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Challenges listed at the bottom.
Word Count - 558
The Consequences of Duty
He always saw his mother as fearless, but as she stares at him kneeling on the floor, he sees the mask fall away.
Narcissa could only watch as her son was forced to his knees in the middle of the room. She was being held by her oldest sister, forced to watch as her son took the punishment for her actions.
She'd never expected to be in this situation. She'd been so sure that if Potter just had the chance, he would be able to bring an end to the war that threatened them all.
Narcissa closed her eyes, the shame overwhelming her. How had she not thought of the consequences of her lies? She'd always done her duty, her duty to her parents, to her husband, to the Dark Lord. Why, when she'd done her duty to her son, had she not realised that she was sentencing them both to torture and possibly death?
Draco writhed under the Dark Lords wand, though the Dark Lord wasn't watching him. His eyes were on Narcissa, she could feel his burning gaze on her skin.
Her son's screaming made her want to beg, to plead, to lay her own body over his and take the pain for him. Instead she was forced silent and still.
Bellatrix's cackle echoed in her ears.
How could her sister take so much pleasure from her pain, from her nephew's pain?
"You see what happens to those who betray me, Narcissa?"
She nodded silently, unable to look at the red eyed demon who was torturing her son for her wrongs.
"I am a merciful Lord," he told her, releasing Draco from the spell. "I won't force you to watch him in pain any longer."
She grasped the meaning behind his words moments before he uttered the killing curse.
"NO!" she screamed, breaking the silencing spell cast on her. "NO!"
She fought Bellatrix, falling to the floor. Keen to get to her son, she crawled across the floor, holding him in her arms as soon as she got to him. She cradled him, rocking him back and forth, the loss debilitating.
"Put her in the cells."
Bellatrix pulled her away from Draco's limp body, and though she kicked and she screamed, Bellatrix dragged her to the cells as though she were nothing but a ragdoll.
…
Time had no meaning. She wasn't offered food or water, but she wanted neither anyway. Death was the only escape from the pain she was feeling.
The worst torture spells in the world couldn't compare to this pain.
Bellatrix visited her after a time, her eyes gleaming in the semi darkness.
"Kill me," Narcissa pleaded. "Please, Bella. Have mercy."
"Begging, Narcissa? Have you no pride?"
"I have nothing," Narcissa replied. "I've lost everything."
"Through no fault but your own," Bellatrix snarled. "What on earth were you thinking? Lying to the Dark Lord?"
"I just wanted my son," Narcissa sobbed.
"And look where that got him."
"You think I don't know that?" Narcissa screamed. "You think I don't know what I've done, what I've caused?"
Bellatrix stared at her for a moment. "You ask for mercy sister. This is my mercy."
The last words Narcissa heard were "Avada Kedavra."
The last sight she saw was green light flashing from her sister's wand.
The last thought in her mind was, 'Thank you.'
Written for;
The Brand's War - Emma Frost - Word Set - Duty / Keen / Loss / Trait - Fearless / Character - Narcissa Malfoy.
Character Appreciation - 12. Oldest Child
Emy's Emporium - 9. Write about someone losing everything.
Showtime - 21. Shame
Cooking Corner - Apple - Draco Malfoy
Insane House - 518. Screaming