Disclaimer: I'm running out of ideas of who to threaten...so no I don't own it yet
Rodolphus Apparated back to their house in a furious temper. He had just come back from a Death-Eater's gathering, where they were all reprimanded for their 'unruly' attack at Hogsmeade.
"It is as shameful and as low as the 'riot' so called, you led at the Quidditch World Cup!" he spat, snake-like tongue clearly visible to those directly opposite him. "What's worse about this one is that you thought I would be impressed!" He began moving around the semi circle of Death-Eaters surrounding him, eyeing each one with his red eyes.
"Malfoy," he whispered, stopping at one of the central Death-Eaters.
"My Lord," Lucius replied, stooping to kiss the hem of Voldemort's robes. Voldemort tutted at this, and lifted his chin with a solitary finger.
"I sincerely hope that this pathetic attempt!" he raged, shouting the last words in Lucius's face. "Of representing our circle had nothing to do with you?" Lucius looked uncertain. Voldemort stared at him enquiringly. For a moment, Lucius crouched there, feeling embarrassed, before Voldemort hissed; "Hah! It was you! I'd have thought better!"
"My Lord," Lucius began, feeling panicked. "I can honestly say that this raid was not my idea, and-"
"Not that, Malfoy, but of letting them get away," Voldemort corrected, forcing Lucius to stand up.
"Letting-who-?"
"Silence!" he shouted. "You know full well I despise those who think they are high enough status to answer back, or to interrupt me! Avery-" he nodded to a Death-Eater two Death-Eaters left of Lucius. "Informed me that you had cornered a pair, and let them go, unharmed?"
"You must understand, my Lord-" Lucius began again frantically.
"This should be interesting," Voldemort sneered. The Death-Eaters around him laughed nervously, but Voldemort ignored them. He had eyes only for Lucius. (A/N not in that way!!!)
"May I speak now, my Lord?" Lucius asked tentatively. Voldemort nodded, cuing more Death-Eaters to snigger.
"You must understand, my Lord, that the boy I had, 'cornered' as Avery lightly put it, was my own son. I could not have attacked him," Lucius explained.
"And what of the other?" This was tricky. Should he confess that he had an estranged niece? Or should he lie and say that she was just a 'close friend of Draco's'?
"A close friend of my son's," Lucius eventually replied. He had forgotten, of course, that Voldemort, like himself and Narcissa, was an accomplished Legilimens.
"But there is more to it than that, isn't there, Malfoy?" Voldemort contradicted. "Perhaps you should now tell me the truth, lest I find out for myself. And let it be known, I shall," he warned.
Lucius was, for once, speechless. Of course, normally, he would have just blabbed it out straightaway, and to hell with the poor sod who had to next deal with him. But this was different. For Bellatrix wasn't the only one wondering why Voldemort had ordered an attack on the girl in the first place.
"Bellatrix," Voldemort muttered, having just read Lucius' thoughts without him even knowing. Bella gave a small squeak. "I believe you were the one to lead that attack I ordered three months ago? You still have not explained to me how that failed. How did the girl manage to escape, after killing Nott of all people? I never reprimanded you for that, did I? Let this serve reminder of what happens when some fool crosses Lord Voldemort! Crucio," he muttered lazily, aiming his wand-at Rodolphus.
Rodolphus started screaming in pain, though not as loud as Lucius had done three months previously. Bellatrix's eyes look horrified and full of terror through her mask. Voldemort lifted the curse, while Rodolphus lay shivering and writhing on the floor.
"I could do that again and again, each for every one of your faults!" Voldemort hissed towards Bellatrix, raising his wand threateningly. "One, for failing to complete the mission. Two, for failing to explain to me exactly how this sixteen-year-old escaped! How in the name of Salazar Slytherin could a sixteen-year-old escape several grown experienced Death-Eaters such as yourselves?! How could a sixteen-year-old have escaped after killing one of us?"
Under her mask, Bella had started crying. She knew this interrogation would have happened sooner or later, but she'd never anticipated it would be with an audience. Or that Rodolphus would be receiving the anger out of his wand.
"How, Bella?" Voldemort repeated, anger rising again. "Perhaps I should ask another? Crabbe! Goyle!" He turned to them. "You were both there, I know that, what exactly happened after you killed the girl's family?"
"We managed to corner her, my Lord," Crabbe replied proudly.
"Yet she escaped?"
"She ran up the stairs, my Lord," Crabbe explained. "Nott followed her. None of the rest of us did, we thought there would be no need." Voldemort gave a high cackle.
"You thought there would be no need? You must have been slightly suspicious when he never returned! Or did you think he'd Apparated back here with the girl and forgotten about you?"
"Bellatrix went to check," Goyle said meekly, retreating with Crabbe back into the semi-circle.
"Crucio," Voldemort muttered again, again hitting Rodolphus. Bellatrix cried out, but was ignored.
"Perhaps, Bella," Voldemort whispered dangerously. "Now you will explain to me what happened after you left the remainder of your party and never returned to them, for when they eventually Apparated back, you were not with them." He loomed threateningly in front of her. She knew she'd have to come up with a convincing lie. At least he wouldn't be able to use Legilimency on her, as she was as good a Occlumens as he was Legilimens.
Bellatrix was close behind her husband as they entered the kitchen silently.
"We can't continue like this," he said suddenly.
"Continue what?"
"You acting secretive and never telling me anything! For goodness sake, Bella, I was Crucio'd twice for you! You'd better start telling me the truth!"
"Rodolphus, did you think it was my intention to anger the Dark Lord and have him use Cruciatus on you? You know I'm not as selfish as that!"
"I don't seem to know you at all, these days, Bella. All right, so you've stopped going to Malfoy Manor so frequently, but that was just one small glitch in this entire sordid affair!" Bellatrix gave a long sigh, and began magically preparing a cup of tea.
