Path Revealed By Moonlight
Author's Notes: This was originally part of Chapter Three, but I split it to make it a different chapter because it was so long, and I decided to shorten my chapters a bit. Please review and tell me what you think! I love reviews, remember!
Disclaimer- Harry Potter verse is not mine, it is JKR'S.
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Chapter Four- Lesson One With Bellatrix
Draco pounded his fist against the cold stone wall of the dungeon steps, furiously replaying the meal he had just sat through. The nerve of that bitch, he seethed, clenching his teeth. His reasonable half was firmly arguing that Bellatrix had not actually DONE anything, in fact, she had been quite charming during the entire meal. His other half, however, felt her very existence a threat to his own well being, and her politeness only seemed to fuel his distrust in her. The second that damnable supper had ended, Draco bolted (as quickly as one could "bolt" in a Malfoyish manner) from the room and strode quickly to his bedroom. Polishing his wand, he had glanced up at his angry but composed reflection. "I'll show her," he had said aloud, determinedly to himself. "No one tries to make a fool out of a Malfoy and gets away with it."
Now, as he headed down towards the Manor Dungeons, his hair freshly slicked back from his enchantingly pale face (with an expression that would even send even a basilisk slithering away for the hills) and soot-black robes dust-free and billowing menacingly behind him, he freed his mind of all other thoughts and worries, focusing only on the task that lay ahead of him. Whatever Bellatrix had in store for him, he knew it would not be kind and gentle tutoring. However, he knew his father had amply trained in the Dark Arts, and he was ready to duel The Dark Lord's right-hand-woman. He paused in front of the door of the Main Dungeon, raising a fist to knock. "Wait," he muttered, stopping himself. "This is MY dungeon, not hers. A Malfoy need not seek permission from an outsider to enter a room in his own home." Smirking his trademark self-satisfied smirk, he narrowed his eyes and kicked the door open.
"You're early, Drake," he heard Bellatrix sing.
He frowned, turning his head to see her sitting on a table in the corner. "Well, if you aren't prepared, Bellatrix," he spat her name, "I can certainly wait."
Bellatrix chuckled and stood up. "No, no, Drake, I will be ready for you momentarily." She stepped out of the shadows and into the light. Draco felt a chill go up his spine (against his wishes) when he saw her. She still wore the same cape from dinner, but her robe underneath was different. Indeed, Draco doubted it could even count as a robe in it's lack of material. It was leather, like the other had been, but instead of reaching the floor in length, it ended right beneath her crotch. The dress left little to the imagination, as most of both of her breasts were bulging over the top of the skimpy frock, and her entire thigh was exposed, the rest of her legs being covered by her knee-high black boots. Her dark black hair was now loosely framing her face, hanging almost to her waist. The outfit was not exactly unflattering, however Draco would have preferred to see it on someone his own age rather than on his own aunt. Bellatrix smirked at her nephew's reaction. "Someone likes what he sees, hmm?" She whispered huskily, running her tongue along her upper lip. She chuckled at his repulsed expression and clasped the silver chain of her necklace around her neck. She grasped the silver snake pendant between her long black nails and slowly (making sure that he was watching) placed it in the middle of her chest, inserting the snake's tail forcefully between her breasts suggestively. She straightened up, smirking playfully at Draco, "Now I am ready, Drakey."
Draco eyed the witch before him carefully. No doubt she was more dangerous than he had assumed. No matter. He would teach her a thing or two about Dark Magic before this lesson was over. We'll see who is schooling whom then. "Then let your lessons begin, Aunt," he hissed sarcastically with a mock bow.
Bellatrix laughed raucously. Draco felt confused. "Do you," she sputtered between laughs. "Do you know how ridiculous you sound, boy? As if you were in charge..." She hiccupped. "You think you stand a chance against me?" Her eyes glinted in spite and she smirked evilly at Draco. "Do you have any idea who you just reminded me of, just now?"
Draco swallowed and searched for his voice. "No," he mumbled. Where had his cool gone?
Bellatrix smirked. "Why, Potter, of course." She laughed at his surprised and enraged reaction. "Why, little Drakey darling, you just reminded me so much of dear Mr. Potter." Her taunting voice softened a notch. "Perhaps you are more like that worthless brat than meets the eye." She put on a bored expression, running her finger idly along her wand. "After all...you're the son of Lucius Malfoy." She smirked at his startled and insulted expression. She had rattled the ice prince after all. She continued, "I should have known you'd prove to be a pathetic, weak, and useless piece of trash." She stared him in the eye. "You are worthless, boy, and no one cares about you."
