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 fan fiction, I don't believe I'm a wealthy millionaire. I'm also NOT making money from this, as if that wasn't already obvious. ;-)
A/N: As this is an AU story, I don't think it needs to be said that some people may appear OOC. However, I've been trying to keep them all within the realms of being believable. With that said, I pushed it on this one.. Harry is now officially way OOC.
The dark haired woman had just reached the man with whom she'd be momentarily united with in marriage. Her arm latched through his. He was tall, dark haired, and looked simply delighted. He turned to watch her with sheer adoration written in his eyes. She didn't meet his face or share his expression, but it didn't stop her from embracing her fate as his new wife. Mrs. Bellatrix Lestrange, wife to Rodolphus Lestrange.
"Better... again."
I had a few seconds to brace myself before I tried to break into her mind once more.
"Legilimens!"
Cloaked and bowing, the woman was instructed to lower her left sleeve. She was finally being bestowed the honor of receiving the Dark Mark. She held out her arm, which was taken by a man with long spider-like fingers, and within seconds she was biting her lip to keep from crying out. Pain was racing through her proffered arm, but she refused to flinch or cry out; she would not shame herself while being granted such an honor. The pain faded and she studied the new burning black tattoo-like snake and skull imprinted on her flesh. Appreciation lit her eyes as she drew it close to her lips and softly kissed the mark, cherishing it, before awaiting instruction from her lord. She'd not fail him.
"Good, Potter, you held onto that one longer. You still need to work on sneaking in unnoticed. If you'd done that silently, I'd have known you were there within seconds."
I beamed. We'd been at this for nearly a week now, but I was making enough progress each day that she wasn't cursing me for every failure.
Bellatrix looked around the room, confused, "Where's Cissy?"
"In the bath, I think." I walked over and sat on the bed, knowing our lesson was done for now. It'd been slightly over a week since Mrs. Malfoy had broken into my mind and found out why her husband was still being punished. She hadn't uttered more than a few words to me since, avoiding my gaze, and avoiding my presence when it was possible.
"In the bath? In the bloody bath? Are you kidding me?" She stormed over to the bathroom door and wrenched it open, eliciting a high scream from her sister. "In the bath again? Honestly, Narcissa! Get out! Out now!"
I stifled a laugh as I heard Mrs. Malfoy shout out, "Bella! Get out! What are you doing in here? I'm not -- Hey! Bellatrix!"
Just a few minutes later, Mrs. Malfoy was being yanked out from the room. Bellatrix had dug her nails into her sister's shoulder, while Mrs. Malfoy was shouting curse words and protesting the whole way. Her hair was splashing about, water dripping off her body, the black bathrobe that had been flung on her body barely secured. The laughter I'd been trying to contain turned into nervous chuckles as she was thrown by her sister onto the bed next to me.
I quickly turned my head, my cheeks burning red with embarrassment. Fortunately, as had become habit when they were together, they temporarily forgot I existed. I turned an eye to watch their argument, as I was telling myself, but also to see if perhaps the bathrobe had slipped off a little further.
I can't believe I just thought that.
"I can't believe you were taking another bath!" Bellatrix's arms were flinging about wildly as she yelled. "That's the third damned bath you've taken today… I think you've achieved cleanliness!"
"Leave me alone, Bellatrix. I'll do whatever I damned well like in my own home!" She had drawn her bathrobe tighter as she spoke and I felt a second of disappointment.
Stop, just stop!
Well, she does look--
She's older than your own mother!
Shaking my head, I began listening in on their argument once more. "-- your house, but the Dark Lord has ordered you to make sure Potter learns Occlumency. So far, I'm the one teaching him while you sit and pout in the tub three and four times a day!"
"Oh, shove off, Bellatrix! 'The Dark Lord has ordered you' … do you think I don't know that? You're the one who told me I was being a dolt and took over lessons, so don't whine that you have to take up my work!" She mumbled to herself about not understanding how Legilimency lessons would help me learn Occlumency anyway but her sister had heard.
Bellatrix's mouth had dropped open. "You dare -- I can't believe it! Narcissa!" She began shrieking and pulling at her hair. "I can't -- arrhhh! You're a complete moron at times, you know that right?"
Mrs. Malfoy narrowed her eyes, "Oh, yes, you've always made that quite clear. Yet, you're the one who was stupid enough to get caught torturing aurors and got sentenced to Azkaban for life!"
