11. Making Acquaintances
Malfoy's smirk was conceited and his steel grey eyes shone with pleased smugness. As everything Harry had experienced with Malfoy in his short life, the blonde's actions were for show and as fake as they could be.
"Oh, I can genuinely imagine that." Malfoy grinned broadly and showed off his perfect white teeth. "Daughter of the Dark Lord." His voice was filled with mockery, envy simmering almost unnoticeably in his eyes. "They certainly kiss the ground you walk on, don't they? It has to feel great."
It took all of Saphira's willpower not to flinch unconsciously. The way Malfoy had spoken, the certain words he had used and the way he had trailed off at the end conveyed the impression that he experienced badly supressed hate and anger. A sudden fear gripped her heart. All of a sudden everything she had worked so hard for, those wishes Harry had had for her, seemed so far away. She had wanted have a new start, to get to know those people around her better and to befriend them. She had imagined herself to be successful in her future attempts. She had managed to form a tentative relationship with her father, after all and more than a passable relationship bordering between guardian and mentor with Professor Snape. Saphira had hoped that things would work out better between Malfoy and her. She hadn't naively expected them to become best friends but getting along at least would have been nice.
With a little bit of dread and more than a little bit of foreboding Saphira took a deep breath and raised her head to meet Malfoy's gaze. She steeled herself for the derision and disgust she might have to face. However, when her gaze finally connected with Malfoy's, her breath almost hitched in surprise. Instead of disdain and depreciation his light grey eyes shone with acknowledgement and understanding. His eyes twinkled merrily and all of a sudden a teasing grin spread over his lips. Malfoy's posture was relaxed as he leaned back and crossed his hands behind his head. He looked pleased.
"Very good, Saphira." He crooned as if she was a baby that had spoken its first word. It was rather disturbing. "I would have done the same in your position. You learn fast, Saphira. Very fast."
Saphira had to fight the urge to blink and to pinch herself. It was just so weird.
Had Malfoy been sorted into Gryffindor Saphira would have sworn that he was lying to make her feel better. It was something that Ron would have and had done. Not that he was all that great at lying, but in Harry's mind the thought and the attempt to make him feel better had been what counted.
Malfoy, however, had never been a Gryffindor. He was and always would be a Slytherin to the core. Saphira didn't dare to claim that she knew everything there was to know about the House of Slytherin and its members. She knew, however, that a Slytherin would always think about him- or herself first. Lying for someone else's sake without benefitting from the lie him- or herself wasn't something a Slytherin would normally do. It made Malfoy's actions and words all the weirder as he must have felt she earned the praised and his approval.
As she leaned back into her chair again Saphira let her mind wander. It made sense that he would approve of her actions if she thought about her situation like a member of Slytherin would. With the blood-adoption she had improved her social standing. Before her change Harry had been a homeless, half-blood orphan. And even though Harry had fame, fortune and influence, he had lacked the knowledge to use it. He had been average in most of his school subjects and only truly excelled in Quidditch and Defence Against the Dark Arts. It had to be a shame in someone's eyes like Malfoy's that Harry hadn't tried to use his power more. He might have been able to change the world if someone had bothered to take the time and guide him through the minefield that was wizarding politics and upper class society.
Now, however, things were different. Even though she was now a woman and might not be able to carry her family name on, her social standing had still improved a lot. She was a pureblood witch, heiress to a long line of pureblood family member and had a living family. With tutoring she will be able to improve her magical abilities until her father would be proud of her and content with her improvement. She will hone her social skills, learn how to play a room filled with important and influential witches and wizards and will bring her family name glory and grandeur with a perfect pureblood husband. Her father might even be able to talk her future husband into dropping his own family name and accepting hers to continue the noble line of Slytherin.
And one should not forget that her father was the most feared and the most dangerous wizard of their world.