Draco exploded. He couldn't stop his hand from pointing his wand at her, nor his voice from shouting, "STUPEFY!" A red jet of light shot from his wand at his aunt.
"PROTEGO!" Bellatrix returned, deflecting his curse. She smiled at Draco. "Hit a sore spot, have I, Draco, darling? Do forgive me...perhaps we should simply move onto your training." She tossed her head. "Since you seem so keen to duel, then what sort of teacher would I be to ignore my dear pupil's wishes?" She bowed her head, waiting for him to do the same.
Fury coursed through Draco's body as he, too bowed. Bellatrix smiled sweetly. "Then let us duel, love." She immediately pointed her wand at him and hissed, "POISIOUS!"
Draco ducked the purple flame that his aunt hurled at him, shouting, "SUFFOCO!"
Bellatrix deflected the curse and danced aside, taunting, "Oh my, Ickle Drakey is more knowledgeable than he looks! Who taught you the Air-block curse, your Daddikins?"
Draco gripped his wand in anger and pointed it at her again, hissing, "Scalus Compassio!"
Bellatrix screamed in laughter as his curse missed her head by inches. "Very impressive choice of spells, Drakey," she laughed. "I suppose you know that if you hadn't missed, my entire body would be covered in scales eating my flesh from outside-in! That's not very nice, Drakeykins!"
Draco smirked and answered sarcastically, "Oh, and I'm sure you were being quite the doll, trying to kill me with twelve different internal poisons!"
Bellatrix licked her lips in delight, "So Drakey knows his curses!" She pointed her wand at him again, "Try this one, lovey! BRUISIOSITE!"
Draco leaped to his right, but her well-aimed curse was true and hit his left arm. Doubling over in pain, Draco lifted his sleeves to see his entire arm turn green and purple, but the bruise was squeezing his arm painfully. Trying uselessly to force the tears back into their steely sources, he felt as if a million parasites were pressing into his skin, fighting to attack the insides of his arm until his entire arm crumpled up into a pile of useless fleshy debris. "Bitch!" Draco swore through clenched teeth. He pointed his wand at Bellatrix again, muttering "Serpensortia!" Leaving his aunt to deal with the snake, Draco muttered charms and pointed his wand at his left arm, trying to fend off the deadly magical parasites eating away at it.
Bellatrix giggled like a schoolgirl and simply walked coolly towards the snake. "Tranquilo." She muttered. The snake collapsed and Bellatrix quickly strode over, stamping on it once with the heel of her boot. Glancing up, Draco saw that she had severed the snake's head off of her foot. "Oh Drakey," she said in mock sadness, "what have I done to you?" She knelt down next to him, and pretended to look hurt when he threw her an icy glare and scooted away. She pursed her lips and pouted, "Aww...poor wittle Drakey-poo, does he hurt vewy much?" She asked in her mock-baby voice.
Draco felt beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He wondered how much longer he could last. He glanced past his aunt at the door. Maybe twenty feet away. He thought to himself. Could he make it? "Don't touch me," he snarled, pushing Bellatrix's hand away.
Bellatrix bent over and planted a wet kiss on his cheek before he realized what she was doing. "My poor wittle baby, I'll take care of you, Dwakey darling," she said, running her fingers through his sweat-dampened hair.
Draco wanted to vomit and scream and die at the same time. "I said, DON'T TOUCH ME, you sick whore!" He yelled, savagely trying to shove her away from him.
Bellatrix's face darkened, but then she smirked again. "I think Drakey needs to learn a lesson in manners," she whispered ominously.
"Shove off," Draco pushed her away and limped towards the door, his eyes stinging with tears of pain and humiliation. He didn't dare glance at his arm, he knew the sight would induce the need to vomit again.
"Uh-uh...where do you think you're going?" Bellatrix pointed her wand at the door, and it instantly bolted itself.
Draco turned to face her, his face deadly. "Let me out." He said, his voice dangerously low.
"No," her voice was even lower.
Draco raised his wand. "Alohomora!" The door did not unlock. He turned to his aunt again. "Let me out," he repeated.
Bellatrix's lips twisted into a sinister smile. "No." She pointed her wand at him. "I think you need to learn this the hard way, Drake. But no matter, for now...this will do." She smiled and whispered, "Imperio!"
