Scarlett only knew that Lavender was aware of her Mark by the way the girl was absolutely terrified of her. The look she gave Scarlett was a look that promised Scarlett was going to be respected and given space - that Lavender wasn't even going to get near her.
Scarlett liked the space, actually, but the anxiety of potentially having the Mark secret spill... it worried her to the point she felt physically ill. At lunch, the breakfast announcement of Rita Skeeter's death horrifying people... Scarlett couldn't help but the message she was found with beat around her thoughts.
I must not tell secrets.
For the entire day, people stared at her, whispering...
After dinner, Scarlett sat in the alcove of the Common Room, transfiguring a piece of parchment into rickety stairs so that she didn't have to climb, and she noted Cormac's disappointment that he couldn't sit with her.
"I'm leaving anyway, for a meeting with Dumbledore," Scarlett told him quietly. "I suspect it has something to do with yesterday... so... I won't even be here... I'm sorry."
"When will you be back?"
"I'm not sure," Scarlett sighed. "But hopefully soon. I have a few extra assignments to do - like reverse brewing a Felix Felicis." He quirked an eyebrow. "I'll explain that later," she giggled. "It's not as complicated as it sounds."
In fact, it was Severus that collected her, sending a terrified first year Gryffindor into the Common Room, stuttering that Professor Snape wanted to see her. She smirked at Cormac. "See?" she grinned. "I'll see you later?"
"Of course," he said in an almost arrogant tone. "I'm always here."
She rolled her eyes and climbed out of the portrait hole, her wound freshly wrapped and numbed - she was getting the hang of doing it herself now. "Hello, sir," she greeted politely.
"How is your side?"
"Much better," she admitted. "Hurts horribly when putting on the potion, but other than that... it's lovely. I sometimes forget it's there." Of course, that was a partial lie. She sometimes forgot it was a brand, instead thinking she had broken a few ribs. Severus quirked an eyebrow, as if surprised - or perhaps he didn't believe her. She didn't know which, and she didn't want to ask.
"Have you yet deciphered what Lucius told you?"
"Not yet, sir," Scarlett admitted. "I'm going to be going to the Room of Requirements on Sunday to review the memory, possibly dissect some meaning to it..." But she felt horribly guilty hiding the truth from him. He had been nothing but kind and helpful towards her. "I'll let you know what I find once I do."
"Very well... Yet I still think you're hiding something from me." So he could sense it? She supposed it was plainly written on her face. Scarlett frowned, glancing away from him and towards the many steps they were climbing to the office. "Are you?"
"Not ... on purpose, sir," Scarlett said quietly. "But... I suppose. . . a few things." Cormac being one of them. But she quite liked the idea of winning the bet. "But... I think it's best I ... work them out on my own, sir... I will tell you them immediately afterwards, I promise, I just... think it's best-"
"Does it have anything to do with Mr. Zabini?"
"Sort of," Scarlett admitted. "And Tyler."
"I see," Severus said carefully. "Is it something I should know?"
"I'm not sure if it's of any great importance, yet," Scarlett admitted. "But... I have to wait until Sunday evening when Blaise is there to determine if it is-"
"Mr. Zabini is required to go through the memory?"
"Memories," Scarlett said quietly.
He halted, turning to face her. "Explain."
Scarlett sighed, knowing she couldn't have really kept it a secret from him. She pulled the necklace out of her uniform and Severus stared at it in surprise. "Lucius was mumbling incoherently, insisting I review the memories... I'm waiting until I'm able to talk to Blaise to do so... It doesn't feel right to review them without him - if they contain the location of Tyler... Harry, Hermione.. Draco, they're going to look at them too... They've begun to call themselves the BAFT committee... Ron and Ginny have anyway."
"BAFT committee?" Severus questioned.
"Bad Asses Finding Tyler," Scarlett murmured. Severus couldn't stop the snort that left him and Scarlett smiled, relieved. "I just... didn't want to get my hopes up, sir. The memories could be meaningless - he was so out of sorts. But... if they're something-"
"I would like to see them, if they are something, and you find that ... I am allowed to see them. If you do not feel comfortable with me seeing them, however-"
"Ron and Harry, Hermione and Ginny, Draco and Blaise, and probably Neville, Seamus, and Cormac are going to see them," Scarlett said with a snort. "If I'm comfortable letting them see them, then I'm more than comfortable letting you see them... I'm sorry I didn't tell you, sir. I just... wanted Blaise to see them first..."
"And I understand," Severus said after a moment. He cleared his throat and began walking again. When they reached the Headmaster's office, the 'sherbet lemon' password caused the gargoyle to spring to life and the stairs to appear. And then they were climbing. She had no idea what he would want to talk about, but if it was the meeting, Scarlett definitely wouldn't hold anything back.
Albus Dumbledore was... a kind fellow. A bowl of lemon drops were offered to her, but she politely declined as she sat, Severus hovering by the fireplace, as if he was annoyed. Perhaps he was.
"You're probably wondering why you're here."
"I figured it had to do with the meeting, sir," Scarlett admitted.
"Partially," Dumbledore agreed. "But not quite... Severus and I have done a lot of talking... and we feel it important we make the offer formal."
"Offer?" Scarlett questioned. "I wasn't aware there was an offer-"
"The Order of the Phoenix is a very .. difficult group to become a member of. It is so difficult to find people to trust, especially in these times."
"Oh, for Salazar's sake, Albus. Spit it out already," Severus snapped.
"We would like for you to join the Order of the Phoenix, as a ... spy, of sorts, much like Severus." A spy? But she... she wasn't spy material. "You look concerned."
"I... I don't think I'd make a good spy," Scarlett admitted. "I tend to spend long hours doing more researching than watching people. And I ... I don't really know what to say-"
"Your conversations with the Dark Lord are almost natural," Severus interrupted flatly. "You are one of his favorites and you're able to give him exactly what he wants before he even asks you for it." Scarlett swallowed at the compliments. "You can... help us more than I can."
"But... but the Dark Lord will get suspicious, won't he?"
"He won't know you discuss the meetings with me," Professor Dumbledore said kindly. "In fact, he will not even know I know about your involvement. Severus is informing him that only Madame Pomfrey was present and that he obliviated her after the treatment... which I must ask, how are you feeling?"
"Much better, sir," Scarlett admitted. "But... you think this is the best way for me to help the Order? To spy on the Dark Lord? But... if he finds out, he'll kill me-"
"You have already, technically, been spying," Dumbledore explained. "This would just make it official. And there is a risk, as there is with all wars, that you will die... just as there is a risk that I will die, and Mister Weasley will die, and Mister Malfoy will die." She swallowed. She hated thinking about it, but she knew he was right. "So, if you need time to think about it-"
"No," Scarlett said immediately. "I mean yes, but no, I don't need time. I'll do it, I just... don't know how much I have to offer. He hasn't told me anything."
"You are friends with Mister Zabini and Mister Malfoy. Have they told you anything about the war?"
"No," Scarlett admitted. "We don't worry about it, much. We're more worried for Tyler."
"How so?"
