Did you know Uno was invented in 1971. fun fact for y'all

If you guys are not happy with the amount of coverage for second year please review and tell me because I'm happy to do more flashback spread out through the story.

All belong's to jk except Atria, she's mine.

Continuing into Second yea.


March 29

Tom Riddle was a cruel boy.

Tom Riddle was possessive, Tom Riddle alienated her from everything and made sure she had no one she could talk to.

He never let her leave her room or go to the feasts. She went to class and proved his point that no one cared, because no one noticed how her skin became tight around her cheeks, or how her eyes sunk back into her skull making her look like a walking corpse. He made her listen to every insulting and degrading thing he had to say about her, and she slowly forgot what it was like to have a mind of her own. Her brain now felt similar to that of a crowded room. Where only one should reside, there were now two.

Before it had all began, Atria had always been able to push everything back and think only of the present, not her past. But with Tom, he shoved them all forward, All her worst thoughts and memories were on repeat, constantly playing before her eyes. She could no longer sleep, she was afraid of nightmares, she now lived them over and over again even while conscious. Her mind was alive but all life was constantly being drained from her and to Tom.

She had few fleeting moments when her body was her own, small amounts so no one would notice the silent brooding that went on in what was once her own mind. But other than that, she was drowning in her mind, trapped as he laid waste to her. And she learnt to do what he wanted, not to fight back against his hold, because if she didn't listen to him, he would only hurt her more.

He swung her head into the wall until she was concussed. He made her hold her breath until the veins in her head would surely explode. He held her head under the bathwater until her lungs almost took the needed gasp of air.

She needed an escape. She needed him out, but every time she tried to take her life back, he was there once again to snatch it away from her.

But she had a plan, she knew what she had to do. Simply lead the way for someone else to stop him.

She held the folded piece of paper in her hand as she walked quickly through the library.

'Don't do it Atria.'

'I'll make you regret it.'

'The Mudblood will pay for your actions. '

'Is that what you want Atty?'

'To make others pay for your failures?'

She walked past the desk Hermione had just left, leaving her belongings and the pages of her book open. Atria placed the folded page on the open book before walking away quickly, as to not be seen.

Hermione walked back towards her desk having found the book she was looking for. She sat back at her desk but something caught her observing eye. A folded piece of parchment lying in her open book. She looked around to see if anyone was watching her, anyone who would have left her a note. She never got notes.

She opened the folded piece of parchment to look at the page.

A page on basilisks, so someone else was looking into the chamber of secrets. But a single word was written at the bottom of the page, underlined in attention. Pipes


March 30

Hermione lay now in a hospital bed along with her other victims. The four students lay in their petrified poses stiff on their beds.

'It's all your fault' Tom whispered in the depths of her mind.' She's there because of you.'

Atria approached the frozen girl slowly her eye glazed over and mouth open in awe

'I tried to warn you Atty.'

'I always win.'

"Please stop this," Atria whispered under her breath, brushing her tear away with the back of her hand.

'Because you're in the position to ask favours of me,' he hissed menacingly.

And once again the smoke filled her senses and she lost all control.


April 14

Atria wrapped herself in her bathrobe after she had showered, she tried to suppress the sobs she knew would eventually make their way out.

But as she looked at her sickly form in the mirror she could not help the loud sob that shook her body to its core. She could barely recognise her self, while her life had never been ideal right now she would give anything to go back to it. Her cries came to an immediate stop when a knock sounded against the door.

Daphne stood on the other side of the door, she woke up late realizing Atria was not yet in bed, She then heard Atria's small cries and moved straight away. "Atria what's going on?"

Atria knew she had milliseconds at most but she was not hopeless yet, "Daphne," she attempted to cry out to the girl but her own body betrayed her. Her hand flew to her mouth blocking the sound before it could fully escape and tightening in case she attempted anymore.

"Atria are you alright?" Daphne asked leaning against the bathroom door.

Atria felt Tom slip into place as puppet master before the string's tightened and she was no longer in control.

"Atria are you.." But Daphne was not given the chance to finish. The door swung open and Atria stood almost cheerfully and Daphne almost would have believed her if not for her angry bloodshot eyes.

"I'm fine, Just tired," was Atria's shallow response before she walked out from the bathroom and climbed into bed.

"Are you sure?" Daphne asked suspiciously, "if you need to talk.."

"I'm fine Daphne." Atria interrupted looking away from Daphne, comfortably in her bed, "Now go to bed, you're going to wake everyone up."

And when Atria flicked her wand, extinguishing all lights Daphne knew the conversation was over.


