Chapter

"Suffer," I hissed and with all my might I glared at the voodoo doll, which began giving out a blood-curdling scream, but that didn't hinder me at all. I glared at it till the doll fell apart and the screams echoed silent. "Excellent, excellent," Wasla praised. I looked over at her – she'd been training me to concentrate all my emotions onto a certain point or object. She put her hand onto a small rat and it began growing and morphing into a griffon "Attack her," she whispered and the griffon began to charge at me. I glared right at it and could imagine what I needed before throwing my hand out. Black jets of matter shot out of me and wrapped itself around the griffon, which was inches away from my face "Burn," I growled and I could see its flesh burning as it whimpered, but I took no heed of its sound. "I knew you would pick it up quickly," Wicker said as she sent on me a person, who was also a black mage. Black smoke filled around my feet and burned my skin and throat as I breathed it in. I looked at her and began feeling for her mind. I could feel how simple it was and smiled darkly as I got her to reel her own smoke back to her and shove it down her own throat. She cried in pain and fell. I was learning so much more than I could have out of a book. The griffon let out a painful moan and I looked up at the sky and a bolt of yellow lightning came crashing down, silencing it and causing the witches to cackle. Time was different here and I couldn't remember how long it had been since I'd come here. All I knew was at some point very soon, Christmas would be on again – thanks to Regulus' letter that Kai had taken the time to give to me on the times I visited him. "Do you feel drained?" Witcher asked

"No," I said, shortly and she smiled

"You are improving very quickly," she said. I sat down by her feet

"Then can I ask for a day off?" I asked. Her eyebrow cocked up, "To visit an acquaintance," I explained

"Word has gotten out of your training with us," Wicker said, "The White Isle knows."
"Good," I said, shortly,

"They may confront you," she said

"Not where I am heading," I said, "My acquaintance and his family are followers of Dark and old magic."

"Be careful," the old witch said. I smiled and kissed her wrinkly cheek

"I will," I said, "I will also be back soon."

I had become surprisingly fond of the three witches. They treated me not only kindly – but treated me with potential – like some sort of prodigy instead of looking down on me. I quite liked living with them. I left the forest and went out of the gates and walked down the empty streets to the House of Death. "Kai!" I called

"Up here!" Kai's familiar voice called. I ran up the stairs and threw myself onto him

"What are you up to?" I asked – and was surprised to see him studying Death

"My old man wants me to start training," he said

"Good – now you can train with me," I said, grinning
"Learn anything new?" he asked

"Lots of new stuff," I said. One of the pillows on his couch lit up in black fire and was burnt to a singe "You know that pillow wasn't free," he laughed, playfully smacking me on the back of the head. I giggled "Sorry, sorry – I have to go to the modern world again – wanna come?" I asked

"So your visiting your fiancé?" he asked – when Kai delivered letters to me, those letters were always open and I knew he read them – which would have annoyed me if it had of been anyone else. "Yep,"
"What is with witches celebrating Christmas – it's not like any of us actually believe in that junk," Kai growled. I grinned "I know – but I get stuff," I said. He laughed

"You're so vain – anyways, if you're visiting the modern realm, hop by in Tirrana as well – they're missing you so bad, they've actually resorted to talking to me to find out when you'll come back," he said. I laughed "Poor them," I said, rolling my eyes. He grinned

"I'll pass going to the modern realm – I wouldn't want to suck out your fiancé's life by accident," he said, "But I'll be waiting for you in Tirrana," he said

