Disclaimer: None of the characters in Harry Potter are mine. They belong to J.K. Rowling, and as I'm sitting at a desk writing fanfiction, I don't believe I'm a wealthy millionaire. I'm also NOT making money from this, as if that wasn't already obvious. ;-)
Dinner had not been pleasant. I'd been forced to eat my cold noodle soup and stale bread, while still chained to the wall, with Mrs. Malfoy watching my every move. When I'd gotten half way through and felt like chucking it all up, I told her so, but she insisted that I finish. After struggling to down the rest of the contents in the bowl, I sat for a few seconds before turning my head and having all the contents spill out next to me on the stone ground. After receiving a glare and listening to her mutter about weak half bloods, the mess was cleaned up with a flick of her wand. She had made sure that I knew I wasn't getting anything else for the night.
Our 'chat' had been even more unpleasant. It turned out that Voldemort himself would be staying here in the manor for the time being, rather soon, after he accomplished gathering several more of his followers. Malfoy Manor was more than big enough to house both the followers and their lord. For I now knew that was what they fashioned themselves: Lord Voldemort's followers were called Death Eaters. Unfortunately, I'd still be in their company for as long as they could confidently get away with it. It also seemed that the Ministry has not a clue that the Death Eaters are once again rallying against their esteemed dark lord, or that not even Dumbledore was aware of the return. After making certain I understood I wasn't going anywhere anytime soon, Mrs. Malfoy excused herself, announcing she'd be back shortly.
It just didn't make sense. Surely, someone would have noticed that I'd been missing. Even the Dursleys, as dense as they are, would have realized if I'd disappeared from their care for a whole week. There'd be no one around to clean after them or make their dinner.
Perhaps, Mrs. Malfoy had been exaggerating the exact amount of time I'd actually been there. But what would the point in that have been? No, the truth was that I'd been missing from the Dursleys for a week and no one cared enough to bother finding me.
The worst part is not being able to contact anyone. But, even if I could, who would I contact? What would I say? I'm sure they'd all believe that I was being held in Malfoy Manor as Voldemort's, a being that is supposedly dead, bloody prisoner. No, there was nothing I could do. I'd just have to wait for my chance to run and risk any consequences. Surely, I was going to die at my captor's hand anyway.
Mrs. Malfoy strolled through the door with her wand drawn. She conjured a stool that faced me and sat down upon it. "Now, you're going to listen closely, because these instructions come directly from the Dark Lord." She paused to make sure I was paying attention. Despite the fact that I didn't want to hear anything from or about Voldemort, I can't deny that she'd captured my attention. "As I've mentioned, you're going to undergo a bit of training. I can honestly say that I'm not the best instructor for you, but as the Dark Lord is very busy, he can't teach you himself. Anyone one else that would be better qualified is--" she paused again, grasping for the perfect word, "--well, they're detained. So, unfortunately for the both of us, we're stuck with each other."
My eyebrows creased together as I frowned. Well, there was nothing I could do but agree, so I forced a nod.
"I'll be teaching you how to shield your mind from anyone who may try to break in." I raised an eyebrow. People could break into my mind? I saw her eyes twitch, probably in an attempt to keep from rolling them. "Surely, you've wondered how Dumbledore seemingly always knows what you've been up to or what you're thinking?" She waited for my nod before continuing, "He did the same when I was at Hogwarts. He is a master in the art of Legilimency. This means that with the proper eye-to-eye contact, he can intrude or even influence your thoughts, memories, and feelings. As I said, I'll be teaching you how to shield yourself, by teaching you Occlumency." She stopped to let me take in this information. "While I'm very gifted in Occlumency, I'm a bit weaker in Legilimency, but if I do my job properly, it shouldn't matter. As you have no training, it is very easy to enter your mind, even if I'm not a master Legilimens."
Her words hit me funny and it was only then that I realized that since I can remember her coming down here, I'd been making direct eye contact. I quickly turned my head to hear a very silent laugh. "Well, perhaps you aren't as thick as I originally thought. At least you caught that hint." I turned back with a frown, still avoiding meeting her eyes, but I could just see a smile lighting her face.
Her smile left as quickly as it had appeared. "You must understand the importance of learning Occlumency. If you haven't learned in the time provided, the Dark Lord will be most displeased, and that doesn't mean anything good for either of us. And if I get punished for you being an imbecile, you'll find yourself at the end of my wand." Her voice was strained, as if saying all of this was taking a lot out of her, but I could tell she was being completely serious. I swallowed nervously.
"I don't understand. Who am I trying to keep from my mind? Surely, it wouldn't do for me to keep things from Voldemort?"