May 18

Draco and Atria had been Arguing, it had been happening a lot more this year than it had last year. Every time it happened she could feel Tom slowly losing more patience with Draco and she felt his magic pulling through her, about to burst out and tear her cousin to pieces. She had worked hard to keep Tom away even if only for a day more. But she feared this time he may not let go and when she felt Tom slip into her mind she knew she had failed.

"I'm fine Draco?" Atria said as the two children sat in the corner of the common room, Atria pretending to read a book, shaking off his presence.

"Let me take you to the hospital wing Atty you look ill, and it's not just today or this week. For months. You look like a corpse."

"You're being dramatic," Atria said in a dismissive tone, In a way very unlike her.

"No, I'm not," Draco snapped,"Atty I'm just trying to help."

"Well I don't need your help," she hissed at him cruelly.

He looked at her as if she had just said the most ludicrous thing before ripping into her on a tangent, "Your skipping meals, you oversleep every morning, you're missing classes and I don't care if you think you don't need my help but you need someone to help you."

She rolled her eyes and his ears picked up on the small scrape of gritted teeth.

"What is so wrong about me caring?" Draco asked, shaking his head at her.

"Maybe you do a little too much," Atria said under her breath just loud enough for him to hear.

"What's that suppose to mean?" Draco sad his voice filled with revolt, "Atria what's gotten into you?"

"Nothing as I said before I'm fine."

"No you're not fine, you're sick now come on, if you don't come with me to the hospital wing now, I'll have no choice but to get professor Snape." He moved to take hold of her wrist but as his fingers brushed her flesh he felt himself fly backwards into the wall landing hard on his back. His vision began to spot as he sat up to see Atria slowly walking towards him, wand in hand.

"No Draco. You see, Atty and I aren't finished yet," Her voice spoke slowly. Draco knew his cousin, not just emotionally but characteristically. She spoke with a firm softness and timid confidence. She was not cruel or demanding. She was serene in everything she did. And as he watched her speak and approach him now. He backed away as he caught her malicious gaze, This was not his cousin. She giggled at his attempt to escape before speaking to herself more than him,"And I can see you won't be letting this go anytime soon, so maybe a bit more force is needed, But then again you would run to the first person you see."

She pointed her wand between his eyes before whispering the spell, "Obliviate."


April 27

The collection of Hogwarts ghost gained another member in Atria Alphia Black. Tom had become crueler, more powerful and more dangerous. Her life was now a never ending loop of the same day over and over again. Absolute darkness. Tom didn't even let her watch, she was shoved into a part of her mind where any sense of time or space was no longer accessible to her. Her body slept, woke up and acted as human as possible before doing it all over again the next day.

No one noticed, she was just another student rushing to class or brooding after having have had a bad day.

She only saw herself in the small moment's Tom left to her. But it was more a taunt, than an act of mercy. He allowed her to see herself slowly deteriorate as she grew skinner and she watched as her body became more morose.

The school year began to reach it's close and she felt the climax of this tale coming to a dangerous end, four attacks on muggle students later and her morality no longer even felt existent, she wished to feel but you needed a mind to feel and she was not in possession of one of those. But she felt Tom's excitement in everything he did now and knew it was only a matter of time.


Into The Chamber

She walked down the dank chamber, the pathway was lined with large pillars and pools of water leading her to her destination.

She reached the centre and stood perfectly still, her chest barely moving with her breath.

And then it all stopped, her heart, her breath and for a moment she was dead. Like an oil spill, an inky black mist poured from her nose, from her eyes, from her ears before spilling from her pours, her body quivering with its power. Her body burnt, It felt like acid had been poured over her and was burning away her very essence. The thick fog stopped her from breathing, cutting off her airway like thick smog making it impossible for a single sound to escape.

The smoke filled the space around her and she fell to her knees before slumping to the ground completely. And for the first time and a long time Atria was left alone in her body and the last thing she saw was the black mist taking shape, a silhouette of darkness forming before she closed her eyes.


Atria's eyes burned as she opened them to the cool air. Her body stung as she moved to sit up and she was somewhat confused by her surroundings. But it didn't take her long to remember. She leapt quickly to her feet, A room of stone and water surrounded her and she turned quickly to come face to face with large frightening statue. The large chamber made her feel even smaller while under its roof. Her eyes darted around as they snapped onto a dark shape in the corner.

A dark figure stood in the corner of the room his face hidden from sight, in the shadows and mist.

This person's presence was familiar, something about him felt comforting but all while being malicious. Her body moved forward. She needed to be closer to him but she stopped herself as she remembered where she had felt this familiarity before. The energy in the room matched that of which she felt the entire year.