With a smile gracing her lips that felt bitter and grim on her tongue and a painfully throbbing heart Saphira tried to look calm as she observed the still grinning and teasingly chuckling young man sitting opposite of her. Malfoy might be in the right with her having become someone better in his and most others' eyes but there was one thing he had got completely wrong. Never in all of his life would Malfoy know how it had felt to be in Harry's position before he had changed. Malfoy might think he knew why Harry had agreed to those changes, but he couldn't be more far off if he had tried. Malfoy didn't understand and he would never understand it. He hadn't experienced what Harry had and Saphira would rather die than share Harry's past and history with that man.
"You know," She drawled and tried to copy Professor Snape's way of speaking when he thought his conversation partner to be too dumb to understand that he was insulting him or her. "It seemed to be the most reasonable thing to do."
On the inside Saphira felt disgusted. Harry would roll in his grave if he could. Harry had always been such a loyal and true to the heart young man. Never would he have lied into someone else's face nor had he ever tried to manipulate others into doing his bidding. He had always tried to protect his friends and family and to keep them safe. But now here she was lying right into Malfoy's face. And even though they had never been friends before Harry would have never stooped so low. He might have taunted Malfoy and tried to curse him if Malfoy attacked or provoked him, but he wouldn't have lied.
It hurt and Saphira had to blink against the sudden burning in her eyes. She was betraying Harry's ideals, those ideals Harry had been fighting for. She had turned into selfish and egoistical young woman only looking out for her own benefit and gains. Saphira wasn't how Harry had wanted her to be.
It hurt. And she felt dirty and disgusted.
Malfoy didn't notice her inner turmoil. "You know, you never tipped me as the Slytherin type, Saphira." He teased and his lips turned into a lopsided smirk. He winked playfully. "But with your father I should have expected nothing less."
Malfoy was praising her, praising her for something that Harry would have never stood for and that he would never have accepted. Harry would have felt dirty and disgusted with himself. Something stirred within her and Saphira felt the sudden need to explain herself, to make Malfoy see reason. She needed him to understand and she needed to defend herself and her decision against Harry's accusing and disappointed eyes.
Her tongue tingled and she was about to open her mouth and speak when her mind suddenly went blank. No, she couldn't explain herself. Showing weakness wasn't something Harry or she took lightly. She would never betray herself and Harry in such a blatant way. She wouldn't show weakness. Ever.
She swallowed light and was about to make a witty retort when a soft knock at her quarter's door sounded through her room and caused her to spin around. With a quick wave of her wand Saphira opened the door and let whoever wanted to speak to her enter. She tried to force her heart to cease its furious pounding. There was no need for her to fear that someone might try and attack her. Aside from her father, Professor Snape and the Malfoys none of the Death Eaters even knew that she existed. Whoever had been knocking at her door must have known that someone lived inside the quarters next to her father's.
The door opened and the Lady Malfoy entered. "Oh, Saphira, Draco, there you are." She beamed bright at them and made a show of trying to look surprised. As if she hadn't known that her son had been sent to collect Harry Potter's possessions. "I have been searching everywhere for you. I just wanted to introduce you to each other. However, I see this won't be necessary. Here you are and you are already getting along so well. Prefect."
It took all of Saphira's willpower to keep up her nice but vain smile. All inside of her screamed to roll her eyes or huff in annoyance. Searching everywhere for them, what an utter and stupid lie. Where else than in her quarters could she be? And who did the Lady Malfoy try to fool to suggest that the two of them were getting along well? They might be considered a lot of things but being on the way of becoming friends was far from it.
The last few weeks had been pure torture and everything in Saphira longed to give that horrible Lady Malfoy a piece of her mind. But even though she so wanted to show her displeasure so dearly, Saphira didn't. The Lady Malfoy had been most cruel and her punishments most severe in everything concerning proper female pureblood behaviour. Scolding, rolling her eyes, snorting and many more things shouldn't be done in the Lady's presence unless one wanted to experience her creativity for punishments.
With her friendly but meaningless smile still firmly in place Saphira motioned for the Lady Malfoy to come in further.