Draco felt a strange calming sensation flood his body. He was suddenly carefree...and his arm no longer seemed to matter. He stared up at the dungeon ceiling blissfully. From somewhere far away, he heard Bellatrix's voice, "Apologize, Draco."
Why not? Draco opened his mouth. "I apologize." He was blissfully floating somewhere where nothing mattered. This was wonderful.
From that somewhere far away again, he heard Bellatrix's voice, "Tell me you're sorry for saying those rude things to me."
He obediently opened his mouth to apologize again. But this time, he heard himself in his own mind. Why are you apologizing? She deserved every bit, bloody whore. Don't apologize, or else you really are as weak as she says.
"Don't dawdle, Drake," her voice rang out again. Draco dismissed all thoughts and focused on that voice beckoning him. "Apologize to me, Draco."
Draco nodded his head obediently and opened his mouth again, ignoring his rotting arm. But he heard that voice in his head again. You git. What's the matter with you? Have you gone daft? Why don't you put a leash on yourself and go lap at her face then, what the hell are you, a dog? Draco frowned, in spite of his pleasant happiness. The voice was right. Why should he listen to Bellatrix? She's got me under the Imperius Curse! He realized. How dare she? If Father ever found out-he blinked and shook himself mentally. Now was not the time to wait for Lucius to save him. Shaking his head, he felt a peculiar pop in his brain. His arm now throbbed in immense pain, and he gasped for breath. Welcome back, he greeted himself. He looked up and met his Aunt's hungry eyes, still awaiting his apology. Hah. Her eager expression transformed into anger and spite when her nephew's eyes glared up at her. "Did you really think you could make me your personal pet, Aunt Bellatrix?" He heaved himself up from the floor and stood, teetering on shaking legs.
Bellatrix laughed. "Oh ye of little faith, my little Draco." She began walking towards him in menacing steps. In spite of himself, Draco shuddered and stepped back. "After all," she continued, "I am here to teach you," she smirked, "not for my own enjoyment." Draco gave a scathing snort. She laughed. "Although, I am rather enjoying this," she hissed softly, raising her wand to him. "Expelliarmus."
Before he could react, Draco's wand flew from his grasp into her left hand. Draco stared down at his empty hand, and felt his stomach heave in a wave of fear and discomfort. Ignoring his aunt's chuckle, he glanced up. "Give me back my wand." He said evenly.
Bellatrix laughed. "Are we back at this game again, Drakey? No."
Draco's eyes narrowed. "I'm not playing games with you, Aunt Bellatrix. Give me my wand."
"No," she glared back. "After all," here, she tossed his wand aside carelessly onto a table, "you won't be needing it." She smiled. "Not for my this next portion of my lesson."
Before Draco could question her, she waved her wand and ropes appeared, binding his ankles and wrists. Swearing, Draco stumbled and crashed to the ground in a crumpled heap.
Bellatrix coolly walked over and tapped her wand against his injured arm. "Now I don't want you to lose you arm, Draco," she said soothingly. "No no, you much too useless with just one arm." She stood up. "Don't worry, I've fixed your arm so it won't worsen until I take the freeze heal charm off of it. Accio." The heavy wooden table in the corner of the dungeon flew over and landed next to her. She smiled down at her terrified but proud nephew. "Now, onto my next lesson. Mobilocorpus." Struggling against his bounds, Draco felt his body lift and land with a thud on top of the table. Bellatrix eyes glinted like a maniac as she shackled his wrists and ankles to the corners of the table. She smiled down horribly at Draco, who had stopped struggling and had a look of horror and understanding on his face.
"You wouldn't," he whispered, forgetting all dignity and pride.
Bellatrix leaned so her face was directly over his. Draco squeezed his eyes shut at the sight of her bulging cleavage, her breasts heaving from her excited breathing. When he opened his eyes, he was looking into her sinister dark pools. She licked her lips hungrily. "I would." She straightened up, shaking her black locks from her face. "After all, Drakey," she whispered. "I live for this."
Panic coursed through every vein in Draco's body. This couldn't happen to him. Even his father never subjected him to this. His father had always settled for hexing him to near fatality before deciding Draco had learned enough. But never this. He gulped, his mouth dry. Searching his mind to sidetrack her, he stuttered, "I thought you lived to serve the Dark Lord."
Bellatrix laughed evilly. "Oh, I do. But he understands my needs and desires. He is kind to me and rewards my work by letting me indulge myself in torturing his victims." She looked like a lunatic, positively excited and delighted at the prospect of her next action.