"Draco is checking into his father's bank records, trying to find deposits. Blaise is working on whatever he can. We've even gotten Neville and Seamus to look through books with Harry, Ron, and Hermione... We all get along remarkably well, when we have our minds set on one goal, instead of house relationships." Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "Uh... have I said something important?"
"Mister Zabini and Mister Malfoy are willingly working with Mister Potter?"
"Well, I sort of trapped Draco into it..." She cleared her throat, at the look on the Headmaster's face and felt the need to explain. "I'm persuasive... but I don't mean to be. It's sort of like blackmail, but I don't misuse it, sir, I would never," Scarlett rushed out as Severus glanced at her in surprise. "I either bribe him with me doing most of the Arithmancy projects we have, or I mention the Manor... Like, just today I mentioned how he didn't even work on it and that he really should... and of course he refused, because he's Draco, sir... And I started to mention how I was really cold and how Lucius's cane hurt more than anything else and Draco always knows what I'm doing, but he agrees to help more on the projects when I do use that method... It's all in good fun, sir."
"Do you think Mister Malfoy is remorseful for your treatment?"
"I think so, yes, but I think that's why we're such good friends now - so we can forget about it." Scarlett gave him a bright smile.
"How does he feel about working with the Gryffindors?"
"Oh, he's not too harsh about it. He does make comments sometimes, but they all do. Ginny seems rather familiar with them. She sat between the two of them, last time, which was the first time we all got together... and they seemed pretty surprised, but didn't make her move..." Scarlett shrugged. "But then again, that's Ginny's personality. She couldn't be bothered by anything."
"I see... well, since you've accepted the position, I will notify the rest of the Order of your help. I think they will appreciate it very much." Scarlett noticed the look he sent Severus, but she rose, drawing attention to herself. "I trust you'll be okay on your way back to the Tower?"
"Yes, sir," Scarlett nodded. "Like I said, I feel much better."
"Very well," Albus Dumbledore nodded, a twinkle in his eyes. "And before you go, Scarlett," he called as she approached the door. "Your relationship with Mister McLaggen. How is that going?"
Scarlett flushed brightly, ignoring her father's look. "Oh, it's... it's fine, Professor. Thank you for asking."
She nearly ran from the office before her father could question her, not wanting to fight with him over it, because he would no doubt start the same argument Harry or Ron would have on why dating Cormac was bad.
But she heard it anyway Friday afternoon in her session with him.
When Sunday afternoon came around, she felt so much better that the wound barely even itched anymore, which was a relief. She absolutely hated the burning itch that would make her want to just itch until the skin ran raw. And it seemed to be healing rather well, but it still was healing, which mean that she couldn't do much physical activity - her training sessions were still out.
Draco strode through the Room of Requirement door with a few rolls of parchment, Blaise hot on his heels with a grin on his face. "I've found something," Draco told her immediately. She shot forward, wincing slightly as she did so, but took the parchment from Draco, noticing that they were bank statements. "Every month, nearly seventeen thousand galleons are going to a small Muggle town by the Manor."
"What?" she whispered.
"Yeah, isn't that great?" Blaise continued. "Every month, get this, since December of 1994."
"And... and it's still going on?" Scarlett whispered, flipping the pages so that she could see the most recent statement. Just this month. "He's... paying someone?"
"It could be a trade place, or something, child labor," Blaise said quickly, "but he could also be paying for... his living, his stay somewhere."
"Oh, Merlin," Scarlett murmured. "And... and there's no payments before this?"
"No, and no deposits from the place, either," Draco admitted. "So they didn't pay my father for Tyler."
"This is fantastic," she cried, hugging Draco tightly. "Bloody hell, you're the greatest, do you know that?" She pulled away, glancing down at the papers yet again. "This is... this is so great! Such great news!"
"So, if we can get in touch with that place," Blaise said, "see what Lucius is paying for them to keep quiet..."
"It might lead us to him," Scarlett grinned. It put her in a considerably good mood. "This calls for celebratory firewhiskey, don't you think?"
"Absolutely," Draco agreed. They had already taken two shots each by the time the Gryffindor's arrived and she passed a glass to each of them.
"Draco is bloody amazing," Scarlett declared when they asked her why. "Found some bank records to a Muggle town... Apparently Lucius is trying to keep something hush hush there."
"So, that's why we're drinking?" Seamus asked. "Because, I think we should be more than drinking with that news."
"How much was he paying them?" Hermione asked, curiously.
"Two hundred thousand galleons a year."
"That's a million pounds!" Hermione gasped.
"Bloody hell," Cormac murmured.
"Anyway, we've got memories to review," Scarlett insisted. She ushered them to sit and took the seat she had last week beside Cormac, leaning forward and staring at the vial with the memories in it. "I've counted at least fifteen. But I may have counted wrong, too. They don't sit still." She conjured a pensieve and waited until everyone had finished their drinks, before she poured the memories into the bowl. "I don't know what's going to be in here... but I sure hope it's something good, for once."
"So..." Seamus asked, glancing at Neville, and then the rest of the crowd. "We just jump right in?"
"Jump right in," Scarlett agreed and then she leaned forward, until the pensieve found purchase and threw her inside.
She stood in a white void, the pensieve waiting for everyone to join, before the memory began. And when it did, it was an inky blankness that slowly coated the ground until a little girl was walking besides a tall man, the path bordered on all sides with flowers all around.
"Lucy! Lucy, look at this one!" It was her, when she was... perhaps three or four years old. "It looks like a sun in the sky, but it's on a stem." Scarlett's younger self giggled, sniffing it. "It smells like Narcissy!"
Lucius paused as the little girl surveyed the yellow flowers, his hands clasped behind his back. Then they started to walk again, to the next set of flowers, and he paused once more. These were purple.
"I remember this," Scarlett murmured to herself, stepping forward from the group to follow them.
"I'm going to call these dragon-flowers!" the little girl declared. "Because they look like Drake's food when he starts to throw it! All smushy and gross, but they're purple, so they're pretty!"
"How old are you?" Harry asked, drawing Scarlett's attention.
"I think I was three... maybe four. I don't remember exactly when, but I remember this..."
"And look at this one!" the little girl giggled, her red hair blowing in the breeze as the tall flowers stretched towards the sun. "These look like they're trying to reach the sky! Can I call them sky-catchers?" She didn't expect an answer back and she patted the large stalks, squinting as she stared up at the sky. "Hello, Mr. Sky-catcher. Did you get any taller today?"
"They're called sunflowers," Lucius's voice spoke suddenly. "The direction the flowers are facing depends on where the sun is at a different point in the day."
"Really?" little Scarlett gasped. "But, Lucy, why call them sun flowers, though? The other ones look more like the sun! And when Narcissy smiles, it's as bright as the sun-"
"Yes, it is, isn't it? That is just what they call these."
"Oh. Well whoever they are must know a lot about flowers." She skipped happily towards a bush of red roses, the gasp that left her only doubling the elation that showed on her face. "These are so pretty! These are my favorite! These can be called-"
"They're called roses," Lucius said suddenly.
"Roses?" Scarlett questioned. "Oh, they're so pretty! I like them..."