"Would you like some tea?" she offered.
"Don't change the subject!" he raged, inadvertently waving his wand about, and causing the cup to fly from her hand, and break into little pieces in a corner.
"Rodolphus!"
"Oh, it's only a cup! For goodness sake, Bella, do you have any idea how humiliating that was for me?!"
"Oh, really? So you think I enjoyed it? Do you have any idea how bad I felt when he started using Cruciatus on you?"
"Well, if you truly felt bad, you could have put an end to it," Rodolphus stated.
"And how exactly could I have done that, Rodolphus? As you so lovingly reminded me, the Dark Lord has no true friends, therefore cannot be influenced by anyone."
"By answering him! You knew quite well that's what I meant, you stupid woman! For Merlin's sake, why was everyone saying that you abandoned them halfway through the mission in July?" Bellatrix looked a bit sheepish. She gave a small guilty shrug, and closed her mind to anything that might try to penetrate.
Rodolphus, however, didn't need a 'Legilimens' spell this time, which she realised as realisation dawned on his face. He gave a small laugh. "You did leave halfway through? Why would you do such a-" he gave a chuckle. "Such a-a fucking stupid thing?!" he shouted.
"You weren't even there, Rodolphus, so don't start patronising me!"
"I have every right to! What the fuck happened? You'd never leave halfway through, you're a goddamn perfectionist! And I might add, Bella, ever since that bloody mission, you have been drifting away from me! All we do is argue!"
"Well, perhaps if you weren't so-"
"Don't you dare start blaming me for this!" Rodolphus raged. "You have been the dominant one in this marriage for too long! I'm not putting-"
"Do you really think I chose to be the 'dominant one'?" Bellatrix argued. "For the love of God, Lucius-"
"Lucius?" Rodolphus breathed.
"I meant 'Rodolphus', it was just a-"
"So why did you say 'Lucius?'" Rodolphus questioned. Bella shook her head. "Bella?" Rodolphus was actaully starting to look very upset. "I'm going to ask you a question, and you'd better not lie to me, or so help me, I will kill you!" Bellatrix began breathing heavily. "Are you having an affair with Lucius?"
Bellatrix stared at him dumbstruck, then suddenly, a wave of laughter washed over her.
"Lucius?!" she giggled. "My God, Rodolphus, you are full of crap sometimes!" She was now literally bent double from laughing. The idea that she would have an affair was bad enough, but with her brother-in-law? That was just comical.
"Stop laughing!" Rodolphus shouted furiously. Bellatrix straightened her face.
"You're right, I shouldn't laugh, but honestly, Rodolphus, where ever did you get such an idea?" Rodolphus, though, was no longer listening. He was now staring intently at her neck.
"Where's your necklace gone, Bella?"
"My-neck-"
"Yes, Bella! The one with your initials, B.K.B. Where is it?" Bella placed a hand around her neck, expecting her hand to come in contact with cold metal (solid gold, of course) but was surprised to feel only flesh.
"My necklace?" she repeated, looking panicked. "My necklace isn't there, why isn't it there?! Have you seen it?!" Rodolphus shook his head. "I know I definitely wore it on-oh no," she whispered to herself, for she had just remembered where she must have dropped it.
Rodolphus, however, was now looking furious. He marched defiantly out of the kitchen and headed towards the fireplace. He threw in some Floo powder, and stepped in.
"Malfoy Manor!" he shouted out clearly.
"No, Rodolphus, what are you doing? Why are you going there?" Bellatrix cried out, rushing into the lounge, hoping to catch him, try and convince him not to go.
She was too late. (A.N. btw, this is sort of a future thing, the next part is in the present again)
Phoenix wandered down the Potions corridor aimlessly, not really caring where she was going. She knew she had to get back to the Slytherin Common Room, but right now, she was a little disorientated.
Somehow, and miraculously, she managed to find the spot in the wall that revealed the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room (A.N. without barging into several empty classrooms first cough)
"Parseltongue," she whispered, waiting for the stone to part. Nothing happened. "Parseltongue," she repeated more forcefully. Still, the wall made no movement. "Come on, Parseltongue!" When it didn't move that time, she gave up and collapsed against the wall, tears of frustration starting to stream down her face.
"I'm telling you, Milly, it is definitely genuine! I mean, come on, the guy slid down the staircase, and still tried to shout out to you!" Pansy giggled. Millicent gave her a 'shut up' look. "I know Dracky would never do that. He'd slide down and go storming off in a huff, and then it would be me rushing to talk to him."
"Look, just don't go on about it, yeah?" Millicent mumbled.
"About what? Look, I'm sorry if I talk about him too much, but, come on, Milly, you know what it's like now. You have Goyle!"
"Pansy!" Millicent hissed. "This is what I don't want you to do! Quit going on about 'me and Goyle', please!"
"Oh, but it's such a good gossip topic!"
"Which is why I don't want you to always-"
"Phoenix!" Pansy burst out, spotting her slouched against the wall, arms wrapped around her knees, and still crying quietly. "Hey, what's up?" she soothed, rushing towars her, and sitting down beside her. Phoenix shook her head.
"Nothing," she whispered. "What's this about a good 'gossip topic'?" Pansy's face lit up.
"You'll never guess!"
"Pansy, don't!" Millicent said frustratedly. Pansy ignored her.
"Millicent and Goyle are going out!" Pansy blurted out excitedly.
"What?" Phoenix gasped. "As in, the Goyle of Crabbe and Goyle, that Goyle?" Pansy nodded. "Hey, so when did this happen?"
"This afternoon. It was so sweet!"
"You were there?"
"Not exactly, no, but Milly told me everything!" Phoenix turned to look at 'Milly', who was now looking more fed up than Daphne normally would.
"Can we talk about this inside?" Millicent hissed at Pansy. She sighed, but nodded.
