A/N: Here's a short little bonus scene for all the nice people who have reviewed and followed. Thank you so much!
*Start*
"Well, Belladonna?" demanded Father as I stood before him in his study, trembling like an aspen leaf in the wind. "I have sensed that you have been hiding something from me these few days. I will give you one last chance. What is it?"
I swallowed hard. Uh-oh. He knew. But how in the name of Merlin did he know? I had kept my Occlumency barriers up as usual during our communication sessions. Despite my hectic homework schedule, I still made it a point to practice mind blocking before bed.
Sardonic, cruel laughter rang out, reverberating around the room. "Do not lie to me, daughter. I know. I always know." Then, without warning, he reached out and seized a clump of my hair, jerking my head upwards and locking his scarlet eyes on mine. I let out a cry of mingled pain and shock as he hissed, "Legilimens!" Instantly, I felt my Occlumency barriers shatter into smithereens. Against my will, images began to swim to the forefront of my mind. Granger, whispering to me in our dormitory. Asking me to join their secret defense organisation. Me, replying that it was too risky. Abruptly, the flashbacks ceased and I found myself staring into Father's eyes, which were narrowed in fury.
"Why did you choose not to join? Why let go of such a spectacular opportunity to acquire more information about Potter, to learn more about his dueling techniques? Unless… maybe you are not true to our cause, my darling. I have sensed a reluctance to be a true Death Eater like Bellatrix was. You are lacking in zeal and passion, and I find that most disappointing. You, of course, know better than anyone else what happens to those who displease Lord Voldemort." He rose around and paced around me in circles, thinking. At last, the silence and the tension became too much for me. I foolishly blurted out, "It was only because I didn't want to associate with Mudbloods like Granger! I would never be disloyal to you, Father!"
"Lies!" he snarled, pasty face alight with anger. "Your real reason was that you were terrified of Dolores Umbridge! Admit it, you were! My only child, a girl with blood from the Gaunts and the Blacks, a coward!"
Despite the severity of the situation, I could not help but notice the irony of his last statement. The most paranoid wizard to ever have lived, accusing his child of being cowardly. He must have seen the flash of defiance in my eyes, though, for in the blink of an eye, he whipped out his wand and pointed it at me. All of a sudden, I felt as though my blood had been turned to lava. The boiling tide surged through my veins, engulfing my body and blinding me. Somewhere far away, there was a girl shrieking in agony, a sound that seemed to go on forever. It took a long time to realise that I was the one screaming.
At long last the torture ended. I lay on the icy floor, trembling from after shocks. My robes were drenched with sweat and badly torn from thrashing around. "Leave now," Father ordered, not even bothering to look at me. "Should you ever disappoint me again, I will not hesitate to give you to the werewolves. Maybe you will finally be useful—a pretty little girl like you may sway Fenrir Greyback to our side." I didn't need to be told twice. I quickly scrambled to my feet, but I was shaking so badly that I promptly collapsed again. Father's eyes flashed dangerously and terror coursed through me once again. Abandoning my pride for survival's sake, I crawled out of the room on all fours, tears stinging my eyes. Only when I was safely outside did I let them fall. Pain or humiliation? Probably both. One thing was certain, though—displeasing Father was not an option anymore.
*Finish*