"Tom?" Atria asked the dark shadow.

He moved forward into the Light. A handsome young boy, with strong but still delicate features, soft black hair and dark eyes, "Hello, Atty."

Atria took a step backwards as he approached her. She trembled under his intense gaze as he took step after step towards her which she mirrored with a step back.

She watched him move in frightened awe,"How?" She asked speechlessly.

"How what? How am I here?" She slowly nodded at him.

"Trust me when I say it was no easy triumph," He watched as she backed further and further towards the wall, her eyes darting all over the place, trying to locate an exit or escape.

"There's no way out Atty," he said, finding humour in her hopeless attempts, "Well, there is," he said, closing in on his prey, "But you won't be needing it."

Her back hit the stone, she watched as the vessel of her demise moved closer.

"I'm not going to hurt you Atty," Tom said holding up his hands as he moved closer, his lips turned up in a small and charming smile. He kept walking closer, lowering his hands when he was so close to completely obscure her vision.

Her head was bowed, her hair a curtain around her face. Her eyelids quivered, barley open and he could see her muttering under her breath, like a child trying to assure themselves it was only a bad dream. He was so close, She could feel his breath brush her cheek making her flinch. He scoffed at her timidness, "So weak."

Her lip trembled as she gulped before asking, still refusing to look at him. "Why am I here Tom?"

His hand moved forward slowly but her head flinched away. He let out a dark hum, he always enjoyed it more when she was frightened. His hand continued, tucking the hair that hung in front of her face behind her ear. "Because I still need you," he said smiling gently down at her, before moving away. She watched as he paced. He was an unusual boy. She knew that. His mood changed with the wind and so did his actions. He was unpredictable as if he didn't even know what he would do next, and it scared her.

"There's something missing, while I feel stronger it's not the same as it was before. I need more."

She raised her head watching as he stared at her with a sick hunger that made her even more nervous than before, "More what?" she asked quietly.

"Power, life," he said trying to find the right word for what he craved, "Soul."

"Soul?" She repeated back to him, shaken by the word.

He nodded to her, walking closer his mind playing out sinister deeds, "That's why I need you," he said kindly before contiuing. "Your deepest fears, your darkest secrets, your nightmares, every little thought gave me more strength. You feel things with such an intense deepness and it was better than I ever expected. And when you felt fear." He smiled in recollection as if recalling a pleasant memory. "Fear is a much stronger emotion than believed, and it fed me slowly. And while it was not what I expected, it was what I needed and once you started I couldn't let you go, your fear was addictive. It gave me the power I needed to rid myself from the diary and then from you. And now I'm once again whole."

Their eyes met, and he took one step forward but she knew better. She would not let him get to her. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her, but with a flick of his wand, well her wand, as she came to realise, her feet fell out from under her before she felt her self being dragged back to him. She was flipped onto her back staring up as Tom glared down at her.

"YOU POURED OUT YOUR SOUL TO ME!" he yelled at her furious at her attempts of escape, "IT'S AS MUCH MINE NOW AS IT IS YOURS!"

She scurried away from him standing on wobbly legs as he moved on her, a ferocious glint in his eyes.

"Tom please, don't do this I-" she began to beg, but his hand flew to her mouth before swinging her face away pushing her to the hard ground.

She turned quickly, afraid to keep her back to him only to come face to face with a drawn wand pointed at her. "You can't fight this Atty," he said persistently, "You've put too much into the diary, into me. You're no match."

"Tom please I did everything you asked," Atria said tearfully her body shaking with adrenaline ready to run, but knowing she would not get far.

"AND IT WASN'T ENOUGH!" he screamed at her causing her to cringe away from his booming voice. But his demeanour changed back to calm and collected, as if he had never been angry at all, almost soft and caring he told her gently. "Don't worry it won't be long now and then it will all be over, isn't that what you wanted."

Her head shook. This wasn't happening. But it was. She was about to die, and the first person she had come to trust blindly and completely was going to do it. Her eyes stayed stuck on his wand as the last few tears of acceptance run down her cheeks and with a flick of his wand everything went black.


Atria's eyes opened slowly to peace and the echoing sounds of running water. She lifted her head from the wet stone ground and remembered why she was there, lifting her head in alarm. Her head ached at the quick movement, but she pushed through, her eyes settled on a small figure near her.

"Harry," Atria asked softy.

Harry was looking down in deep thought, he turned to her his eyes widening in shock, "Atria." He said moving closer to her as she sat on the ground, "you're okay," He said looking at her as if a miracle had just been performed.

