Hey guys! I've FINALLY written the whole chapter! - Yay for me! Ehehe... probably been a few months, ne? Sorry for the long wait! I've just been SO busy and all that homework's been driving me up the wall. This chapter is pretty uneventful and boring but it was forced because I lost my inspiration. However, information revealed here is crucial to plot developement so bear with me! I've gotten my inspiration back, though, so woohoo! -v And I've found out about the review reply button so hurray! -;; Yeah, I'm a bit slow sometimes...

Hope

by samisweet

Chapter Three

I have no trouble at all recalling the day that my father revealed to me his secret. It wasn't of course, his most horrific one, nor was it so surprising, but I hadn't been expecting it so soon. Of course, every man is identical in that way, but my father had been so cold. I would have thought that he'd be more subtle and wait a little longer.

0o0o0o0

"Usagi," my father's frigid gaze swept over my frock-adorned body, inspecting to make sure that I was well dressed and unsoiled. I passed his assessment, hiding my potion-covered hands behind my back.

"Yes father," reverently bowing my head, I averted my eyes to the floor. He paused for a few moments, during which I fidgeted uneasily under his discerning eyes. He cleared his throat, almost uncomfortably. I glanced up to find him staring at the portrait of the woman I had seen years ago, the one where he was younger and happier. His eyes were far away, pained with a memory. I looked closer and saw his icy orbs watering, though no tears fell. He closed his eyes for a second before swallowing and sighing.

"There is something you must know."

"Yes, father."

"It will come as a shock."

"Yes, father."

"You will not be expecting it."

"Yes, father."

"Usagi…"

"Yes, father?"

"I am getting married."

"Yes, fath…" my voice faltered and my eyes grew wide. He was getting married? Since when? I could feel my jaw slowly dropping. I felt as if he had betrayed my mother. The mother I had never known but heard so much about, the mother that had died for unknown purposes in my third year into this horrid world. And now… he was getting married. The words repeated in my head, echoing incessantly. I closed my eyes briefly and cleared my throat, choking out my words. "Yes, father."

"My wedding will be next month."

"Yes, father."

"My fiancée has a daughter, one year older than you."

"Yes, father."

"I expect you to treat her kindly. She will be staying in the room across from yours." This brought another shock. It was my mother's room, filled with her accessories and robes and jewelry. It was her shrine, my passageway into her world. I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Yes, father," my voice came out in a shaky whisper and I berated myself for showing weakness, in front of father no less.

"I expect you to treat my fiancée as you would your own mother. I have told her she is to treat you the same."

"Yes, father."

"My future daughter will be the flower girl. You will sit with the rest of the guests."

"Yes, father."

"Go to Madame Malkin's and find yourself a gown in pale blue. Make sure that it is nice and in the latest fashion. My fiancée has asked for it."

"Yes, father."

"You are dismissed."

"Yes, father," I turned around, careful not to show my hands. I know an incredulous look was on my face as I went back to my room. It was like walking in a dream. Everything around me was dull and lifeless. I felt alone and hurt. My father was getting married to someone other than my mother. Slowly, large, pearly tears began tracking down my face. He was marrying someone that already had a daughter… and she was going to be taking over my mother's shrine. Feelings of betrayal ran deep through my veins. A sob escaped. My mother was already forgotten. Another person was taking her place. I wondered distantly if my father married her because she was like my mother… or perhaps prettier and better. What if she was rude? What if she hated me? Would I forget my mother the way my father had? A million thoughts raced through my mind as I threw myself on my bed, crying.

0o0o0o0o0

The wedding was lavish. The most prominent people came to the celebration, which took place in a clearing of a magical forest, complete with cascading waterfalls and a calm, peaceful lake. It was right on the beach. A few hundred chairs were lined up to accommodate the guests. A straight path, marked by a lush silvery-white carpet, led to the altar, decorated with pink and red rose petals. I sat in the very front row, next to my supposed aunts and cousins, all of whom I had never met. There was a blonde who resembled me down to the very shade of my eyes sitting next to me. She introduced herself as Minako.

"I'm Usagi," I smiled warmly at her and she smiled back.

"So, have you met your stepmother yet?" Minako asked.

"No. Not yet. Have you?"

