The Opposite
Chapter 15: Sacrifice
Harry stared at Dumbledore in disbelief. Ginny was twiddling her thumbs. Aurora still hadn't woken up. Draco was sitting quietly in the corner. Hermione was sniffling. Ron was cracking his knuckles. Neville was staring at his hands. It looked like the person who had been more affected by Neve's abduction was not looking the least bit sad. Aislin stepped up beside Dumbledore.
" What do we do, headmaster?" She asked. Dumbledore looked up at Ginny. Ginny looked back at him.
" I'll go." She said. Everyone looked at with wide eyes. Draco frowned.
" No, you won't." Ron said. Ginny's head snapped back to him. Ron cowered for a moment. Ginny reminded him too much of his mother. Then he sort of put on the elder brother face. Ginny continued to look at him like he was crazy.
" I suppose you are going to stop me? Dumbledore said Voldemort wants me in return for Neve. Apparently he doesn't want to kill me. He's not that thick, Ron. He wants me for a reason..." Ginny said as Harry grabbed her hand.
" You are not going." He said. Ginny snatched her hand away from him.
" Are you telling me that you all want Neve to die? Is that what I'm hearing?" Ginny asked. Everyone looked down. That's definitely not what they wanted.
A long way away, Neveah Verdi Assante finally opened her eyes. She was lying on a cold, hard floor. Her vision became clearer as she attempted to sit up. She miraculously did it after many attempts. Looking around the room, there were several others also. They wore Hogwarts' uniforms.
" Neve...you're awake." A feeble voice said. Neve squinted and turned her head to the source of the voice. Luna Lovegood was staring at her, eyes wide as ever. She looked like the rest of them: tired and in need of showers.
" Are you guys okay?" Neve said, her voice a little hoarse. They all nodded as if it was second-nature. Neve remembered what students that Ginny had mentioned from her vision. She counted and noticed one was missing. There should've been six. There were only five. " Where's Parvati?" She asked. All of them shook their heads.
" We haven't seen Parvati since yesterday. Bellatrix took her somewhere. We didn't even hear her scream or anything." Lavender mumbled.
Neve leaned her head back and sighed. She closed her eyes and tried to remember what'd happened in the past few hours.
When she awoke from being stunned, Sloan and some woman were standing over her talking. Then she moaned and they looked down upon her. She remembered Sloan picking her up and the maniacal laughter of some people as she thrashed about in her tied up state. Sloan unceremoniously dropped her on the floor and she looked up to face Voldemort. He was sitting merrily in his large chair with a snake at his feet. Neve was paying more attention to the snake, to tell you the truth.
Neve could remember that Voldemort said he liked her. She had spunk and a fiery spirit. He'd even said he'd kindly spare her if she were to become a Death Eater. He could use young blood on his side. Neve had spat at his feet and spoke the first thing that came to mind, which wasn't something very polite or angel-like. That's when she felt herself be hit with the same curse from three different people. She cringed as she thought of the painful experience. It was a miracle the pain hadn't driven her insane. No, Neve wasn't going to let these people get to her. Not one little bit. That's when the door to the room opened. Bellatrix Lestrange walked in." Well, well. Our young whippersnapper has finally decided to rejoin us. I've heard so much about you, Neveah." Bellatrix walked over to Neve, and kneeled in front of her. She smiled a nasty smile and Neve frowned.
" You must be Bellatrix Lestrange. Oh, Harry's told me so much about you. He didn't quite specify how ugly that mug of yours is, though." Neve said spitefully. Her voice was still hoarse. The smile was instantly wiped off of Bellatrix's face. She pulled her wand and squeezed it.
" Insolent brat! Crucio!!" She screamed. The curse hit Neve square in the chest and all she felt was unbearable pain. Then it stopped. She opened her eyes and saw that she'd tilted over. Bellatrix put her right-side up. Neve continued to glare at the woman.
" It seems to me that the only way you can fight is by using that curse, huh? Not a very original person, are you?"
