A/N: Thanks to Moon Lantern and TheHungryRainbow for reviewing the last chapter. So I finally got a chapter out in a reasonable time! It took a bit of rewriting and I'll probably edit it again soon as I'm not 100% happy with it! But if I left it I know it will be at least another week until it's uploaded, so here you are! Hope you enjoy!

TRIGGER WARNING: There is torture in this chapter so if you are triggered by this, I strongly suggest you don't read! Thanks :)

"Going somewhere, sweetheart?" a voice whispered in her ear. Ariella turned to run, to move, to do anything, but she was too late. An arm grabbed her round the waist and a wand was dug painfully under her chin. "I didn't think so."

Immediately, Ariella's muggle instincts kicked in and she tried to free herself, heaving and straining against the arm restraining her, but Bellatrix only tightened her grip. It was too familiar. Why did this witch seem to be haunting her in particular? Why was she always after her?

"You're going to stop struggling now," the dark witch warned, her voice dangerous. "And you're going to give your wand to me without trying anything… or you'll be dead before you can scream." The wand pressed even harder against the girl's chin.

Ariella's struggles died immediately, but her grip on her wand only tightened as she breathed in shakily. If she gave it up, that would be it. It was the only thing she had that would help her get away from the Death Eater.

However, Bellatrix was getting impatient. "Now, now, sweetheart, let Bella have your wand like a good little witch."

The girl paused a moment, the threat of the wand under her chin becoming more and more apparent. The only thing not giving her wand up would do would be to draw attention to herself and risk distracting the others. What good would her wand do anyway? She had no chance of using it against a woman who already held her own against her chin, ready to strike at any moment. Reluctantly, Ariella let the older witch pluck the wand out of her grasp.

"That's a good girl," Bellatrix crooned, making the young witch shiver in disgust as the stench of rotting teeth reached her nostrils.

"What do you want with me? I'm no help to you," Ariella tried, glancing desperately over at Lottie, who was still lying on the floor, bleeding heavily. She needed help. "Please, just let me go."

"What makes you think that you're no help, my pet?" Bellatrix purred. The young witch could almost hear the smirk in her voice. However, she didn't get the chance to reply.

"Ella!" It was Ron. He came running towards them, eyes wide and wand out, pointing shakily at the dark witch. Soon after, having obviously heard the boy's cry, Sirius appeared next to him, shortly followed by Hermione. Her eyes widened as she saw her sister in the Death Eater's grasp.

"No! Ella!" she cried out desperately, trying to run forward. Ron held her back while Sirius raised his wand.

Bellatrix cackled loudly. "Oh, I wouldn't try anything my dear cousin. You wouldn't want to hit your little Ella now, would you?"

Ariella saw Sirius' grip tighten on his wand, but before he could reply, Hermione beat him to it.

"Let my little sister go, you bitch! She's only a first year!" Part of Ariella would have smiled at her sister's feisty attitude, but, at that moment, that part was snowed under by the frenzied fog of fear clouding her head. Hermione's shout was followed by another bout of Bellatrix's cackling, making Ariella feel even worse. They couldn't save her. Not when Bellatrix was using her as a human shield.

"A first year? The Order brought first years to a grownup's fight? My, you really were keen to lose, weren't you, blood traitor?" Bellatrix asked, highly amused.

Feeling nauseous, Ariella turned her gaze to Lottie just in time to see Arcturus and Luna run over to her, the boy watching Luna's back as she bent down to help the young witch.

However, she was brought back to the situation in front of her as Bellatrix suddenly shifted her grip, the crooked wand now digging into the soft flesh of her cheek.

"Let her go, Bella. You 've made your point," Sirius retorted. "Let us duel instead."

"Your father would turn in his grave if he knew what sort of people you were fighting for, Sirius," Bellatrix hissed. "You're a disgrace to the name of Black! She's only a filthy little Mudblood. Better to stamp her out early than let her spread the filth amongst the Wizarding World. Your parents would agree."

At once, Sirius raised his wand, eyes fierce. Bellatrix was quicker.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

A green jet of light shot out the end of her wand, so fast that no one had time to move. Ariella could only watch in horror as it hit Sirius square in the chest. His face expelled a somewhat surprised look before he stumbled back and hit the ground, motionless.

There was a moment's silence as the three students tried to take in what had just happened. Ariella's mind had drawn a blank as she stared at the lifeless body. She felt something wet trickling down her cheek and only then did she realise she was crying. Sirius was dead, dead because of her stupidity.

"No! Sirius!" came a cry from behind her and a blur of black sped past, stopping just short of the body. "No!"

Ariella couldn't look, her mind full of guilt. She had caused this. Why had she been so stupid as to let her guard down so easily? If only she hadn't been so careless, so stupid! Bellatrix had been right, they shouldn't have come. She should have stayed with Lottie and Archie back at Hogwarts where she couldn't mess everything up. Lottie wouldn't have got hurt, Sirius wouldn't lying there… he wouldn't be dead.

However, before anything else could happen, Lupin and Tonks appeared and grabbed Harry, pulling him out of harm's way despite his best efforts to free himself and collapse at Sirius's side. Hermione was crying into Ron's shoulder whilst the boy himself awkwardly looked around, wand drawn.

In the confusion, everyone had forgotten about Ariella, and Bellatrix began to pull her back into the shadows. It took a moment for Ariella to come to her senses and struggle, but even as she opened her mouth to scream, the older witch got the best of her once again, covering her mouth to stifle her cries.

"Oh no you won't, my dear. Don't you think you've caused enough trouble in allowing me to kill Potter's precious Godfather?" Bellatrix taunted in Ariella's ear.

Suddenly there was a shout, making Bellatrix look up, and Ariella saw that, to her relief, Harry was pointing at them. However, the burst of relief didn't last long.

"SHE KILLED SIRIUS! I'LL KILL HER! I WILL!" he bellowed, breaking free of the grip of the very surprised Lupin and Tonks, and charging towards Bellatrix and Ariella.

Ariella initially closed her eyes on a gasp, not wanting to know what was about to happen, but the moment that familiar tip of a wand prodded just beneath her chin, her eyes flew open, the fear flooding back in waves.

"Stop!" Bellatrix demanded. "Or perhaps you'd prefer to hear her pretty screams echo round this hall?" she threatened.

Ariella felt like she was going to throw up. Harry didn't look like he was about to stop, rage clear in his eyes. 'Well, why would he?' A voice in her head argued. He obviously blamed her for the death of his last family member, which she could understand, even sympathise with him over. She glanced at the boy once more and realised couldn't take it. She knew that the situation was way out of her hands and so slammed her eyes shut once more, hoping to block everything out. However, it didn't last long before:

"Crucio!"

The pain that suddenly engulfed the young witch forced a horrible scream out of her throat. She couldn't see. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't think. The only thing on her mind was the pain, the awful white hot pain that seemed to be burning her insides, starting a fire that licked its way through her veins, spreading to every part of her body. She writhed and twisted, trying to get away from it, but as her vision dotted black and white, she gave in to it, knowing that this was it. There was no escape.