She flinched slightly before hissing back, "Don't say his name. You'll get yourself into a large mess with the Death Eaters if you go around saying V-Vo- well, just refer to him as the Dark Lord. He won't have it any other way."
I shook my head, "Dumbledore calls him Voldemo--"
"Yes! Exactly, Dumbledore! He's the one I'm teaching you to protect yourself from!" She had jumped off the stool and was waving her arms about frantically. I shrank back as far as the wall and chains would allow. She had a slightly crazed look in her eyes.
She sat back down and took a few calming breaths to compose herself. "Dumbledore is foolish, Potter. He's a senile muggle loving fool who is nearing the end of his days and is already past any usefulness he may have once had."
I glared. "HE IS NOT! He knows that your crackpot Voldemort's ideals are biased as hell! You all sit worshipping a man who wants to destroy half the wizarding world! You're stupid for following him and in the end you'll--"
She had jumped off the stool raising her wand, the crazed look upon her face, and said, "Silencio!"
I was going to say they'd all end up in Azkaban or dead. Voldemort was only leading to their destruction.
She drew in a few inches from my face, her arms pinning mine against the wall, her mouth close to my ear. Her wand was digging into my left arm as she held it in her right.
"If you know what is good for you, you'll stop praising Dumbledore, and you'll never badmouth the Dark Lord again!" she whispered furiously. She drew back enough to meet my eyes, and the intense look I saw there was enough to keep my interest without making me turn away. She hadn't loosened her hold on me, and despite her smallish stature, she was very strong.
"You were right, you don't understand," she whispered, her voice not as crazed as it had been seconds before. "But not everyone follows the Dark Lord for his ideals. He has ways of gathering followers..." She stopped, realizing that she was probably telling me more than she should.
She let go of my arms and stood, slowly backing up until she was sitting on the stool once more. "In your position, it isn't wise to say a word against the Dark Lord. He is in charge once more, his word is law, and he always knows best." I watched her swallow. She looked toward the doorway as if expecting Voldemort to appear any minute. Turning back to me she said, "He's decided to keep you alive. You're useful to him, Potter, and if I were you, I'd take full advantage of the fact that you're still alive. He's offed people more important than you for lesser things than speaking against him - never mind that you've thwarted him in the past."
She chewed on her lip slightly, and it was then that I realized that she might be human after all. She was clearly nervous, or worried, or both. I have no idea the reason, but it was clear she had feelings, and she wasn't just another self-absorbed prissy. I just wondered how long it'd be before she resumed being a Malfoy.
She waved her wand, and I knew that I could speak once again, but she had started before I could say anything.
"It may just be my opinion, but I'd rather be alive than a dead hero," she said in a soft voice, though I think she was talking more to herself than to me.
I tilted my head a bit before replying, "I won't betray my friends or Dumbledore. I'd rather be dead than betray their trust."
She shook her head, "That's what you don't understand. Your friends are already in danger. They'll be lucky to survive any and all upcoming battles - for that is what surely lies in the future once it is common knowledge that the Dark Lord has returned - and you can't control it." She closed her eyes, rubbed her forehead before bringing it nearer her mouth, and continued speaking through her hand, "If you refuse the Dark Lord, he'll find ways to hurt you. They'll be dead and you'll soon follow. It seems betrayal may be inevitable."
She rested her arms on top of her legs and held her head in her hands, repeating, "Betrayal is inevitable." I knew at that point she was no longer talking to me.
"W-Why do you follow him, then? Why are you a Death Eater?" She drew her head up sharply. Her gaze was intense, sharp but slightly unfocused, as she drew up the left sleeve of her robe. She shoved her arm toward my face, but I couldn't see anything, and my confusion must have shown.
"I bare no mark. I'm not a Death Eater, at least, not in an official sense. Not all the followers are marked, because there has to be those that do the bidding without arousing clear evidence. As for why I follow him, I can hardly see where that would be any of your business!"
I took in what she was saying, but nearly laughed toward the end. Mrs. Malfoy had returned, replacing the fidgety woman from a moment before. Wonderful.
A thought occurred to me, why would she care about my friends being dead? I voiced my question and she looked at me for two seconds before swiftly replying, "Don't be silly. Why on earth would I care about a bunch of mudbloods and blood traitors? I was just telling you that hurting your friends needs not to be a concern. You're stuck in this position and you'll do more harm to them fighting it than you'll do good."
She stopped as if a sudden thought had just occurred to her before saying, "Actually, that is a proper reason to apply yourself to our lessons. If Dumbledore knows about you switching sides, he'll surely have told your friends, and the Ministry. Not only will you be ostracized by your peers, but you'll be an outlaw, on the run at the mere age of thirteen."
"I'm not switching sides! And Dumbledore would know, h-he'd see through it! He'd know I was forced, that I'd never betray them!"