" Quiet! Crucio!!" Bellatrix threw it again. The pain was shorter this time. It was more of a warning. Then Bellatrix smiled again. Neve opened her eyes and sat back up.
" Honestly, woman, can't you do ANYTHING else?! Where's Parvati?" She asked. Bellatrix ignored her question and just continued to smile. Neve could tell by the way she squeezed her wand that she wanted to curse her again, but she restrained herself.
" Believe me, Neveah. I would like nothing more than to Avada Kedavra you into the next life. Talk to me, Neveah. I feel as though we can talk. You don't seem that different from me when I was your age. If you talk to me, I'll be able to keep Lucius Malfoy off of you. He just LOVES young, feisty girls." Bellatrix said, her smile never faltering. Neve made a disgusted face then nodded.
" Fine. What do you want to talk about?"
" You see them?" Bellatrix pointed to the other students in the room with her wand. They were watching the wand in Bellatrix's hand. Neve looked them all over. None of them appeared to have any physical harm, but Neve could tell they were all somewhat traumatized by the blank looks in their eyes.
" What about them?"
" Answer me truthfully or I will punish them, instead of you. I think they've been tortured enough. They won't thank you for that. I WILL know if you are lying to me, Neveah. Understand?"
" Yeah. Come lei desideri (As you wish)." Neve said. Bellatrix smiled again. She understood Italian quite well, unlike her partners in crime. She sat back against the wall across from Neve, which wasn't very far considering the size of the room. Cho Chang was next to her and she tried to shift a little to the right to get away from her.
" Answer me in Italian, Neveah. First question: What kind of people do you think we are? Us Death Eaters?" She asked. Neve raised an eyebrow at the question. She sighed and lowered her head.
" Intelligente(Intelligent)..." Neve began. Bellatrix pointed her wand at Luna.
" Crucio!!" She yelled. Luna twisted and screamed in a bloodcurdling way. Neve closed her eyes as Luna continued to scream.
" Fermarlo(Stop it)!!" Neve yelled croakily. Bellatrix grinned and lifted the curse. Luna was breathing hard. She didn't bother moving. She curled her legs tighter to her chest. Neve glared at Bellatrix with all the malevolence she could muster.
" I told you to answer me truthfully. I told you that I can tell if you're lying, Neveah. What don't you understand about that? Now answer me truthfully before I let the words slip again." Bellatrix threatened.
" Fine." Neve held her head up and stared directly into Bellatrix's eyes. " Stupido e psicotico(Stupid and psychotic). Neve coughed out.
" What else? I feel there is more."
" Idioti. Cattive persone(Idiots. Bad people)." Bellatrix looked thoughtful for a long moment.
" Really now?" She asked. Neve decided to just nod. Her throat was starting to ache from forcing sound out of it. " How would you describe Sloan?" Bellatrix asked. Neve's eyes narrowed to almost slits. If she ever got free, he was going to be the first person to face her wrath.
" Un mentire essendo connivente la piccola femmina(A lying conniving little bitch)." She said, barely audible. Bellatrix gave a disgusting laugh that everyone cringed to. The woman was truly ghastly and maniacal.
" È buono per una risata(He is good for a laugh). What would you call the Dark Lord?"
" Il Malvagio o il Maligno(the Wicked One or the Malicious One)." Neve answered, coughing. She turned her head and spat to the side. Bellatrix chuckled and Neve shot daggers at her. " Lei pensa che ciò sia buffo, fa non lei(You think that's funny, don't you)?" She said. Bellatrix nodded.
" What do you think he is?"
" Una persona stupida, arrogante. Lei ha saputo che è un mezzo sangue? O ha è stato dire che è un sangue puro? Lei è realmente muto se lei crede quella bugia.(A stupid, arrogant person. Did you know that he is a half blood? Or has he been telling that he is a pure blood? You are really dumb if you believe that lie.)?" Neve asked pointedly. Bellatrix's smile disappeared and she pointed her wand at Seamus.
" Crucio!! Shut up!!" She said, taking the curse off of Seamus. Neve was breathing hard now. Her throat was killing her. Bellatrix was frowning and looked ready to pounce.