Atria's guilt filled her as she saw the dirt and blood covering boy in front of her, "I didn't mean to do it, Harry." She said forcefully her eyes panicked and manic in their movement.

"I swear I didn't," she continued through her pounding head, "Riddle made me, He..." He what? Lied to her, She was dumb enough to believe him, she was to blame for this whole thing and she knew it, she couldn't blame Tom for her own stupid mistakes.

Atria looked as Harry placed his hand over hers in a comforting manner, which she did not deserve. And only then did she see the bloody and open gash on Harry's arm,"Harry what.."

"Sshhh it's okay, your safe but you need to get out of here."

"But Harry, your arm," The wound already looked infected and sickly, she needed to get him to the hospital wing.

A squawk sounded through the huge room as a bright firebird flew from the rocky cavern with wide wings before landing next to the pair.

Atria and Harry both watched as Fawkes swooped down next to Harry, his head tilting from side to side as he watched Harry's injured arm. The bird slowly lowered his head before his eyes watered and slow tears fell from the bird's beak. Atria and Harry both watched, entranced as they dripped to Harry's arm and his skin slowly morphed.

"Phoenix tears," Atria whispered under her breath, as she watched the skin on Harry's arm mend itself until the flesh was fresh and clean.

Her head began to sting even more. She couldn't explain it but it was like all the roads of her mind where disconnected, and every time she tried to follow them though she fell off the edge plummeting back into nothingness. It was only until she fought her way through was it that she remembered.

"Harry where's Tom?" She asked, alarmed as her eyes darted around the room trying to spot the other young man.

"You don't have to worry about him. He can't hurt you anymore," Harry said softly giving her a small smile, "He's gone," He said holding up the destroyed diary for her to see.

Atria let out a breath of relief, looking at the torn diary. Could this be it? After a whole year of suffering and anguish, could she finally be free?

But her lungs felt too full like the air was too spacious in her chest. Her head began to sting, to ache until she could no longer see past the pain. Her head fell back as she collapsed back to the floor and the last thing she heard was Harry's concerned shout.


The Hospital Wing

Atria's eyes blinked open slowly as she lay on a comfortable surface. Her sight was fuzzy and the light was blinding as she closed her eyes to return to darkness again.

"Is she waking up?" a faint voice spoke as she finally started to hear clearly. Daphne?

"Shhh," She heard someone hush the other voice.

"Atria?"

She opened her eyes slowly and came face to face with Draco as she groggily let out a deep breath. "Atria," he said leaning over her his face full of concern,"Madam Pomfrey she's awake!" Draco screamed as she heard a pair of heels walk towards her.

"Move out of my way," Madam Pomfrey demanded, pushing Draco out of her way before leaning over Atria.

"Atria dear?" she heard madam Pomfrey say, "Try keeping your eyes open."

Atria listened to the women as she began to mumble under her breath confused by her surroundings, all of a sudden a phial was brought to her lips.

"Swallow this, alright dear," Atria tasted the bitter potion as it went down her throat and after a few seconds, her head no longer felt like it had been bashed against a wall.

"Now let's try to sit up alright," she said sweetly, her soft hands assisting Atria into a seated position.

Within the hour she was a lot better, after having had been fed a small army of potions and she began to feel somewhat healthier. But just as she had begun to relax she heard close footsteps.

The curtains were pulled back to reveal Dumbledore and Severus Snape, "Miss Black, "Dumbledore said cheerfully as they closed the curtains behind them.

"Can't the questions wait a moment, this child has been through an ordeal, she's exhausted, sleep-deprived and feverish, it will take her a long time to recover fully," Madame Pomfrey began closing the curtain behind her as she too entered.

"I apologise, Poppy but they can't, may we have the space," Dumbledore said gracefully.

Madam Pomfrey stood stiffly before looking to Atria, addressing the two men, "If my patient feels she is up to it then yes," she turned to Atria waiting for the young girl's answer.

"It's fine," Atria said to madam Pomfrey as the older women gave a soft smile nodding, "alright then if you change your mind just give me a call alright," She pulled the curtains closed around them leaving the three alone in privacy.

"Poppy tells me she is fairly happy with your recovery, " Dumbledore said cheerfully.

"Yes, I'm feeling much better, sir."

"Do you know why we're here Miss Black?" Dumbledore asked calmly as to not scare the already shaken girl.

"I think so sir," She said, "About the diary?"

"Yes. Miss Black, I must ask," He began as he sat down on the end of her bed," How did the diary come to be in your possession, do you remember who gave it to you and where you may have found it."

