Don't hate me. I have a few happy moments coming up.

Time jump:

Storming into the manor I ran up the stairs and turned into the hallway. The heels of my boots echoing throughout the hallway. Pushing past anyone in my path. My senses guiding me towards my target. Last night had been the last straw for me. I had put up with Bellatrix for far too long. She was a loose dog needing to be put down. I have controlled my anger around her for so long, it had become unbearable for me. But seeing Molly cry herself to sleep in my arms was too much. This was the same woman that chased Sirius with a bloody spoon. The same woman strong enough to take anything thrown at her with pride and dignity. Bellatrix was not about to be the one to cause Molly to break down.

"Athena?" Aaron ran toward me, grabbing my arm. "Hey. Hey. Athena?" Giving me another jerk, he finally forced me to turn towards him. "Hey!"

"Where is Bellatrix?"

"What?"

"Where is she?!"

He raised a brow at the tone of voice. "She's with Voldemort in the dining room. What's the matt-Athena?!"

Before he could stop me, I pushed the doors to the dining room open. My eyes locked on Bellatrix and before she could react, I pulled my wand out. "Petrificus Totalus!" Bellatrix hit the floor like a sack of turds. Her body bind from moving. Stalking towards the whimpering woman, I stood over her. "I warned you what would happen if you messed with my family. I gave you a last chance to walk away, but you pissed that away. I told you I'd mark that face of yours." I moved her face left and right with my wand. "I wonder which side would look the best marked. How about the right side."

"Athena!" Aaron yelled. "That's enough!"

"You made your point." Eva snapped.

I shook my head. "No, I haven't." I knew I should stop. I should put my wand down and walk away. But my mind was fogged up. All I could see were the flames and Molly crying. The possibility of losing Sirius or Hermione was close last night. "She will pay for what she did. I let it slide once, I am not backing down anymore."

Snape made a move towards me, only to be stopped by Voldemort. "Let's see just how far she's willing to go." A sinister smile on his lips. "It's about time we let her express herself for what she truly is."

I wasn't seeing what I was doing. My anger was taking over and this time there was no one to stop me. Aiming my wand towards her, I began carving words into her cheek. The screams of Bella causing everyone to flinch back. Before I could finish the third letter, I was ripped off her. "Let me go!"

"My you really are a feisty one." Voldemort held off the ground in front of him. "I haven't seen you this wild since you first came here, it's a refreshing change."

"Come closer and I'll show you another change." I snapped.

Voldemort chuckled. "As much as this is entertaining, I have other more important issues to attend to. And I can't afford loosing anymore bodies."

"I don't give two bloody shits." I gritted my teeth, glaring at the witch lingering in the back. The blood dropping off her cheek. "She dies!"

"Anything to hide your little secrets." Bellatrix sneered. "Not wanting the dark lord to know about your back stabbing adventures."

Voldemort's cold eyes landed on me, causing a fire like feeling enter my body. "I am not back stabbing anyone."

"No?" Bellatrix giggled. "Were you not with my dear cousin Sirius-"

"Keep his name out of your-"

"Silence!" He yelled. "Bella keep talking."

"She was with Harry Potter last night." She smirked. "Helped him and the others escape from our attack. She attacked me just as I had the clear shot."

"Have you forgotten about our pact." He whispered. "The only reason as to why Sirius Black is alive."

"Not something I can easily forget." Tapping his hand, I gestured to the ground. "Mind letting me go? I am not particularly fond of heights."

"You have broken your end of the deal." Voldemort hissed.

"No, I haven't. The pact was to join your little band of mutts. I did in exchange of getting Sirius back. And I have kept my end of the deal." Grabbing his wrist, I pulled out of his grip. Falling onto the ground I grabbed my wand. "The terms of my pact are only to that extent. There was nothing in there that stated I was unable to visit my husband, friends or family. Therefore, I haven't broken any clause in our agreement."

Voldemort walked circles around me. Stopping just behind me and leaned over next to my ear. "But there is no loyalty."

"You knew that from the beginning." I replied. "I never came here out of loyalty for you, but loyalty to my husband and family. Being here keeps them safe. I haven't question anything you have ordered." Shoving him away from me, I walked closer to Bellatrix. "Once again you got saved. The next time I see you near my family, you will no longer have a heart inside your chest. Not that you even have one now." Walking towards the door I was stopped by the sinister voice I loathed. "What?"

"How about a new pact?" Voldemort stretched out his arms with a slight bow. "One that will benefit the both of us."

'Don't do it.' That little voice in the back of my mind screamed. 'Don't do it. Just walk away!'

"I'm listening."

'Can you not hear me?!'

"Give me your full loyalty and I will assure your family will not be harmed by us." Voldemort offered. "You will stand by my side with no question asked. Follow my every rule and order."

I tilted my head to the side, narrowing my eyes at him. "You are giving them immunity from you and your goons?" He nodded slowly.