I could feel delight swimming through my own eyes. The sisters often got into little spats, but this was by far the most interesting they'd had yet.
Bellatrix had stopped shrieking now. The atmosphere in the room changed into something threatening as the lit candle flames whipped around dangerously. She got right in her sister's face and hissed, "If you ever say anything like that again, your husband and son will only be able to communicate with you while standing over your tombstone."
My eyes widened as I took in the meaning of her threat. Was she really threatening to kill off her own sister? My respect for Mrs. Malfoy grew as I noticed she hadn't even flinched.
Whatever would have happened next was interrupted by a man clearing his throat from the doorway. He was the same man from Bellatrix's memory. Her husband was now gaunt and thin, very much like his own wife. Bellatrix straightened herself up and crossed her arms.
Mrs. Malfoy shrieked. "Really, Rodolphus, knock will you? I'm hardly decent!" She backed up on the bed, pulling in her legs tightly and folding her arms across her chest, trying to keep the bathrobe tight around her body.
He had closed the door behind him and joined us at the bed. He gave me a nasty look before turning back to them. "Yes, I see it bothers you a great deal. How long have you been 'indecent' around Potter, then?" His voice was deeper than I expected, but just as raspy.
Her eyes traveled over to where I was standing and back to Rodolphus. "He's just a boy."
Rodolphus smirked. "Oh, yes, forgive me. I forgot that thirteen year old boys would never find a woman covered in a flimsy bathrobe -- thought-provoking."
I felt my face flush. "I - I mean -- I wasn't," I cleared my throat nervously and began again, "I wasn't thinking anything of the sort!" I could feel all their eyes on me now and my cheeks burned as I looked at the ground.
"Enough," Bellatrix shouted. She rounded on her husband before spitting out, "What do you want?"
He watched her for a few moments. Clearly, this wasn't going how he had wanted it to go. "The Dark Lord wishes to speak with you. Just you." He finished with a scowl but said nothing more. He simply looked at his wife expectantly, perhaps waiting to be thanked, before resigning himself to the fact that it was too much to hope for. Giving up, he spun around and left the room without another word.
Bellatrix glared at her sister before turning to me, "When I return, we're going to continue on your lessons." She turned and left, locking us both in before she disappeared. I had learned over the week that Mrs. Malfoy wouldn't dare argue Voldemort's word… meaning once we were locked in, she wouldn't attempt to get out.
She got up and started walking back into the bathroom.
"What are you doing?"
She turned and said, "Finishing my bath." She had started to walk in again.
"Wait!" I had run the small space from my place near the bed to the bathroom door.
She turned slowly with an impatient look on her face. "Yes?"
"Why are you bloody avoiding me? I know you saw - you saw," I stopped and screamed out, frustrated. "Look, you saw what your husband did to me and you've been avoiding me ever since. Maybe Bellatrix thinks you're taking advantage of her or being lazy, whatever, but I know why you keep disappearing!"
"And?"
"So stop! I didn't do anything! You can't blame me for something like that…" I looked at her desperately trying to let her know that what she was doing wasn't fair. If anything, I should be avoiding her.
"I need to finish my bath." She turned again.
"No you goddamn don't, Narcissa!" She turned once more with a look of pure outrage. I knew what she was thinking. How dare that little good for nothing half-blood speak to me that way or Who does he think he is, speaking to his better like that? Or maybe, she was just shocked that I dared yell at her, ordering her using her first name when she was clearly my elder.
She walked closer to me and raised her arm to slap me across the face. However, I still had pretty quick reflexes and I sensed what she was going to do before she did it. I grabbed her arm in my hand and quickly twisted it behind her back. Shocked that I had even attempted to stop her, she didn't have time to block my attempt to grab her wand, which I had seen sticking out of her bathrobe breast pocket.
I stood, forcing her arm behind her back with my right hand, my left holding her own wand against her temple.
"How dare you--"
"Shut up! Listen to me, because I think at the moment that I've got more control of the situation here… you're going to shut the hell up and start walking over to the bed."
What the hell do I do now?
She hadn't moved an inch. "MOVE!"
She walked slowly and I followed, still with the wand raised and her arm wrapped behind her. We reached the bed and I sat us both down.
"What are you going to --?"
