Tethered To the Story We Must Tell
Prologue
The sun had long descended beyond the horizon, when I felt it. My forearm seared with pain as my mark slowly appeared clearly where it had once been almost invisible. I know that he has returned, and I know that despite my efforts; I must go to him. I do not really have a choice, you know? I have to go back to him. To be honest, I'd hoped that he would have been gone for a while longer…If he returned then I knew I will have to return to him. I realize that I will have to go back before he breaks the imprisoned death eaters out of Azkaban, for he would realize I was not among them and thinks I betrayed him. It pains me to remember everything that happened that night. Because of the horrible memories, I tried to forget. Thirteen years it's been since I stood by his side and fought for pure-blood domination. It's also been thirteen years since I last saw her…since I abandoned her. My love for Bellatrix Lestrange…I cringe every time I say Lestrange. Rodolphus and I were even friends at Hogwarts, but I doubt he ever knew about us. I mean, no one would suspect that Bella and I were lovers, simply because not only were we both women, but we were also pure-bloods and it's somewhat programmed in your head as a child that same sex couples resulted in disownment. Bella and I together made a different kind of magic entirely. Despite all the time that has passed since we last laid eyes on each other, I can still feel her. Sometimes, I still try to concentrate on her magical presence, and I can feel how far she's gone. Azkaban had broken her, and I know it's partially my fault. I should have gotten her out of that shithole. We were supposed to runaway together before all this Harry Potter prophecy business. After Tom found out about the prophecy, he kept his death eaters busy, and a close eye on me In particular. Tom was a very clever and conniving man, he knew that because of my ancestry, I was nearly equal to him in skill and power. Tom practically kept a block on my magic and that's why I am slightly impressed. Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.
I guess you can say that Tom and I were pretty close. There are many parts to my story that explain how I ended up where I am today. How I even became involved with Tom Riddle in the first place. To be honest, I did not actually have a choice in the matter. This was my fate before I was actually even born. I believe that my lack of independence is what really drove Bella mad. After all we had been through, and no matter how hard I tried to fight him, Tom controlled me. I had no say so in the situation, and no matter what I did to fight his possession; the darkness consumed me. But that happens in a much later part of the story.
This is the kind of story that for you to truly understand how everything came to be, you would have to start at the very beginning. The sorting ceremony is where this story begins, since this is where I changed. I am by no means considered a good person and I never pretended to be. If people truly looked at the signs they would know that I'm practically an open book, well at least that's what Bella always told me. This story is made from my memories, and a few others that I have gathered over the years. I am sure it is not as legendary as Harry Potter's story, but because everyone always knows the protagonists' side to a story, I believe that a different view is necessary in spite of the hero's story.
My name is Nina Russo and this is my life story (well at least the important parts) up until now and beyond.