran into her room and slammed the door. She paced back and forth, clutching and un-clutching her hands, tears running down her face.
"Why does everything have to be so uncomfortable?" she wailed. And things were. She felt the emptiness of having Severus gone, the fear of Lucius Malfoy using her against her beloved, and having Chaos around was like having sand in your bed. Not deadly, but it made everything terribly uncomfortable.
What could she do? She was sick of school, a feeling that had never before posessed her. She'd always loved school, its busyness, the fact that it wasn't so empty and alone as her house back in Greece was. And now she didn't want to be here anymore. She didn't know where she wanted to be. She wanted to find Severus and move away with him, somewhere. Another world, where they didn't have to deal with things like Chaos or Voldemort.
She sighed, and fell back on her bed. She didn't have the energy to cry anymore, and it felts like her tear ducts were dry in any case.
There had to be something she could do to feel better.
***
"What's wrong, Draco?" Harry asked, leaning his head against Draco's shoulder.
"Nothing, Harry...I'm just distressed."
"Why? Your father isn't still getting you down, is he?"
"Why does everyone always assume it's my father I'm having problems with?!" Draco cried, sitting up quickly and hitting his head on the bottom of the bathroom sink, "Owww..."
"Ouch. I'm sorry, Draco...I just-"
"No, no...you were mostly right," he said, rubbing his head, "It's just that Jupiter guessed the same thing. I didn't know it was so obvious. But yes, it is mostly my father that's bothering me."
"How so, dear?" Harry asked, kissing Draco's ear lightly.
"First of all, I'm not ready to be called 'dear' yet. Secondly, if you want me to tell you a story, don't go kissing me there."
"Sorry, Draco."
"Please, call me Malfoy," Draco joked. It had always been a pet peeve of his when Harry and his friends called him 'Malfoy' instead of 'Draco'. And then Draco proceeded to tell Harry the whole story of him and Jupiter and the howler, and so on. At the end, Harry only had one thing to say.
"Ew...Snape?" he said, and made a face. Draco would have hit him with a pillow were there one available.
***
In a tiny clearing in a forest outside Hogsmeade, the Death Eaters formed a circle, The Circle. They waited, standing in anticipation, until their Lord arrived.
Severus Snape was among them, and almost visibly flinched when Voldemort Apparated. But luckily, the Dark Lord's back was to him. Snape had been more and more stressed lately, and was on the verge of breaking. All he could hope was that it would all be over soon. Little did he know that it quite probably would.
"Master," Lucius said quietly, "I bring you news."
Voldemort turned to Lucius. "Yes, Lucius?"
"Master, Severus Snape has not been faithful to you. He IS not faithful to you."
Snape's heart froze, and he stood still. If he fled, it would prove Lucius right. Lucius was probably bluffing anyway, he couldn't have any proof, could he? Could Snape pull off this fantastic lie?
"You know this, Lucius?"
"I have reason to believe, Master." Ah. So he didn't have any proof. That gave Severus better odds at bluffing his own way out of it.
"Actually, Lucius, I have reason to believe you are right," the Dark Lord whispered, shooting a glance at Snape that burned right through his facade. Severus knew, right then, that if he didn't move NOW, he would die. He Disapparated, and Voldemort nodded gravely.
"Let him go," he said, holding up a restraining had as some of the other Death Eaters prepared to Apparate. Goyle, who'd all ready begun, splinched himself mildly, and had to be magicked back together. "He will be taken care of soon enough."
"Master, if I might make a suggestion...?"
"What is it, Lucius?"
"Severus has been having an affair with a student of his, Jupiter Vrij. I have reason to believe that she is one of his greatest weaknesses."
"Can any of you confirm this?" Voldemort said, and two heads nodded. Voldemort seemed satisfied. "I am pleased, Lucius. I will send someone to fetch her. Aberidge!"
A hooded figure stepped forward and nodded smartly.
"Retrieve this Jupiter. Bring her to me."
"Why?"
Voldemort's eyes narrowed. He had a horrid temper for stupidity and defiance, but this one was an important insider, and much more faithful than Snape. "Because I command it!"
"Does she belong to you?"
"Yes! She does, in fact. Does she not, Vrij?" he said with a hideous smile. He looked at another Death Eater, who nodded emphatically. "She was given to me. I want to collect her. Now go!"
Chaos nodded sadly and Disapparated.
***
Severus Apparated as close to Hogwarts as was allowed and made a break for it. He could only hope he'd make it inside before anyone caught up with him. No sooner had he thought that than a hooded figure Apparated close to him. Severus tried to push himself to go faster.
Soon he noticed that the figure was walking towards Hogwarts almost leisurely. Obviously a trick to get him to slow down. Well, Snape wasn't about to let the opportunity to get a huge head start pass by. He sprinted all the way to the front doors of castle, brushing past a confused-looking girl, and rushed inside, and to Dumbledore's office, with a few shouted passwords on the way.
