Alas I don't not own the characters in this story. If I did my checking account wouldn't be in the sad state that it is.
Alfie "the Plot Bunny" has given up on demanding that there be reviews before I can post a new chapter. He has said that he would have had a big pouting fit but right now he is so happy that he can't pout. He and Peaches just found out that they are going to be parents to a litter of plot bunnies. Alfie is so ecstatic that he is going to be a parent. So without much further to add here is a new chapter.
Chapter 4
Meeting with the Dark Lord
A few weeks have passed and my power and abilities have grown exceptionally strong. Mr. Snape has also begun to teach me the ability of occlumency and legilimency. Occlumency is the ability to keep someone from reading your mind. Legilimency is the magical skill to extract thoughts, feelings, and memories from another person's mind. I have excelled well in both subjects and he seems quite pleased in my progress. We've sort of become friends I guess. I still find potion making intriguing and enjoy ever lesson. But right now I'm pacing in my room; I'm to be summoned to a meeting with the Dark Lord. I dread this I still do not like being in the same room with him. I pace all the way to the wall stopping just short of crashing into the wall. Just as I turn Snape enters the room.
"Come, its time." he offers me his arm. Hesitantly I cross the room and take his arm. He can feel the tension in my body. He pats and squeezes my hand on his arm in comfort. "Everything will be fine. Just do as your told and don't let your temper get out of hand."
"I'll try." I say in a voice that seems so small. We proceed to the hall and are ushered in. The Dark Lord is already seated and is talking to, Malfoy. Finished with their conversation the Dark Lord gives him a nod and he removes himself from the room. We approach him and bow.
"Rise, I hear that her training has been going well."
"Yes my Lord." Snape answers.
"Show me."
Snape has me run through a bunch of the spells I can do. Some of which even some full grown wizards are unable to do.
"Good." Just then Malfoy re-enters the room forcing a man to walk in front of him. The man looks terrified. "This man is believed to have betrayed his fellow death eater's which has lead to their deaths. Use you legimency to read his mind and find out the truth."
I looked him in the eyes and forced my way in. I saw the hideous, horrible things he has done. Families tortured and killed, women raped. Then I come across the memory of him meeting with aurors and telling them about an upcoming attack. An attack that was thwarted by this mans actions. He sacrificed the lives of other death eaters believing this would lead to a way out for him and his family. But I know he will die here tonight because of his actions. The Dark Lord doesn't need me to know if he is guilty or not, he already knows. So my answer will only condemn him, there is no way out for him now. Nothing I say will save him. So lying will only bring harm to me. I can feel the terror and smell his fear. It is sicking, yet empowering. How can a man who could do such things even think that his family should now be saved?
"Yes, he is guilty." I answer.
"Good work. Do you know the killing curse?" He asks me.
"Yes." I timidly answer. I glance at Snape. He looks me dead in the eyes and then slowly looks away. Knowing what is to be asked of me next.
"Then do it." he commands.
"Kill him, me." I look at Snape and he nods his head yes.
"Yes, kill him."
Pull out my wand and point it at the shaking sweating man in front of me. "Avada Kadavra." a flash of green light issues from my wand and the man before me collapses to the ground lifeless. I have killed a man. I am now a part of this world that I never wanted to join. One of them a murder, I turn toward the Dark Lord. A large grin has spread across his face. Oh how I loathe him.
"Excellent! You have trained her well Severus." The Dark Lord rises from his throne and approaches me. Hastily he grabs a handful of my robes and rips them open exposing my left shoulder. "I do not make one so young a death eater, but I wish to be able to call you to me when I see fit." He pulls out his wand and places the tip to my shoulder and mutters the spell that burns the dark mark into my shoulder. I cry out in agony as the spell burns the brand into my flesh. He releases me and I collapse to the floor gasping for breath. "Your all dismissed."
He barks and the group gathered disperses. Snape comes to me and helps me to my feet. He leads me back to my room. Once inside I wrap my arms around him and cry. He pulls me to him and holds me tight.
"Shhh. It's ok. He deserved what he got."
"But...But.." I stutter through my tears, "He never did anything to me. I, I didn't even know him."
"Do you think he knew the people he had killed?"
"I don't... I guess not."
"You gave them justice. He deserved to die a hundred times over for the lives he took. He died mercilessly easy compared to the many he has killed." I look up into his face. He takes his thumb and wipes away my tears. "Come you should get some rest. We still have to continue your training tomorrow."
"Ok, can we learn more potions?" I ask.
"Yes, if that is what you want." I smile at him and head to my dresser to get my night clothes. He turns and leaves. I change and crawl into bed. I snuggle down among the blankets and try to remove the vision of that man dying in front of me. Eventually exhaustion sets in and I fall asleep.
I'm walk down a hallway. It stretches on forever. Every ten feet or so there is a door. I keep walking and walking hoping there is an end to this hallway but I'm not finding one. I give in and stop in front of a door. Hesitantly I approach the door and slowly turn the knob. The latch clicks free and the door swings in. The horror that lies inside shocks me to the core. Luicus Malfoy is here inside with a family. The man is begging for the lives of his family as they are being slowly killed in front of him. Luicus is covered in the blood of the children as he descends upon the wife. Her screams continue over and over as he rapes her before he kills her. The man begs and weeps for her. I finally tear my eyes from the scene in front of me and run down the hall. I stop in front of another door and open it. Inside is Bellatrix, she is laughing with glee. In her hands are the intestines of the man lying on the floor in front of her. Blood and goo is running down her arms soaking into her robes. The man's eyes are wide with shock. He begins to cough up blood. He is making a sicking gurgling sound. I turn and run and run finding no escape, no end to the hallway.
Giving in I stop and approach another door. With a shaky hand I reach out and slowly open the door. Inside are my parents and my pet dog, Maxie, I had as a young child. I loved him so much. One day just turned up dead.
"Go on honey you can do it." my father says to mother.
She pulls out her wand and points it at Maxie. "Crucio!" she shouts. Maxie howls and falls to the ground twitching and whimpering.
"Stop!" I yell but can not be heard. I try to enter and rescue him but some kind of barrier prevents me. I claw at the wall before me. "No, Maxie." I yell. My mom lifts the curse and he just lies on the ground panting. Slowly he begins to get up.
"Good, now show me the next one." Father says.
"Avada Kadavra!" she shouts.
"No!" I scream at the top of my lungs. I turn and run screaming down the hall.
"Anna! Anna my darling." I hear as a hand touches my face. I wake to see Severus looking down at me concerned. "It's ok. It's only a dream." I cling to his neck and sob in his arms once again. Once I calm myself I tell him of my nightmare. He rises and leaves the room, only to return in a short while with a vile of dreamless draft.
"Here drink this, it'll help." he tips the vial to my lips and I swallow the contents. I feel sleepiness wash over me. I lay my head back on the pillow and slip into a dreamless sleep. Severus settles himself in the chair next to my bed and watches me sleep.
Note: Peaches wants to know if anyone has any carrot ice cream and pickles. She is having a bad craving. Don't know how well that will set on her stomach with all the morning sickness she has been experiencing. We'd sent Alfie but he out getting what she wanted before she had this new craving, brussel sprouts and jalapenos. Mmm!