"I don't think I can remember," she said timidly looking down at her quilt picking at a loose thread.

Severus and Dumbledore shared a look before Severus stepped forward "Miss Black?" He addressed her. She looked up to the greasy haired man as he began to explain, "You have no obligation to tell us anything but if there was perhaps a reason or even a person who you felt would cause you harm if you shared with us where you got the diary we would like you to tell us now."

She couldn't help but glare at him as both knew there was no trust between them and if she were to tell anyone it would not be him.

"I told you, I don't remember," she said still pulling at the loose thread.

"Alright," Dumbledore said sensing her distress but the disappointment was evident on his face.

Atria looked down before asking her professors softly, "Who knows?"

Dumbledore smiled at her before reassuring her, "No one who doesn't need too."

"My family?" Atria asked turning to Snape knowing if anyone was going to tell Lucius it would be him.

"They have yet to be informed, but your uncle had been sent for and will be coming in later today and will be told," Snape told her, stone faced an apologetic at the fact.

"Is that necessary?" She asked with a shake in voice, her lower lip trembling slightly at the thought.

"Well as your guardians they have a right to know," he said slowly.

Atria nodded her lowered head, hiding her tears before agreeing with him, "Yes of course."

"Miss Black, are you alright," Dumbledore asked concern written in his old features as he watched the visibly frightened girl.

"I'm fine," she said giving a small teary eyed smile to assure the old man but doing the complete opposite, "I'm just tired." She shook her head, shaking off the feeling, "Can we maybe finish this later?"

"Of course," Dumbledore said raising himself from the bed before nodding to Snape leaving with Snape.

But the headmaster remained after her head of house had left, "Miss Black," he said, "I understand you have been though a terrible year but there is no shame in asking for help if it is needed."

"Thank you, sir, but truly I'm fine."

He nodded to her before he too joined Snape on the other side of the curtain.

Atria threw herself back on her pillow letting out a nervous breath. She was safe for now and while she slowly drifted off into a calm sleep she knew in the back of her mind she was not free yet.


The Headmaster's Office

"Well?" said Mr Malfoy sharply. "Who is it?"

"The same person as last time, Lucius," said Dumbledore, "But this time, Lord Voldemort was acting through somebody else. By means of this diary."

He held up the small black book with the large hole through the centre, watching Mr Malfoy closely. Harry, however, was watching Dobby.

The elf was doing something very odd. His great eyes fixed meaningfully on Harry, he kept pointing at the diary, then at Mr Malfoy, and then hitting himself hard on the head with his fist.

"I see. . . " said Mr Malfoy slowly to Dumbledore.

"A clever plan," said Dumbledore in a level voice, still staring Mr Malfoy straight in the eye. "Because if Harry here" -Mr. Malfoy shot Harry a swift, sharp look - "and his friend Ron hadn't discovered this book, why - your niece might have taken all the blame. No one would ever have been able to prove she hadn't acted of her own free will ...

Mr Malfoy said nothing. His face was suddenly masklike.

"And imagine," Dumbledore went on, "if Harry had not reached her in time it may have been too late."

Mr Malfoy forced himself to speak, "Very fortunate," he said stiffly.

And still, behind his back, Dobby was pointing, first to the diary, then to Lucius Malfoy, then punching himself in the head.

And Harry suddenly understood. He nodded at Dobby, and Dobby backed into a corner, now twisting his ears in punishment.

"Don't you want to know how it was possible for your niece to get her hands on such a dark artefact one that she could not have acquired on school grounds?" said Harry.

Lucius Malfoy rounded on him.

"How should I know how she got a hold of it," he said.

"Because you gave it to her," said Harry.

"I did no such thing, that is my niece you are talking about Potter. Why on earth would I give her such deadly object," he hissed.

Lucius Malfoy stood for a moment, and Harry distinctly saw his right hand twitch as though he was longing to reach for his wand. Instead, he turned to his house-elf

"We're going, Dobby!"

He wrenched open the door and as the elf came hurrying up to him, he kicked him right through it. They could hear Dobby squealing with pain all the way along the corridor. Harry stood for a moment, thinking hard. Then it came to him.

"Professor Dumbledore," he said hurriedly. "Can I give that diary back to Mr Malfoy, please?


The Hospital Wing

Atria tossed and turned in the uncomfortable hospital bed but the real reason she was unable to sleep was the loud, angry and hysteric voices of the other children in the hospital wing.

Atria stood from her bed and her small feet hit the cold stone floor as she moved to the curtains that surrounded her bed, pulling them back.