"Dunno what the difference is," she muttered. "Except that more people'll hear us. What's the password? Oh, right, Asphodel."
"I thought it was 'Parseltongue?'" said Phoenix, standing up herself. Pansy shook her head, a confused expression on her face.
"Um, it was, but it changed, like, a week ago. Are you okay?"
"I told you, fine."
"Okay, whatever. Ooh, how was Hogsmeade?" Phoenix shrugged. "Didn't Draco take you anywhere? He took you to Honeydukes, right? And Zonko's, that place is great. Did you at least see the Shrieking Shack?"
While Pansy was wittering on what sounded like nonsense-words, Phoenix couldn't get that disturbing sight out of her head; the one of Draco coming up with blood all over his face, more pouring out of his nose.
"My God, Draco!" she cried, running up to him, and letting him lean on her for support. "What the hell happened?" Draco said nothing, just clutched his nose, desperately trying to stop the bleeding.
Phoenix shuffled through her bag, and produced a packet of tissues. She handed him one, and he gladly took it.
The two walked as fast as they could in silence towards the hospital wing, but Draco's bleed was getting worse. He had now used up all the tissues, and had to go back to using his hand. "What's the spell?" she asked him frantically. "Draco, I know there's a spell to stop the bleeding. What is it? Draco!"
He collapsed, even though he was being supported, and fell to the floor, his vision swimming before him. He could just about make out a silhouette in front of himm but the rest of the world was a grey, dark blur.
"Episkey. That's it!" she realised, retrieving her wand from her bag. "Episkey!"
Now all he heard were echoes, getting quieter and quieter, his world getting darker and darker, until he could see nothing. The last thing he heard before his world turned completely black and silent was;
"Please, Draco! Don't faint on me! Episkey! Episkey!"
"Phoenix?" Pansy said, jolting her out of her memory.
"What?"
"Are you-sure you're okay? It's just, your eyes are watering, and you seemed kind of out of it for a moment. What's going on?" Phoenix tried to blink back the next few tears that were on their way, but she couldn't. Before she knew what was happening, she'd started crying again.
"My God, what's wrong? Hey, come on, it's all right," Pansy soothed. "Milly, go and get Draco!"
"Where is he?"
"I don't know!" she replied shrilly, putting her arms around Phoenix in a comforting manner.
"He's-in-the hospital wing," Phoenix sniffed, wiping her eyes.
"What? Why, what happened?!" Pansy asked, panicking.
"I don't even know! He just came through the gate all-bloody, and-now-". Pansy now had tears in her eyes as well.
"Is he going to be okay?"
"I don't know!" Phoenix shouted, getting the attention of several on-lookers.
"I'm going up there. Milly, stay here with Phoenix," Pansy instructed, making towards the exit.
"I'm coming with you," Phoenix said, following her.
"You were just there!" Pansy argued.
"Yeah, well, that was ages ago. I need to know what happened!"
"Fine, whatever. Come on!"
In Madam Pomfrey's opinion, one of the last things her recovering patients needed was three Slytherins, two of whom were practically in hysterics, bursting in on them while they were trying to rest.
"For goodness sake, Miss Parkinson! I am aware that you are concerned about him, but the boy needs rest! He is my patient, and I will decide when he is fit enough to see visitors!" Madam Pomfrey persisted to an insisting Pansy.
"But he'll want to see me," Pansy argued. "What he needs right now is-"
"Rest and relaxation!" Madam Pomfrey snapped. "No, Miss Parkinson, you may see him in the morning, but no sooner. Now please leave. The same goes for your two friends," she added, looking behind Pansy at a bored Millicent and an anxious Phoenix.
Pansy began huffing and puffing, but Madam Pomfrey was adamant. She gave Pansy a stern glare, and turned her back on her, heading towards Draco's bed.
"The old bitch won't let us see him today," Pansy sighed, well within the nurse's earshot. "I don't understand why. I mean, it's so boring and dead up here! What he needs is company!"
"We can see him tomorrow," Millicent pointed out, as they started heading back for the Slytherin Common Room.
"What do you mean 'we', Millicent? I don't know why you even bothered coming up here," contradicted Pansy. "It's me and Phoenix who care about him. By the way, Phoe, how did this even happen?"
"I really don't know," Phoenix replied truthfully. "We sort of-got separated. I waited at the gate for him, and he turned up like-like that."
"How did you even get separated? It's not like Hogsmeade is crowded."
"You don't know what happened?"
"No. Why, what did?"
"There was-a...riot," Phoenix eventually said.
"What happened?"
"Death-Eaters happened," she whispered, watching Pansy's eyes widen slightly.
"Well, they wouldn't get Draco, I mean, he's Lucius Malfoy's son!"
"Yeah, I know, Pansy, he's my uncle!"
"Well, were you hurt?"
"Yeah! I was hit with Cruciatus!" Pansy stopped.
"You?" she repeated shocked. "But-but you're-you're pure-blood. You're sure as hell not a blood-traitor like those fucking Weasleys. You're-you're Bellatrix Lestrange's daughter!"
"Say that again louder, will you?" Phoenix hissed. "I think there might be someone playing loud music up at the Astronomy Tower who didn't quite catch that!"
"I just don't get how that could even happen!" Pansy continued, calming down.
"What? Me being her daughter?"
"No! Why they'd give you Cruciatus when there's enough Mudbloods and blood-traitors to torture," she added, watching Harry, Ron and Hermione, who'd just come in the entrance hall, closely. "Not to mention celebrities!"
"Who are you bitching about now, Parkinson, not that we really need ask," Hermione stated coolly.
"I was just trying to figure out how such an obvious, digusting Mudblood such as yourself managed to get out of Hogsmeade alive," Pansy retorted. "Or did your blood-traitor friend take the curse for you? I expect that he did, seeing as you two are-you know-the grossest couple wizard history ever saw!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron said in a threatening manner.