Draco felt fear, he would admit it, he was scared. But he still had an ounce of his pride left in him. He was a Malfoy after all. "You will regret this, Bellatrix," he hissed icily. His icy eyes glinted with his old fire. "I will make you regret this."
Bellatrix smirked. "A Malfoy indeed," she spat. "We will see how long you last. I will have you begging for my mercy, Drakey." Her eyes flashed in malice and pleasure simultaneously as she pointed her wand.
Draco took a deep breath and braced himself inside. He would not give her the pleasure of watching him flinch and wait for her blow. He focused on something else, anything else. He felt the moonstone's weight on his chest. It was strangely cool against his sweaty and hot skin.
"Crucio!"
Draco felt his body jolt as a hot searing pain penetrated his bones, he as if his skin were on fire, his head pounding as his blood boiled furiously. He felt like his brain would explode and his bones were burning into ashes, it was pain beyond anything he could have imagined. He could hear Bellatrix's shrill laughter and pleasure, he knew that crazy bitch lived off inflicting pain, but this pain was unbearable. He found himself wanting to die, wishing desperately that his life would end, he had never wanted to die so badly as he did now, not even the first time his father had hexed him near death, not even the combined pain of every insult his father had breathed in his direction, not even the shame and pain of being a disgrace in his father's eyes could compete with this torture. Please let it stop, he found himself begging in his mind. I'll do anything if this would just end. His eyes rolled and his body lurched in agony. But he refused to scream.
Bellatrix felt the wave of satisfaction she always did when she used the Cruciatus Curse on someone, but she was not completely pleased. "Crucio!" she hissed again, wishing more pain on her nephew than before. Draco's body jerked and twitched even more violently than before, but still he did not cry out. Bellatrix sat down in a chair and settled back comfortably, still inflicting more torture on her nephew. "No matter," she whispered to herself. "The night is young." Her eyes glinted in malice as she took in the sight of Draco convulsing on the table. "I will break you yet, Draco Malfoy."
As Draco shook violently in his bounds, every fiber of his body burning in agony, he focused his sanity on the gift hanging from his neck. Despite the torture clawing viciously within him, he mind kept a calm concentration on the moonstone. He did not know how long the pain continued for. He had lost track of time. Draco blacked out.
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And miles and miles away, a strange young witch named Luna Lovegood bolted up from her bed, panting in cold sweat.
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Author's Notes- Yay! Now to my wonderful reviewers, I love you all!
lady of the wingnuts- Hehe, I love Draco and Luna too...such fun but deep characters. I'm glad you find Bellatrix demented...that's how I meant to portray her! Yay I hope you keep reading, sorry for slow update!
dreamy-crazygirl- heh, I promise, no Harry/Hermione! (I'm an avid Ron/Hermione shipper). Besides, this story ties in with my other fic, Whatever Comes, which is a total Ron/Hermione story. I'm glad to have found another Draco/Luna 3er, and thanks for finding my story believable! =D
caitlin- w00t! A second-time reviewer! Whee! Hmm as for your question of Bellatrix's motives...I'd say it's a combination of both. I can't wait to bring Luna back into Draco's life either...I think it will probably be Chapter 6! Hehe yeah I'm crazy about her personality too!
Victorita9- Haha yay I'm glad you love it...I love you! Wahahahha! =D
Cariel- Wow I'm really honored to get a review from you, I'm reading a few of your fics right now...can't wait for you to update "How Do I Say?" and "Bloodlines: Malignitas Cruento"! I'm happy you like my interpretation of Draco...he is such a hard character to write! I hope you liked these chapters...hehe I think the smileys are cute =D...thought I'd liven up the story a bit
Kethaer- Sorry these chapters were slow...crazy-ness...I'll try to update more often...did you say good? So happie... floats away
Sesshomaru's Angel- Hehe Chapter Five will be all Luna! I'll get it done ASAP just for you! Yeah, Bellatrix creeps me out too --" BTW, what's a "phico"? Sorry...kind of clueless... :-/ But yes, thanks for reviewing!
BootstrapBoula- Yeah...Bellatrix grosses me out too Xx
Affi- Thank you! beams! Will continue faithfully...thanks for reading and reviewing!
Thanks to EVERYONE who reviewed...reviews make me so happy! By the way if there's anyone who isn't a registered member at and wants me to email them when I update, just let me know because I won't mind at all. Thanks again, you are all what keeps me writing! Chapter 5 coming soon I hope! - Jess
