Evanna allowed herself to be pulled by the wrist to the old training room by her birth mother, though not without some amount of struggling.
"I already told Father-I don't have that power-"
"You don't have it or you won't use it?" Bellatrix demanded as she swung Evanna into the room.
The young heir slipped on the hem of her eggplant-colored robes, sprawling on the floor of the training room. Old voices echoed in the back of her mind, ordering her to do as she was told or else. Evanna clamped down on the memories, choosing instead to glare up at her birth mother, righteous anger filling her.
"You can't just throw me around like a ragdoll!" she hissed. "I am-"
"You are my daughter and you were born to serve your father," her mother snapped. "I will see to it that you do so, in any way I see fit. Now, stand up."
Glaring as she did so, Evanna stood to face her mother, drawing her wand without fully realizing that she did so. Bellatrix shook her head.
"No, girl, it is not your wand, it is your mind that you need to use," she said.
"I don't particularly feel the need to read your thoughts, Mother," Evanna said in a bored tone. Her heart thundered.
"In the old days," her birth mother said, choosing to ignore Evanna's sarcasm. "Our ancestors were revered and sought-after for their powers and wisdom. The leithor aigne were leaders among magic wielders and goddesses among muggles."
"I do read," Evanna snapped. "What does any of this have to do with what is in the Department of Mysteries?"
"The Leithor Aigne were able to influence the thoughts of the creatures around them. So should you."
Evanna's gut clenched as she remembered her mind shattering open as she forced her brother to think only what she wanted him to, exposing her once again to all the sounds and thoughts and desires of the castle's occupants. Narcissa had said she had been lucky not to kill Draco and leave herself as a mindless vegetable in St. Mungo's.
"I told you, I can just hear thoughts. If you are looking for control, I suggest using an Imperius Charm," Evanna said.
"The Department of Mysteries is warded against such things," Bellatrix said. "Your magic is much rarer—much less likely to be traced. Almost impossible to ward against. Not that most of the idiots in the Ministry even believe it exists."
"It doesn't. I can't control anyone!"
"There is a difference, Evanna, between what you can't do and what you won't do. And what you cannot do is disobey a direct order from your Lord."
"It is impossible—"
"You only say that because it means finally making a move against your precious Potter."
It took every ounce of Evanna's self-control to keep a neutral expression on her face even as the memory of the hurt on his face as she ran from him resurfaced. She had nearly lost her resolve then, nearly turned back to kiss him—but then she had remembered who she was. Her father, who had shown her her power, who had let her rescue herself from Lucius. And who had helped her dream of a world where people would not be shunned for their power, where little children with power would not be hidden away and mistreated by men who were so hateful and insecure…
Harry had had a childhood like hers. Like her father's. Because of her father.
Because of a prophecy.
Lucius had always believed in what Narcissa had called 'concrete' magic. The magicks that could be seen to have an effect in the world immediately, that changed a rat into a teacup or that floated a feather. Or tortured a wayward child. He did not, however, believe in things such as the Leithor Aigne, or prophecy, referring to such things as muggle misconception and superstition. Evanna now knew that Lucius' limited view of magic was far from correct.
But prophecy? To blow her mind open again just to seek such a nebulous thing? To irrevocably betray a friend?
"Father trusts me to carry out his orders," she said in a low voice. "How am I supposed to be the Dark Lord's heir if I can't even hear my own thoughts over everyone else?"
That was the wrong thing to say.
Bellatrix's black eyes held a new, cruel light that made Evanna think uncomfortably of Lucius.
"So you have done it before," Bellatrix said slowly. "You little—"
Evanna was shaking her head for all that she was worth. "I can't do it. I can't—"
"I suppose I will just have to go to your father now and tell him that your love affair with boy-wonder is more important than the restoration of our world—"
"I know what you are trying to do, Mother, and it won't work," Evanna said. "I won't risk everything on a bloody prophecy. Everyone knows divination is more smoke than mirrors."
"You will do—"
"I said no!" Evanna hissed.
An echo of the power she wielded against Draco rattled through the room and her mother's mouth was shut for a moment in a way that was not entirely natural. When Evanna opened her eyes, her birth mother had been shoved against the wall, a look of pure fury on her face. Evanna trembled, whether from fear or anger or even the power coursing through her veins, she was not quite sure.
Little brat was the worst mistake I ever made. That the Dark Lord believes she could serve him better—
"Make no mistake, Mother, I will do far more than you ever could," she said. "But I will do it my way and when I say I will not do something, I will not do it and you will not be running off to Father!"
Evanna did her very best to ignore the glazed look in Bellatrix's eyes as she spoke the order. Power was power, her father insisted, and it was meant to be used to its fullest. But this… this power felt too dangerous to be allowed to run rampant in the world. She did not need to learn how to use it. She needed to learn how to not let it use her.
"I'll let Father know that your pedagogical skills were lacking, so I decided to take my studies into my own hands," Evanna said, forcing herself to be more collected than she felt as she walked out of the training room head held high.
When she reached the corridor that held both her room and her father's, she looked up to see him. At over six feet tall, Lord Voldemort made an imposing figure in his voluminous robes. His arms were crossed in front of him. She stopped several feet in front of him and gave a small curtsey.
"Your training session cannot possibly be over," he said darkly. "Bellatrix is not so lenient a teacher."
"I hate that room. And I hate her," Evanna said. She could hear thoughts and wishes throughout the manor, even Bellatrix's seething rage. But much closer, she could, for once, hear her father's thoughts clearly.
I must watch her more closely.
"Without that prophecy, we may lose the war," her father said in a slow, deliberate voice that would send lesser men running. Evanna may shake, but she would not run. She could not run.