"Yeah. She's pretty, but a little uppity, ya know? She thinks she's all that. No offense, but I don't like her. Oh, sh, sh, the wedding's about to begin!" Minako squealed excitedly as my father began his trek down the aisle. His eyes met mine for a brief demi-second but he quickly looked away, instead, choosing to stand to the side of the altar with his entourage. The flower girl began to make her way down the aisle, sickeningly sweet in a pink and white frock-like robe. She had a syrupy smile on her face. Her dark green eyes were fringed with sooty red lashes. Lush red curls surrounded her face. She was pretty, even for a child. It was then that I realized that this girl would be my sister. I glared darkly at her as she skipped forward, showering the floor with red petals. She was going to be nasty; my child-radar was already tingling.

The bride was something else. Her face was hidden by a white veil but she had a body figure that would send anyone into fits of jealousy. I observed her luscious curves; the men were staring unabashedly at her, as if they were entranced. I suppose they had been at that time; a woman that beautiful was completely ethereal. The low cut décolletage of her robes gave way to ample cleavage and creamy pale skin. I watched on in horror as she moved down the aisle, accompanied by her bridesmaids. There was something about her that I did not trust at all. My father unveiled her, his face breaking out uncharacteristically into warmth as he leaned forward for a kiss. I couldn't look. I squeezed my eyes shut and shivered slightly. Minako comforted me to the best of her ability and I accepted the rare kindness.

I could feel someone's eyes on me and I turned to meet my father's icy blues. He held something akin to regret in them and when he found me looking at him; he instantly turned back to his wife. I felt a shiver go down my back. At the age of 8, I did not know much about the world, even though I knew much more than most adults, but I did know that my new mother was not normal. This fact caused me to doggedly pursue every fact about her the coming years, but that will be told later.

Soon after the procession came the dancing. The ballroom was the sand, magically fitted so that it was firm. A famous group of witches came with their beautiful instruments, pulling haunting melodies of love and eternity from metal and wood. I sighed as my father led the first dance, his arm around my new mother's waist, his eyes focused on her beautiful orbs of acid green. Her hair was covered by a thin white veil. People cheered when my father uncharacteristically dipped her for a sweet kiss. I tried to suppress the bile from coming out of my mother. My eyes stung with tears but I quickly swallowed them. A familiar figure came near me. I gasped in delight.

"Narcissa! What a pleasant surprise," I bowed respectfully as Narcissa embraced me.

"Yes, it is wonderful to see such a bright young girl again," Narcissa's eyes glittered with amusement as I hugged her back. "What do you think of her?"

I paused, watching as my new sister joined the dance. The three of them spun round and round, a happy family. I was excluded. They laughed cordially, chords of harmony that suited each other. They didn't bother to motion for me to join them. I started, realizing I hadn't answered. "There is something about her that I do not like." My voice was quiet and thoughtful as I continued to watch them. The crowd cheered them on with loud voices and a few sent sympathetic glances my way. What little attention I did get from my father would disappear, perhaps forever, I knew. But this was merely a test of my strength. My father ushered my new sister to dance with Draco, who smirked as he waltzed gracefully, talking softly with her.

"Me too," Narcissa watched her son dance with my redheaded sister. "Would you like a dance with Draco?"

"It's alright," I smiled as widely as I could. "I'd rather not. I'm not sure father would appreciate it too much."

"Usagi, the next few years will be very difficult for you," Narcissa started, refusing to meet my confused eyes. "It will take every ounce of strength and energy to make it through each day. But you have the strength and willpower within. Just search for it and I know that you will find it. I believe in you Usagi –when you feel that you don't have anyone, just know that I love you like my own child. You gave me the strength I needed –you give yourself the strength you need."

"What do you mean?" I was confused. It was as if she could see the future.

"I just have a feeling," Narcissa said honestly, glancing at her son. "Whatever happens, just know that you are the only true Tsukino. Your mother and sister cannot compare to you."

"Are they that horrible?" My question must have caught her off guard because she gave me a startled look. I pinpointed the problem. It was my new mother. She would be atrocious to me; I could tell merely by the way Narcissa tried to cover the truth in her eyes. She chose to remain silent but I gave a strong smile. "It's alright. I'll make it through. You said I would, didn't you?" Narcissa tried to blink back tears and succeeded as she looked down on me.

"Yes, you will make it through."

"May I have this dance?" a young boy, perhaps eleven, came up to me with ebony hair that contrasted greatly with pale skin and thick-lash-fringed blue eyes. He glared to his left, where I assumed his parents were standing and bowed. I gave a polite curtsey.