When he finally made his way up to Dumbledore's office, panting and heaving, Dumbledore sat him down in a chair and offered him a cup of tea, specially prepared for him. Snape didn't know how Dumbledore knew he was coming, but he was in no condition to worry about it anyway.
"Lucius said...Voldemort...I was going to die..." he gasped, but Dumbledore hushed him and pressed the tea into Snape's trembling fingers. He took a long sip, and sighed deeply.
"Now, Severus, tell me what happened," Dumbledore said quietly, once Snape seemed recovered enough to form sentences. Once the occasion had been recounted, Dumbledore gave the haggard man a sad, yet relieved look. "I guess this is the end of your spying days, young Severus."
Snape had never wanted to hear that phrase more in his life. And while he didn't feel like a 'young Severus' any more, he was immensely ready to leave the whole Voldemort business behind. He felt bad, knowing that he was the only inside source Dumbledore had, but he could hardly go back, could he? Not if he was going to be killed.
***
Jupiter lay on her bed, tired and depressed. She missed Severus, missed Draco. It was all her fault, too. She should never have gotten involved with Severus, never have told Draco. Now Severus would lose his job, and Draco would never speak to her again. That was something she was so good at, messing things up. She wondered if it wasn't too late to try and set things right...?
She decided she'd go find Chaos, since she really had no reason to be mad at him, and it would be easier to apologize. She got up and made her way downstairs and outside, without much trouble.
It was dusk, and the sky was misty and a little chill, but mostly nice. She stood on the steps for a moment, and breathed in the beautiful, cool country air. It smelled like rain, which cheered Jupiter a lot. If Chaos wasn't outside, she thought, it would be no big deal. She walked down the marble steps and stood in the wet grass, enjoying their cold moisture under her bare feet.
It was then that she looked up, and saw that a dark figure was hurtling towards the doors, and as he shoved past Jupiter, she saw who it was.
"Severus!" she cried, but he was gone down the hallway. She started back in after him, Chaos forgotten, but then she heard someone shout.
"Lady! Lady!" and her silver-haired friend approached her.
"Oh, hello Chaos!" she said. She supposed she could find Severus later, though her heart ached to see him again. She sighed and looked up at Chaos. "Look, I want to..."
"No, Lady. Do not speak. Come with me."
Jupiter was confused, but the boy had a death grip on her wrist and he was dragging her away from the school. She followed him, vaguely wondering why they were heading to the forest, and if he knew it was dangerous.
***
Chaos was furious. Lady belonged to HIM. Not to Voldemort. His Lady. HIS Lady. HIS! He rounded on Jupiter once the two of them were inside the forest. He grabbed her to him and fought internally.
"Master says...Master says..." he mumbled, looking around dodgily, "But I...Master says..."
Jupiter was confused, and more than a little scare, but she trusted Chaos insofar as to know he wouldn't harm her. Her bare feet were uncomfortable, standing on the sticks and twigs on the forest floor. She was just about to tell Chaos to let her go when Chaos turned and looked into her face. She froze, and looked into his good eye. She saw something there that horrified her beyond belief. It was something she'd never excepted to see in that crazy green eye...Lust. The violent, animalistic, male need to mark their territory, one way or another.
"My Lady," he growled in her face, teeth bared, "MY Lady!"
Jupiter opened her mouth and let out a yelp. She struggled to get away from Chaos, but the boy was a great deal stronger than her. Finally she threw herself away from him, and made a mad dash for the edge of the forest. Chaos ran quickly ahead of her and blocked her way. Desperately, she turned around and headed deeper into the forest, with Chaos running through the brush with ease behind her.
Jupiter could feel her chest begin to tighten as the asthma took hold, but she didn't stop. She could hear Chaos shouting, and once or twice she felt the touch of his fingertips on her back, spurring her on, faster and faster.
She wanted to scream, wanted to cry, but she didn't have the lung capacity. She couldn't keep going, not like this. It was a losing battle. She ran straight into a rock face. To high to climb, too wide to go around. Chaos had cornered a wheezing Jupiter, who was looking fast for a way out. She knew she couldn't run anymore, her asthma was killing her.
"Why do you run, Lady?"
"Chaos..." she said, and had to gasp for oxygen after every word, "Don't...do...this..."
Jupiter doubled over, breathing desperately, trying to keep her lungs from imploding. Then Chaos grabbed her, and spoke, his face not more than an inch away from hers.
"Dance with me, Lady."
***
Jupiter awoke, slowly.
The last thing she remembered was the sensation of pain as her clothing was torn from her by long, sharp-nailed fingers. Then her lungs finally gave up, and she passed out. Now here she was, naked and cut, probably from those same nails. She sat up and felt distinctly painful in her lower regions, which she found to be bleeding, also. She then noticed where she was. She looked around her, at a group of sinister-looking cloaks, draped over their anonymous owners. She recognized it immediately. It was a hated memory of her childhood. She stood up quickly, trying to retain dignity, even while undressed.
"Ah, Vrij," came the hissing, whispery voice that had haunted Jupiter's dreams as a child, "Jupiter, is it not?"