Lucius reached into the bush, using his wand to cut them at the stem, and he flicked his wand again, making a small flower crown that would fit perfectly on her head. He placed it atop her mass of red hair and she grinned at him. "Thanks, Lucy! It's so pretty! Don't you want one?"
The look on his face made Scarlett giggle.
"No, I think I'll be alright."
"But, look! There are white roses to match your hair! Or are they called something different because they're white? They look like roses..."
Scarlett voice faded away as the memory changed and the scene changed to Lucius's public study, her sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace in a pretty yellow dress, her the rose flower crown in her lap, the comb that ran through her hair nearly the same color as Scarlett's hair.
"Lucy?" Scarlett asked quietly as Lucius slowly brushed at her hair, the wetness making a small smack against her skin as the brush untangled the mess. She ran around the Manor so much, it made her hair become ratty often.
"Yes?" Lucius asked quietly, setting the brush down. Scarlett fiddled with her fingers. "Well? What is it?"
"I know you don't like questions," she said quietly. "But... why aren't my mummy and daddy here? Drake has his mummy and daddy - that's you and Narcissy, but where are my mummy and daddy? And why don't I look like you, and Narcissy, and Drake, and 'Braxus? You have such pretty hair... and mine is really red... I don't like it being so red. I wish I had your hair." She dropped her gaze, her eyes filled with tears, and the fingers that were running through her hair halted. Scarlett hadn't noticed then, but a spasm of pain crossed Lucius's features.
"Your parents left you with Narcissa and I, to take care of you," Lucius spoke smoothly, as though he hadn't been brought to some emotion by her words. "Your mother had red hair, and your father had black eyes... Which is why you look like you do. Just like Draco has blond hair and green eyes like Narcissa."
"But why aren't mummy and daddy here?" she asked quietly. "Don't they miss me?"
Lucius's fingers began to tug at her hair, pulling it into a braid. Once it was finished, he pulled the crown from her hands and placed it atop her head, then tying her hair back with a black ribbon. "Of course they miss you... You're their princess."
"What's a princess?"
Lucius's voice as he explained what a princess was ran through her thoughts as the scene transitioned to something else... something much different than the first two memories. It was Narcissa's old bedroom.
She sobbed as Lucius grabbed a fistful of her hair, dragging her from the closet. She was older, perhaps six, and there was a few ink stains on her hands.
"Gren, take her to the drawing room," Lucius snapped. He threw Scarlett away from him and apparated, just as Scarlett apparated.
"L-Lucy, please!" Scarlett sobbed. "I-I don't understand! I'm sorry!"
Lucius snarled as he grabbed the hot poker from the drawing room's fireplace, the look on his face one of pure anger. "I told you not to call me that, you insolent brat!" There was a crack as his palm connected with her cheek and as the elves released her, she went sprawling to the floor, sobbing.
And then suddenly her yellow dress was being torn at the seams between her shoulders, exposing her pale, smooth back and Lucius pressed his boot to her spine, making it so that she was unable to move.
"Lucy-Lucy, please, I'm sorry!" Scarlett cried. "I'm sorry! It wasn't Narcissy's fault! I wanted to write, too! I wanted to read, just like she's teaching Drake!"
"You are nothing more than a servant now," Lucius hissed and then she was screaming, her screams echoing in the memory as the poker was shoved against her skin, in between her shoulders, branding her forever to the House of Malfoy. When it was removed, he threw it away from him and grabbed her shoulder roughly, hauling her to her feet. She was sobbing, inconsolable and he shook her roughly. "Say it! You will serve the House of Malfoy until your death-"
"Please," she cried. "I'm sorry-"
"Say it!" he shouted at her.
"I will serve the House of Malfoy until my death," little Scarlett sobbed.
Scarlett hadn't even realized she had whispered it along with her younger self until she felt Cormac take her hand. Scarlett swallowed, watching as Lucius threw her away and she collapsed on the floor, sobbing, the elves taking her away. And the scene changed.
It was a hallway, one she visited often to clean, and the clothing she was wearing as she ran down it was torn, the yellow dress - one that wasn't as nice or elaborate as the one in her childhood - covered in blood and... and other things. Scarlett stumbled, a sob leaving her throat as she collapsed on the ground, using the wall for support, her body shaking as she hugged herself together. She had been twelve, and it was just after Crabbe and Goyle had their fun.
And suddenly, as Scarlett faded out of consciousness, the blood loss too much, there were footsteps - fast and urgent as they approached her. And then Lucius came into view, a worried expression on his face as Dobby hurriedly walked up beside him, explaining what had happened to his master.
"She was screaming so loudly, Master. She kept kicking and biting, but Mister Crabbe and Goyle wouldn't stop hurting her. Dobby didn't know what to do. Dobby tried to find Master, but Master had asked not to be disturbed-" And when he saw her, the color drained from his face and then Lucius was running towards her, kneeling down beside her unconscious form.
"This never happened," Scarlett murmured, confused. Tears were swimming in her eyes as Lucius used his cloak to cover her, to keep her warm. "I... I don't understand-"
His expensive, silk worm cloak that he had only purchased three weeks ago from Japan. And then he was lifting her into his arms, snapping at Dobby. "Take us to the healer-elf. Now."
Dobby obliged, and they were whisked away.
The scene changed, from the grueling hall to Narciss and Lucius standing in the Master bedroom, the sparkling white marble stretching at all sides, and the bed covered in a mass of green and black blankets and pillows, with a hint of gold.
Narcissa was furious, Scarlett could see it by the way her face was read. "She's fifteen years old, Lucius!" Narcissa cried. "Just because you're angry with yourself for what you've done to her, doesn't mean you can take it out on her!"
"He wouldn't punish her," Lucius snapped. "I'm not going to let her go unpunished and face Madame Zabini crawling over our assets because he got hurt because she's a clumsy bitch!"
"You loved her like your own daughter!" Narcissa cried. "How could you do that to her? How could you do that to Zabini! He's Draco's best friend. Does family mean nothing to you?"
"She's not our blood."
"But she's my daughter. She has been ever since she was on that doorstep, Lucius. She's done nothing but love us and want to live with us, and you go and do something-something so horrible-"
"Narcissa, she's not our daughter. And she never will be-"
"You're a monster," Narcissa whispered, turning from her husband. "You're an utter monster. What happened to the man I fell in love with? What happened to the man that would play with her for hours while I stayed with Draco? Who would walk her in the garden? Who would comb her hair after her bath and listen to her prattle on about what she discovered in the Manor that day? What happened to the man that cared about her?"
"She was punished and she will not do it again," Lucius said shortly, but his voice was thick with emotion, as if trying to distance himself, but failing. "And I guarantee Zabini will punish her if it does happen-"
"You turned that boy into a rapist!" Narcissa cried. "He didn't want to hurt her and for good reason! She's innocent, Lucius. Let her go... give her some money, send her to Albus... Let her go-"
"It's too late for that, Narcissa," Lucius said quietly. "We can't let her go now."
"That was after... after the Imperio," Blaise murmured, his brow furrowed. "Did Narcissa ever-?" Scarlett shook her head. Narcissa had never approached her about it. Not that she remembered.