"I'll only be a night," I promised – Kai and I spent a lot of time together and if I wasn't training, I wanted to be near him. "You'd better be," he said and suddenly wrapped his arms around me and I fell through the couch and onto – grass. Kai was a lot quicker than me at travelling through the realms. The grass around me began dying and Kai didn't bother asking as he twisted the Kitometrix on my chest. A smaller, less frightening and plain girl was now under him. I sat up "Thanks," I said. He laughed
"I love doing that," he said – you got a little bit of adrenaline when you went through the realms – a bit like dropping down a slope on a rollercoaster. "Hurry up and knock Ariana," he said, pointing at the door. I kissed his cheek "Bye Kai, see you tomorrow," I said. I had to rub my eyes to get adjusted to the sun again – it was mid-afternoon as I knocked on the door. "Ah! Miss Westwood," Kreacher said, jumping up excitedly, "Merry Christmas." He opened the door for me. I took one more look at Kai who smiled and disappeared before going inside. "Mistress will be very pleased to see you – though she expected you earlier." I followed him through the entrance "Wait here Miss Westwood – the Mistress is having a function." I waited patiently at the entrance for a couple of minutes until Mrs Black came out "Ariana," she said and I hugged her

"Sorry I'm late," I said,

"Where have you been child?" she said, "Oh – that'll have to wait – I have a Christmas Eve party on for family and friends. I expected you to be there." I looked down at my cheap clothes

"I could run a bath for myself and be ready in an hour," I said. She nodded

"Please do – Regulus will be waiting," she said. I nodded

"Kreacher," I called and the house elf appeared, "Please run a bath for me."

"You should go back to the party Aunty," I said, "I'll be ready on my own." I pulled off my jacket and quickly made my way up the stairs to my room. I could hear Kreacher already running the water as I went over to my closet and saw a dress that they'd bought for me last year, hung up there still – where I'd left it. I pulled it down and put it on the bed before stripping and walking naked over to the bath. I hopped into the bath while it was still running "Wash my hair for me," I said and Kreacher began cleaning my hair for me, while I scrubbed my skin clean. I finished quickly and Kreacher dried my hair while I put my clothes back on and he did my hair. He was so good, I was sure he helped Mrs Black dress too. I walked downstairs in a light blue dress with my hair up and over to the ballroom on the very bottom floor. "Adeline!" Regulus called and ran over to me, "Did you get my letter."
"Yes," I said, hugging him back, "It's why I'm here."

"Adeline, come meet Mr Hamilton here – he is a senior minister in the Ministry," Mrs Black called from within the crowd

"Please Aunty Walberga," Bella appeared in a beautiful black dress, "Let Adeline relax a bit before introducing the future Mistress of the Black Family." I smiled

"Bella," I said, "I missed you." Light blue material on her sleeves shifted and I saw the tattoo on her arm. I grabbed it and looked at it "So this is the Dark Mark?" I said looking at the snake, travelling around her skin. "Does it hurt?" Regulus asked, looking at it, curiously

"It burned when I got it," she said.

"I heard you've already managed to become the Dark Lord's closest servant," I said

"Now where did you hear that?" Bella's eyes shone as I told her. I shrugged

"Some Auror was saying it," I said, "And I thought, if an auror's said it, it must be true." Everyone who heard me say that laughed. "Well than it really must be true," Bella said. Her eyes scanned the crowd close to her and she smiled "Adeline, there's someone I want you to meet," she said. I frowned – Bella didn't usually introduce anyone to anyone. The crowd moved a bit and I stared at a tall figure in a black cloak that walked over and looked at me, all the while the crowd kept a respectful distance from him. "Adeline, this is the Dark Lord," Bella said.

I gaped at the figure that was standing there – he wasn't human looking. It was incredible – his features were distorted, all as a result of – Dark magic. "I-incredible," I gasped.

"This is Adeline Westwood," Bella said, "My cousin's fiancé." Bella gave me a sharp look and I snapped out of my trance "I-it's an honour to meet you, sir," I said. A circle had formed full of his followers who looked at our encounter, waiting for what reaction the Dark Lord would give. "Westwood?" he said, "Your family was killed by auror's wasn't it?" I looked at the floor
"Yes sir," I said, softly

"A prime example of why the pure race needs to band together," he said, "For if I had been in power, none of these mudblood lesser breeds would have been able to lay a hair on us." The crowd made noises of approval "If your father would have joined us, his death could have been avoided," he said. I looked away "Perhaps," I said. Every word he said, every tone he used in his voice, his hand gestures, the way he held himself – all of them oozed power. Even though I was not his follower, I felt his words pull at my emotions – I wanted to follow him – I adored him and feared him at the same time – all in these few sentences he'd directed at me. I was so overwhelmed by emotion that he was even talking to me.