'Why are you even considering the idea?! The answer is no! You did it once, no need to do it again! Sirius is alive!'

"You give me your upmost loyalty and I will ensure no harm towards your friends by Bellatrix or the others." He raised his long pale finger, sucking his teeth. "The pact will be done under a spell of course."

"What sort of spell?"

Voldemort held his hand out to me, waiting until I placed mine over his. "This won't hurt...much." He waved Snape over to us. "What better than for the father to do the honors."

Snape stalked towards us, pulling his wand out only to pause. "Athena, are you sure?"

I raised a brow with a slight laugh. "Says the man that invoked my name in an unbreakable vow? I am practically on death's doorstep; not sure this can make it any worse."

"You d-"

"Enough chit-chat." Voldemort gave Snape a warning look. "Proceed."

Snape nodded stiffly, waving his wand around our hands. A black ribbon emitted from our hands and arms, leveling off us and shattering. "The previous blood pact has been broken."

'Run bitch! Run!'

Removing my hand Snape used his wand to cut Voldemort's palm. Followed by cutting mine as well. Laying my palm over his I suddenly felt sick. The thought of his and my blood mixing once more. Having something of his in my blood was enough to make me feel dirty.

Snape waved his wand in a slowly infinity shape motion. "With this unified blood pact, it is marked. Athena Gaunt-Black declares her loyalty in both mind and body. No longer pledges loyalty to those against our ways. In exchange her family wi-"

"Be specific." I demanded. "Who gets the immunity and from who."

"In exchange Hermione Granger and family. The Weasley family. The Lupin family and the Black family limited only Sirius Balack and future heirs will not be harmed by the dark lord himself or any of the death eaters under his command." Snape casted a glance around the room, getting nods from everyone.

"Harry?"

"No!" Voldemort yelled. "Harry Potter is mine."

"I am not going to allow that." I growled.

"I am giving you more than enough." His voice dropping a few tones. "More than enough for something I can take by force. Harry Potter is mine."

'Just go for it now. The others are safe now, they can help keep him safe. They get hurt and you are no longer linked to nose less.'

"If the pact is broken from your end? What then?" I asked.

Voldemort chuckled softly. "The pact is broken. No strings attached and you get to go back to playing house."

"Sirius will not be at risk?"

He shook his head. "But, shall the bond be broken in your end...everyone dies."

'I told you! I told you to run bitch!'

I harden myself from reacting to his terms. "Okay."

Snape's wand suddenly had a red electric light hit our skins. A thread size stream of both our bloods began flooding around our arms, creating a ribbon type shape. The moment it touched my skin I nearly let out a scream at the burning of my skin. The blood was being branded onto my arm. Grinding my teeth, I shut my eyes willing the pain to go away. Just as it started it stopped. Letting out a shaky breath I raised my head as I opened my eyes. Glancing at my arm I looked away in disgust. Letting go off his hand, I jumped back.

"It is done." Snape mumbled.

Refusing to make eye contact with anyone, I ran out of the room. Closing the doors behind me, I leaned against the cold wood. I just fucked up. Not only did I put myself in a vulnerable position, but put everyone I loved at risk. This meant I no longer had the freedom of seeing my family. Pushing myself off the doors, I walked aimlessly around the manor. Coming to a stop in front of my bedroom, I felt his presence before seeing him.

"You should have denied that pact." Aaron reached down for my hand. His fingers running across the new mark. "I don't understand him. I don't understand why he is so infatuated with you."

"Voldemort?"

He nodded. "This mark is not only speaks of a bond, but it's a link directly to him. He is putting himself in a dangerous position doing that." He grabbed a roll of bandages from his pocket, wrapping my arm and hand. "Keep it hidden. It will avoid any unwanted questions for the moment."

"Aaron, I had to." I wasn't sure why I was explaining myself to him. "I will do anything it take to make sure my family lives through this."

"Even if you don't?" Eva stepped into our view. "Even if that means risking your life?"

"Yes."

"Athena, you understand the d-"

"I knew accepting there was a chance I wouldn't survive. That I will die in some stupid battle or he'd get tired of my bullshit and kill me. It crossed my mind more than once. But knowing they were safe and Sirius was alive, it was worth it. So is this."

Eva to in a sharp inhale. "I really hope so." Her eyes trailed down to my stomach. "How's the child?"

"Fine."

"The day is getting closer." She whispered. "We will have to rethink the plan. The cabin is still ready to go, but we will have to leave as soon as you go into labor."

"We can't risk leaving any time sooner." Aaron added. "That will just bring up more questions. And after tonight, I am sure Bellatrix will be keeping an eye on you."

"I am both excited and dreading that day to come."