The scene changed and suddenly Scarlett was kneeling in front of Narcissa, worriedly fiddling with her fingers. She was skinny, her hair ratty, and she looked as though she could desperately have used a bath.
"Your monthly bleeding has stopped?" Narcissa whispered. "You're certain?"
"I-I wasn't sure, so I... I asked the elves, and they said that it has," Scarlett murmured. "I'm sorry, Mistress... I... I don't know what's wrong with me... Am I sick?"
"No... No, you're not sick," Narcissa said gently. "Come, sit with me by the fire for a moment." Scarlett hesitated, waiting for Narcissa moved before she got up herself, moving towards Narcissa. "You understand how a baby is made..."
"Yes... you told me."
"And you know that your ... visitors these last few months have taken no care in your own health," Narcissa continued. "I should have asked the elves to... to do something... for you... Dear one... you're pregnant."
Scarlett frowned. "But... that's not possible. You said that you only get pregnant when a man and a woman love each other... not... not what happened to me-"
"Yes, I understand that, but it can happen many ways," Narcissa said quietly. "Whether the parties involved love each other or not..." She sighed. "I need to tell Lucius-"
Scarlett's gaze lifted, her eyes wide with absolute terror. "No, wait, please- please, there must be something we can do. He'll be so... so angry with me... I don't want him angry, please..."
"We have to tell him," Narcissa said softly. "He has to know."
Scarlett's lips began to tremble and she lowered her gaze. "As you wish, Mistress."
"It'll be alright... Humphrey? Fetch Lucius... Tell him it's urgent."
Lucius Malfoy arrived not even a moment later and he took in the servant sitting on the chair she was not allowed to sit in, the sitting room in pristine condition as always, but still he was suspicious. His gaze traveled to Narcissa. "What is the meaning of this? She's not to be in here."
"I'll-I'll go, Master-" Scarlett said immediately, standing.
"No," Narcissa snapped. "Sit down." Scarlett obeyed.
"You're not to talk to her, Narcissa, you know that-"
"She's pregnant, Lucius."
There was silence and Scarlett bit her lip, her eyes shut as she waited for him to grab her hair, to use the cane.
"You're certain?"
"The elves confirmed it," Narcissa said quietly. "I told you this would happen, but you didn't listen to me."
Narcissa and Lucius stared at each other, as if waiting for the other to begin arguing for something - for her to keep it, or for her to be rid of it.
"Change her diet," Lucius said at last. "Three meals a day, warm, full of everything she and the child need. When it is born, keep the diet the same until it is no longer in need of being breastfed. She will eat with us when there is no company, or in the kitchen when there is. Her chores will be limited to those fit for her condition."
Scarlett's gaze lifted, surprised, but confused. "Th-thank you, Master."
"Make no mistake, when the child does not depend on you anymore, your diet will resume to what it is now. Is that understood?"
Scarlett nodded immediately, swallowing. "Understood, Master."
"Get her some food. I don't expect to be disturbed with this matter again."
The scene changed to the Master bedroom once more, Narcissa sitting at the foot of the bed.
"The visitors need to stop," Narcissa said quietly. "She's showing and it isn't good for the child if she is hurt constantly."
"They make a sport of finding her. I cannot stop them."
"Yes you can," Narcissa said firmly. "Just until it's safe for her and the child, Lucius, at least... Please, for me. Can we please, stop the visitors?"
Lucius groaned. "She isn't our daughter, Narcissa."
"She is to me."
It was the hallway once more.
Scarlett was scrubbing the floors, her stomach swollen, yet it was strange on her petite frame - misshapen. She was still too skinny, even with the meals she was granted. She dunked the scrub brush into the bucket before scrubbing yet again at a scuff mark. It was horrible, how often the entrance hall was scuffed.
"-and I said to him, I said, Crabbe, you're a tosser. And he says to me, he says, Goyle, you're a wanker-" Scarlett's scrubbing froze and she hastily grabbed the bucket, using her skirt to dry off the piece of marble, and she went as quickly as she could to the shadows, spotting Draco walking with Goyle. Draco looked particularly bored.
"You've told me this story eighteen times this summer, Goyle," Draco sneered. "I don't care about your fight with Crabbe. Kiss each other and make up or something, but for fuck's sake, if you say it again, I might have father brand you so that you get the visitors-"
"Speaking of the bitch, isn't she usually here this hour?"
"You heard what father said. If you touch her, you will no longer be living."
"He grow fond of her, then?" Goyle snorted. "No wonder. She spreads her delicious legs for anyone-"
"Leave, Goyle."
"Or is she too hurt after last time? I'd imagine anyone would be with a shard of glass embedded into their ribs-"
"I said, leave."
The scene changed and Scarlett was scrubbing the ballroom, wearing a white dress that barely fit her stomach. Scarlett remembered this moment.
She winced suddenly as she stood, walking towards the bucket, sucking in a sharp breath as she touched her stomach gently. And then she was moving again, towards the bucket, reaching down and cleaning the brush before walking back to where she once was, wincing slightly again.
The memory continued for a few moments of her wincing every few minutes, until it becomes so frequent that she drops the brush and there's a moment of panic on her face. "Gren...?" Scarlett whispered. She wasn't supposed to call the elves, not unless it's an emergency. The elf appeared. "I... I think something's wrong," she said urgently. "Is something wrong?"
"Missy is going into labor, Gren has calculated. Gren is going to notify Mistress."
Before Scarlett could protest, the elf was gone and the scene changed abruptly to the Master lounge connected to the Master bedroom and study. Lucius and Narcissa were seated by the fire, Narcissa eating a few pistachios as she read from her favorite poetry book, and Lucius was reading the paper. They both jumped at Gren's appearance. "Missy has gone into labor. Gren was told to notify Mistress when it happens."
"Take me to her," Narcissa said immediately, giving the elf her hand.
But Lucius grabbed it, stopping her. "There's nothing you can do for her. She's going to be-"
"She could use a little comfort for Salazar's sake," Narcissa snapped. "Have you any compassion left in your dead heart?" She grabbed the elf and they were gone, but not before Lucius swallowed at the barb and reached for the whiskey atop the mantle, pouring himself a glass... before thinking better of it and instead drinking from the tumbler.
Back in the ballroom, Narcissa grabbed Scarlett's shoulders, helping the girl up. "There, there, it's alright. Come, let's get you situated."
"Where shall Gren take you, Mistress?"
"Take us to her bedroom on the third floor," Narcissa said simply. "And bring me all of the healer elvse required. I want this to be smooth-"
They're whisked away to her bedroom, the one she had grown up in. And it is the same as from when she was a child. Her teddy bear abandoned on the floor, collecting dust, a few pieces of clothing.
"When the elves say to push, push, dear one, do you understand?"
"Push?" Scarlett asked, confused. "I... I don't understand. Why am I pushing?"
The look on Narcissa's face told her that it wasn't a good thing she didn't know what that meant.
And then the scene changed to later and Scarlett felt her eyes tear up yet again at the little boy Narcissa held wrapped in a blanket - the white baby blanket Scarlett had grown up with.