"Bellatrix speaks proudly of you," he said. I smiled at Bella, "She says you are as good a witch as your blood is pure…and a promising servant of mine?" If I had thought Bella was good at controlling people, I should have waited for Lord Voldemort. The crowd rode on his every word. "I am not as weak as my parents," I said, "It is an honour for me if you are inviting me to serve you." He put his hand on my head and patted me "Good," he said, "Then I will be watching to see how you grow." He praised me – my breath was taken away and I could not keep my eyes off of him.
"My auror count is twenty three now Adeline," Bella said, grinning. I smiled darkly

"I'll catch up, so you'd better watch out," I said. Bella laughed as did the other's around us and some Death Eater went up to the Dark Lord and asked something from him and he went onto another conversation with people riding on his every word. I was disappointed that he wasn't talking to me anymore, but also glad – he's presence in itself was amazing. I looked over to see Regulus looking pale "It's okay Regulus," I said, calming him, "It's just a tattoo and some people." He nodded his head "How were you so calm?" he asked. I shrugged and led him over to Mrs Black who began introducing me to people in the Ministry, close friends and people from top-jobs.

Once Lord Voldemort left, people began saying their goodbyes also. I dismissed myself to bed and crawled into my covers exhausted. So that had been Lord Voldemort, I thought to myself. He'd used so much Dark Magic that his features had become so distorted – but what type of spells did that? He oozed power and in just one gaze he controlled people – I wanted to be like him – he was incredible – he even managed to manipulate me. "Adeline?" I looked over to see Regulus at the door, "Can I sleep with you?"

"Sure," I said and he rushed over and crept under the covers. Silence followed and I was almost lulled to sleep "Adeline?" I was forced back to the real world

"Yeah?" I asked

"Do you think I'll have to get a tattoo to become a Death Eater?" he asked – why did he even want to become one? I thought. Regulus was the last person I could think of as a Death Eater – even lesser than Sirius. "That's a long way away," I said, "Stop thinking about it and go to bed."

"Okay," he said and cuddled over towards me. I closed my eyes and went to bed.

A beautiful room came into my sight with beautiful drapes coming from the large windows that filtered light into the giant bedroom. "Would you like anything to eat?" I turned to see Lily Evans with a bowl of cherries waiting on me. I shooed her away and as I did I saw a skull on my arm with a snake coming out of it. I looked down at the robes I was wearing and saw the creed of Hogwarts on it, but the emblem had changed to be that of only Slytherin. "Hey Adeline," I looked up and smiled at Regulus who came and sat down on the lounge next to me. "Would you like anything to drink?" I turned to see James Potter's bruised face ask me as he had a chain around his neck. "Only one more auror to kill and your revenge will have been settled," Regulus said, "And all of this is thanks to the Dark Lord."…

"Adeline!" I jumped awake to see Regulus practically on top of me – actually, there was no practically about it – he was really on top of me, "It's Christmas," he said.

"Let me go back to sleep," I mumbled trying to cling onto that dream again – Potter had been serving me.

"Come on Addie!" Regulus said and pushed me off the bed. I fell onto the floor and sighed

"Coming," I muttered and forced myself back up. I went down stairs to the giant tree and sat down and watched Regulus rip into his presents. "Aren't you going to open anything?" I looked up to see Bella leaning against the bannister "Christmas isn't my thing," I muttered

"Too bad," Bella said and threw me a wrapped gift, "This one's from me." I opened the wrapping and saw a small box. I opened it and inside was a hand-held mirror. I opened it and could not see my own reflection. I angled it so I could see Bella smiling "Foe-glass," I said – it was expensive.