"My God, Weasley, don't you think it's scarring enough to a be a filthy blood-traitor, but to actually manage to degrade that? By dating a Mudblood? Oh, and you already knew what I meant. We know you're stupid, Weasley, no point acting like it," Pansy retorted smoothly.
Ron just looked dumbfounded. Hermione started going red, and Harry sighed in frustration.
"You know, Parkinson," he began, getting the Slytherins' attention. "I'm surprised you managed to come up with such a smart retort. Our dear Malfoy tell you to say that?"
"Well, if he did, it would've had to have been telepathic," Phoenix mumbled near Pansy's ear. She smirked.
"Well, if he did, it would've had to have been telepathic. Just ask these two," she replied, smugly.
"Where is Malfoy anyway?" Harry asked, feigning a look of deep thought. "Oh, that's right, he's in Hogsmeade still. Very bloody nose from what I saw."
"He's not there, Scarhead! He's in the Hospital Wing. We saw him!" Pansy almost-shouted.
"Like hell he could've got himself up there. Which one of you poor whores took him and released him upon the world once more?" Pansy looked confused. She heard 'which one of you suckers took him' but from there on, he might as well've been talking Latin.
"I did," Phoenix replied. Harry looked up. He hadn't known she was there.
"Well, of course you would," he said, looking uneasy.
"Meaning?"
"Meaning, Phoenix, that you're the sort of person who'd do that."
"Yeah, that's right. I'm one his little 'whores' am I?" she repeated, walking closer.
"Definitely not that," Ron mumbled, causing Hermione to grin.
"Not you, just them," Harry insisted. Pansy and Millicent smirked unpleasantly. It was clear which House had won that particular battle.
"Move, you two! I want to get up there right now!" Pansy screeched, giving Millicent a hard shove.
"What are you pushing me for, I don't even wanna bloody go!" Millicent moaned.
"So don't. Phoe, hurry up!" She ran to her bed, and drew the curtains. It was empty.
"Didn't you know?" someone said. They turned and saw Daphne smirking unpleasantly. "She went up way earlier than you. Visiting hours start at eight, not ten."
"She wouldn't go without us," Pansy said, feeling a little uncertain.
"She left the dorm around eight. Can't think where else in this shithole she'd want to go." Pansy gave a frustrated sigh, and quickly exited the dorm.
Just as she was tearing through the Slytherin Common Room, who should she bump into but Phoenix herself.
"You been to see him already?" Pansy demanded. Phoenix shook her head.
"No. Just couldn't sleep."
"At eight?"
"It was six."
"Why's your hair messed up?" she said suddenly, taking in her rumpled attire.
"Promise you won't tell?"
"Depends," she grinned.
"I just went for a little fly. On Draco's broom."
"You did what? Oh my God, he'll kill you!"
"No. It isn't the first time. Okay it is without him being there, but he said I could use it whenever I wanted, just 'make damn sure you don't break it. This is what got me onto Slythe-' Then he went all red."
"How often have you two been sneaking out together?"
"You make it sound like we're having some illicit affair," Phoenix grinned, starting to head towards the exit.
"Now where are you going?"
"Duh, to see my cousin?"
Draco opened his eyes, and took in his very white surroundings.
"Oh, good, Mr Malfoy, you're awake," Poppy (aka Madam Pomfrey) greeted, handing him a cup of tea. "But I should warn you, there was one very distraught Miss Parkinson begging to see you yesterday. I told her you could have some visitors today." Draco groaned. She smiled. "She won't be the only one, though. Her friends, Miss Bulstrode and one I don't recognise came with her."
"Dracky! God, are you all right?!" Pansy, as promised, screeched, rushing over to his bedside before Phoenix had even come through the door.
"Fine, Pansy, if you just give me some air," was his muffled answer. She stopped hugging him. "It's hard enough to breathe through my nose already."
"Oh, sorry. So, what's wrong?"
"Broken."
"Is that all?" Pansy said boredly. "Or are you repeating what you did in third year?" she whispered. He shook his head.
"It was more shattered," he explained. Pansy gasped.
"Oh, that must have been awful!" she 'soothed', stroking his hand.
"It wasn't great-hey, cousin!" he greeted, seeing Phoenix.
"Hey," she smiled, standing there awkwardly. Pansy had taken the only free room on his bed. Draco sighed, and Conjured her a chair.
"Okay, that's just getting annoying," she smirked, sitting down.
"I do my best," he grinned. They all sat in an almost-awkward silence for a few minutes, with Pansy stroking Draco's hand.
"Draco?" came a deep voice from the doorway. Draco tensed up, and snatched his hand from Pansy. He looked fearfully towards the door, and his fears were confirmed. There stood, tall and intimidating as ever, Lucius Malfoy.
He walked towards the bed, and looked down with a caring expression on his face. "How on earth did you get in such a state, son?" he asked in a tone unlike his (i.e. caring). Draco gave a small shiver. "Are you cold? Let's tuck you in properly, shall we?" he soothed, pulling the cover over Draco's upper-body.
"Pansy," he noted suddenly. "How lovely to see you, dear."
"Mr Malfoy," she replied politely.
"Phoenix," he nodded towards her.
"Lucius."
"I wonder, Pansy, Phoenix, perhaps you two could leave me and my son alone for a short while. It has been a long time since we have spoken, and I should prefer to do it-in private." Pansy nodded, and left the Hospital Wing without looking back.
"Come on, Phoe!" she called back. Phoenix hesitated, but had to give in, and followed her friend out of the Hospital Wing.
"You didn't say anything did you, boy?" Lucius whispered threateningly as soon as they were out of sight. Draco shook his head. "Really? Then how come your cousin seemed so reluctant to leave?" Draco shrugged. "Don't shrug, child!" Lucius scolded. "Only those without voices should be able to shrug so carelessly. I repeat, why was your cousin so suspicious?" Draco really didn't know how to answer.
