-1Chapter 2: Those Three B's

The masked man dragged Lydia harshly out of the bathroom. Lydia struggled but honestly wasn't all that frightened. Her best friend was a six hundred year old ghost. She'd faced all kinds of things that would be called frightening by her real-world friends, monsters, skeletons, tap-dancing spiders. This was nothing.

But she couldn't hide a pained gasp when she saw the bodies of her dad and stepmother. Even though she knew she could still see them, it didn't make it any easier knowing that they had been killed by whoever these creeps were.

The man dragging her finally brought her before a tall, shrouded man. He pushed her down hard onto her knees. "Found another, Master, a muggle wench who thought she could hide from you."

The cloaked figure lowered his hood to reveal a snowy-white face. His flashing blood-red eyes regarded Lydia's strong expression. "I see,"

Lydia protested, "I wasn't hiding! It's a ladies' room, you know with a toilet meant for performing obligatory body movements!"

The red-eyed man chuckled evilly, "I also see you do not fear me. Although you can obviously figure out what is going to happen to you."

"Why should I be afraid of a snake?" she referred to his snake-slit nose and slit eyes.

Beetlejuice, having indeed found another mirror to watch her from, silently cheered. Inwardly, he was very worried for her. He knew, technically, he had nothing to worry about. Even if something happened to her, the worst that could happen would be she'd end up a permanent Neither-World resident. She practically lived there anyway. But, he liked her as she was, alive.

The snake-man's face contorted into a sneer, "You really don't fear me, how…refreshing." he took out his wand. "Let's see how loud you scream," he jabbed the wand at her, "CRUCIO!!"

Pain flooded her veins and muscles but she simply glared up at the man. "Is that supposed to hurt? I've felt worse!"

The evil man grit his teeth and put more power into the curse. "Worse! How's that for worse!" He was disconcerted when she still merely glowered at him. "Scream! SCREAM!"

Beetlejuice was the only one who knew that Lydia was indeed in pain. He could feel it himself. But until she called his name three times, there was nothing he could do, except watch.

"SCREAM!!" The Snake-Man demanded once more.

But Lydia would not give him that satisfaction. "You're nothing but a bully, preying on the fear and pain of others! But I am not afraid of you! Like I said, I've felt worse pain. I've seen scarier things than you could even dream about!"

Voldemort grit his teeth in anger, "You sure have a big mouth for someone who is about to die!" he lifted his wand of yew for the casting. "Anything else to say before you meet your maker?"

Now was the time, she decided, "You bet I do! Though I know I should be wary,"

The Dark Lord was taken aback. Strange words.

"Still venture something scary! Ghostly hauntings I turn loose."

Now the Death Eaters were getting wary themselves. A strange wind was blowing and the place had grown awful dark. Maybe this girl wasn't a muggle after all. Maybe they were threatening a goddess or something.

The ghoul wanted to cry out for joy as he heard the finish of that old chant of hers.

"Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! BEETLEJUICE!!"

And he did just that. He cackled deviously from his mirror just before preparing to enter the real world, "IT'S SHOW TIME!!"

AN: Okay, short, and not very good at writing torture scenes. But here is Beetlejuice! Next chapter is gonna be a funny one. Want a hint? Picture Voldemort in a spandex Calypso outfit.