"SHUT THE HELL UP! JUST SHUT UP!" I had thrown her arm away from me. She had slowly begun inching back on the bed. "Don't move!" She stopped and I walked around the four-post until I was standing between it and her exit. If she tried to escape now I'd be able to catch her. Honestly, I was a bit shocked that she wasn't putting up more of a fight. I was only thirteen and she was a full grown witch. Surely she could overpower me if she tried?
I studied her face. For the first time since we'd been before the Dark - Voldemort, she looked worried and even frightened. I wasn't sure what I was going to do. It was unfair that she was treating me as if I'd raped someone, as if I had forced myself on someone like her husband had done to me. And to be honest, the past week had been horrible. Before, even if she was demeaning me, she had at least been speaking with me. Now, she avoided my presence as much as possible and I was stuck with her crazy sister. She'd even taken to sleeping through my lessons with Bellatrix, when she wasn't in the bath, so that she was awake and could avoid me while I slept.
"Going to take revenge?"
My brows furrowed in confusion. "What? What are you on about?"
I looked her over and realized her bathrobe had loosened. It must have happened when I grabbed for her wand. If I moved the right - stop it!
She followed my gaze to her chest. This only seemed to confirm whatever fear was running throughout her mind. "Are you going to take revenge on me for what my husband did to you?"
What!? Did she honestly think I was going to-
"What? No!" She gave me a disbelieving look.
Her voice had lost its steel and was very soft as she spoke, "You could of course. The Dark Lord would allow it… After all, I owe you." She stopped and lowered her head. "I've been ordered to give you anything you want so long as you remain here, don't contact anyone, and continue with your lessons." My eyes widened as I took this information in.
"That doesn't mean I'd take advantage of you! I'd never do that! I respect you too much to --" I stopped. What had I just said? I respected her? I lowered the wand and shook my head, trying to clear away my own confusion.
"You respect me?" She stared incredulously at me. Here it comes; she was going to start taunting me, going on about the fact that she deserved respect as a pureblood. The fact that she'd fallen in the Dark Lord's grace wouldn't matter now. She was a pureblood, a Malfoy, and damn anyone who had the nerve to think she wasn't above them.
"You respect me?" she repeated. I nodded. There was no point in denying it now. What she said next took me completely by surprise. "Why?" I looked up. "How could you possibly? I've been nothing but nasty to you since the moment you arrived in my care. My husband raped you! And you still respect me?"
I met her eyes. "Yes," I stated evenly. It was then I realized exactly why I respected her. Keeping my voice low, I tried to explain, "I respect the fact that you stay here out of loyalty to your family, not the Dark Lord. I also respect the fact that you can stand up to your sister… you couldn't when you were younger could you?" I stopped and tossed her wand back to her. "I won't lie. You've treated me horribly since I've been here, and I won't even start on your husband, but I've grown--" I sighed. "I've grown fond of you, I suppose. You're horrible to me, but you're the only person I see anymore, besides your batty sister. You're the only person I've got left…" I trailed off miserably, realizing the truth of that statement.
We sat in silence. She had once again pulled her bathrobe tightly around her body. Beginning to relax, she stretched her legs out and idly started running her fingers through her still-damp hair.
"Did you enjoy it?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Erm, enjoy what exactly?"
"Casting an Unforgivable? I've never cast one under the influence of another... I wasn't even sure it was possible. But apparently you wanted to --" she turned her head and smiled seductively, "you wanted to hurt me." I gulped.
"I - err - what?" The smile still lingered on her face. "I - yeah, I did. I've wanted to since I woke up here. I might have admitted to holding respect for you, but quite honestly, you're a horrible bitch!" As I spoke the words, I was wishing I hadn't given up hold of her wand just yet. In fact, it was a horrible idea to give her wand back at all. What the hell was I thinking?
Only of what, exactly, was hidden under that bathrobe.
I felt myself blush and looked up to catch her eye. I was amazed to find that she wasn't pointing her wand in my face. She looked amused, which made her look strikingly like a better looking blonde version of Bellatrix. "I've been called worse, but my comeback is always the same: I had a great role-model growing up." I felt myself cracking a grin.
"Really, though, did you enjoy it?"
I shrugged. "It was indescribable. I felt, great, like I'd never have any other thoughts or worries. And then this amazing rush of power surged through me and I felt so in control... and so out of control. I... liked it, yeah."
"Would you use the curse again if you could?"
I nodded vigorously. She gave me a knowing look, one that clearly meant she knew exactly who I'd cast it on. She turned away now and the silence resumed.