" Lei lo segue! L'ho pensato ha voluta il mondo essere sbarazza di tutto lei giudica indegno. Come ciò non include i mezzo-sangue e, lei lo dice, Muggle-Nato? Ancora lei segue un mezzo sangue. Lei l'idiota.(You follow him! I thought you wanted the world to be rid of all you deem unworthy. Does not that include half-bloods and, how do you say it, Muggle-borns? Yet you follow a half blood. You idiot.)...." Neve said.
" Crucio!!" The curse hit Dean. Neve squeezed her eyes shut. She wasn't going to cry. She felt a twinge of guilt that her friends were suffering more than her.
" Fermarlo(Stop it)!!"
" Buono(Good). The Dark Lord does not wish for me to kill you. Though, I would be the first to volunteer if he did say so. Tell me, Neveah. What is Potter's greatest weakness?" Bellatrix asked, her voice low. Neve looked at her with malice.
" Don't tell her, Neve!" A voice said. Neve turned her head as the Cruciatus Curse hit Lavender, the source of the words. Lavender screamed and twisted. Bellatrix lifted the curse. Neve opened her mouth to speak.
" No, don't!" Luna said from her place on the floor. Bellatrix hit her again with the curse. She writhed in agony. Neve looked at her with sad eyes. Her vision was beginning to become distorted.
" We can take it!" Seamus yelled weakly. Bellatrix hit him again too.
" Yeah, Neve. Don't worry about us." Dean said as he was hit. Bellatrix was growing angrier by the second. Cho sat up and looked into Neve's deep blue eyes.
" Don't tell her anything! Harry's more..."
" Crucio!! Damn it!!" Bellatrix yelled, frustrated with the students. She lifted the curse from Cho. Cho slumped to the floor. Her eyes were wide open and her breathing was ragged. Neve's eyes widened and then she glared at Bellatrix.
" Come saprei(How would I know)?" Neve asked defiantly. Bellatrix cracked a smile.
" You know, Neveah. I know you know. You can't lie to me. I can see right through you." Bellatrix pointed her wand at Neve. Neve shut her eyes. " Crucio!! Now tell me!!" Bellatrix yelled. Neve rolled over and looked at Bellatrix. She spat at her.
" Vaffanculo(Fuck you)!!" Neve said rebelliously. Bellatrix pursed her lips together. This was clearly not her day. She inhaled and exhaled deeply.
" Neveah, this is only going to get worse. My patience is wearing very thin. Tell me right fucking now!" Bellatrix threatened. Bellatrix stood and pointed her wand right at Neve's face. Neve stared down it, showing no signs of fear at all. This is what made Bellatrix seethe with rage. She was used to feeling superior. She was used to feeling the fear emanate off of her victims. Voldemort was right. She definitely was a strong-willed girl.
" Sopra il mio cadavere(Over my dead body)." Neve nearly whispered, smiling weakly.
" I will not hesitate, Neveah. Do not tempt me." Bellatrix warned. Neve pushed her forehead against the wand. They stared at each other for a moment until Neve broke the silence, her normal voice loud and clear.
" Fare che lei deve fare(Do what you have to do)..." Neve said, her voice low and deadly. If only she wasn't tied up, she'd kill Bellatrix with her bare hands. Bellatrix growled something completely illegible.
" Hmph! Come desideri, Neveah(As you wish, Neveah). Avada..." Bellatrix began. Neve kept her eyes open. Then a flash of light was seen.
" Expelliarmus!!" A deep voice said. Bellatrix's wand flew from her hand. She turned and picked it up quickly. Then she looked for the source of the spell. Lucius Malfoy stood in the doorway, looking as smug as ever. Bellatrix frowned. " Bella, leave her to me. Narcissa and Astrid require your services." He said. Bellatrix nodded and glared back at Neve.
" You're in for it now." Bellatrix said.
" Yeah whatever." Neve said. Bellatrix squeezed her wand again.
