Chapter 34:
In the few seconds I have, I search my brain. There, there it is.
"What do you want, Tom?" I call out clearly, focusing on the wizard behind my husband. Severus looks surprised, but keeps his wand raised.
Voldemort positively glows at my question. "Good. She caught on."
My breathing is still fast. It had been a long shot, but Voldemort wanted to see the glory of the Dumbledores. And the arrogance. Calling him Tom made me reveal that I find myself superior to him. He is rubbing his scaly hands together, wondering where to begin. Severus is still standing in front of me, wand still raised, looking bewildered. I nod minutely at him, hopefully communicating that I have things well under control.
"I do not have all evening, Tom," I drawl, wishing to draw his attention back to me. I see Lucius shift. This must be driving him mad, seeing me like this. "If there is something you wish to discuss, let us do it openly."
Pettigrew is still wheezing at my side, silver hand on my shoulder. I pull my wand from my left sleeve and whisper a spell at him. Immediately, he drops to the ground in agony-a very weak form on the cruciatus.
I stand, stretching my shoulders. Severus backs into the circle next to Lucius, unsure of my next move. Truth to told, I am unsure of my next move; I am working purely on instinct. I keep my wand revealed and approach Voldemort.
He hisses as I come closer. I draw myself up and stare defiantly into his red eyes. "You do not believe in the inferiority of mud bloods, do you Bena?" he asks.
I give a small chuckle. "No."
"You do not believe in the superiority of purebloods."
"No."
"You do not believe muggles are weak and of no use to us."
"No."
Murmurs shoot up from the circle. Neither of us pay them any attention, as we being to circle on another.
"I do however, believe that some witches are more powerful than others." I say slowly, allowing him to take in the full meaning. As the light of comprehension dawns on him, I shoot a ricochet immobulus charm at Lucius, MacNair, Avery and Pettigrew. The four of them, who had been the first to react, all stop, frozen to the ground. I whisper softly again and the rest of the circle is momentarily petrified.
My eyes have not left Voldemort. He claps and laughs. "Very well done indeed. But these are mere parlor games." He waves his hand around the circle--all are released. The fearsome four pick themselves off the ground and rejoin the ring of Death Eaters.
"Well, Bena. Say what you have to say." he goads.
I shake my head. "I will not rise to the bait, Tom." I say, still circling him. "If you wish something of me, perhaps you ought to try asking for it."
He considers this a moment, but says nothing. I am not sure I can keep this anger up for much longer. "Out with it, Tom. What do you want?"
He smiles wide.
"You."
"Me?" I respond stupidly.
"I want your loyalty, Bena, in a way that you have never given to the Old Fool. I want your undying loyalty and service. I appreciate you and the powers you posses, far more than your uncle," he spit's the word forth, "ever has, or ever will."
Despite myself, I am entranced by the words. I nod my head to show I am listening. He continues.
"You are powerful. That is apparent to everyone here, I would wager. You are brilliant. You are, with one minor exception," he looks over to Severus, "able to set yourself above acting on impulse and emotion."
"Flattery, Tom, will get you nowhere."
A soft chuckle. "It is not flattery, Bena. It is the truth. Did you not just say you believe some witches are more powerful than others? I know you are more powerful than any of my Death Eaters." There is stirring in the ring of followers.
"So what if I am?" I challenge.
"So everything." he replies. "You have been denied who you are your entire life. You are the heir of the Dumbledores, a wizarding family respected around the globe. Yet, your entire life, you have been shunted to the side, unnecessary. A burden. A liability." he stresses the final word.
I feel my blood boil. I have long felt myself to be all those things, but never before has anyone said them to my face. I close my eyes and take a few shallow breaths.
"I would not deny you this, Bena." he says. I can hear him approach. I do not open my eyes. He must be mere inches form my face, for I can once again feel his breath on my cheek.
"I want you to use your power. You could make them quake. You could make them writhe. It is time the world sees what power you posses."
There is a battle raging inside. I see the vision of Severus and myself, living as we please in a home all our own. I see myself going back to the States, all alone, I see myself living at Hogwarts for the remainder of my days. A dozen other possibilities play themselves out on the inside of my eyelids. Knowing which one I wish to choose, I open my eyes carefully.
They meet glowing red eyes. I am scared, and I know my face shows it, but my decision is made.
"I will help you, Tom. Let them all suffer the consequences. Albus be damned."
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A/N: Whoo hoo--she's on a roll! Work slowed down, so updates will be more frequent. I'm having fun with this again. I'll be updating again later this week, I'm sure and I'll probably update the other story (Sorceress) as well. Take care. Ta.