"What a smart cookie you are," she said. Her present was very, very useful

"Thanks Bella," I said and she sat down next to me, pushing Regulus aside as he was busy looking at his new Quidditch stuff, "I'm sorry I couldn't get you anything," I said, frowning. She smiled

"I think I can wait till you get a job," she said, "Though your sister used to make me things…"

"Like – cursed stuff?" I asked, confused as to what she could make. Bella burst out laughing

"I don't think she could curse things," Bella said, "She'd make parchment butterflies or enchantments that would make muggles sing happy birthday to me." I smiled sadly – another reminder about how different I was to my family. "Well – if you want, I could curse a piece of rope to strangle people who don't like you..?" I asked. Bella fell into a fit of laughter. To be honest, I'd been trying to figure out that spell for myself. "This is from me!" Regulus said and handed me a small box. I opened it and inside was a necklace with a locket "I kind of enchanted it myself," Regulus shrugged, proudly. I opened it and saw a picture of him and next to it, a picture of – my family waving at me. "I love it Regulus," I said. I put it around my neck – and suddenly something weird happened.

"So – how do you feel?" Regulus asked

"I-I…I really need to pee," I said and suddenly jumped up and rushed to the nearest toilet. I took off the necklace afterwards and saw Bella and Regulus crying with laughter "What the hell?" I asked

"It was- was supposed to make you feel happy," Regulus said, gasping from laughter

"How – could you mess that up?" I cried

"The urge to go and happiness, I believe, are two very similar feelings," Bella said, before throwing herself into another fit of laughter. "Opening presents already?!" I looked up to see Narcissa and Andromeda rushing down. "I hope you don't mind me fixing this before I put it on again," I asked Regulus as Bella fell into yet another fit of laughter. Regulus giggled again. "This is from Uncle Orion," Bella said and opened it. Inside was a leather covering for her Dark Mark, "Useful," she muttered. I grabbed a big parcel for myself and dragged it over towards me "From Uncle Orion and Aunt Walberga," I read

"Wait! Let me use my powers of Divination!" Bella cried. I snorted

"Please don't tell me you actually took that course," I said

"Oh she did alright," Dromeda said, "She was best student in class too – for her dramatics." Bella began rolling her hands around the present "Oh – I see something!" she cried. I burst into giggles, "Hm – texture…wooly…I think – oh I'm being wrapped up in something – help me! CLOTHES!" she cried and stopped her dramatic swooning. I fell onto Regulus and we both began giggling. Bella opened the present herself and sure enough, dress robes were found inside as well as a small box. I opened it and inside was a ring – with the emblem of the House of Black "Wow – original gift," Bella said and grabbed the ring and put it on my finger "And with this – you are a Lady of the Black Family!" she cried dramatically. My eyes went over to her ring finger "And you're no longer one," I said in awe and grabbed her finger "When did this happen?" I asked

"It's not important," Bella said, "My wedding will be in your summer holidays."

"Oh – um, congratulations?" I asked.

"If you aren't happy, don't marry him," Dromeda said,
"Don't start this again – I'm tired of talking about it," Bella growled. She opened her mouth
"He's a pure blood – it's better than nothing," I snapped, making sure she'd keep her mouth shut. She looked at me, then closed her lips. I was doing it for her – if Bella found out about her muggle boyfriend, she'd never speak to her sister again. "This one is from the Malfoy's," Bella said passing it to me. "Not going to guess what this is?" I asked. She closed her eyes

"I see – hey I wanted one of these!" she cried. I opened it and saw Omnioculars

"Neat – I can use these to watch Regulus when he gets on the team," I said. Regulus grinned. The House began to wake up and I received a lot more clothes and books. I sat down to have breakfast with the Black's "How is school going Adeline?" Uncle Orion asked

"Narcissa tells me everybody's afraid of you," Bella laughed

"School's boring," I said, "The education at Hogwarts is really slow – made at a mudblood's pace." I bit into a piece of cheese, "If it weren't for Regulus I probably would have tried to exchange schools."

