You couldn't care less...

Chapter 13:The bad times we had

It took Tatum three whole days to even wake up and by that time Narcissa was beside herself with worry.

"Why do you care ? She's nothing" Bellatrix had mentioned more then one time but Narcissa did not listen. Tatum was her best friend, she knew nobody like the girl.

"She's worthless" Bella tried again and Narcissa grumbled some incoherent words, as she did not quite catch her sisters words.

"Let it go, let her go" Nina now tried, she had been with them the entire summer. Bellatrix's new best friend.

"What is she doing here?" Narcissa asked now that she realised Nina was there.

"She's a guest" Bella replied smugly and Narcissa looked at the girl in disgust.

"SHE is nothing! Absolutely NOTHING" Narcissa exclaimed pointing at Nina and Bellatrix just laughed loudly as she looked at the slightly uncomfortable face of Nina.

"Bella you don't even like her, do you?" Narcissa asked and Bellatrix smiled.

"It's not a matter of liking or disliking. I like to keep her close" she replied and Narcissa rolled her eyes before pushing them out of Tatum's room.

"Those, my friend, I'll never understand" she muttered and Tatum smiled slightly.

"Neither will I" she replied and Narcissa screamed in delight as she noticed her friend's open eyes.

"you're awake!!!!!" she exclaimed and told a house elf to call her mother.

"My mother patched you up" She then added proudly.

"I'll be forever grateful" Tatum replied just as Druella Black walked in.

"Don't be silly, I'm sure your parents would have done the same for Narcissa." She replied and Tatum snorted a little before wincing in pain.

"For her maybe, but they would have let me die" she replied and Druella looked a little surprised. Children were not supposed to speak of their parents in such a way. But then again, they did nearly kill the girl. Druella therefore decided to let it go for now. It would not be long before she would be the perfect pureblood child she had always been.
A shudder went through Druella as she thought of the consequences for her family's reputation if this girl were to be a traitor. She had to be normal. Better then her good for nothing nephew.
Druella later figured she had been right all along. For the rest of the summer Tatum had remained at their home. She had been a more then welcome companion for Narcissa after Bellatrix moved out. And she had set a foot out of line. Druella was pleased.

Tatum smiled ruefully as she watched Druella look over the wedding pictures.
Three weeks after she had arrived at the Black's residence, Bellatrix was to be married. Her husband was Rudolphus Lestrange and was nearly as vicious as his wife. Nearly being the keyword their, for on their wedding day he did not bother with Tatum, he left her be. Bella, of course, did not! The entire day she'd make nasty comments and sent minor hexes at the girl. And if she wasn't around to do it, one of her minions would take care of it.
The whole day had been hell for Tatum.

But out of gratitude for the help Druella Black had given her, she did not speak up. She did not want to ruin the day.
After all she already had to suffer the fact that her third daughter, Adromeda, was not around. The absence and the shame Druella felt because of that, was enough suffering according to Tatum.
On the bright side of things. After that day, Bellatrix left the manor she grew up in. In addition Nina left and things finally settled down a little.

There weren't many enormous balls given that summer, for the feeling of upcoming war had put the entire community a little paranoia.
One party could lead the ministry to the death eaters and for now they were not supposed to be exposed. Of course Tatum knew who most were already, how could she not. Most Slytherins had joined after all.
She just wished she was not one of them. She no longer wanted to be associated with the other Slytherins and she surely did not want anything to do with Voldemort, as the big threat had been calling himself.

She chuckled after first hearing the name, she remembered the moment so vividly.

"He calls himself Voldemort" Narcissa had said and Tatum raised an eyebrow while chuckling slightly. She saw in her mind a man standing before he. His body was small, tiny and his face looked boyish. He wasn't more then a fragile looking man who had not achieved anything in his life and therefore got angry with society and decided to attack them.

That view changed however, after the first few attacks had come to light.

Innocent people had been killed by the one curse nobody was allowed to speak.

There bodies had been found after days, when the rotting process had already started to set in. The smell had been said to be immense and even the aurors had been shocked by the discovery.

She shuddered now at that memory, because that was the day her image of Lord Voldemort changed.

Before her eyes she now saw a man. Tall and strong with eyes that would make anyone cower under them and big hands that could crush anything within their reach.
Yes over the summer things had changed a lot. She dared not to contact her friends from Gryffindor in fear of sending the devil at their heels and she dared not even think of them. She dared not show anyone that she was not one of them.
She pretended to be the perfect pureblood daughter, that each and everyone had always thought she was.
When summer ended and school started up again, she'd be glad.
The way Tatum saw it, Hogwarts was the only safe haven she had at this point. And even though she had to face her housemates again, she did not fear it all that much.
Housemates she could handle. The big bad world out there she could not.

A chill went down her spine as she thought of all the things she was going to have to face once this school year was over and she felt fear grip her heart.
Trying to shake it off she told herself that she had already been through quite a lot. Horrors she had already seen and she was still standing tall. With the help from her friends she would have to be able to take on the world as well.
She just hoped never to be a part of the war that was going to come pretty soon.

"Tatum come over here!" Narcissa called out from the garden door and Tatum smiled. Two weeks until school would start up again. Two weeks without Bellatrix, Nina or Rabastan. Two weeks of utter relaxation with only her best friend Narcissa.

She smiled and grabbed a book from the shelves beside her before following her friend outside and into the setting sun.

The weather was beautiful, warm and bright, just the way it was meant to be during the summer.

"Can you believe there are only two more weeks left of the summer?" Narcissa asked as she laid down on the seat next to the pool.

"Two long and relaxing weeks, without any trouble! I like that idea" Tatum replied and Narcissa laughed with she asked for a parasol to keep out the last rays of the sun. She could not dream of ruining her lovely pale skin after all!

Well???? What do you think? I didn't get an answer to my last question ( second chapter 12) but I guess it'll have to do then.
Let me know if you're still enjoying the story.