"It's a boy," Narcissa whispered as the child's wails died down to a hiccup. "Would you like to hold him?"
Scarlett looked worried, but accepted the child from Narcissa's arms, her hair damp against her face and she looked positively dreadful, but content as she stared at the dark tan child in her arms, the fluff of dark hair looking just as happy as Scarlett seemed to be in that moment.
"Isn't he beautiful?" Narcissa whispered. "What will you name him?"
"I don't know," Scarlett admitted. "What are boy names?"
"There is Adrian, Brandon, Tyler, Michael, Brutus-"
"Tyler," Scarlett whispered softly. "I like Tyler."
"Then we'll call him Tyler," Narcissa promised, a warm smile on her face. "You should rest... you're tired and he will be asleep... I'll take care of him while you're out."
Scarlett felt tears in her eyes suddenly. "Don't let Master take him... please."
"I won't," Narcissa promised. "Lucius won't take him from you."
She was sitting in the kitchen, her baby blanket wrapped around the child as he seemed a tad older, a few months older, at least, and by the fire, tired, but savoring the warmth against his skin.
She glanced up as Lucius appeared, and the kitchen was empty, the elves off duty for the night. It was quite late. He seem startled to see her there, half to the pantry for a snack, it seemed.
"What are you doing here?" he asked carefully, and Scarlett didn't know if he was angry or curious.
"I-I'm sorry, Master. It was selfish of me. I shouldn't be here- Tyler likes the warmth of the fire-" The look he sent her shut her up. "Forgive me," she murmured, biting her lip as she kept her eyes downcast.
"Why is he not in your room?"
"It's cold, Master," Scarlett whispered. "Not-not that I'm complaining. It's perfectly fine, Master... I - I like my room very much. But he cries in the cold, so I stay here for as long as I can... Forgive me, I ... I didn't mean to intrude upon your generosity-"
"Come with me."
Scarlett winced but nodded, following Lucius with shuffled steps, quick as he continued up the servant passageway, to the third floor. And then they were walking down the hall, which was all familiar. His steps were purposeful, angry, but he didn't take it out on her. He jerked open a door suddenly and gestured inside. "This will be your room for two months and two months only. Then, you will go to your room every night in the dungeons afterwards and not sit in front of the fire and waste my money with the firewood. Is that understood-"
Her new room? But it was her old room... "Yes, Master... Thank you, Master. You are very kind-"
But he was already walking away, and her praises were on deaf ears.
She was in her cell once more, sitting on her cot and giggling as the child cooed. But Scarlett was still caught up over the previous memory... She hadn't... she had lived in her cell the entirety of Tyler being there... what?
"Come on," Scarlett encouraged. "One step," she promised. "One step and we'll stop." The baby gurgled and she held its arms, the legs wobbling dangerously, and she giggled as the child only managed to swing its hips. His dark hair was curly, wildly on his head, and he had her eyes - her dark, dark eyes. "One step," she cooed.
"Mama!" Tyler cried and Scarlett giggled.
"Yes, I'm mama," Scarlett giggled. She gave up on the walking and tucked him onto the lumpy bed, tickling his belly. Shrieking laughter filled the cell and Scarlett laughed as well, before stopping and wrapping him in the blanket, seeing the goose-flesh appear on his skin. It was the only blanket in the room. She grabbed one of her dresses off of the chair beside her, and wrapped it around him as well, rocking him tightly to her chest, letting him drift off to sleep.
The bang of her cell door caused her to glance up, and he was staring at her with an intense hatred that made the laughter die in her throat. And the smile drop off of her face. She clutched Tyler tightly to her, waking him. "Wait," she said quietly. "Wait-" He took a few steps into the room, approaching her. She scrambled back, but there was nowhere to go. She was pressed up against the corner of a cold wall. Lucius grabbed the child from her, from her shocked arms, and Tyler immediately began to wail. "Wait! No, please!" Scarlett surged forward, grabbing the child back, clutching it tightly to her, stumbling as far as she could go, until she was against the grate and her wailing child was pressed up against her.
"Give it to me!" Lucius hissed. "This brat is just as filthy as you. I should have never allowed you to say - I should have left you to die - So I'm going to make it right. This child will be left to die-"
"No!" Scarlett cried. "P-please, I'll work extra. I'll work around the clock, I swear. Please, don't take him... Please, please." Tears were running down her face and she held Tyler so tightly to her, it was a wonder he wasn't injured. But the blonde man just stared at her as though he had never loved her, never loved anything about her. "When I was on your doorstep... you took me in... You let me stay with your family ... you could have let me die, but you didn't... you saw something... you have something inside of you - some compassion. Please, don't take Tyler... Please, he's all I have ... He's all I have left-"
The man's outstretched hand faltered as Scarlett sobbed, closing her eyes as if she could disappear. And the angry resolve on his face, the hatred, melted for a moment so that everyone could see a heartbroken man. And as soon as her eyes opened, it was back in place, firmly, once more.
"He will die here no matter what," Lucius hissed. "We either do it the harmless way, or we'll do it the painful. I've never heard a baby scream in pain, but we can-"
"No!" Scarlett sobbed. She shielded the child with her own body. "Please... Please, let me find a home for him, at least. A home and-and then you can kill me instead. Please-please, just give him a chance... He deserves a chance! You gave me one. You gave me a chance, and I was happy... I was so happy. You treated me like your own-" She sniffled, sobbing into the crying child's blanket. Her baby blanket. The white, dirty fabric with pink stitching. "I serve the house of Malfoy until my death," Scarlett whispered. "I serve you, but I am this child's mother and my child comes first." She took a step to the left, reaching under her pillow and drawing a knife. Narcissa had ordered it stay there. She raised it to her throat, making Lucius pause. "And I will serve the House of Malfoy until my death..."
"Yet you disobey a direct order to give me the child," Lucius hissed. "I don't have time for games. The child is needed for the Dark Lord's return-"
"He's just a child," Scarlett whispered. "He deserves so much more than me, I know that, Master, but... but he's all I have..." She moved the knife from her neck, and pointed it towards the silver man. "So you have to kill me first."
"Crucio!" The spell made Scarlett crumble to the ground, the knife clattering against the stone. She screamed, louder than the child in her arms screamed. And her grip had gone lax. It was how Lucius plucked the child once more from her and moved towards the door. A surge of adrenaline made Scarlett's legs move her towards the door, and she managed to slip out just as he slammed it shut.
"Please!" Scarlett begged, breathing heavily as they stared at one another. "Please-"
"Crucio."
She screamed in pain, and by the time she was released, he had disapparated into the night. The sob that left her was painful, it sounded like it was deep in her throat. "I'm sorry," she whispered into the stone floor. "I'm sorry... Tyler."
But the memory didn't end there. It continued, following Lucius.
They were in a Muggle neighborhood, and Lucius was breathing heavily as he glanced around, trying to shush the screaming child. "Mama!" Street signs... A city name. And a very distinct church. It was a place Scarlett could remember, if asked to look upon it. And suddenly Lucius was moving, towards the church, the harsh winter wind cutting into his robes.
