She was forced back into reality as her head was yanked backwards, a liquid forced down her throat. She choked as her jaw was held shut and her nose plugged, forcing her to swallow whatever the person had poured into her mouth. When they were satisfied she'd drank it, they let her go. She coughed loudly, a dry gag sounding before she spat to the side, blood from her injuries evident in the saliva.
"Good morning deary, had a nice nap?" Bellatrix's mocking voice sounded from behind her and she struggled against her chains. She was bound to a chair this time, and it rocked dangerously under her wild movements.
"Screw you!" She spat, trying to pull her hands out of their new restraints. As per the previous ones, she only ended up hurting herself. The restraints now wrapped around her arms and legs, making any form of escape practically impossible.
"Do settle down, little traitor. Your daddy doesn't want me to have any fun, but I'll be happy to solve bad behaviour. Ahhh, actually on that note, please," Odile shivered as the woman bent down to whisper in her ear, foul breath making her nose curl, "Keep going."
"Bellatrix." Her father's voice sounded, a clear warning in his tone. The woman in question merely giggled before coming round to look at the girl head on.
"Maybe try a breath mint first, I'd be a little more pleasant if the smell of dead rats in a summer sewer didn't appear every time you opened your mouth." Odile ground out, eyes narrowing at the woman. A loud squawk came from her right, before the sound of a sharp shove shut it down. She couldn't help but grin slightly, at least someone appreciated her humour.
"Quiet, you little brat. You will tell us what we want to know." Bellatrix barked, arms crossed over her chest in a show of superiority that went unchecked.
"I mostly certainly will not." Odile retorted, almost daring Bellatrix to make her move.
"Oh little girl, you don't have a choice." She thrust a bottle into the girl's view and Odile felt her stomach drop. Veritaserum.
"You didn't?" Odile heard herself ask, but knew that the question had already been answered by the smug look in the woman's eyes.
"Oh but I did. Now then," She flounced around the girl, eyeing her up and down, enjoying the look of unease she was receiving, "Let's start with a simple one. Are you Odile Reisinger?"
"Yes." Odile heard herself reply automatically, as if the answer had flown from her lips. Her eyes widened in fear, and Bellatrix's twisted smile grew.
"Very good. And are you the daughter of Michael Reisinger?"
"Yes." She ground out, resistance slowly proving futile.
"Is it true your little mudblood boyfriend left you?" Odile grit her teeth in a scowl. Was that true? After all, she'd left him! But all in all, she supposed the answer would be-
"Yes." She replied, arms straining against their bindings.
"What was his name again?" Matthew piped up from the back, and she narrowed her eyes at him.
"Fred Weasley." She replied with a scowl, causing the room to break out in jeers and laughter. Matthew smiled egregiously, shaking his head in a mocking manner.
"A Weasley? My, your standards are lower than I thought possible." He chuckled, causing another round of mean-spirited laughter to sound.
"SILENCE!" Bellatrix cried, and the entire room went so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The woman turned back to her captive, a truly mad smile across her face.
"Perfect. Just to make sure the potion is truly working, tell me, is it true that your little blood traitor Mummy died while you just watched?" The woman bent, enjoying as tears began to edge into the girl's vision as she desperately tried to hold her answer in.
"Yes." The answer was more of a croak than a response, blood pounding in her ears.
"I wonder how that felt? Watching your poor Mummy die while you couldn't do anything but cry. Weak little Odile, watching as her Mummy faded away. I wonder if you blame yourself? After all, it's your fault she had to deal with so much stress. Tell me, watching the only person who ever loved you die, did it hurt?" She leered at the girl, watching her face closely for any sign of weakness. Odile clenched her mouth shut and tried to hold the answer in. She didn't want to give Bellatrix the satisfaction, but the pressure kept building in her throat.
"...yes." She finally gasped out, and the woman's crazed smile sent a chill down her spine. Bellatrix gripped the girls cheeks as she leant forward; Odile couldn't help but wince as a memory that had been carefully buried rose to the surface, the memory of how her Mum had been diagnosed. It had been a normal Friday, school was out for the summer and Odile had spent her morning with her neighbour Jackson. They'd been playing castle, a paper crown balanced precariously on his head, a daisy chain making up her tiara. That was the day of her first kiss, and the eight year old had run home, blushing the entire way. She rushed into the kitchen to tell her mother the news only to find her collapsed on the floor, crushed raspberries on the floor creating a horrific crimson stain. Odile felt every emotion as clear as day, the fear and uncertainty in equal measure. Bellatrix chuckled smugly as a single tear splashed from the girl's lash, shaking her head as the woman stroked her cheek gently.