Just as she was about to berate her fellow students, her eyes fell on an unlikely bunch and her heart froze and the blood rushed from her face as she came face to face with the once petrified children.

Hermione Granger, Justin Finchfletchly, Colin Creevy and Penelope Clearwater. The four students sat around a hospital bed, cards in hand as they all looked too Atria.

"Hello," Justin said kindly

"Hello," Atria said softly as the hoard of Muggleborns stared her down.

"Atria isn't it?" Penelope asked softly as Atria tried to hide her anxiety.

"yes," she said nervously tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

"What are you doing here?" Justin asked her in query, as the others looked at her.

"Just a bit ill." She lied, They all seemed to buy her answer except her Hermione who refused to look at Atria.

"Do you want to play?" asked an excited Colin, the first year Gryffindor, blind to society's prejudice. He received a group of odd stares after inviting one of the most high status, pureblood/Slytherin student into a game with Muggleborns. He raised the cards in his hands. They were odd cards of bright colours and by the screaming, she had heard from beyond her curtain it was a rough game indeed.

"What is it?" Atria asked staring down the cards I'm his hand trying to work out what game it was.

"It's called Uno," Justin answered, "It's a muggle game."

"I don't know how to play."

"That's fine." he said, "We'll teach you if you want, come sit."

Atria moved forward timidly before Colin moved over from his place on the end of the bed making room for her to sit next to him.

"Okay, so this is how you play?" Justin began to explain.

Three games later, the mood in the room had shifted completely to disbelief and awe. Atria placed her second last card down preparing to bring the game to a close.

"Uno," Atria said holding a single card in her hand as the rest looked at her with their card filled hands mouths open in shock. The four Muggleborns showed an array of emotions. Anger, disbelief, frustration, Hopelessness.

The room sat in silence as the four students looked at the single card in atria's hand. "How?" Hermione asked her.

"It makes no sense," Justin added on running a hand over is frazzled brow.

Atria simply shrugged eyeing her finale card, "Beginners luck."

"But that's our third game and you've won them all," Penelope said as she tried to sort her seventeen card hand.

Justin slowly put down his card handing the game to Atria.

Atria placed her red two over his green two before holding up her empty hands, "Done I win," she said smiling over to a shocked Justin to which he returned with his own.

Justin's eyes drifted around the group before scooping up the card in his hand and beginning to shuffle the deck. "Well, another one then and we'll see just how long your luck lasts."

Atria gave a small smile before standing from the bed, "I would, but I'm feeling a bit tired I might go lie down for a bit."

"She just knows she can't win another round," Penelope said teasingly as she leant back in her chair.

"Whatever you say scaredy-cat." Colin said, poking out his tongue.

She closed the curtains around her and stood for a moment, evil, rats, parasites the children on the other side of that curtain were no different than the ones she had grown up with. No, that was wrong, they were better. They had invited someone who would have never done the same over to them and included her instead of excluded her. She had, had fun, real fun. Not enjoyment or pleasantness, but fun, and she hadn't had fun in a long time. She climbed into her bed as guilt once again engulfed her, She almost ended their lives, solely based on the basis of blood. And she felt disgusted, not with her uncle, or Tom, but with herself. She climbed under the covers but was disturbed before she could put her head to the pillow.

"Atria?"

"Hey Hermione" Atria said timidly as Hermione moved upon her.

Hermione stood for a moment, she looked to contemplating saying something but she decided against it, simply walking up to Atria and handing her a folded piece of paper.

"Thank you," she said kindly, "I have to admit, even I didn't think of pipes."

Atria looked at the parchment in her hand before looking at Hermione, "How did you know?"

Hermione shrugged before replying, "I asked for the book and found you where the last person to check it out at the library."

She then turned to leave, but Atria stopped her, "Hermione, I'm really sorry," Atria said apologetically.

"Why?" Hermione asked as if Atria was being silly, "it's wasn't your fault."

But it was.


Atria sat in the hospital bed eating away at the food on her plate. It felt like it had been years since her last full meal, she could feel the muscle coming back on her bones with every bite.

"Mr Malfoy stop!"

Hermione's head raised, as she watched a red-faced Lucius Malfoy, no house-elf by his side, as he stormed into the hospital room, his leather shoes clomping loudly on the stone floor for all to hear, Ripping back the curtains that concealed his resting niece

"Uncle?" Atria asked surprised by his presence but she didn't have much time before his hands lunged at her and his bruising grip fell onto her arm tightly. He said not a word to her before dragging her from the bed on shaky legs.

"Mr Malfoy, what are you doing?" Madam Pomfrey asked as she stormed over to the hospital bed.