"For the last time, you have no choice!" The crazed look appeared once more, followed by a devious smirk, "And if your precious Dumbledore cares so bloody much about you, where is he? Why isn't he looking for you? Surely it has been reported that you've gone missing by now, no? Ha." I glared again, realizing this was becoming a habit, as she went on, "No, I think the best solution would be to simply follow instruction. Best to keep any news to yourself, yeah? Besides, what if what he finds leaves him disappointed in you? You wouldn't want that would you?"
I shook my head. But he'd see through it. He'd know I'd been forced. He'd see this! He'd have to... wouldn't he? But I couldn't let her beat me down that quickly, even if she did have me beginning to doubt. So I said the first thing that came to mind, "My godfather was an outlaw. I'm sure you've heard of him, Sirius Black."
She gave me a very peculiar look.
"Enough of this. I've come to start your lessons and that is what I intend to do." I looked up and she seized her chance. Without much of a warning, she raised her wand and said, "Legilimens!"
Mrs. Malfoy is a relentless bitch. There, I've said it.
We practiced Occulmency for hours last night. She told me that in order to shield my thoughts it was important that I first clear my mind. Yes, that was an easy task, with all the questions running through my head. The second tip she gave me was to be calm and try to stay clear of emotion, which is much easier said than done. Of course, then she told me that it'd be much easier if I had my wand and was able to use that to expel her, but that she wasn't nearly stupid enough to give it to me.
She repeatedly broke into my mind, stealing glimpses of moments I'd rather no one had ever seen, least of all her. Most, nearly all, of these memories consisted of someone trying and usually succeeding in bullying me. Various strings of memories involving Uncle Vernon, Dudley, Piers, or anyone else from my old school often gained a cruel laugh.
There were a few memories, mostly involving my old cupboard and Uncle Vernon, where she'd pause and stare at me. She'd study me for a few seconds, as if she was considering consoling me or something, and then her face would harden. She never said anything about it.
Perhaps the memories I didn't want her seeing above all others were the ones which had people she knew. The ones involving Voldemort or Quirrell, or Tom Riddle, Snape, and the worst, Draco. Something resembling a proud smile lit her face anytime she saw her son.
Finally, after hours of yelling, cursing, more yelling, bad memories, and more cursing, she finally decided it was much too late to continue trying to deal with a brat that refused to learn. After all, she'd 'be seeing you bright and early tomorrow'.
I can hardly wait. I reckon I've been awake for awhile now, seeing as trying to sleep against rough stone in a sitting position is hardly possible. I might have gotten a few minutes worth of sleep before waking myself up again. I'm utterly exhausted, hungry, and in pain, and the devil himself, conveniently dressed in prim-and-proper drag is on the way to deliver more torture.
As this thought occurs the door slams and a few moments pass before Mrs. Malfoy walks in. Taking out her wand, and without a word to me, she waves it and the chains holding my left arm in place disappear. My eyebrows shoot up.
"Incarcerous!" I watched, my mouth agape and slightly horrified as ropes shot from her wand and wrapped tightly around my body.
Another flick and the chain on my right arm disappeared. I slowly stood up. I stuggled against the rope, but I wasn't able to loosen it, so I decided to test my luck. I ran for it.
Well, I tried. I got about half a foot before tumbling and falling flat on my face against the hard ground.
Crack!
I could feel blood pooling down from my nose and lip. I just broke my nose. A set of hands grabbed my back and dragged me to my feet, spinning me around to face a very angry Narcissa Malfoy.
"You're an idiot, boy." Another wave and the bleeding has stopped, as I hear her mutter something about not staining the rugs, but she hasn't bothered to heal my nose. She holds on firmly to the ropes with her left hand, using her right hand to tuck her wand back into her cloak, before grabbing on with boths hands and dragging my body.
"You could of just floaded be, you doe!" She smirked at my hard-to-understand sentence.
"Why ever would I do that? Then I wouldn't have the pleasure of watching your head crash against walls as we take a stroll through the manor!"
Forget what I said earlier. She is a cold, relentless, sadistic bitch.
A/N: Ok, there is the latest chapter. Hopefully it is satisfying. I was going to end it with the "Legilimens" break, but decided a little more would be useful in getting him out of the dungeon lock-up that he's been in. And, I'm aware that Harry very rarely curses and it is OOC, but then, it is rather AU anyway. However, if it's a big problem, just let me know. I'll try to work on it.. it's a bad habit of mine. :-/
Oh, and "You could of just floaded be, you doe!" translates into "You could of just floated me, you know!" I was looking over OotP when Neville's nose was broke and saw that J.K. changed most of the t's to d's, the kn's to d's, and the m's to b's.
Thanks for reading!