"Don't go Adeline!" Regulus cried. I kissed his forehead

"I said I won't leave you," I said and he smiled and went back to some Quidditch book he'd gotten. "How are the dementor's working out for you guys?" Bella asked. I rolled my eyes

"They frighten the students more than any Death Eater," I said. Bella cackled a laugh

"And where have you been during the holidays?" Aunt Walberga asked

"There were some things I needed to finish off at Hogwarts Aunt Walberga – if I could have put it off I would have, but they were important," I said

"What things?" she asked

"Extra-curricular activities," I said, keeping it vague till I thought of a good lie

"Just tell me," Aunt Walberga said

"I found out my family home is for sale," I said, "And my family's safe has been frozen at Gringott's. The Ministry would have gotten their dirty little hands on it, if it were not for the goblins. I want it back." The room went silent

"I think I would be able to re-purchase the Westwood manor," Uncle Orion said after some thought

"I don't want to buy it back, Uncle, I want to take it," I said, "It belongs to me."

"If they find out your alive, won't that be troublesome?" Bella asked, ripping a piece of bread with her teeth, "That's the problem," I said, "I'm looking into ways of re-acquiring it without their knowledge."

"You will be part of the Black Family," Aunt Walberga said, "Why are you so interested in that house? You won't be living in it."
"People are going to start asking questions Aunt Walberga – even people not from pure blood families as to why you've allowed some orphan to marry your son. They'll question where my blood is from and with those questions they'll be able to figure out who I am," I said, "I might as well get my family home back as well." Aunt Walberga seemed to understand

"You're just a little girl Adeline," Uncle Orion said, "Put these thoughts to rest – if you want your home back that much, I'll get it for you." He didn't understand.

"I need to go back," I said, "I have to go and study at Hogwarts."
"But you only just came," Uncle Orion said

"I'm sorry," I said, "But I want to be the top of my class for the rest of my schooling."

"It's just a few days more," Aunt Walberga said. I gave a quick, pleading look to Bella

"You don't understand Aunt Wal," Bella said, "Let her go – she's only got 5 and a half years of Hogwarts left."

"Thank goodness," I mumbled. Even aunt Walberga couldn't really say no to Bella. I went upstairs and put my new gifts in a new trunk I'd been given. "So you came for the presents and you're now leaving?" Bella asked coming into my room with me.

"That's right – I got what I wanted," I said, poking out my tongue.

"What are you planning Adeline?" she asked, "Why are you going to Hogwarts early?"
"I want to attack the aurors who killed my family," I explained, "I want to make them suffer – and for that I need to train and plan."
"Give me their names and I could do it for you," she said, shrugging

"It won't be satisfying enough," I said. Silence followed as I got ready to leave

"Adeline – I don't think your sister would have wanted this," Bella said. I stopped and dropped the book I had in my hand. "I know," I said, looking at the floor, "But I'm not like them – I can't live like this anymore."
"I just – don't want you to get hurt," Bella said. I looked over to her

"Since when have you cared about people getting hurt?" I asked

"Your sister was my closest friend Adeline – her death hurt more than I care to tell anyone – she used to fuss over you a lot. I'm sure she'd want me to take care of you," she said