" That's enough, Bella. Go help Narcissa and Astrid." Lucius said in an annoyed voice. Bellatrix rolled her eyes.
" Okay. Arrivederci, Neveah." And with that, Bellatrix Lestrange was gone. Lucius looked at Neveah and walked over to her. Neve watched him distastefully. He looked a lot like Draco, only Draco didn't look so cold. She could imagine he did at one point, though. Their hair was the same and everything. They even had the same scowl.
" You're such a beautiful girl, Neveah. Why are you putting yourself through such torture? A girl like you should be enjoying the riches of the world." Lucius said, touching her face. Neve moved out of his grasp.
" Don't touch me. The reason I'm sticking to being insubordinate is because I have morals. I don't need to follow around some dumbass arsehole to feel special. I have friends and I would never betray them. On the other hand, it seems like you Death Eaters would gladly betray the other. You'll sell any of your dear 'friends' out, wouldn't you, Malfoy? I can see why your son hates you so. Anyway, I'd rather die than give you any information regarding Harry and my friends. So, as I told Bellatrix: Fare che lei deve fare(Do what you have to do)." Neve spat in his face. Lucius smirked and wiped the saliva mixed with mucus off his face.
" Admirable speech, Neveah. Truly, it was. I'm not going to put the Cruciatus Curse on you. Or them for that matter." He said evilly, gesturing to the others. Neve looked at him with a confused expression on her face.
" You're not? Then what..."
" Something far more traumatizing, Neveah. I'm sure Bella told you that I happen to like young, feisty, and pretty girls, such as yourself." Lucius said. Neve's eyes widened in horror.
" You wouldn't dare..." She said. Lucius smiled down on her.
" Yes, Neveah. Yes, I most certainly would. The Dark Lord said by any means necessary." Was all he said, then Neve saw nothing but blackness.
Harry sat on his bed. Ginny was sitting in a chair across from him, looking very serious. He looked up at her, and she looked at him. Ginny shook her head.
" I know what you're going to say, Harry. I'm going to go. I don't believe Voldemort will hurt me. I think he just wants to see the extent of my power. Plus, I'm sure Neve is more than ready to come back. I can only imagine what she is putting herself through with that mouth of hers." Ginny said, trying to crack a smile. She was failing to do so. A knock startled them and they both pulled their wands as Ron and Hermione appeared in the doorway.
" Whoa, you two! It's just us!" Ron exclaimed, putting his hands up. Harry and Ginny lowered their wands. The duo entered and looked around. Ron looked at Ginny and Ginny averted her eyes. She hadn't said anything to him since the talk with Dumbledore. " Ginny..."
" Ron, no matter what you say, I'm going. If I have to sneak off alone, I'm going. Got it?" She said forcefully. Ron sighed and nodded. Hermione looked at both of them. She passed Harry his cloak. Ginny took hers off the chair. Harry put his wand in the holster on his belt.
" I can't believe I'm letting you do this. If we get out of this alive, I'm going to kill you myself." Harry said, trying to sound jovial. Ginny cracked a smile. Harry slipped on his boots and Ron and Hermione followed the two out of the room. Dumbledore was waiting for them. His face was serious and he looked immensely sad.
" I have brought down the barriers. You shouldn't have any trouble finding the pub. Just stay on the main street. It should be on the right. Be safe. Harry, control your temper. No matter what happens, make sure that you stay alert. You better get going. It's a long walk." Dumbledore said. Ginny looked back at her brother and friends. Tears were in her eyes. She ran to Ron and nearly knocked him down. She clung to him like wallpaper to a wall.
" Don't worry about me. I'll be perfectly fine." Ginny said. Ron looked very skeptical about that last sentence, but squeezed Ginny tightly. She let go and turned to walk away. She had a feeling that if she looked back, she would lose all her confidence. So, she fought the temptation.
Neve opened her eyes. She was lying on a bed and she wasn't tied up. She had red marks on her wrists and ankles where the binds had been. Looking around the room, she saw no one. Neve sat up as the door opened. Bellatrix and another woman walked in. The aura around the second woman held something about Draco. Neve assumed it was his mother, Narcissa Malfoy. Narcissa looked a little like Bellatrix also. Neve deduced that they must be sisters.