"Here we are." She parroted. Always answer questions, never leave a comment without remark. "Why were you searching for us?"
If it was even possible the Lady Malfoy's already brightly smiling face lit up even more. With the enthusiasm of a small child the Lady clapped her hands together. She only would have to wear a pink frilly dress instead of the floor-length, long-sleeved black dress, have her long blond hair in pigtails instead of an extravagant pinned-up hairstyle and jump up and down to be the perfect little five year old girl. The very thought sent a small and sincere smile to Saphira's lips. She would treasure that image for eternity. It might help her keep her sanity.
The smile, however, only survived until the Lady Malfoy motioned for son and Saphira to stand up and follow her. More than a little weary Saphira glanced quickly at Malfoy. When she noticed that Malfoy was already moving to follow his mother's silent order, Saphira sighed inwardly but moved to stand up slowly.
"Oh, no need to fret, my dear." The Lady Malfoy trilled and smiled benevolently at her. "Your father sent me to fetch you two. He thinks it is finally the time for you to meet the rest of his followers." Her eyes became glassy and sent a shiver down Saphira's spine. "He wishes to finally introduce you as his heiress."
Despite her knowledge that this would have to happen in the near future Saphira couldn't help but swallow thickly. The thought of having to face the Death Eaters while her father introduced her as his daughter and heiress had scared her beyond belief and had been the reason for several sleepless nights. It wasn't the knowledge that most of her father's followers were cold-blooded and heartless mass murderers, rapists and torturers and that some of them more than remotely insane that scared her. Those people had always been Harry's enemies. He hadn't cared much for their emotional and physical state of being nor had Harry ever wished to spend more time in their presence than was absolutely necessary to overpower them in a battle. Harry hadn't known them as individuals. He had only seen them as his enemies and opponents when they were in battle.
Her father had seen to it that Saphira's lack of knowledge about his followers was filled. Mere days after she had woken up as Saphira, her father had bestowed several dossiers on her. She had been hesitant at first, her father had just wordlessly placed the dossiers on her couch table one morning and left them there without explanation.
When she had opened them, she hadn't known what to expect. The dossiers were filled with names, dates and pictures. She leaved slowly through them as her mind tried to figure out their purpose. Each dossier was on a family. It started with Avery and ended with Yaxley. There was information about the current head of family and the children born into the family. There was information about school careers, apprenticeships, jobs, spouses and offspring. In most cases there was additional information on special abilities and unique prowess. Pictures next to the names completed the dossiers.
It didn't take her long to understand why her father had wanted her to read the dossiers. Those were his followers, his most trusted and dedicated. He wanted her to know their faces, their names, their relations and their history. And it worked. She could see them as individuals with needs and desires. They were human.
And that thought scared her the most.
To Harry they had been nothing more than faceless and nameless masses of people who hid under wide, black robes and behind white skull-like masks. They were evil by nature and were driven by the horrible wish to rid the Earth of muggles and muggle-born witches and wizards. They were born evil and would die as evil beings. There had been nothing more to them. At least, not to Harry.
After she had read the dossiers, however, she couldn't forget the information she had read. Those were human beings who followed her father and believed in his mission. They had different reasons for following her father and they didn't all share her father's impression on what missions were most important and what mission would have to wait in order for the others to be completed. The fact remained, however, that all of them were human and were driven by human needs and desires. They might not be good people, but Saphira couldn't just label them born and mindless evil after all she had read about them.
Harry would have cared for such information. It would have explained so much about the current war and why the Dark Lord had been able to amass followers in the first place. It irked her that Dumbledore had never seen any reason to explain to Harry how the war had come to be. Dumbledore had to have known.