Walking into my room I flopped down on the bed. Aaron wasn't wrong. With this Bellatrix will have it out for me, but at the same time it put a leash on her. Voldemort for the time being will make sure she doesn't break the pact. Just as I closed my eyes a small tapping came from my window. Looking back I chuckled at the upside down owl. Waving the window open, it flew into the room and landed on the bed beside me. It was a letter from Hermione.

'I know this is stupid on my part, but I need to make sure you are still alive. You left without saying anything to anyone. You are reckless when you are angry.

Sirius is near the brink of going mad. Remus has been able to keep him calm. Mrs. Weasley is worried and demanding Sirius do something.

Please just send something to let us know you are okay.'

Grabbing a piece of paper I stopped. "Is this breaking the pact? Snape's spell said only about loyalty. Nothing about communicating with them." Dipping the quail in the ink I frowned at the tingling I felt in my arm. Clenching and unclenching my hand a few times the feeling went away. As I wrote the first few letters, I hissed at the burning in my arm. "What the hell?" Unwrapping the bandages I gasped. The mark was burning once again, causing an even more intense pain. "Alright. Alright. I'll stop." Putting the quail down, I tossed my head back with shut eyes, willing the pain to go away.

Wrapping the arm again, I stumbled out of my room. The pain was draining my energy, making it rather difficult to walk straight. Nearly tripping into Aaron's room, I fell onto his bed.

Said wizard was standing in front of his window, startled at my sudden intrusion. "You ever heard of this thing called knock? Quite common really, even the savages of people have heard of it."

"I am of a different breed." My voice was muffled by his bed covers. "Ineedhelp."

"What?"

"Ineedhelp."

Aaron grabbed me by my shoulders, rolling me onto my back. "What?"

"I need your help." I refused to look him in the eyes. He always got this smug look when I ask for his help. "What exactly are the terms of my pact with Voldemort?"

"What do you mean?"

"I received a letter from Hermione. When I attempted to write back, the mark began burning." I replied. "I am seriously starting to get fed up with these marks. Why mark us? Better yet why put a mark that causes harm?"

Aaron chuckled. "Weren't you just saying last week you wanted a tattoo?"

"That's beside the point."

"Right." Moving away from the window, he took a seat on the edge of the bed. "The spell was for you to pledge your loyalty to him. But until you renounce the loyalty you have for you friends, that won't happen. And you knew that when you committed to the spell. Any contact you have with anyone mentioned in that spell, will cause the mark to flare up."

"That's ridiculous!" I growled. "Always?!"

"Until you are loyal to Voldemort will it stop." He paused for a moment. "Or the pact is broken."

"So, technically I can still talk and see them?" I asked.

Aaron raised a brow with a small scoff. "You'll be in pain."

"Anything that might ease the pain?" I grinned at seeing him get up. He tossed me a small bottle with black liquid. "A potion?"

"Pain killer." He laughed.

"That's not funny asshole."

"Just a little."

"Do you think I did the right thing?"

Aaron was caught off guard for a moment. "I-I don't know. Athena, I was born into this. My father and my brother were loyal followers of Voldemort. To please him, my father 'gifted' me to Voldemort. I grew up living this life. My family is only Eva. I can't give you an honest answer, because I don't know what you have gone through."

"I am not asking for the right answer. But what you think."

"A part of me thinks no. Being who I am, I think no one is worth this much suffering and pain." He reached out, taking my hand in his. "But the rest of me says yes. Black has no idea just how much you are willing to give for him. Your friends don't realize the kind of special person they have. You are going to be knocked down and beaten. Force to do things that you don't like. Bleed and cry, the reason behind all that makes it worth it."

Wiping the single tear off, I pulled him into a hug. "Thank you."

Aaron:

Aaron offered her a smile as she walked out his room. His smile dropping once he was alone. "My lord."

"I see you and her have gotten close." His voice hissed around the room. Aaron kept his gaze on the floor giving him a stiff nod. "I expect you to complete your task before she and Malfoy have done theirs."

"Yes sir."

Aaron was suddenly slammed against the wall. The air knocked out of his lungs. He tried taking in breath only to panic at not being able to breath. His watery eyes making it impossible to see in front of him. Voldemort grinned at seeing the man panic before his eyes. Knowing he very well couldn't kill him yet, he allowed him to fall. Aaron gripped his throat, coughing while attempting to fill his lungs. His body stiffening at seeing Voldemort crouch beside him, placing his hand on his back.

"That was just a small taste of what will happen, should you fail me." Voldemort whispered in his ear. "But do this correctly and you will be rewarded." Patting him on the head, he gracefully walked out of the room.

Aaron fell to the ground on his back. His chest rising heavily with each breath. He knew there was no getting out of this. He needed to do what was told of him. But the thought of betraying Athena clenched at his chest. He lied to her when he told her he didn't know what if felt like. It felt just like this. It made it impossible to breath. Felt as if someone had their foot over you chest and slowly pressing down, at any given moment your chest would give into the pressure.

That's how it felt to betray a friend.