"She was there," he eventually replied.
"'There' where, boy? Be specific."
"When the riot started, she was there."
"Yes. I noticed, however, that despite your promises, you failed to protect her!"
"We got separated!"
"That shouldn't have happened! You shouldn't have let it happen! Bellatrix is furious! Did you know that she had to ward off Phoenix's attacker herself?" Draco's expression turned from neutral to one of fear and concern.
"What?" he whispered. "She was-attacked?"
"By none other than Vincent Crabbe Senior!" Draco gasped. "He began torturing her with Cruciatus, and Bella herself had to ward him off with an extremely poweful Cruciatus of her own! There could have been other Death-Eater witnesses, Bella was just extremely fortunate there!" Draco said nothing, just stared down at the white sheets covering him blankly. "However, I shall say no more on the matter. I'd hate to decline Bella the chance to talk to you herself about what happened. She wants to see you tonight at midnight in the Slytherin Common Room fire. Be there, boy, or else!"
Without another word, Lucius marched out of the Hospital Wing. For a while, Draco didn't even move. His brain was filled with mixed emotions; fear of what would happen if he couldn't leave the Hospital Wing and talk to Bella; pain from his nose; wondering of what had happened after he and Phoenix got separated; but mostly guilt, for allowing his cousin to get hurt.
She went back up to see him after dinner. Because Pansy had a huge assignment for Potions that she hadn't even started, she went alone.
When she came in, though, Draco was asleep. Or at least trying to. From his vigorous movement, it looked like he was having a nightmare. She sat down on the chair he'd Conjured for her earlier, making no sound.
"Not that she would care. Why on earth would the child of such a highly regarded Death-Eater care for the likes of you?" Lucius continued, starting to pace.
"Bella cares," Draco mumbled, but not quietly enough. Lucius had unusually sharp hearing.
"What was that? Oh, dear boy, you think your aunt has any affection for you whatsoever? No, no, child. That is an illusion." Draco shivered unvoluntarily.
"Getting a little cold, are we? Perhaps this will warm you up. Crucio!"
His eyes snapped open. This was the god-knows-how-many time he had had that same nightmare. Not exactly the same, but along those lines. He always seemd to wake right after the word 'Crucio!'.
He felt someone touch his arm gently. He turned and saw Phoenix's face smiling down at him.
"Hey, cousin," she greeted. He smiled back, but those previous feelings of guilt came rushing back. He sat up, and pulled her into a hug. "Hey, is everything okay?" she asked, returning the hug. He nodded, but of course she couldn't see that, he realised.
"I'm fine," he replied, as they came out of their embrace. "Look, cousin- I-I'm-"
"Draco, what's wrong?" she asked again.
"I'm sorry!" he blurted out. She looked surprised.
"What for? It should be me-"
"Father told me after-after we got separated, you were hit with Cruciatus."
"Oh. But, that wasn't your fault, Draco, don't blame yourself."
"I shouldn't have let us get separated. I'm really sorry, Phoenix-why didn't you tell me you'd gotten Crucio'd?"
"I sort of-forgot," she shrugged. Draco gave her a disbelieving expression. "Hey, my mind was too preoccupied! It's easy to forget that sort of thing when it's that far away!"
"Your Mum's really pissed about it," he muttered.
"My-oh, Bella, right. Yeah, she was kinda pissed about it," Phoenix agreed.
"Did she get you away herself?" She nodded. Draco gave a small sigh of disbelief.
"What?"
"I just can't believe she did that. I mean, I didn't know Death-Eaters had hearts."
"Your Dad'd do the same for you," she argued. Draco gave her a look that clearly said 'yeah right'. "I bet he would."
"Between me and his precious reputation, do you really think he'd pick me, his disappoinmtent of a lifetime, his perfect-looking son to trophy around at formal balls when after all he does is note my flaws, his fucking punchbag when he's pissed-drunk or otherwise?!" He bent his head lower, and couldn't stop tears leaking out.
Phoenix looked at him sadly, and following suit to whenever she was upset and crying, pulled him into a comforting hug, and let him cry onto her shoulder.
"Where the hell have you been?!" Pansy shrieked as Phoenix entered the dorm. It was ten p.m. "Visiting time stops at eight."
"I had an essay. I just did it in the library, that's all. I left the Hospital Wing at eight."
"You were up there for two hours?" Pansy gasped disbelievingly. She nodded. "Damnit! When's he coming out?"
"Tomorrow I think." Pansy smiled.
"I'll make it up to him then. I mean, no offence, he probably liked you being there and all, but, I dunno, I just think he would have preferred his girlfriend."
"She's his cousin," Daphne pointed out. "And they spent nearly all summer together, right? They're obviously relatively close."
"Well, yeah, but-forget it, I'll make it up to him anyway," Pansy sighed, climbing under the covers.
"For God's sake, Harry, will you please stop going on about it?!" Hermione snapped, slamming her book shut, and throwing her quill across the room. Ron ducked as the quill went spinning past his ear.
"What's up with you?" he enquired.
"This is just driving me crazy! First there's all these shitty essays that need to be done by next Friday! Next, I seem to be going crazy with my sight! Then, there's this bombshell that Malfoy dropped that you two just won't stop talking about! And now I've lost my quill!"
"No you didn't, it's right here," Ron offered, holding it up. She marched over to him and snatched it from him.
"I," she said as calmly as she could. "Am going to bed. Maybe when I've woken up, you two will have realised the world does not revolve around Malfoy and his affairs!" She went stomping up the staircase towards the girl's dormitories, and slammed the door behind her. Just before it closed, Ron and Harry could make out muffled;
"Hey!" and "What the hell!" and "Keep it down, Granger!"
