A/N: Please read the A/N at the bottom of the chapter. It contains very important info.
Chapter Ten: Back in Hell
Nicci landed outside the apparition boarders of her house. She could see the lights in the distance and could make out the silhouettes of several people milling around her front yard. Some were talking in pairs or groups, but most seemed content to simply look at the stars.
She began to make her way across the grounds, grateful that she'd thought to bring her cloak. Only one or two people even acknowledged her presence. She recognized several of people as Death Eaters.
When she finally reached the front door, she was shocked to see the entrance was absolutely packed with people, mostly men. There was barely room to move.
She stood in the doorway for awhile, analyzing the way people were standing, trying to detect if there was any pattern in the way the Death Eaters moved around the room. When she found a more or less clear line, she squeezed her way through it. After a couple of minutes and several 'excuse me's' she made it to her parents' study, the one room she knew they would never allow to become crowed with others. She stiffened her resolve knocked loudly.
"Come in," came her mother's muffled reply. She opened the door and slowly closed it behind her.
Her father was sitting behind his desk, studying something on it. Her mother was leaning over him, a plate of food in one hand. With her other hand, she was pointing at whatever it was they were studying. Her father nodded, and her mother finally looked up.
She grinned broadly, set down her plate, and began making her way across the large, elegant room. Nicci also began walking toward her mother.
Her mother wrapped her arms around Nicci, and Nicci returned the embrace. Before she met Ann, Nicci had thought her mother's hugs were the best in the world. Now, they just seemed cold.
Bellatrix pulled out the hug and studied her daughter for several seconds before putting a hand on the side of her cheek. "You've grown into a beautiful young woman Nicci."
Nicci tried to smile sincerely, but wasn't sure if she was succeeding. "Thank you, Mother."
Her mother clasped Nicci's hand and gently pulled her toward the desk. Her father had stood up, and to Nicci's complete surprise, he hugged her. He studied her for a bit and opened his mouth, but closed it and sat down.
"How did all of his happen?" she asked, lifting her arm to the door to indicate the Death Eaters milling about outside the door.
"You have your mother to thank for that," her father said.
"I'm very proud of you Mother," Nicci lied.
"Thank you, but that's in the past. We must look to the future. Your father and I intend to pick up where the Dark Lord finished off and complete his noble work. We know neither of us could ever be half as powerful as him, but we do have a rather large force behind us. We want you to be our right hand woman. Now tell me, Nicci, where do your loyalties still lie?"
Inside, Nicci was terrified. She wanted to yell at her mother, knock some sense into her and tell her what a foolish, horrible woman she was. Nicci wanted to drop her whole facade and confess to her mother that she really didn't believe in the Dark Side, that she really didn't love her parents, and that she just wanted to live her life in peace. But Nicci knew she couldn't do that; it would mean her death, and the Light Side needed her.
She prayed that her eyes wouldn't betray her lie. Looking her mother straight in the eye, she said by rote, "With the Dark Lord, with you and father, and with Dark Magic. Mudbloods deserve to die." Nicci wanted to puke.
"Good. We need someone with a solid head on their shoulders," her father said.
Someone knocked at the door. "Come in," her mother snapped.
A familiar looking Death Eater popped his head in. "We managed to get two, my Lords," he said with a slight bow of the head.
"Two! Are you sure no one saw you?" her father snapped.
The Death Eater came into the room the rest of the way and closed the door behind him. "We are very good at what we do, my Lord. The Dark Lord himself trained me and Nott."
"Where are they?" her mother asked with a rare display of unrestrained enthusiasm.
"Outside with Nott and some of the other Death Eaters," the Death Eater at the door said.
"We are very proud of you. Give Nott our praise as well," Nicci's father said. The Death Eater bowed his head once more before leaving. Her father turned to her with the same smirk she remembered from her nightmares and said, "It's time to have some fun! Come." He stood up and walked to the door. Nicci and her mother followed. He threw open the doors and waited before everyone stopped talking before he started. "Some of our loyal Death Eaters have brought us a wonderful gift. Let's all go outside and enjoy it, shall we?"
A cheer erupted, and people began leaving immediately.
Nicci and her parents followed behind the flow of Death Eaters. When they were finally outside, a gigantic circle had already formed, but it parted for Nicci and her parents.
When they reached the center, Nicci had a flash of déjà vu. A young girl and an even younger looking boy, who seemed to be siblings, were lying face down in the grass, their hands bound behind there backs. Blood was flowing freely from both of their noses, and one of the young girl's arms was bent in a weird direction. She seemed to have put up a fight. Good for her.
But she would be doing no more fighting tonight. She was in the hands of monsters with out consciences. She moaned softly, but it was barley audible. The Death Eater who had come to the study kicked her hard in the ribs. She heard a loud snap, and the crowd cheered.
Her father held up his arms for silence, and when he had it, he yelled, "These will be the only two that you will have for the night. Share, and try to make them last." The Death Eaters roared with laughter.
The torture began. No matter how numb Nicci may have thought she had been to this three years ago, she soon felt a tear roll down her cheek.
What were their names? What had their life been like? Had they fought with each other? With their parents? Were they happy? How would their parents react when they didn't show up for breakfast the next morning?
She felt a pat on her back. It was her turn. Bile rose to her throat, and she forced herself to swallow it. She took out her wand, and put a crucio on the girl.
Unexpectedly, she felt the euphoric rush of power that she always did whenever she used Dark Magic. Its call was familiar, seductive, haunting. She reveled in it. But when she stopped the spell, and the feeling left.
Reality came slamming back. She felt numb. She reminded herself part of the reason why she had given up the Dark Arts: the power, while seductive, was only temporary. It had gained her nothing, except perhaps the empty support of those who meant nothing to her. Using the Dark Arts usually meant surrendering oneself to someone else. At the moment, it was her parents. But in her heart, she refused to bow down to them.
At around one in the morning, the two children finally died. Nicci said her goodbyes to her parents, and apparated back to Hogwarts.
The walk back to her room seemed like it would take for ever, and when she finally reached her bed, she collapsed in it without changing.
She wished she could cry, but Lestranges never cried.
A/N: Hey guys! Sorry this took so long to get out, I've been debating what to put here.
It seems I've lost my muse for this story, but I've got a couple chapters on reserve. And, Ive got a slight problem. I know how I want the story to end. I've got it all planned out. I just dont have a middle. So, I'm going to leave it to you guys to vote. Do you want me to sum up the rest of the story in a couple chapters, or do you want me to actually write out the end as I have it planned in my head and sum up the middle. If no one gives me an answer, Ill simply post the rest of the chapters I have waiting, and youll never hear from me again. So please respond.
A/N2: Congrats to everyone who got it right!