When he reached the door, everyone scrambling to follow, he knocked twice, sharply and waited impatiently, his breathing still hard and fast. When the woman answered, a simple spell rendered her confused. "Oh, sir... do come in..."
She was elderly, perhaps in her late fifties, early sixties, and she shut the door behind Lucius as he entered the church, a home side, it seemed, as the room had a warm and cozy fire burning between a few couches.
Lucius passed her Tyler, withdrawing a letter from his robes. "You are to watch him," Lucius said firmly. The confundus charm seemed to be wearing off by the second and she was slowly turning more confused. "Is that understood?"
"Wha-?" The woman gave a shout of alarm as Lucius reached into his pocket. "Don't you dare draw a gun on me-" But it wasn't a gun. It was a locket with beautiful lily flowers etched into the surface and Lucius wrapped it once around Tyler's neck, opening it.
Scarlett's breath left her as she spotted a picture of Severus Snape on one end, and then on the other, the opposite picture, was Lily Evans... Lily Potter. She was beautiful, much like Scarlett had imagined, and she looked so much like Scarlett herself.
And suddenly Lucius's voice was speaking, but his mouth wasn't moving. It was like an overlay, and Scarlett knew it was the letter being read. Lucius pulled the blanket off of the child and the woman hurriedly reached for another, to wrap around the baby, to keep him warm.
Lucius folded it carefully, staring at the baby.
"To whoever you are... I never caught your names in my scouting, but I know that you will take care of him. His name is Tyler Prince and his birthday is August fourth, 1994. His mother is a sixteen year old girl that ... that is in a situation where she is unable to care for him. When she turns eighteen, she will be freed and... when she turns eighteen, she will learn of where he is, so she can find him. Raise him well, for her, because where she is, isn't the proper place for a child... Keep here for two years more, and I will financially compensate you with a million pounds each year. Use it for whatever you wish, but do not let Tyler out of your sight... They will look for him if they know you have him... His mother will come for him, in two years... and she will care for him once more... I have been watching you for a few months now, trying to determine if this is a safe place... And it is. You are kind people, who will only make sure there is kindness in this child. In two years, please give him to her, because I failed to let them have the life they deserved together... It's not safe for him... and it's not safe for her. And it's not safe for them to be together right now. It is troubling times that are brewing here, and she isn't aware yet... The money will be mailed to you discreetly, claim an anonymous donor. She will come for him... and Scarlett Snape will come here."
And as the letter concluded, Lucius strode from the home, not even caring to catch their names.
He knew? He knew this whole time? Her name... her family... She felt sick, dizzy... she needed to sit down. "Scarlett?" Cormac murmured, worried.
"Oh, my God," Scarlett whispered, stumbling. "Everything... Everything's been.. been a lie-" But the scene was changing again, and Scarlett was in the hall, her eyes red and scrubbing the floor with an anger that she hadn't been able to name.
Her eyes lifted at the approaching footsteps and her breath caught in her throat as she caught the bundled blanket in his arms. "Thank you, Ma-" The blanket dropped into her lap and her words died in her throat, the hope fading and sheer, utter agony crashed through her. She gathered the blanket in her arms clutching it to her chest and let out a sound so inhuman Lucius winced.
And then she was crying, burying her face into the blanket and she leaned forward until her forehead rested on the wet marble floor and her shoulders wracked with the agony tearing apart her soul. Her son... her son ... dead.
"What's the matter?" Narcissa demanded, rushing towards them. Her breath caught in her throat as she caught sight of Scarlett, sobbing as she clutched her blanket.
"It's done," Lucius said flatly.
Narcissa fell to the ground besides Scarlett, pulling her to her chest and hugged the girl to her, letting her cry, letting her hate the man that stood over the both of them. Because the hate was perfectly justified.
The scene changed to the master lounge once more, and Narcissa sighed as she entered the room.
"She's asleep," Narcissa stated quietly to Lucius. "Surely there was another way to do this... To let them go together."
"She's still a minor," Lucius stated. "She has some of the trace on her... We couldn't let her go, not until-"
"You could have told Severus," Narcissa said softly. "She's so broken, Lucius. I've never seen her cry like that... not even when she was a child... This has ruined her..."
"It had to be done," Lucius said firmly. "The Dark Lord will return soon, and when he does ... it's no place for a child."
"It's no place for her, either," Narcissa snapped. "I love her more than you'll ever understand, but... I would have let her go, if it meant she was safe too... I would have stayed with her, to keep the trace off of her-"
"Your absence would have been suspicious when the Dark Lord returned," Lucius interrupted.
"So what happens, then? When he does return, and she's still here? How will we get her out? It'll be noticed, Lucius," Narcissa said firmly. "We should have told Severus when we found her. We should never have hid it from him-"
"He wouldn't have kept her," Lucius snapped. "You know that. He was twenty two, newly appointed professor at Hogwarts... He wouldn't have time for a child, wouldn't have cared-"
"It was her child," Narcissa argued. "He would have cared... He would have worshiped her... She looks just like Lily... doesn't she? He would have known... She would have been the brightest of her age - look who she had for parents... She would have been loved, and cherished... he would have worshiped her. And what did we do? What did you do? You ruined her... You killed her spirit, her love, her good... All for what? Your own safety? Your own favor with the Dark Lord?"
"It's too late now," Lucius said simply. "He is gone, we kept her, and that's it."
"We should seal the memories," Narcissa said quietly. "Give them to her when it's time... If the Dark Lord were ever to learn about ... about the child? How she is Severus Snape and Lily Evan's child...? How she has a child? Do you know what he would do to them?"
"That's why Tyler's gone," Lucius ground out. "That's why we took him away from here."
"No, Lucius, that's why you ripped him from his mother's arms," Narcissa said sharply. "She's still here... She's still unprotected. He will find her... We can't have this information in our heads, do you understand, Lucius? He will kill us... or leave Severus to kill us..." Narcissa swallowed. "We'll seal the memories in a vial for her... and when the time is right, tell her everything."
"Everything," Lucius echoed.
The scene faded.
Scarlett looked frail in the halls, a shell, lifeless, overworked. She worked harder than she ever had in her life. She gasped as Lucius grabbed her suddenly, catching her by surprise, and shoved her against the wall. "You must look for him... look for Tyler, Scarlett... Once you're released... You only have a year left... I wish you would remember this conversation, but you won't... you can't... but I can't keep it in... When you find Severus, he will help you look with the memories. If the Dark Lord knew... if he knew you were Lily's daughter... he might kill you-" Scarlett looked absolutely terrified as the man kept talking. "And if he knew you were Severus's, he might not spare you either..." The man started to cry, tears escaping his cold gray eyes. "I was just trying to... to protect you... to keep you safe, hidden... so that no one would think twice about you... no one would look at you and know who you were... When you have this memory, I won't have it. And when I have it, you won't. I'll remove all of the memories of where Tyler is ... to keep him safe... But-" he hugged her suddenly, his wet face buried into her matted hair. "You'll always be my daughter... you'll always be my eldest child. Remember, whenever I hurt you... remember when you were little and I would care for you... because I'm so sorry-"
He pulled back from her suddenly, drawing in a haggard breath to straighten himself out. "I'm sorry.."