"Yes, kind sir, you may," I took his hand as he led me to the floor. A sweet melody began to play as I waltzed gracefully and with unmatched skill. My partner held me a bit far, but not so far that the dance was difficult. "I am Usagi Tsukino."

"Darien Shields," he replied, his eyes looking everywhere but my face. I had heard of his family before. He was from a pair of famous magical American beings; they were very wealthy and one of the last purebloods. I nodded as he took the lead. He was obviously trained well. The waltz came to an end; it was then that I realized that we were the only pair on the dance floor. Polite clapping reached my ears and I forced down a blush, instead, curtseying with fluidity. My eyes met with the venomous ones of my new sister as she glared at me.

I ignored her and returned to my place with Narcissa as she pushed her son, Draco, forward. Draco glared at me with his cool eyes before bowing. I accepted his warm hand before he led me to the floor and danced in a slow pace. I followed obediently, staying silent and instead choosing to observe the people surrounding me, people that were so blissfully oblivious to what their loyalty to the Dark Lord really meant. I sighed, my tense muscles relaxing as my eyes met once again with my father's. He was staring at me in a curious manner, as if trying to decipher something about me. He gave an extremely rare smile, as small as it was; in fact, I think that had been the first time I had ever seem him smile for real. But it was not one sprung from happiness; instead, infinite lines of sorrow, regret, and pain marked his features, causing him to look older than he really was. It was only a moment though, and I quickly danced with Draco, who held me with delicate hands, as if I'd contaminate him.

0o0o0o0o0o0

My first meeting with Voldemort was horrifying. I remember the terror coursing through my body when my father left me at an empty, pitch-black room. I was, and still am afraid of the dark, so I had used what little magic I was capable of at that age to create a small flame at the tip of my fingers. I immediately had wished that I hadn't done such a thing, for the ground was littered with decaying skeletons. I retched but my stomach was empty as the smell of rotting flesh reached my nose. Suddenly, I could feel something around me. I turned sharply, trying to find the source of my discomfort, but found nothing. It was then that I noticed the strange smoke swirling around my body, slowly winding up, where a large cloud formed. I blanched as Voldemort materialized above me.

"You've already manipulated magic," Voldemort said approvingly in his dark, ominous voice. "This will make things much easier. First things first, however. You obey me and only me. I am your Lord and your ruler. You have an irreversible loyalty to me. Understood?" I nodded fearfully; I understood but that did not mean that I would listen to him. After all, I had no intention of following his orders whatsoever, but I had an ability to hide my thoughts from him and to act so he never quite suspected a thing. He let out a loose laugh, one filled with electric darkness and I suppressed a shiver. "Now, your first lesson will be about dark magic. You can change your magic to become dark. Let me see you do a simple spell."

I trembled visibly as I tried to summon fire. My hands shook as a ball of flames flickered on and off in my palms, casting quivering shadows across the room. I took in a deep breath and the flame solidified into one unyielding object.

"Good, good," he said as he swirled around me, forming in front of my body. A small smoky tendril reached out to touch the flames, and instantly, the bright red fire turned into a violet-tinged black. I could feel the darkness seeping into me through my palms and I struggled against it, an internal battle raging as my magic pushed against the intrusion. With a blinding flash of light, I was thrown against the ground, causing a skeleton to crumble into dust.

"Fool!" Voldemort cried out. It was dark again and I couldn't see a thing but I could feel his presence. "You dare to defy me and my powers? Crucio!" I clenched my teeth as the curse hit me head-on. Hot pain flashed across my body as I momentarily let myself give in to the ache, whimpering loudly. I had enough wits not to scream, but that seemed to anger Voldemort even further and the curse intensified. I clenched my jaw shut and refrained from even whimpering, holding my breath as my muscles twisted into knots and my bones sent shots of stinging brutality through me. I would not let him win. "Interesting," he commented. The spell was lifted. My breathing became harsh and I pulled myself up to my elbows, groaning. "You are strong. Perfect." He moved around me, crimson eyes glowing in the dark. "Leave. Your lesson is over," he snapped suddenly. I lit a small flame on my palm and rushed towards the door, stumbling as I shut it behind me and falling to the floor in a grateful heap.

There, a nice, awkward, long chapter for you guys. My chapters will now be eight pages long, so yay! Also, my beta hasn't read over this yet, so there's will be mistakes galore. Until then, you're welcome to look over this for me!

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