"If she wanted me to be cared for, maybe she shouldn't have died!" I barked, "Maybe they shouldn't have left me here and have just let me die with them!" Tears fell out of my eyes as I shoved books into my trunk. Bella's arms draped around me "Adeline, I never said I'd stop you," Bella said, "Just – that if you need help don't hesitate to ask me for it." I knew I was being pathetic but I buried my head into Bella's arms and she hugged me "You know – even though I'm working now, I'll be here for you," Bella said. I smiled "Yeah, I know," I said – but how could I really rely on her? It hurt to say this, but her being with Lord Voldemort meant she could be dead any day now. She smiled that same worried way that Uncle Sebastian did. "I'll be fine," I said quickly before Bella floated my trunk down the stairs and outside. "Bye Adeline!" Regulus cried and threw his arms around me. I smiled and hugged him tightly, "I'll see you at Hogwarts," I said. He nodded and I bid the rest of the family goodbye. "How are you going to go to Hogwarts?" Aunt Walberga asked. I smiled,

"I have my ways," I said. I turned away from them and grabbed my trunk and twisted the necklace around my neck and disappeared.

I fell into the Enchanted Forest and startled a unicorn and some of the flowers shut back up. My trunk lay on the grass and a mermaid looked at me curiously. I took a deep breath "KAI!" I cried. I waited a moment "I'm right here stupid," I turned to see Kai grinning at me. He helped me up

"Where did the trunk come from?" he asked

"Christmas presents," I said, shrugging. He snorted

"That's nothing," he said, "Come into town." He grabbed my trunk and easily pulled it along as we made our way to Tirrana, "I hope there's nothing alive in here cause it'll be dead now," Kai said as he got my trunk to float in the air and fly up the stairs. I shrugged as we climbed the stairs together "How's your fiancé?" he asked

"Not bad – I met Lord Voldemort," I said, "Do you know him?"
"My dad does – apparently a lot of the souls he has to collect come from somewhere around him," Kai said – I wasn't surprised. We made it to the gates and I stopped, surprised. A giant banner made of blooming flowers wrote 'Happy Christmas' on it. "I told them it was Merry Christmas, but they didn't listen to me," Kai growled.

"HAPPY CHRISTMAS!" I jumped in surprise as the entire town was waiting under the banner and rushed forward and envelope me. "W-what's this?" I asked

"We heard of this thing in the modern realm called Christmas and we thought we might celebrate it with you," one of the townsfolk said. I grinned – a feeling of being home filled me and I let them all envelop me in their arms.

I didn't mind getting a piggyback ride from a half-lion man called Dressar as the Lady Elsa pointed to what they'd done "The feast is over there – oh and the tree is over there," she said, pointing to a beautiful oak tree with fairies pretending to be lights, "Oh and over there we have stands where we can sing till the sun goes," she said, "So – what do you think?"

"I love it," I cried and suddenly I was crying. I'm so pathetic, I thought to myself, I had to stop crying.

I sat down next to Kai and we had a feast. It was full of berries and fruits and stories were passed around the table. Duria, a river mage was telling a story about a young muggle who had accidentally fallen into one of her rivers and had fallen in love with her and how she'd broken his heart. Through certain points in the story, somebody would come and kiss my forehead or pick me up and sit me on their lap. "Has the City of the Cursed treated you well?" Seiki asked.

"Yes, the sisters are really nice," I said, chewing on a chocolate

"Nobody really comes out of the City except for Death," his wife said, "It's good that we are re-tying bonds with them."
"How about the White Isle – does anybody come from there?" I asked. His wife snorted

"Nobody comes out of there either – they think we aren't good enough for them," she said. I pouted

"So it's true that they're prissy?" I asked and Seiki laughed and bobbed me up and down on his lap. I couldn't help but laugh and Kai rolled his eyes at me – reminding me I was being immature. "That reminds me – present time!" Daniris cried. Seiki picked me up in his arms before Daniris could swoop in to hold me. "I hope you like mine," Seiki said. I frowned

"But – but I don't have anything for any of you! The feast was enough," I cried, "I'm so glad I could spend the afternoon with you."

"Nonsense," Seiki said as they all left the city and went into the Enchanted Forest together, "Mine's over there," Seiki said, pointing to a moving object, "Sebastian told me you're allowed pets at – what's it called again… Hogmorts." My mouth opened in awe

"I-is that-is that a dragon?"