" Well, little baby Neveah is awake. I suspect you had fun, did you not?" Bellatrix laughed. She took out her wand, daring Neve to try something. Neve wanted nothing more than to fly at her and rip her to shreds.
" Lei non sarebbe niente senza quella bacchetta, Bellatrix. Lei non pensa che ciò sia triste? Potrei facilmente il whoop il suo patetico come con le mie mani nude(You'd be nothing without that damn wand, Bellatrix. Don't you think that's sad? I could easily whoop your pathetic arse with my bare hands if I felt the need)." Neve said. Bellatrix snarled at her and threw her some clothes.
" Get dressed, child. We're going on a little road trip. Narcissa, watch her." Bellatrix left. Narcissa nodded and looked at Neve as she got dressed. Examining the girl, she noticed that the roots of her hair were changing color.
" Why do you deem it necessary to constantly say what's on your mind? Don't you realize it'll just get in trouble?" Narcissa asked serenly. Neve pulled her boots on and looked at Narcissa as if she were speaking Japanese.
" What?"
" Why do you always say what's on your mind? Have you not realized that it will always get you into trouble? Do say it just to hide your fear?" Narcissa asked. Neve straightened her body up and stared at the woman.
" I do not fear any of you. Not even Voldemort. If it is my time to die, then it is my time. I will not run from it or deny it." Neve looked Narcissa up and down. " I guess the reason your husband does what he does is because you let him or because you never express to him how you feel about it. Am I correct, Mrs. Malfoy?" Neve asked, staring into the woman's eyes. Narcissa watched them turn green. She was at a lost for words. Neve spoke the obvious truth. She'd never had the courage to tell Lucius what she thought about his "hobby."
" Shut up, wench. Are you finished?" Narcissa asked spitefully. Neve smiled and nodded. Narcissa nodded back and left the room.
Neve sighed and sat on the bed. She felt the need to cry. Every inch of her body ached from being subject to that horrible curse. Damn whoever made it up. Damn them straight to hell. Neve's tear ducts seemed to not respond to her, no matter how hard she tried. There was mirror across from where Neve sat. She looked into it.
' I can't cry,' she thought. ' I won't cry. I wouldn't give them that satisfaction.' She stared at her face in wonder. She was never going to forget this day. When she fought on April 1st, she was going to murder Sloan herself. She was going to murder him with a smile on her face. That's when Lucius came in, holding binds.
" Hold out your hands, girl." He said harshly. Neve held out her arms and he bound her wrists toghtly together. Neve winced. Then Lucius pulled her up and took her into a room. The fireplace was lit and a chair was in the center of it. Bellatrix was standing next to it. Voldemort resided in it.
" Well, Neveah. The time has come. You will soon be with your friends again. All of your friends, except Virginia Weasley. You really would've done well, Neveah. You have a great fire in your eyes and hate like no other I've seen before you. Except Bella, of course. Bella is a true Death Eater. Tell Dumbledore this one word: Soon. Lucius, Bella, take her." Voldemort said. Bellatrix grabbed Neve's other arm and Lucius and herself attempted tp dragged her away. Neve tried to stand still. Voldemort looked thoughtfully at her. " Something to say, Neveah?" He asked.
" If you harm Ginny in any way, Harry and Aurora will be the least of your worries." Neve said in a deadly tone. Voldemort smiled a relatively serene smile.
" You must fear nothing, child. Such strong words. Nagini..." He said to the snake. Neve looked down at it and tried to back away. The snake hissed at her and tried to bite her. Voldemort called it off and it slithered back around his feet. " Well, almost nothing." Voldemort held his wand up and a red jet of light flew from it. He made an "X" and it burned into Neve's cheek. Neve winced as blood trickled down her face. " Now, you will never forget me." He said. Neve spat at his feet.
" I don't plan to..." Neve said as Lucius and Bellatrix dragged her away.