"Harry, call me crazy, but I think Hermione's getting stressed," Ron muttered, trying to focus on his own Potions essay.
"Am I being obsessive and crazy?" Harry said suddenly. Ron looked up.
"What?"
"About this whole Phoenix thing? Why does it bother me so much?" Ron shrugged, feeling awkward under Harry's confused gaze.
"Yeah, I'm not great with the psychology," he replied. "Can I interest you with some new Quidditch techniques?"
"Oh, my God, our first match is in a fortnight!" Harry gasped, clapping his hand to his forehead.
"We'll be fine, Harry, it's just me that's-"
"Don't start that 'I'm too rubbish' crap again, mate," Harry warned. "I've got enough on my mind about that new bloody Chaser! He's still nowhere near as good as Ginny. Dean's improving, sure, but this new guy is just-oh!"
"Harry, if he was that bad, why'd you pick him?"
"What do you mean 'why'd I pick him?' You were there! It was between him, Romilda Vane and her stupid friends or his brother! Who was I supposed to pick, unless you think Romilda would make a better Chaser?" Ron didn't answer. "It's not that he's so bad, it's just, he's like you. He lacks confidence. There's just that small difference that he gets intimidated by me and my opinions instead of the entire crowd!"
"I thought I was getting better at facing the crowd?"
"Oh, you are, never said you weren't. It's just, I need a whole team that's on top form, you know? And to make things even better, our first match is versus Slytherin. I bet dear old Malfoy would love to beat us for once."
"You think he's gonna beat us? Have you seen his new team?"
"No, what are they like?" Ron shrugged. Harry looked confused.
"My point is," Ron continued. "It doesn't matter if Malfoy hired the-the Irish international Quidditch team to play us, he's still a crap Seeker! And I bet you he's still got Crabbe and Goyle for Beaters!"
"Yeah, and he's lost about all his Chasers!" Harry muttered, smiling. "Can't wait to see what's he's going to do about that! The only half-decent players were Flint and that other guy, who was their Keeper."
"I heard he's got Blaise Zabini as his new Keeper," Ron commented. Harry looked up.
"How do you know?"
"He was bragging and being generally arsey about it outside Potions once," Ron replied, shrugging as though it was no big deal. "Saying stuff like; 'I do hope that Potter's Chasers are on form. It would be quite difficult to get past you, Blaise. As for our Chasers, they might as well be first-years, for all the good their Keeper will block the goal'," Ron mimicked Draco's drawl perfectly.
Harry laughed. "Nice drawl," he commented. "Ignore him, he's being a prat! Just cos we beat him at the Cup match last year. We'll be fine."
Draco lay awake in the Hospital Wing for hours, waiting for a good time to try and escape. Unfortunately, though, Madam Pomfrey had a habit of coming in to see to a patient every time he was about to get up and leave. It was now quarter-to-twelve. He was already pushing it to get to the Common Room on time.
He was about to try and get up again, expecting Madam Pomfrey to come walking in any second. There was no movement in her little study.
He climbed out of bed and started creeping silently as he could across the floor, turning back occasionally to check that she wasn't right behind him. He knew he was just being paranoid, though. Also, he was nervous. He'd never seen Bellatrix furious, but had lived with his mother long enough to know that the Black temper could terrifying.
Even by doing a small run, he only had two minutes by the time he'd reached the dungeons. At least now he was nowhere near where anyone could hear him, so he could run properly.
"Asphodel," he panted, reaching the spot on the wall. It opened up, revealing the dark Slytherin Common Room. He glanced towards the fireplace, expecting to see his Aunt's livid face in the flames, but saw nothing. He took a seat on an armchair anyway, knowing she was going to come soon.
Gazing into the fire, his eyelids started to droop. He shook himself forcefully. He had to stay awake! He hadn't risked Madam Pomfrey's wrath only to be here and fall asleep before Bella came. It was so tempting, though, to just close his eyes, and sleep, the warmth of the fire right in front of him.
A sudden movement brought him back to his senses. He sat up, and turned towards the fire expectantly. There was nothing. He relaxed back into the chair, thinking he must have imagined it.
"What the hell are you doing down here?" whispered someone. He looked towards the fire, and saw Bellatrix's face materialising in the fire. He leant towards it, but her eyes were aimed at something behind him. He followed their gaze, and saw his cousin standing there almost guiltily.
"What are you doing here, cousin?" they both asked at the same time. He noticed that she was concealing something under her cloak. "What you got there?" he asked curiously.
"Nothing. Bella, why are you here?" she replied, looking down at her mother's head in the fire.
"I came to talk to my dear nephew," Bella replied, adding emphasis on the last two words. "And what is that you're hiding?" Phoenix smiled slightly guiltily, and produced a broomstick. On closer inspection, Draco saw that it was a Nimbus 2001. His Nimbus 2001.
"What are you doing with my broom?" he asked, moving towards her.
"Don't be mad," she begged.
"What?"
"Sometimes I can't sleep, and just need to go flying. I haven't got my own broom, what other choice did I have?"
"Uh, a school one?" he suggested sarcastically, snatching his broom from her.
"Dunno where they're kept, do I?" she replied coolly.
"Try asking. Or at least next time, ask me first!"
"You want me to ask you at four in the morning if I can borrow your broom?All right, then, Draco, I'll do that!"
"You two, shut up!" Bellatrix snapped, after several previous attempts that the two teenagers had ignored.
"Draco, I want to talk with you. Phoenix, why are you going sneaking off in the middle of the night to go flying?"
"You call four in the moring, when it's starting to get light, the middle of the night?"
"I'd call it dangerous, especially seeing, if you'd care to remember, there was a raid on Hogsmeade in broad daylight only two days ago! Anyway, it's midnight!"
