Dahlia sat down against the wall, hugging her knees and starring blankly at the tips of his boots. She refused to believe what he had just said. Eris couldn't be dead. The effects of the poison made her feel the curses as well and Eris wasn't weak. On the contrary, she was a strong person who knew what she wanted. Dahlia suddenly realized that she had been staring all this time so she snapped back and asked Lucius what she couldn't figure out.

"Why Eris? How come I'm not dead if the curses reflected on me as well?" she asked.

"Being a Death Eater for many years, I easily know who has a weak body or mind. I saw that Eris wasn't any stronger than a worthless Muggle. She had a strong mind but as you surely know, you can't fight the Cruciatus curse using mere willpower. As for you, Dahlia, you have a strong mind in a strong body. Perhaps you're better off without that weakling as a friend," Lucius sneered.

With newfound strength and outrage at his calling her friend a weakling, Dahlia jumped up. She trembled with anger and once more couldn't control herself.

"You sadistic piece of shit!" she shouted as she lunged for him. She tried to beat his chest, beat his stomach or kick him in the groin - anything to hurt him. However, before she could hit him, he drew his wand and with a wave, he smacked her back against the wall with such force that all the air was knocked out of her chest.

Lucius pulled her to her feet by the wrist but then twitched her arm behind her back. Dahlia hissed from the pain and nearly dropped to her knees again. The fact that Lucius was taller than she, was the only reason she was still standing up straight.

He suddenly stepped forward so that she was stuck between the wall and his body.

"So how are you enjoying your birthday present now, Dahlia? Am I still the best fuck you've ever had?" he hissed in her ear.

Dahlia closed her eyes and swallowed before she nodded and whispered, "Yes." If only it wasn't the powerful and dangerous wizard behind her, she would give him a proper reply. Her insults already gotten her knee deep into this mess so she only yelled at him inside her head.

"Of course, I'm rather good but you surely must have had others than just boys? I hope you've never screwed one of those mudbloods, have you?" he sneered.

When she didn't reply immediately, he twisted her hand up higher so she screamed out her answer to him. "Yes! Yes, Lucius, I've had sex with mudbloods!"

"By Merlin, you're even more repulsive than I thought! Well at least I've taught you a proper lesson you hopefully won't forget," he hissed.

Dahlia would've loved to kick him there where it hurts the most but his power and her common sense prevented from doing so. Inwardly, she had condemned him to a Muggle prison with a mad, cackling Muggle woman for a cellmate. In reality however, every muscle was sore, her head and hand were still throbbing and her arm felt like it would tear off any moment.

"If I ever find out that you've slept with someone that isn't a pureblood again, we'll proceed with our fun game. Say Dahlia, how many friends do you have left?" he smirked.

He let go of her arm and turned her around with her back against the wall. He suddenly grabbed her throat and shoved her up so high that her feet dangled a few inches above the ground. Her hands went up to his wrists but he neglected her feeble attempts to get free.

"One last thing before I go. My son, Draco is growing up to be a very nice looking man just like his father. If you ever play some sort of game with him or even try to seduce him, I will kill you. Is that clear enough for you, disgusting slut?" he spat at her.

Due to the lack of air, Dahlia could only nod. He let her go so abruptly that she fell to the floor again. She looked up into his cold eyes one last time before she passed out.

When Dahlia woke up, a man was sitting at her feet. Her head was throbbing so painfully that it was difficult to focus on his features but she recognized her brother.

"Raidon?" she asked.

"Dahlia! You finally regained consciousness," he asked as he embraced his little sister.

"How did I get here on the couch?" Dahlia asked. She was still a little confused after what Lucius had done to her.

"I found you on the ground so I picked you up and lay you down here. Your skin was a bit blue and you felt so cold that I've put a blanket over you. Now tell me, what happened here?" he asked.

"By Merlin, Raidon, so many things happened. I don't know where to start," Dahlia sighed.

At that moment, the door burst open and Darius stormed in. Dahlia released her brother and cast a quizzical and frightened look at him.

"Dahlia, this was the only thing I could do. I found Eris dead and you were unconscious, only clad in a nightgown and full of bruises and blood," Raidon explained.

She sighed deeply and closed her eyes for a moment. Then she slowly told what had happened - every single word of it. By the time she was finished, a few tears rolled over her cheeks. The entire time, her father stood behind her but he now moved in front of her so he could face her.

"I hope you've learned your lesson now," he said.

"What! Is that all you have to say?" Dahlia asked.

She couldn't believe that her father acted so cool about all of this. He probably had a heart carved out of ice but she thought he'd show more sympathy for her.

"Well, what do you want me to say? Congratulations because that chair possesses more brain cells than you do?" he sneered.

"Father, please! This is your daughter here. She has just been tortured by Lucius Malfoy! She had to watch her friend die!" her brother intervened.

"First of all, Raidon, this is none of your business. Second, it's all her fault. I'm surprised she's still alive. Your little sister there is the one who fucked Malfoy, not me. She played with matches and got burned," Darius hissed at his son.

"So, that's it then? You're not going to hex that arrogant bastard who nearly killed your daughter. Are you such a coward father? Ah yes, Lucius has you eating out of his hand and you'll lick Voldemort's boots if he tells you to!" Raidon sneered back.

The next second, Raidon was starring at the tip of his father's wand.

"If I had known that my offspring would be like this, I wouldn't have even considered children in the first place. You'll only get away with this because your mother loves you so much but I never want to see either of you again or I will curse both of you," Darius spat through gritted teeth.

With a dramatic sweep of his robes, he turned around and left the apartment. Dahlia stepped up behind her brother and placed her hand on his shoulder. She could feel that he was shaking out of pure anger. He turned around and pulled Dahlia in a tight embrace. She had barely moved or said a word the entire time but she was too exhausted to get involved in the fight.

"I think it's better that we leave. I contacted Eris' family before you woke up so they will take care of her," Raidon said.

Dahlia nodded and she prepared to leave the apartment. With one last glance over her shoulder, she pulled the door shut.

A few moments later, they apperated on the sidewalk opposite Raidon's house. He guided her inside and showed her to the bathroom where she could refresh herself.

After a long warm shower, she rejoined her brother in the living room. He had prepared some soup and they spent several hours talking. Dahlia gratefully felt the soup warming her body from within just like the flames in the fireplace radiated on her skin.

"I think it's about time we get some sleep. You've been through a lot and your body needs to recover. I suggest you take a potion I've prepared while you were in the shower. It'll make you sleep comfortably," Raidon said as he handed his sister a vial.

"Thanks Raidon," Dahlia said as she drank the potion. She played with the tiny bottle, than faced him, "would you stay with me tonight? I'd feel safe knowing that you're with me."

"Of course I will," he replied reassuringly.

Raidon guided Dahlia upstairs and lay down in his bed at her side. He wrapped his arms around her in a protective embrace.

When Dahlia woke up the next morning, she found the bed empty. The entire house was empty but she found a scroll of parchment on the kitchen table. She opened the scroll and read the letter her brother had left.

My dear sister,

I cannot live with the thought of just sitting around while that arrogant bastard gets away with the things he did to you. I may not be as powerful as he is but I hope I can cause some severe damage. I shall do my best to defend your honour.

With love,

Raidon