"That was such a lovely little traumatic memory dearie. Shall we see if we can find some more?" Odile yanked her neck backwards, trying desperately to escape the woman's grasp.
"Screw you bitch!" She cried, voice ragged with emotion. Bellatrix smiled, stroking the girl's temple as another memory bubbled to the surface. The day she'd arrived at the manor. The way her Father never said a single word on the way from the Ministry's floo, just dragged her along, ignoring the tears streaming down her face. Odile heard herself whimper, a pang in her chest at the familiar pain of realising she wasn't wanted. At that, Eve cleared her throat, stepping forward to stand beside the Death Eater with only slight trepidation. Odile bristled at the Death Eaters giggle, baring her teeth as the emotion rolled through her chest, fresh as the day she'd felt it first.
"I'll repeat, screw you. I refuse to be scared by someone who'd kill their own family." Odile sounded much braver than she felt, her entire body still shaking from the assault. Bellatrix smirked even as Eve gave Odile a warning look.
"Little Sirius? Why, he was no family of mine. He was a disgusting Mud-Blood lover. A betrayer to true pure bloods, he deserved his fate." Odile yanked at her chains, growling in rage. Bellatrix cackled at the sight, leaning forward to the girl once more.
"Oh, I see, did I kill your lickle friend? Let me assure you dear, it won't be the last time." Odile sneered at her, anger flushing her face. She opened her mouth to respond but another voice quickly cut across.
"Ehem. I think I'd better take over the questioning, Bellatrix. I think your ...talents are needed elsewhere." Bellatrix smirked at Eve's call, jeering at the trapped girl with a little wave before prancing out of the room, two Death Eaters following her. Odile scoffed as loudly as she could manage, and fixed her step mother with a dark glare.
"Some gal pal you got there Evie, pull her out of the pound? Just doing a bit of charity work? Bless your heart." Eve narrowed her eyes, tapping his fingers against her crossed arms.
"It would be wise not to underestimate Bellatrix, or I."
"Oh Evie, I'm pretty certain it's impossible to underestimate you." Eve glared down at her, but she heard a muffled chuckle from her right once more. Despite all the eyes on her she couldn't help but smile, some twisted satisfaction that at least her jokes were landing.
"You know what, whoever's laughing at my jokes, I like you! You may be a terrible person, but at least you have a sense of humour. I'm calling you Bobby." There was no reply other than a slap and a muffled cry of pain from her right. She finally caught sight of "Bobby" and gave him a big grin, much to his partner's annoyance.
"Quiet! Enough of your nonsense Odile, you will answer our questions or there will be consequences." Odile rolled her eyes at her step-mother's warning, ignoring the woman's stern look.
"What, off to bed with no dessert? Please Evie, you've been threatening me with consequences for years, I've yet to see anythi-" Her head snapped to the side with an audible crack. The woman sneered down at her, hand bright red. Odile stretched her jaw, cheek bleeding from the ring that had caught her across the cheekbone.
"You've always been a pain in my neck Odile, but not anymore," Eve gripped the girl's jaw, forcing Odile to face her, "See, you have no protection anymore. No Dumbledore, no boyfriend, and no more of being Daddy's little princess. You are alone. How does that make you feel?" Odile grinned before spitting in the woman's face, causing her to stagger backwards in disgust.
"Bit like that actually." She chuckled darkly, before a dim light bulb went off in the back of her head. Had that counted as a true answer? Eve yanked her wand out from her holster, advancing on the girl.
"I will rip your heart out of your chest! CRU-"
"Enough." Both Eve and Odile herself had missed her father's approach until he stood between them, hand grasping his wife's arm tightly.
"Do not disobey the Dark Lord. He does not give second chances." He muttered in way of explanation, ignoring her huff as she pulled her arm from his grasp. She gave Odile a venomous look, but merely received a smug smile in return. Her father then turned on her, calculating eyes inspecting her battered and bruised form.
"You always were a disappointment, Odile." Odile couldn't help but lose her smile for a moment as he twisted that old knife into her chest. He didn't comment on it, but she knew he'd noticed it.
"Well hey, at least I'm consistent." He said nothing, merely waving Matthew over to take his place.
"Matty! So good to see you again," she greeted with a faux cheer, "Listen, I just got to thank you again for drugging me and tying me up in the basement. Really made my Miami Vice dreams a reality." The boy rolled his eyes at her snark and she felt her blood boil slightly.