"Okay, fine, I won't go flying at four anymore. Or midnight!" Phoenix sighed, moving towards her dorms. Bella sighed herself, and turned her attention to Draco.
"Speaking of which," she began. He turned and faced her nervously. "What the hell happened in that raid that allowed my daughter to get Crucio'd after you promised to keep her safe?!"
"We just got separated," Draco protested. "One minute we were running alongside each other, the next, I dunno, she just-wasn't there anymore."
"Why didn't you go back for her?"
"I tried! That's how my bloody nose got broken! I was pushed over, and had about five people literally run on top of me before I could even get up! Why didn't you keep her safe?"
"I did! Who do you think got her out of that raid? Fucking hell, I had to Apparate out of there! I just thank my lucky stars only my husband saw me! He'd contradict me privately rather than with the Dark Lord and the entire Inner Circle present! Lucius said he'd told you that!"
"Yeah, he did, what I meant-"
"So why ask such a bloody ridiculous question?" she snapped. "Or do you think Lucius was a making it up? You think I don't care about my daugher, is that what you're saying?" Draco shrugged. "You know what, child," she began patronisingly. "You should be extremely grateful that I only Flooed my head here. Or I might well do a Vincent Crabbe Senior and Crucio an innocent Slytherin pure-blood, to hell with the consequences and witnesses!" Draco just blinked.
"Maybe I should ask Lucius to do it for me," she continued.
"Let a man do your work, huh?" he said.
"No, because I don't operate like that! Besides, I'd hate to add to his anger. He's pissed enough at you already! He might end up being sent to Azkaban for the same reason as I was if I ask him to punish you on my behalf." Draco shivered involuntarily.
"You don't like the sound of that, do you?" Bellatrix sneered, smirking. "I, of course, do know what Cruciatus feels like, having been a victim of several of the Dark Lord's tempers. And one of adolescent temper, which frankly, dear boy, I've had tickles that have hurt me more. I'll keep my mouth shut about your 'insolence'. Oh, and one last thing," she concluded. "Don't tell Lucius I told you. He'd be really disappointed if he knew I'd told you of his little surprise."
With that, she disappeared from the fire, leaving a now very anxious Draco. His father was really coming back? He knew Bellatrix could be a real bitch sometimes, but no way would she lie about that, not something that scared him; she got way more satisfaction if what she said that scared him was true.
If his father was coming back (and he had almost no doubt in his mind that he would) what time would he return? And where would he punish him? He couldn't in the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey would be there. There would be too many witnesses in the Slytherin Common Room.
'Wait! Isn't tomorrow Monday?' he realised. His father would only come to visit him on weekends and holidays. He never came during the week unless it was for a Quidditch match, and that was a rare event (A.N. that they're held during the week, I mean). He smiled.
He knew he should probably get back to the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey could be a lot scarier than Lucius when she was in a temper.
'Just not so violent,' he thought bitterly, making his way to the Hospital Wing. He had to admit, though, when it came to shouting matches, he bet Madam Pomfrey could easily silence Lucius. Providing he didn't turn draconian and hit her, too, of course.
There was a lot of muffled talk coming through her curtains. She hadn't slept well at all last night, and the last thing she needed was the gossip of some ridiculous scandal or other from the other Gryffindor girls.
She sat up almost angrily, and shoved her curtains apart.
"Hey, Hermione," greeted Parvati Patil. She nodded in return and stumbled out of bed, rubbing her eyes. The other girls looked at each other awkwardly, but Lavender Brown let out a loud snigger. Parvati shushed her.
"Er, Hermione?" began another girl called Emma White. "We don't want to sound horrible, but is everything okay right now?" Hermione nodded in confusion.
"Fine, why?" Parvati and Emma looked at each other awkwardly. Lavender found it hard to stop sniggering.
"Well, it's just-" Emma began.
"You know what, never mind!" Parvati smiled fakely. "It's just us being totally weird! Come on, Lavender." She motioned for her best friend to follow her. While they left, though, Emma just stayed there for a while, looking at Hermione every-so-often.
"Do you want a picture or something?" Hermione eventually said, looking up from her bedside table which she was using as a desk. Emma sighed.
"Parvati told us not to say anything, but-"
"Emma! Are you coming? We need to get down to the Quidditch Pitch now if you want to see Dean!" Parvati called. Emma went slightly red. She gave Hermione a small smile and exited, leaving an extremely dumfounded and annoyed Hermione.
"Good morning, Draco," Lucius whispered softly into Draco's ear. He sat up suddenly.
"Father?"
"How observant of you to notice. Yes, Draco, it is me. I was perhaps wondering if you should like to accompany me to see Severus. You are to be discharged today, I trust?" Draco nodded. Lucius smirked, and stood up. "I will meet you outside the Hospital Wing in five minutes, then, so don't dawdle, please. I don't have all morning." He swiftly exited, not bothering to shut Draco's bedside hangings again.
Draco reluctantly forced his body out of his bed and pyjamas and into his robes.
His father was of course waiting for him. "You're on time, for once," he said by means of a greeting. "Good. You know how punctuality...pleases me." He walked off without another word, and Draco presumed he was to follow.
They didn't speak at all on their journey to the dungeons. Even when they reached them, Lucius still didn't utter a word. He simply walked ahead, head looking around occasionally, as though he was looking for something. He gave a small "ah!" when he found it, and opened the door leading to a deserted classroom. "In, Draco," he ordered. Draco nervously walked in. His fears weren't helped when Lucius purposely shut, locked and soundproofed the door.
"Now, then, Draco, it's time we discussed your disgusting behaviour on Saturday," Lucius announced, drawing a stool for himself. "Do sit. This could take a while." Draco took a seat opposite his, and prepared himself.