"Without that prophecy, we may succeed," Evanna said. "Prophecies cause more damage than they ever have victory."
"I do not intend to leave the fate of the world to chance."
"Neither do I," Evanna said, nearly begging her father to trust her. "Please, Father, can't you just trust that I want this new Camelot just as much as you do?"
She thinks too highly of herself… She is too much like me. If only she would listen...
The Dark Lord's eyes narrowed at his daughter, looking far more dangerous than Lucius ever had. "And, how, Evanna, do you propose to bring it about without using all resources at your disposal?"
Evanna chewed her lip. "I will work on my powers, Father. But I will not risk everything on a prophecy."
"You presume much, Evanna," he said, scowling. "A daughter should obey her father."
The words were too similar to what Lucius had said all those years and Evanna visibly flinched. It was impossible, but her father seemed to soften slightly.
"I-I only want to bring glory to our bloodline, Father," she said. "Just… I need more time to do this right. I-I think I can find us more allies, prevent unnecessary bloodshed."
The Dark Lord's eyes flashed. "Why do you think I want that prophecy in the first place?"
Evanna lowered her head, unsure what to do, how to get out of this situation with her life and conscious intact. Suddenly, she heard her father heave a large sigh, the most human thing she had ever heard from him.
"If I give you time… You will not disappoint me, Evanna."
It was not a question.
"Never, Father."
Harry spent the rest of break alternating between training with Sirius and Remus on defensive magic and with Professor Snape on how to Occlude his mind. He had to admit, the former were going much better than the latter.
Mr. Weasley had returned, and with him the good moods of all his family, from Ginny slyly teasing Harry about Evanna, to Ron insisting on playing wizard's chess nearly every night, to the Weasley twins pestering Sirius for tips and ideas on their pranks. But, it did not slow down Harry's training in any way. In fact, seeing there how much he had to lose, Harry insisted on training more with Sirius and Remus, which somehow seemed to help as he trained in Occlumency with Professor Snape. When he was physically exhausted, it seemed, it was much easier to clear his mind.
"I'm just sayin' mate, as often as we've run off with you, we ought to get to train with them too," Ron said one day as the Order was meeting in the kitchen below.
"Ronald, it's not some game! Harry is more at-risk than either of us and your mother has good reason for not wanting you-"
"Don't worry, mate, I'll be teaching you guys everything when we get back to the DA," Harry said, clapping Ron on the shoulder.
"Yeah, you just can't wait for Evvy to see your new tricks, can ya?" Ginny said, flouncing into the room as she popped a piece of gum. Ron covered his snicker at Hermione's glare.
"Hello, Ginny, welcome to our conversation," Harry said tiredly.
"No, not joining your conversation, just thought you old ladies might like to come hear this," she said. "Fred and George got the Extendable Ears working again."
It was like an explosion had gone off beneath the three as they raced to the balcony to hear what was going on downstairs. Fred, looking quite grim, immediately handed the device over to Harry.
"...needs to be focused on Occlumency, not fulfilling this James replacement fantasy, Sirius!"
"You need to focus on that being my godson, Albus!"
"Perhaps, Headmaster, it is not such a terrible thing-"
"We must be preparing Harry to do his part in the war, Severus, and that is done by making sure that Voldemort cannot use him-"
"And I am making sure he survives this damn war, Albus!" Harry heard Sirius shout. "I've given enough-I am not giving up my godson!"
"I wouldn't ask you to," the headmaster replied evenly. "I just beg you, look at the larger picture. There are more important things for young Harry to concern himse-"
"James and Lily did not give their lives for Harry to spend his childhood neglected and carrying the weight of the Wizarding World on his shoulders," a new voice, Remus, said in a sad, quiet voice. "But that is the world we live in. So Harry should be as well-trained as possible."
"I agree. That is why Severus will continue training Harry in Occlumency. Madam Pomfrey can finish your potion duties before the students return, so you may train Harry every day until break is over, Severus," the Headmaster said. "Now if that is all-"
Both Sirius and Remus shouted their objections, as did, Harry was surprised to note, Professor Snape. Then again, he did not particularly want to have to see the Potions Master everyday either. It was not adding up as Dumbledore shut down the meeting then and there, not bothering to allow any of the three men to continue their arguments. What could he have against Harry learning how to fight?
A voice in the back of his head which sounded an awful lot like Evanna whispered that perhaps Albus Dumbledore did not have his best interests at heart, had never placed Harry's wellbeing on his priority list, that he was playing the long game and did not concern himself with the needs of the pawns on the chessboard. Harry shook his head and tossed down the Extendable Ear, racing down the stairs to intercept Dumbeldore before he left Headquarters.
"Headmaster! Headmaster!" he called as he thundered down the stairs just as Dumbledore opened the front door.
"Afternoon, Harry," the Headmaster said cordially. "Unfortunately, I cannot visit right now. I will see you at Hogwarts."
And the door closed behind. Remus, Sirius, and Snape walked out of the dining room, each looking angrier than the last.
"Tomorrow morning, Potter. Be ready," Professor Snape snapped. "We are duelling before our Occlumency lesson."
Harry gaped as his Potions master stalked out. Remus smirked.
"What," Sirius said, "the hell was that?"
A/N: Sorry about the break between chapters. For some reason, the anniversary of my father's death hit me a lot harder this year (probably because my anxiety is already through the roof with trying to switch career paths, moving back home, and the friggin quarantine) so I didn't really do much of anything but read fanfic the past couple weeks. Been on a Zutara kick and I highly recommend "Avatar: The Last Dragon" series by Dapper Stormtrooper!