"Lucy?" Scarlett whispered, confused.
"Obliviate!"
She knew the next scene. It was only a few months ago, after all.
"Where are you going, you insolent wench?" The hall formed around them once more, and Scarlett had been scurrying, but stopped at the sound of Lucius's voice.
"I was off to polish the silver, Master," she answered quietly. "I have finished the ballroom."
"I believe that can wait." Scarlett swallowed. A Divindo charm was cast, slicing the skin of her forearm open, splashing blood on her dress. "How dare you talk to my son-"
"Forgive me, Master," the red-head begged, dropping to her knees besides the pale man. He raised his wand, about to take it to her face, when a voice interrupted her.
"Save the torturing for later, Lucius," a dark voice hissed into the darkness. Lucius listened, not lowering his wand, but neither attacking. "There are more important matters to attend to than to harm the help." The man appeared then, paper white, with glowing red eyes, just like the snake that slithered on the floor beside him. There were many men behind him, as well, in dark robes. Death Eaters, and the Dark Lord. "I'm not doubting that she deserves it but..." He trailed off as he drank in the sight of the bleeding girl, refusing to cry out as a quick charm sliced her cheek open. She clenched her jaw and looked down, away from the men before her.
"My Lord, she needs to learn her place."
"She's strong," the Dark Lord answered the unspoken question as to why he was stopping them from hurting her. He, himself, had just cut her face not even seconds before with a flick of his own wand. "Not even a single peep. Lucius, how long have you had her?"
"Since she was a filthy child, my Lord," Lucius answered. Scarlett noticed a tick of his jaw as he clenched his jaw. "Dumped here by her two Mudblood parents."
Laughs echoed throughout the dark hallway.
"She's a pretty one, isn't she?" The Dark Lord's wand made her rise without her permission and her eyes met the red ones. She didn't look away, even after the controlling Imperius curse was dropped. "What is your name, beautiful?"
"I have no name unless my Master permits it," the red head answered quietly. "I am no one, my Lord."
"And don't forget it," Lucius hissed.
"The girl's name, Lucius?" Voldemort snapped. Lucius cleared his throat, swallowing.
"Scarlett, my Lord," Lucius answered finally. The red-head girl's eyes turned to him in surprise.
"Scarlett," the Dark Lord murmured, as if tasting it on his tongue. "Her last, Lucius? She's much too pretty to be a Mudblood." Scarlett's gaze dropped to the Dark Lord's bare feet.
"No surname was given on her papers, my Lord. She's showed no signs of magic. She's a filthy Muggle, my Lord. She is of no value and cannot be used for anything useful. I only keep her around because she is easy on the eyes."
There was an inquisitive throat sound before a papery hand grabbed her chin roughly, jerking her head upwards.
Her eyes moved away from his after a moment of him watching her and she stared to the marble ground. He tightened his grip and hissed, "Look at me." She obliged, not fighting a single second. "She's very beautiful, Lucius. A touch of Lily Evans, wouldn't you say? I'd look into her parentage. She could be useful."
Lucius Malfoy's face briefly started with panic, but it was a smooth, calculated mask once more. Lucius simply nodded to the request.
"She's smart as well. Her thoughts tell me that much," the Dark Lord said as he released her chin. She swallowed, not lowering her gaze as he stepped back. "Look into her ancestry, Lucius. There is more to this girl that a simple dumping on the side of the road."
"Of course, my Lord."
There was silence a moment until Lucius barked, "Don't you have some cleaning to do?"
She gasped, grabbing the bucket beside her feet quickly. "I'm terribly, Master. I'll be going-"
"Quickly and stop wasting our time."
She nodded, "Yes, Master," before she hurriedly walked off. The men in the entourage laughed at her leaving and she felt her cheeks redden with a shame she was used to feeling.
"Come, my faithful followers," the Dark Lord's voice echoed in the halls.
And then it was her, her talking to the Dark Lord, the end of it all. Of the servitude to the Malfoy name.
"I said your best." The sharp tone made Scarlett flinch.
She straightened, curtsying as her eyes dropped to the ground. "My Lord, this is my best."
The Dark Lord wasn't pleased in the slightest. "Take me to where you keep your things. Show me what you have."
"I can bring them to you, my Lord," she spoke quietly, wincing as he stiffened in surprise. "Someone such as yourself should not walk down-"
"I wish to see," he requested. "Do not make me ask again."
"Yes, my Lord," she murmured. He gripped her arm, shoving her in front of him roughly, and forced her to lead him to her room. When he let go of her arm, it was when she stopped walking. The door wasn't anything much, showing just how much was inside. She pushed it open and stepped through. "I have all inside, my Lord."
He stepped through as well, his lip curling as he took hold of one of her gowns. It was one of her worst states, dried blood from her tortures staining the hemlines and bleach stains from washing all over the front. He gazed at her, "You live like a slave."
"I am a slave, my Lord."
"Were you sold to the Malfoys?"
"They were kind enough to take me in, my Lord."
"Then you are not a slave," he stated. "You are of Pureblood descent."
She bit her lip, lowering her eyes. "Possibly, my Lord."
"Why not demand more?"
"I have nothing to demand, my Lord," she answered. "I know nothing else but this life... I have been sworn to serve the Malfoys for my entire life-"
He gave her an amused smile, his small, round teeth grinning at her like a fool. "How thoughtful of you." He dropped the gown, his wand waving over the chair before the spell flicked at her. She flinched, as if expecting some punishment. Instead, she looked clean, healthy... but still incredibly skinny, pale, sick. Her hair was brushed down her back, impossibly long, and her dress and apron turned into a dark emerald gown that came mid-calf... brand new looking. "Much better." As she gazed down at herself, she gasped.
"My Lord, this is very... Thank you."
"I expect you in the foyer in fifteen minutes," he stated sharply. He moved from the room, walking briskly. "You are not to leave it until I deem it fit. Do as I say, and I will see to it that you are rewarded."
Scarlett nodded immediately, her eyes impossibly wide in disbelief. "Yes, my Lord. I understand."
And then the scene changed, to the Entrance Hall.
"Did you steal this dress from my wife?"
"No, Master," Scarlett gasped, offended, it seemed, as Lucius sneered down at her. The cane cracked across her cheek and she stumbled away from him, her hand clutching the mark on her cheek. One of his own hands grabbed the skirt of the gown and was ready to tear it from her body, when a voice spoke.
"She's not a servant anymore, Lucius, and I gave her the dress," the Dark Lord spoke. Lucius froze. "Isn't that how one frees a slave? Gift them with clothing. It is truly remarkable she obeyed at all, and didn't realize this." Scarlett was silent, not moving from her position a few feet from her Master, her hand still clutching her stinging cheek.
"Under my knowledge, My Lord-"
"She is of a Pureblood family, Lucius, she does not have any rights to be a servant," the Dark Lord intoned, leaving no room for argument. "Therefore, I will be making sure that this girl has the correct standards for a Pureblood. She will head to Hogwarts this year, Lucius. Severus, here, will teach her in all that she does not know." Scarlett looked up towards the Dark Lord, surprise in her eyes, and the pain from the smack numbing slightly.