"First of all, I am thoroughly ashamed of how you handled the situation. For goodness sake, child, you are the son of a Death-Eater! It is not you who should be running in all directions trying to escape curses!" Draco said nothing. "Then, of course, there's the fact that you allowed yourself and Phoenix to be separated. I trust you and Bella discussed that last night?" He nodded.
"She says you were rather insolent, even tried to put the blame upon her at one point," Lucius continued, fingering his cane which contained his wand. He drew it suddenly, without warning. Draco flinched. "Do you know what else she said, Draco?" he whispered, right up in Draco's face. "Come on, answer me, child. Do you know what else she said?"
"No, father," Draco said.
"She said that you seemed to flinch at the slightest mention of Cruciatus. Yet you have only experienced its pain a mere five times, all extremely short sessions. What I'd recommend is a sixth session; Crucio!"
Draco fell off his chair and onto the floor, that same, burning feeling returning. He started twitching with the pain, tears starting to flow down his pale cheeks. Lucius lifted the curse, smiling maliciously. "And yet, boy, that is still not my most strong curse! It is the strongest yet, I will agree, but honestly, son, crying over a few burns? You are pathetic, weak, and most of all you disgust me! Why I just called you son, I don't know, for it is not a title you deserve!"
Draco tried to sit up, weakly. "I have tried all my life to make you stronger, child! You were always so damn weak, though, what with your precious mother doing a better job than hers ever did! She didn't want you to get hurt, did she? Well, guess what, you insolent, insufferable bastard, she's not here right now! No-one can hear us, it is Halloween, so there are no lessons for you to be missed in, and also, nobody cares!"
"Phoenix does," he muttered. He was backhanded for this comment.
"You are so vain. And naive! You honestly think the girl has any affection for you whatsoever? I repeat, why should the child of such a highly appraised Death-Eater care for the likes of you, the lowest of the pure-blood population? If she truly cared, arsehole, why isn't she looking for you now? She's obviously suspicous about me, so if she knew of my presence, why isn't she searching the castle for her precious cousin? Oh, yes, of course, she doesn't care!" He slapped him viciously again.
"No-one cares, do you understand that? Nobody cares about you! You're a vile, little sod, and I regret the day of your conception deeply. And now, I am going to punish you."
"Haven't you already?" Draco blurted out, but then clapping his hand to his mouth. He was backhanded again, and kicked.
"That was just a warm-up child! No, this is your true punishment." He undid his belt, and pulled it off. "Take off your shirt," he instructed. Draco started shivering again, but quickly pulled his robe off. He knew the longer he took, the more hits he would get. How he managed to get his unbuttons done, he didn't know, but he pulled his shirt off, and stood up.
"Face the wall," Lucius instructed again. Draco obeyed, and began walking towards the wall. "I said face the wall, not walk up to it, you stupid bastard!" Lucius snapped. Draco came back hastily, and turned his back on his father.
He started breathing heavily, bracing himself for the pain. The first one was always the worst, because you were never really sure where the first one was coming from. Lucius really got into it after the first hit.
"Ah!" he cried as the first bomb of pain landed on his back. His father, as always, had made sure it was the buckle that connected with his flesh. The leather itself just left red marks. The metal of the buckle was literally scarring.
"Ow!" he cried again, as the second blow landed on his back.
The third one was so hard he actually stumbled forward.
It took about twenty hits before Lucius was satisfied, and lowered the belt. Draco collapsed onto his knees, and wrapped his arms round himself in a protective manner.
"Tell me, boy," Lucius continued. "You say your cousin cares? What would she do, do you think, if she were to walk in here right now, and saw the sight; me, standing with a belt in my hand looking extremely pleased with myself, and you crouched on the floor in a foetal position, shirt off, streaks of blood flowing down your back? Are you saying she would rush to your aid? Are you truly saying she wouldn't laugh or cringe at your pathetic behaviour?" Draco stayed silent, praying this was the reaction his father wanted.
"Answer me, boy!" Lucius raged, flailing the belt threateningly. "How do you think she would react?"
"She'd laugh, Father," Draco mumbled. Lucius gave a snort.
"That isn't what you truly think, Draco, I know that. Five more lashes, I think-"
"No! I'll say!"
"Dear, dear, Draco, such desperation just adds to my anger at your pathetic attempts. Now I shall make it ten. Rise." Draco's legs felt like lead as he forced himself to stand up. He braced himself for the pain again.
Ten lashes later, he was literally in the foetal position, just as his father had predicted. He looked down at the floor, tears blinding his already blurred vision.
When he dared look up, he saw his father was preparing to leave. "Cover yourself before you leave the room," Lucius instructed, replacing his wand in his cane. Draco gave a small nod. "Oh, and Draco," Lucius called, unlocking the door. "Don't let anybody see you." He gave a cruel laugh, and exited, not bothering to shut the door behind him.
Draco heard loud, over-exaggerated greetings of "Ah, Severus, I've been meaning to speak with you!" coming from Lucius down the corridor. He was about to force himself to move when; "Phoenix! What are you doing up so early? It is only seven-thirty, is it not?" also from Lucius. Draco didn't hear her answer, but reached for his shirt, and tried to pull it over his bleeding, aching back.
Suddenly, he heard approaching footsteps, sounding as though they were heading for the door.
"I'll be there in a minute, Daphne, I just need to find my bloody Potions book!" he heard his cousin call, entering the classroom. Fortunately for him, he was hidden by the desks. There was just one problem; his tie was lying on the table he could see her book was on.
"Got it," she mumbled, picking up her book. The tie fell off it. "What the-?" She could tell by the green and silver stripes that it was a Slytherin tie. "Hey, Daph-!" she exclaimed seeing a small flash of platinum blond. She moved round behind the desk, and saw the tragic sight of her cousin, desperately trying to button his shirt up, hair looking all rumpled, tears flowing down his terrified face.
Thanks for reading-please review lolx!