"She's leaving," was Lucius' short reply before he started to walk from the room not caring that Atria had none of her things or that she was still in her nightgown.

"Lucius," a loud voice boomed from the entrance of the hospital wing. Everyone turned as Dumbledore voice echoed through the room, "That is enough," he said moving forward, towards the pair.

Lucius glared at Dumbledore, Snape standing not too far behind his master. Everyone in the hospital wing froze, looking between the tall and intimidating Albus Dumbledore and the malevolent Lucius Malfoy. Both men levelled to full size staring each other down an unmistakable tension filling the room.

"This is entirely inappropriate," Madam Pomfrey said interrupting as she moved to Atria's side, but Lucius refused to relinquish his grip on her.

"She's coming home," Lucius snapped at Dumbledore, "She has caused enough trouble this year." He said staring down at the child with a dark glare before returning it to the headmaster.

"Are you suggesting that the event of this year lie entirely on her shoulders alone? Because if that is the case, I think it is fair to say we both know that is not true."

Lucius let the small girl's arm go with a fling before turning to Dumbledore his lip tight in a sneer, "I have had just about enough of you insinuations Dumbledore, you are headmaster you have no right to question my authority or to judge my decisions as a guardian and my word is final."

The room stood still and quiet as Dumbledore starred down the man but sadly came to the realisation that Lucius was right.

"Atria is coming home now."


The Corridor

Atria and her uncle walked through Hogwarts long corridors, not a word spoken between the pair. He was yet to even talk to her directly.

"Uncle I'm sorry," she said meekly as he led them to the headmaster floo system. He didn't listen, he continued to lead her down the hall. The small girl barely keeping up with his strides.

"Uncle I'm sorry," she tried again to gain his attention, but he turned with lightning fast reflexes taking her by the shoulder before slapping her quickly but forcefully across the cheek. The sound echoed down the halls, his only focus on her small pale face.

Her hand moved to her stinging cheek looking up at him before he whispered to her menacingly, "I'll deal with you when we get home," And once again he began pulling her towards the floo.

But if Lucius had not been so filled with anger and frustration and Atria not so blinded with fear they would have noticed the prying eyes of Harry Potter, peaking from around the corner.


The Dreaded Event

Atria walked from the fireplace arriving into the dim and bleak lounge room and a green flash behind her signalled her uncle's close arrival.

She squealed when a hand flew to her hair tangling itself into her hair and her legs gave way under the pain of his grip. Her hands flew to Lucius' wrist trying to loosen his hold on her as he dragged her from the room. She tried to gain her footing to lessen the pain but failed as his fast strides kept pulling her.

The hall was filled with her whimpering screams as Lucius continuing to pull her to her room, his face made of stone. Atria tried to find her bearings but didn't even recognise where in the house they were. Her eyes were burning with red hot tears as they flooding her vision.

Another voice joined her cries and Lucius halted when the old house elf barged into him.

"Leave mistress! Leave mistress!" Kreacher cried as he climbed up the man's body before grabbing his hands, trying to remove Lucius much larger hands from Atria's hair.

Lucius grabbed the shrivelled Kreacher by the neck, before throwing him to the ground, kicking him as he tried to stand, knocking the old elf unconscious.

They continued down the hall, Atria's legs dragging behind her as she flailed around trying to get as far away from him as possible.

"Please stop, please you're hurting me!" she said between cries, her hands clutching his for dear life, digging her nails into the gloved hands.

"Uncle please I tried!" She wailed as he kicked the door of her room open, and threw her to the wooden floor. She landed on her back before trying to sit back up, she didn't get far before he raised his cane over his head and with a dangerous swing brought the tinted object down on to her. The fangs on his serpent top cane hit her hard in the face and she grunted as her head met the floor with a hard thud, muddling her mind more.

"YOU DISOBEDIENT LITTLE BITCH," he screamed, before bringing it back down on her shoulder making her cry out in pain again, "UNCLE, STOP!" She screamed choking on her tears, the canes fangs came down again stabbing into her hip through her clothes.

"ONE THING! YOU HAD ONE TASK! AND YOU FAILED!" He yelled smashing her body with every swing, harder and harder, growing angrier and angrier with each hit.

"PLEASE STOP IT," she cried trying to crawl away as his foot came down on her chest, pressing her into the floor so she was unable to move away. She felt a rib give way under his heavy boot, cracking as she let out a pained shriek. Her hands flew to his ankle trying to wiggle out from under him. His cane came down hard with another swing hitting her in the temple and black spots filled her vision.

