They landed in a cobblestone path. Fecca fell to her knees, feeling the stone scrape her skin. She barely had time to register the pain before Bellatrix was hoisting her back up by the arm.
"Come on," Bellatrix said.
The three of them approached a massive iron gate, beyond which, even in the dark, she could see a castle-like mansion rising against the night sky.
Bellatrix stroked her wand along the latch, which swung up as the gates rolled open. Her grasp around Fecca's arm stayed firm and her steps brisk, Rodolphus just behind, all the way down the cobblestone to the front doors of the manor. A crest was intricately carved out of the wood on either door, two dragons against a shield with the letter M.
Bellatrix didn't bother knocking. She used her wand to open the door just like the gates, and dragged Fecca inside, Rodolphus shutting the door behind them.
The dim lighting revealed a luxurious foyer with a polished floor and stone pillars. A painting on the wall was the first of the expensive-looking decor to catch Fecca's eyes. A man, a woman, and a boy, all with hair so blonde it was almost white, their skin pale and faces serious. They blinked at the sight of her, whispering to each other. Something about the woman's sculpted face and hooded eyes were vaguely similar to the woman who still held tight to her arm. As if Fecca could go anywhere.
"Cissy!" Bellatrix shouted, her voice echoing off the walls. "Narcissa!"
Footsteps on stone, and the same woman from the painting was descending the grand staircase into the foyer, her black night robe trailing on the steps behind her.
"You don't have to shout, Bella, I—"
The woman stopped speaking, eyes suddenly fixated on Fecca. The young woman's heart was pounding in her ears.
"You found her," the blonde whispered.
"Of course we found her," Bellatrix said with something between a laugh and scoff.
"It wasn't difficult," Rodolphus added.
The blonde woman approached Fecca, reaching out a hand to push the dark hair out of her face. Fecca's breath stopped as the woman stared, studying her features, fingers still hovering on her forehead. The touch wasn't harsh, but made Fecca feel as though she were an animal being examined, determining if she were fit to buy.
"You're sure she's the one?" the blonde woman asked.
"She has to be," Rodolphus affirmed. "We've done all the research, everything is a match."
"Just look at her, Cissy," Bellatrix purred. "She's perfect!"
The blonde woman nodded.
"Bring her into the grand room."
Bellatrix finally let go of Fecca's arm, but shooed her into the next room, where her eyes were met with more elegance and grandiosity. A crystal chandelier hung from a tall ceiling with flickering magic flames, reflecting off the palace-like windows lining the room with dark velvet curtains. More stone pillars held up the ornamented ceiling and framed the blazing fireplace, in front of which lay a fur rug. A equally blonde man, the one also from the painting, sat in a chair by the fire, a tumbler of dark liquor in one hand. He turned when he heard the footsteps of their party approach, eyes instantly falling on Fecca.
"Well, Lestranges, it appears your mission was a success," he spoke. "This must be Alphecca."
Bellatrix pushed her down on the sofa, standing behind her and keeping tight hands on her shoulders.
"What are you going to do with me?" Fecca finally managed to speak. Her voice was barely a whisper, horse in her throat.
"Let me clear things up," Rodolphus spoke. "The pureblood lines, as you may know, are running thin. There are very few of us left to serve the Dark Lord, to keep the wizarding world unadulterated, respectable, as it should be. We cannot afford to have any blood go to waste on witches like yourself."
"I'm a squib, I'm not a witch. I can't help you, please, please just let me go. I won't be any—"
"No," Rodolphus cut in. "That's where you're wrong. The Dark Lord has a theory, that squibs, provided they are born of two pureblooded parents, cannot possibly lack all magical ability. You were born of pure magic, and we now believe there must still be magic inside of you. You were born a witch, but your ability just never had the change to properly express itself. It got stuck, so to say. But we're going to try to bring it out of you."
"I'm a pureblood?" Fecca knew nothing about her family or bloodline. Her records from the orphanage had no information about her parents, or what had brought her there in the first place. She imagined if she did have any living relatives, they had wanted it that way.
"One hundred percent," Bellatrix purred. "We are very thorough in our research for the Dark Lord. We know more about you than you know about yourself."
Fecca had no answer, just stared past Rodolphus, into the popping sparks of the fire.
"May we continue this in the morning?" the blonde woman asked, covering a yawn.
"As you wish, Cissy," Bellatrix said. "Alphecca here should get some rest before her tests begin tomorrow," She gave Fecca a pat on the cheek.
"Come, I'll show you to your room," the blonde woman said.
All five of them climbed the staircase, and at the top, the blonde man and the Lestranges went their separate ways. Fecca saw Rodolphus whisper something to Bellatrix and try to take her hand, but she brushed it away. He followed her into what Fecca presumed was their bedroom, while the blonde woman led her further down the hall.
"This is where you'll be staying," she said, opening a door. The bedroom was no less luxurious than the rest of the house, with a canopy bed, elegant furniture, and a large ensuite. It was finer, by far, than any room Fecca had ever slept in.
"That bell on the wall will ring in the house elves' quarters. They'll bring you anything you need."
"Thank you," Fecca said, her voice still horse with fear.
The woman turned to go, but stopped when she got to the door and paused, as though she were contemplating something. When she looked back, her face had softened.
"You don't need to be afraid," she said. "We fully plan on keeping you here, and keeping you comfortable. As Rodolphus said, you're important for the Dark Lord's work. We need you alive and well."
"Thank you," Fecca whispered, though she was still not ready to relax. "Mrs…"
"Malfoy. Mrs. Malfoy."
"How do you know them? The Lestranges?"
Mrs. Malfoy gave a small smile. "Bellatrix is my sister. She and Rodolphus have stayed with us since prison."
There was silence between them for a moment.
"Thank you, for the room." Fecca said.
"Of course. Despite what shameful conditions you were raised in, your blood is pure, and the Dark Lord believes you are not without magical ability. My family plans to treat you as such. Witches and wizards of your blood status are always welcome in our home. Rest well, Alphecca."