Jupiter, neither cowering in fear, nor bristling with rage, stood inside the circle of Death Eaters. She knew, had seen what happened to people who stood inside The Circle. And she was terrified out of her mind.
Then the Dark Lord spoke again, "Jupiter, I turned you away as a child, do you remember?"
Jupiter did not reply, but he knew she remembered. She remembered everything...
***
It was many years ago, and Jupiter was six. She was excited, she was about to be judged.
"Now Jupiter," her father said, cradling her on his lap, "I want you to remember, The Dark Lord Voldemort is going to come tonight. He is going to judge you, and tell you whether or not you are fit to be one of his. You want to be one of his, don't you?" he said, in an encouraging way.
Jupiter nodded enthusiastically. She hoped she was good enough, good enough to be like her parents and live up to her father's expectations. Her father had smiled and patted her tummy.
"If you are chosen tonight, Jupiter, I will be so proud of you!" her father cooed at her. She hugged him around his neck.
"He'll choose me tonight, father, I know he will!" she cried, and she jumped off her father's lap and hurried off to her room.
She'd had the servants clothe her in a dress as green as poison, and had them put her hair up in a french braid. She'd spent a good hour admiring herself in the mirror and tweaking her outfit before her mother called her downstairs. She bounded downstairs and into the kitchen, where her mother was standing. Her mother was in her ritual robes, and she smiled as Jupiter came down.
"I've gotten you something!" she said, smiling brightly. Jupiter's face lit up.
"What?"
Her mother produced a package from behind her back, and handed it to Jupiter. The little girl tore open the package and pulled out the present gleefully. "My own robes! Just like yours, with the hood and everything!" She hastily put them on, and then hugged her mother.
"You're so darling in those!" she said, and hugged her daughter. "Now, go in the living room. He'll be here any minute!"
Jupiter had been allowed to stay up late for the occasion, and it was nearly midnight when Voldemort Apparated into the living room. There was no bang, no puff of smoke, just a small pop, and the appearance of the Dark Lord.
"Is this the girl?" he'd asked her father. His voice sounded like a plague of locusts, like a hissing, scratching, forced noise. Her father nodded. "Hello, Jupiter," he said, and Jupiter gathered up her nerves.
"Hello, Master," she said, in just the manner she had been taught. Voldemort laughed and looked at her father.
"She is trained well, Hayredin. I confess I am impressed."
Hayredin smiled and gave a small bow. "Thank you, Master."
Voldemort lifted the girl up with a wave of his wand, and had a good look at her. She giggled once at the factshe was flying, but supressed it quickly. Voldemort peered into her eyes. She could feel those red orbs probing thourgh her head, into the back of her mind, and she did not turn away. After what seemed like an hour, Jupiter was set down, and Voldemort looked at her parents.
"She will not do. She can never be one of mine."
"Master," began her father, "Surely-"
"Do you accuse me of seeing incorrectly?" The Dark Lord asked in a menacing whisper.
"No, master!" her father cried, and fell to his knees. And without any more words, Voldemort disappeared. Jupiter had looked at her father, who gave her one look of total, utter disappointment, and left. Jupiter could feel the tears coming, could feel her tiny heart breaking. Her mother looked at her with a look of loss, but she gave Jupiter a kiss on the forehead, and then both her parents left the room.
Jupiter crawled miserably up onto the couch. He hadn't chosen her! He hadn't thought she was worthy! She began crying, now, she cried harder than she could remember ever having done before. She had disappointed her mother and father, and she knew, at that moment, the shame she brought to her family. She spent the rest of the night on the couch, crying, until she fell asleep. And she'd lived with that guilt ever since...always knew she was a failure, and that it was her fault she'd not been chosen. She was just wrong. She was broken, somehow. She-
"I see you do remember, Jupiter," said Voldemort, jerking her from her reverie, "You do. You were unfit. You were disappointing. You were unworthy!" he hissed, and Jupiter fought back the tears she hadn't cried since she was young, "You could never be, can never be one of us, one of mine."
Jupiter's shoulders shook silently, and she shut her eyes tight to stop herself crying. Nonetheless, a tear escaped the crush of her eyelids and slid down her cheek. She could feel the disdainful glares of the assemble rank on her, disapproving.
"Tears?" Voldemort said, mockingly, "You cry because of the dishonor you cause? What happened to the fiery little brat I saw so many years ago? You are not only unworthy, you are weak."
Jupiter, despite all her years of self-discipline in matters of emotion, despite her unwillingness to be made a fool of, broke out into a sob. She shuddered with the force of her tears. She had always known, always known it, that she was a disgrace and a fluke. But to hear it all said to her, by the very person she was brought up to love and revere, was too much. She dropped to her knees in grief.
Voldemort made a strange hissing noise, which she soon identified as laughter. It rasped and it wheezed in a horrible, tomb-dry sound of cruel mirth. And the moment he stopped this cacophony, his voice turned deep and rash.
"Crucio."