Her cries stopped as she felt herself choke in pain. She looked up at his menacing face, coming face to face with his drawn wand.

"Please," she spluttered out, "Please stop,"

"Crucio," He hissed.

And Atria screamed.


Narcissa arrived home with Draco to a quiet house, as they reached the hall both Malfoy's jumped as piercing screams echoed through the house. Both stopped as Atria's cries travelled through the house, the haunted noise bounced off the walls back and forth in a never-ending loop.

Narsicca looked to her niece's bedroom as the screams continued from behind the closed doors.

She turned quickly to look at Draco, whose eye's were trapped, nervously on the door. She turned quickly before grabbing Draco by his arm and attempting to move him down the hall to his own room, but the boy stood solid his eyes still stuck in fear on the wooden doors.

"Draco, go to your room," Narcissa hurriedly said, trying again to push him away to his room, away from the door that hid his cousin's wailing voice.

"Mother what's he doing," Draco asked trying to move past his mother as she continued to move him down the hall.

"Go to your room," she snapped before gripping him tightly by the arms. Atria's screams now blended together with her pleads for mercy.

"Mother, why aren't you helping her?" The struggling boy tried to reason while in his mother's arms. But Narcissa did not let go and just before they reached his bedroom door the screams stopped with a sickening squeak.

They both stopped, both watching the doors as silence fell on the house.

The doors opened to reveal a dishevelled Lucius Malfoy, he walked from the room before closing the door behind him. He turned, his eyes falling on his wife and child before straitening himself up and moving away from the door.

"What did you do?" Draco screamed from his place, as Narcissa held him tightly.

"Put him in his room Narcissa," Lucius said not looking at either of them before walking to his office door.

"Father, what did you do?" Draco cried fighting against his mother arms as they dragged him down the hall. "Mother stop, she needs help," he cried fighting against her hold, digging his heels into the carpet as they reached his bedroom door.

Narcissa grabbed her son by his shoulders shaking him as she told him, "Draco, that is enough. Now you will stay in this room and will not leave for the rest of the evening is that clear."

She didn't give him time to respond before she pushed him into the room, slamming the door closing it behind her.

She then locked it quickly before turning and making her way to her husband's office.


Atria woke up, blinking her eyes as she felt her body ache and break with every move she made to get out off soft bed. She slowly stood a few tears falling from the pain of the action. She limped to her door slowly moving the handle surprised that it was not locked.

She entered Lucius office.

She knew he had it, she had seen it in his coat when they had arrived home, and low and behold there it was, sitting on his desk.

She walked over before sitting in the chair and opening her uncles draws, finding a quill and inkpot.

She opened the book. It was all gone, everything she had ever shared or talked to him about the good and the bad.

But when she put the quill down on the paper it all flooded back she flipped through the pages it was all there. She should have felt sick or scared but instead, she felt hope as she found an empty page.

'Tom.' she wrote.

'Tom are you there?'

'Tom, I'm sorry'

'Tom please I'm scared.'

But nothing, no reply. She could no longer feel his strong magic moving within the book.

"He's gone." She heard a voice say from the door.

She slammed the book shut her eyes wide as she prepared for more pain. She dared not move from her place as she came to look at her uncle.

He stood in the doorway whiskey in hand, his appearance unkempt and tired. She had never seen him like this. The proud and prestigious Lucius Malfoy, no stamina, just anger.

"You killed him," his words came out slightly slurred and she wondered how much he had had to drink.

She sat in silence as he moved closer stumbling little as he did, "You are the reason I failed."

"I didn't mean too, I tried," she whimpered as he drew closer in.

"Not hard enough," he hissed.

She watched him for a moment. She knew she would never have the chance again to ask him so she took her shot.

"Did you know?" she asked, a tear falling from her eye.

"Know what?" He snapped forcefully as he moved until he was towering over her seated position.

She began to stutter "That it wa… wa.."

"Wa.. Wa.. was The Dark Lord," he said teasing the tremor in her voice. His hand moved gently running them through her hair, but the affectionate touch changed and soon he was gripping her hair and tilting her head up to look at him. He watched her for a moment before he let out a disgusted huff letting her go.

"You can keep it if you like, as a reminder. That if you ever fail me as you have this year the consequences will be worse than you ever imagined. Now get out," he said stumbling over to his chair.

She did not need to be told twice as she ran from the room to her own.

Lucius watched his niece flee before sinking into his armchair, the same one he had been in when he had explained the importance of this quest too her. He sat back in his chair taking a large sip of whisky from his glass lowering his head in shame.

For the first time in his life, he had failed the dark lord.

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