In the few seconds I have, I search my brain. There, there it is.
"What do you want, Tom?" I call out clearly, focusing on the wizard behind my husband. Severus looks surprised, but keeps his wand raised.
Voldemort positively glows at my question. "Good. She caught on."
My breathing is still fast. It had been a long shot, but Voldemort wanted to see the glory of the Dumbledores. And the arrogance. Calling him Tom made me reveal that I find myself superior to him. He is rubbing his scaly hands together, wondering where to begin. Severus is still standing in front of me, wand still raised, looking bewildered. I nod minutely at him, hopefully communicating that I have things well under control.
"I do not have all evening, Tom," I drawl, wishing to draw his attention back to me. I see Lucius shift. This must be driving him mad, seeing me like this. "If there is something you wish to discuss, let us do it openly."
Pettigrew is still wheezing at my side, silver hand on my shoulder. I pull my wand from my left sleeve and whisper a spell at him. Immediately, he drops to the ground in agony-a very weak form on the cruciatus.
I stand, stretching my shoulders. Severus backs into the circle next to Lucius, unsure of my next move. Truth to told, I am unsure of my next move; I am working purely on instinct. I keep my wand revealed and approach Voldemort.
He hisses as I come closer. I draw myself up and stare defiantly into his red eyes. "You do not believe in the inferiority of mud bloods, do you Bena?" he asks.
I give a small chuckle. "No."
"You do not believe in the superiority of purebloods."
"No."
"You do not believe muggles are weak and of no use to us."
"No."
Murmurs shoot up from the circle. Neither of us pay them any attention, as we being to circle on another.
"I do however, believe that some witches are more powerful than others." I say slowly, allowing him to take in the full meaning. As the light of comprehension dawns on him, I shoot a ricochet immobulus charm at Lucius, MacNair, Avery and Pettigrew. The four of them, who had been the first to react, all stop, frozen to the ground. I whisper softly again and the rest of the circle is momentarily petrified.
My eyes have not left Voldemort. He claps and laughs. "Very well done indeed. But these are mere parlor games." He waves his hand around the circle--all are released. The fearsome four pick themselves off the ground and rejoin the ring of Death Eaters.
"Well, Bena. Say what you have to say." he goads.
I shake my head. "I will not rise to the bait, Tom." I say, still circling him. "If you wish something of me, perhaps you ought to try asking for it."
He considers this a moment, but says nothing. I am not sure I can keep this anger up for much longer. "Out with it, Tom. What do you want?"
He smiles wide.
"You."
"Me?" I respond stupidly.
"I want your loyalty, Bena, in a way that you have never given to the Old Fool. I want your undying loyalty and service. I appreciate you and the powers you posses, far more than your uncle," he spit's the word forth, "ever has, or ever will."
Despite myself, I am entranced by the words. I nod my head to show I am listening. He continues.
"You are powerful. That is apparent to everyone here, I would wager. You are brilliant. You are, with one minor exception," he looks over to Severus, "able to set yourself above acting on impulse and emotion."
"Flattery, Tom, will get you nowhere."
A soft chuckle. "It is not flattery, Bena. It is the truth. Did you not just say you believe some witches are more powerful than others? I know you are more powerful than any of my Death Eaters." There is stirring in the ring of followers.
"So what if I am?" I challenge.
"So everything." he replies. "You have been denied who you are your entire life. You are the heir of the Dumbledores, a wizarding family respected around the globe. Yet, your entire life, you have been shunted to the side, unnecessary. A burden. A liability." he stresses the final word.
I feel my blood boil. I have long felt myself to be all those things, but never before has anyone said them to my face. I close my eyes and take a few shallow breaths.
"I would not deny you this, Bena." he says. I can hear him approach. I do not open my eyes. He must be mere inches form my face, for I can once again feel his breath on my cheek.
"I want you to use your power. You could make them quake. You could make them writhe. It is time the world sees what power you posses."
There is a battle raging inside. I see the vision of Severus and myself, living as we please in a home all our own. I see myself going back to the States, all alone, I see myself living at Hogwarts for the remainder of my days. A dozen other possibilities play themselves out on the inside of my eyelids. Knowing which one I wish to choose, I open my eyes carefully.
They meet glowing red eyes. I am scared, and I know my face shows it, but my decision is made.
"I will help you, Tom. Let them all suffer the consequences. Albus be damned."
---------------
A/N: Whoo hoo--she's on a roll! Work slowed down, so updates will be more frequent. I'm having fun with this again. I'll be updating again later this week, I'm sure and I'll probably update the other story (Sorceress) as well. Take care. Ta.