"I wasn't avoiding you because I was disgusted with you... I was disgusted that I had married a man," I turned to watch her. She'd said it so quietly I thought I had imagined it. Her gaze burned with a fiery hate as she stared off at the desk. I felt certain it might burst into flames at any moment. "That I had not only married that man, but that I had dared love him. I couldn't stand to be around you without the images surfacing in my head. I still can't..."
"And you think I can?" I spit it out at her harshly, contemplating actually spitting. I was stupid to think she might have actually given a damn. Of course she was only concerned with herself.
"Poor Cissy! She has to face the truth that her husband is a fucking SCUMBAG! Oh no, little perfect Narcissa has to live with images of her husband disgracing her!"
She had lost her smile, but I didn't care. I was seething. I stood up off the bed and began pacing.
"I didn't mean --"
"Look, I don't care what you meant. You've made it quite clear exactly what you meant. So, let me make it clear to you what I'm thinking right now. I'm thinking you need to piss off!"
She blinked. Pure shock consumed her whole face, which didn't suit her, as she was normally cool and confident, completely sure of everything around her. She was usually in control.
Oh, how she had fallen.
"What, come on! I'm waiting!" She glanced at me, confused. "'How dare you speak to me that way!' Let's hear it, then!"
The door bursting open interrupted any comeback she may have yelled at me. I spun around to see Rodolphus restraining - anger washed over me as I met the eyes of Lucius Malfoy.
"Let me go, Rodolphus! I'll kill him! Do you hear me Potter? I'm going to kill you for lying to the Dark Lord. You got me locked up and tortured for a week!"
Boohoo. Gee, that doesn't sound familiar or anything…
I felt a pair of soft hands enclosing my wrists. I quickly turned again, knocking into Narcissa and causing her to fall, but not before I had once again swiped her wand. I leveled it at the pair across the room. Rodolphus laughed and let go of Malfoy. That was all I needed: remembering that Voldemort told me I'd need to want to cause harm for the curse to work, I mustered as much hate and need as I possibly could and cast the curse.
"Crucio!"
The overwhelming sense of power rushed through me again. This time, however, I was completely in control of my own motives... and I wanted nothing more than to cause Lucius Malfoy pain. I could hear him hollering, but his yells only exhilarated me. I laughed aloud as I saw him writhing below me, his screams growing louder and becoming more frequent.
"Expelliarmus!"
I whirled around to see Narcissa's wand fly from my grip into Bellatrix's waiting hand. Voldemort followed her into the room. He observed the scene before giving a cold high-pitched laugh. Bellatrix was looking at me, completely astonished, before blurting out, "I truly hate to interrupt, Potter," she stopped and cackled. I waited for her to finish but she didn't say anything else.
Voldemort had swept past her and strode determinedly to my side. I quickly averted my eyes. My lessons with Bellatrix weren't actually helping me with Occlumency yet. She felt that in order to block someone from entering your mind, it was a good idea to start by knowing how it felt to enter someone else's mind. She'd been teaching me the basics of Legilimency in the hope that when the time came, I'd not only be able to perform Occlumency sufficiently, but I'd also be a decent Legilimens. I agreed with her; it wasn't as difficult as channeling fake memories or trying to block a Legilimen's attempts. The best part of this arrangement was that for the time being, she wasn't breaking into my memories… she hadn't found out about Lucius yet.
"Potter," his high-pitched voice agitated my ears. I looked over to see Malfoy struggling into a sitting position, glaring daggers at me, while Rodolphus was bowing. A sudden idea occurred to me, one that made me chuckle and marvel at my own brilliance.
Time for a little payback.
"My Lord," I said as I bowed. Straightening up, I could see Bellatrix giving me a curious look.
Several times in the past week, when we weren't working on Legilimency, she had given me lessons in appropriate manners around the Dark Lord. Of course, I'd purposely slip-up and refer to him as Voldemort to anger her, resulting in several more cuts or bouts of the Cruciatus Curse. She'd fume for a few minutes, before I'd 'correct' myself by referring to him as the Dark Lord. She healed most of the injuries she gave me, except the very first gash she'd made on my cheek. She left that as a permanent reminder to me that I must respect the Dark Lord. For whatever reason, despite her initial dislike for me, I seemed to be growing on her. I suspect it has to do with the fact that Voldemort had ordered the Death Eaters not to upset or harm me too much. As I was learning, she hung on his every word as if it were her life support. The opposite was true for me as well... the more time I spent in her company, the more I found myself acting like her and generally enjoying my time spent with her.