"Yeah, keep rolling your eyes buddy. Maybe you'll find a brain back there." There was a soft snort in the background and she smiled, sending "Bobby" a look of amusement. She turned back to her brother with a smug smile, opening her mouth to send yet another cutting remark when-
"Silencio." Odile felt her mouth shut with a tight click and gave her brother a "really?" look.
"Your neverending chatter really does tend to get on one's nerves, sister. Let me make myself very clear. I am not a woman, your petty insults will not excite me. You will answer my questions, and then the Dark Lord will decide what comes next." It was her turn to roll her eyes then, masking the fear she truly felt at that last sentence. She indicated her eyes to her mouth, but Matthew seemed to be enjoying her discomfort. When her father cleared his throat loudly, Matthew reversed the spell with obvious reluctance. He cleared his throat before placing his hands behind his back, straightening his neck arrogantly.
"Let's start easy, do you know the location of Harry Potter?"
"Yes." The answer leapt from her mouth and she knew she was on thin ice. They were looking for the Order. And she had to think of something very quickly to keep them from finding the flat.
"Where is Harry Potter?" She racked her brain for an answer as the gag built in throat once more. Penny in the air.
"Probably in the Gryffindor common room." Penny dropped. She grinned widely as her brother narrowed his eyes. Half truths, that was it!
"Where does Harry Potter live?" He tried again, obviously off put by her answer.
"His house." She replied breezily, sitting back in her chair in amusement. The boy quickly shared a confused look with his mother, before eyeing Odile with a cocktail of anger and apprehension.
"And where is his house?" He ground out, and she gave him a look of fake worry. She shut her mouth tightly and he leant forward in anticipation.
"In...in.. IN ENGLAND!" She finally cried out dramatically and she couldn't help but laugh at his look of annoyance.
"You think you're funny?" He hissed, and she felt a sense of thrill in his glare.
"I think I'm hilarious. I mean, if you think this is good you should see my stand up. I've got a great one about airplane food." She clucked her tongue in disappointment at their looks of confusion. She leant as far forward as the bindings around her body would allow and indicated her head to the Death Eater on her right that she wanted him to come closer. He inched forward slightly, and she spoke in a rather loud stage whisper,
"I know this lot didn't get that joke, but you did right Bobby?" The nameless man shook his head awkwardly as the figure behind him yanked him backwards to their side. She pouted comically and shook her head,
"Come on Bobby, I was rooting for you! Ah, humour is wasted on y'all. I'll have you know that one is a classic around more, shall we say, 'intelligent' folk."
"Why you-" Matthew held up a hand to stop the Death Eater beside "Bobby" from approaching and regarded his sister with disgust.
"This is useless Father. She's too comfortable. Why don't we give her a few more hours to mull over her… choices. Oh and do leave that window open, I'm sure she'll love a little winter chill to keep herself sharp. If she doesn't freeze to death before we get back, I'm sure she'll be a bit more agreeable." She narrowed her eyes as the small window was flung open, the temperature dropping several degrees in a few seconds. The Death Eaters quickly filed out of the room, her father following behind swiftly. Finally, it was just her and Matthew. He stared at her with a borderline psychotic smile on his face.
"Take a picture Matty, it'll last longer." He leant forward so they were eye to eye, never losing that smile.
"I hope you know Father was the only reason you were safe here." She snorted loudly, rolling her eyes in exasperation.
"The man hates me Matty, how is he keeping me safe? He basically led me here to die like a carrot on a stick. In what world is that protection?" Matthew cocked his head, observing his sister in a way that set her teeth on edge.
"You really are quite stupid sister," She sent him a look of offence, but he quickly continued by straighting, brushing invisible dirt from his trousers, "No matter I suppose. Whether you realise it or not, your protection is gone. Next time we'll be back we won't be as nice."
"I got my nose broken, bitch slapped, and tortured. You call that nice?" He snickered at her blank look, smirking as he brushed his hair back.
"Practically warm and fuzzy." He sneered, before strutting towards the door. He turned at the last moment dramatically, as if he'd neglected to tell her something.
"One more thing, we won't be alone. And our guest is just buzzing to meet you." She felt herself gulp as he slammed the door close triumphantly. Shit.
A/N: Bit of a long one, but I really couldn't find a good cut off point. Please review, follow or fave, I'll pay you with air from my lungs. (Please tell me y'all get that reference.)
A very special thanks to Melody1818 for favouriting, and to Procrastination Mistress and Melody1818 for following!