"My Lord, she knows too much! She could be a valuable weapon against-" Lucius began to argue.
"She knows nothing, Lucius," the Dark Lord hissed. "Severus, I trust the lessons to start tonight, if you will." The Dark Lord stepped towards Scarlett, pulling her arm from her face. "Follow Severus. He will be teaching you what you need to know."
And they were free.
When they were spit out, Blaise was already moving, bottling the memories back up.
"I don't understand," Scarlett murmured quietly. "It wasn't like that... I never went to the third floor bedroom again... He never cared... he never showed me he cared-"
Everyone seemed in shock, processing the memories still, except for Blaise, who yanked her to her feet. He pressed the vial into her hands. "Go to Severus. Show him the memories... And he'll know what to do next, okay?" she nodded, still breathing hard as she tried to think, tried to focus. "If he takes you to Tyler, you make sure he's safe, okay? You make sure he's safe-"
"He's safe," Scarlett whispered. She gave something between a laugh and a sob. "He's safe, Blaise-"
"Go to Severus," Blaise interrupted sternly. "Go, now, before curfew."
"But the memories..." Scarlett whispered, swallowing. "The memories, Blaise... All the memories were fake. All the hate... He was trying to.. to protect me... to protect Tyler-"
"Go to Severus," Blaise said louder, shaking her shoulders to get her to focus on him. "Scarlett. Stop, stop and look at me."
"Oi, mate-" Ron said, standing.
"Go to Severus," Blaise said firmly. "Push it from your mind and focus, okay? You can do it. Go to Severus, run, and he'll take you to Tyler-"
"But what about you-"
"This is something you need to do," Blaise insisted. "Go, Scarlett."
She nodded, throwing her necklace around her neck, and then she grabbed her wand, her feet taking her from the room faster than anyone else could move.
"Bloody hell," Seamus muttered. "I might need more firewhiskey."
Harry suddenly dug into his pocket, pulling out the parchment that he carried around everywhere. A map. He placed it beside the pensieve, knocking a few shot glasses out of the way. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good," Harry mumbled. The ink appeared and he tore away at it, trying to locate them, and he found Scarlett running through the halls, turning haphazardly. "She's almost there."
"She looked like a bloody first year!" Ron cried, pointing his wand at Draco. "You sick fuck, how could you let that happen-?"
"What was I going to do, Weasley?" Draco shot back. "Look up dad's best mates, three times older than me and beg them not to hurt the pretty girl-"
"It was Crabbe and Goyle, you bastard!" Ron shouted.
"I wasn't there, Weasley!" Draco cried. "I was in Italy, alright? I wasn't there. And Crabbe and Goyle didn't know I wasn't there so they went looking for me and they found her." Ron swallowed, his purple face turning to a more healthy shade of red.
But it was Blaise Zabini that concerned Ginny, and she rose, pushing between Draco and Ron, and approached the boy that was breathing hard. "You okay, Zabini?"
Zabini exhaled, his fists clenching. "No. No, I'm not."
The door slammed shut with his exit and Draco Malfoy swallowed. "Right, that's my cue. Not determined to be the only snake in the lions den." Ginny watched them confused, and then turned back to the Gryffindors, all staring in shock.
"She's with Snape," Harry stated. "Just got there... I think her side's hurting, though, because she kept stopping."
Ginny glanced towards Ron, then Seamus. "Alright, I'm up for another round. Anything to chase down what I just saw."
"I didn't know it was that bad," Neville said quietly. "I mean, I kind of knew, you know? She gets that look in her eye sometimes like she's remembering something horrible, but... I didn't think it was that."
Ginny poured them all a glass, and offered one to Cormac, who had been mostly silent. He took it, but didn't drink. "Longbottom's right... You don't think they still haunt her, do you? The memories?"
"I think..." Ginny sipped from her glass, hesitating. "I think when she sees Tyler in person... it won't haunt her as much."
"She had no idea about some of them," Harry said quietly. "She... she looked so confused. I kept looking at her when we were in there. And she either remembered the memory, or she didn't... like something was different. They kept obliviating her, kept doing good things for her and then hiding them... That had to keep killing her... I mean, the only family you've ever known, and they one day decide to hate you? And then... all of the sudden, she's thrown into this whirlwind of ... I have a son, but he's dead, but then he's not, but then I don't remember..."
"Bloody emotional range of a teaspoon would probably have done her better than that emotional range women have, because bloody hell, I think my head would have exploded... or fallen off."
"She wanted him to kill her first, before he took her son," Seamus spoke up. "Do you think she still believed that? I mean, not now, obviously. She doesn't think that now, but a month ago? That she'd rather be dead than Tyler?"
"I think any mother would rather be dead than their own son," Ginny admitted. "I know Mum would in a heartbeat, if she knew the rest of us were safe. And I think Scarlett would have gladly sacrificed herself, if it meant Tyler could live alright."
"How many times do you think she's been tortured?" Cormac asked quietly. "I mean, not like... emotionally or anything, but... like Cruciatus and ... and everything."
"I don't know, mate," Neville said quietly. "But I know my parents only lasted seven minutes under it. To have thirteen years of that?" He shivvered, chasing it down with a shot of firewhiskey.
"She's bloody brave, I'll tell you that," Seamus said after a minute. "You know how Wizarding marriages are... you don't think she's going to marry Zabini, do you? Not now, but later?"
"No," Cormac spoke. He swallowed when eyes darted to him. "She told me. They already talked about it, apparently. . . They're only friends." He blinked at everyone staring at him. "What? We talk about things... Merlin, what do you talk to her about? Homework? Bloody hell, no wonder all you do is fight with her."
"We talk to her!" Ron cried. "About stuff," he faltered. "Like... Tyler."
Cormac raised an eyebrow. "And her favorite color?"
"Purple?" Harry guessed.
Cormac snorted, but knocked back the alcohol in his hand. "No, Potter. Definitely not purple. Dark red, the same color as her hair." He smirked at the flush that coated Ron's face. "That's why she likes to say in the Common Room for as long as she can." He set the glass down, standing up. "I'm going to bed. She won't be back for a little while."
Ginny followed him, mumbling the same excuse and she grabbed his shoulder, hesitating when he turned, their secret passage to the Common Room sealing behind them. "I know you two are ... dating," Ginny said carefully. "But don't screw up... She doesn't need anything else happening to her that breaks her heart, okay? No shagging Lavender or anything or... or dumping her when she doesn't want to shag or something, alright?"
Cormac frowned. "I'm not going to do that to her... bloody hell, what kind of tosser do you think I am?"
"That's what you did to Brown, it's what you did to Parvati and Padma, and Eloise, and Hannah-"
"I get it," Cormac snapped. He jerked out of her grip on his shoulder. "I'm not going to hurt her, alright, Weaslette? She's... different." And it looked as though it pained him to admit. "Alright?"
"Because if I find out you did hurt her, what I did to Brown will seem like a slap, you got that?"
"Loud and clear," Cormac muttered.
And they went their separate ways, both knowing that Scarlett was in good hands.