"Ah, I see you learn quickly under magical influence." Naturally, he'd understood that they'd done their job in teaching me respect.
"My Lord, Bellatrix is a wonderful teacher. She's much better than her sister." I turned and glared at Narcissa, partly for show and partly because I was truly angry with her. "She's done nothing to help me."
Voldemort narrowed his eyes at Narcissa. In a deadly hiss he asked, "Is that so? Tell me, Narcissa, do you wish for death? Will you welcome it like your blood traitor cousin?"
"Blood traitor cousin, my Lord?" Behind him, Bellatrix was frowning at her sister, while simultaneously looking disgusted by the mention of their cousin.
"Can it be? You don't know of the blood relation between your beloved godfather and Narcissa and Bellatrix?"
What? Sirius is related to them?
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, he isn't the only disappointment the Black family spawned with that generation. Why their very own sister—" Bellatrix screeched.
Their sister?
"My Lord, please! The blood traitors aren't important! The rest of the family is faithful to you, we always have been! Narcissa has been helping with his lessons as well!" She was hysterical and sounded to be tearing up. I was astounded to see this, because she didn't seem capable of crying, and even more so because she had lied to Voldemort. She must really care for her sister. Looking over, I realized she was faking, but Voldemort wouldn't have seen with his back to her. Either way, it showed she cared about Narcissa.
Trying to diffuse a situation I may have created, I said, "My Lord, please, Narcissa--" I stopped and sighed. "Bellatrix was telling the truth. I was just angry with her – Narcissa- she found out about Malfoy… I just wanted revenge."
He didn't question my lie. Before I could be reprimanded or cursed by anyone I blurted out, "My Lord, is it possible – I want to learn the Dark Arts." Narcissa gasped behind me. He narrowed his eyes and I was sure he knew why I wanted to learn the Dark Arts which had very little to do with Mrs. Malfoy, who I'm sure, believed I meant to learn for her use.
"Revenge may only be given if I give you permission, Potter. However," my breath hitched. What had I gotten myself into now? "Bellatrix is a very skilled mistress of the Dark Arts. Perhaps, if I permit you to live, she may teach you."
That's promising.
"Now, I've come to tell show you something." He pulled something from his robes and handed it to me. I pulled it to me and saw that it was The Daily Prophet. My eyes widened as I read the double heading. Two huge articles filled the front page.
Mass Breakout from Azkaban Prison and Harry Potter Missing!
"This is certainly an edition worthy of collection. Not only have my ranks covered the front page, but there is another article you'll find of interest in the obituaries." I flipped to the obituaries, my heart thumping, praying it wasn't a friend of mine. My eyes scanned for anything suspicious, finally settling on one article.
Unspeakable Broderick Bode, from the Department of Mysteries, was found dead in his room at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries late last night. Recently admitted to Mungo's after being found outside his office at the Ministry of Magic, Bode was found strangled to death by a misplaced Devil's Snare plant. He had been admitted due to loss of speech and the belief that he was a teapot, a likely work-related accident. The known healer on shift was Miriam Strout. The Ministry is conducting a full investigation, though no foul play is apparent at this time.
I glanced up. I was shocked to hear the news, but the significance of this man's death was lost to me. "I had Macnair Imperiuse Bode into trying to retrieve the Prophecy. My theory was correct, a prophecy can only be extracted from the Department of Mysteries by those subjects of said prophecy." A delighted look, or as delighted a look as can be seen on his snakelike visage, appeared. "You and Bellatrix will be retrieving this prophecy for me soon. Bellatrix has come to work out the details with you. Oh, and do read those articles… they are very amusing." I gulped.
He started to walk out of the room, but not before beckoning Malfoy and Rodolphus to follow him. I could hear him berating Malfoy all the way down the hall, for daring to appear next to me again without his expressed permission. I turned my stunned expression to see Bellatrix grinning at me.
I'm fucked.
A/N: Ok, there ya go. I understand most of the Harry/ Narcissa interaction in this is weak, as is his 'revenge' attempt at her. I'm sorry. Also, rereading this, Bellatrix is really OOC as well.
Oh, and I gave up trying not to curse.. if that wasn't made clear. I tried.. it didn't work.
Thanks for reading, and as always, please contact me if you have a comment, question, or even if there is just something you want to see happen.