But instead of sharing his knowledge and wisdom with Harry, he had opted to let Harry remain in the darkness. In all of their conversations Dumbledore had never once tried to make Harry see the Death Eaters at individual human beings. It was as if had wanted Harry to think of them as uniform and born evil people. It irked Saphira more than she cared to admit. She couldn't help but feel betrayed by her former Headmaster. Had he never shared his knowledge and wisdom with Harry because he feared that Harry wouldn't be to fight against the Death Eaters if he thought of them as human beings? Had Dumbledore feared that Harry would lose his will to fight and vanquish the Dark Lord if he knew more about him and his reasons for the war?
Had Harry been nothing more than a weapon, a tool for the light side, to be forged and used as they saw fit to rid the world of what they saw as the ultimate evil?
It hurt that no one thought Harry deserved to know what he was expected to fight for. It hurt even more that it had been the Dark Lord who had opened her eyes and who finally provided her with the necessary information to conceive an opinion.
It could be considered a cosmic joke that Harry's mortal enemy would finally be the one to offer her what the light side had never once considered to offer her. She had knowledge, wisdom and information. She had been granted a family and a respected role and function in society. And now she might even make friends or at least acquaintances.
Her father's followers might never try to form a big family like the light side had. Even though Saphira would have to reconsider Harry's opinion of the light side and especially the Order of the Phoenix to work as a family. There had been Dumbledore, mighty powerful and adored leader. There had been the Order members and the Weasley family who had accepted Harry with open arms and for a long time Harry had thought that he had finally found out what family meant.
But shouldn't family accept you for who you are? Harry had been carefully but insistently formed into the young man he had become. If he had been able to choose, Saphira knew he would have turned out quite different. Harry hadn't wanted to fight, hadn't wanted to torture and kill. But no one had ever asked him what he wanted and in his fear that he might lose the people he considered his family, Harry had done what they had expected from him.
But this hadn't been his free will nor his own choice.
It would be different with her father's followers. She wasn't naïve enough to think that there wouldn't be manipulations and mind games within the ranks of Death Eaters. But this time her position would be different. Whereas Dumbledore had seen it fit to throw Harry to the wolves and let him fend for himself, her father would protect her.
She wouldn't be used by them. That much was clear.
With a badly suppressed sigh Saphira straightened up and brushed her clothes off. She cast a last, longing gaze to the door that led to her sanctuary, the perfectly designed room that held her big, comfortable bed. The light would be dimmed, the bed would be warmed and a plate with cookies would be placed on her nightstand. It would be so easy to climb into the bed and relax.
But this wasn't what her father had planned for her evening to be. There was no running from it. Even if she faked illness, the date for her great entrance and public introduction would merely be postponed. She wouldn't be able to evade being introduced to a mass of people who had tried to kill her former self not too long ago.
She turned towards the Lady Malfoy and forced a small smile on her lips. "Well then," She drawled and her smile became dark. "We should go. There is no need to leave my father waiting."
Mere minutes later Saphira found herself standing in front of the one door she had been told to avoid until further notice. The dark wooded, heavily decorated door was nearly completely dimming out any noise from the other side of the room. Nearly all, but not everything. With a little effort Saphira could hear her father talking. He would fall silent when someone else was talking. He was most probably demanding their reports on current activities and the progress of their missions. With a startle Saphira realized that her father had to be in an excellent mood. There was no screaming and crying and neither curses nor torture were endowed upon his followers.
Out of the corner of her eyes she could see the Lady Malfoy and her son looking intently at her. During their way to the representative saloon and throne room the two Malfoys had remained strangely quiet. Their eyes had been focused on her back as if they were trying to figure out a mystery.
Especially Malfoy had been looking at her with such intense fire burning in his light grey eyes that it had shivers down her spine. She barely managed to supress a shudder and dearly wished that she could be somewhere else. She was already nervous enough as she was, her heart was beating loudly and erratically, waves of heat followed by waves of utter coldness were washing over her body as her eyes nervously started to dart around the room and her hands became clammy. She didn't need Malfoy to increase her worry and uneasiness with his blatant staring.
All of a sudden the room on the other side of the door became eerily quiet. The time had come, Saphira realized with dread, her father was about to introduce her to his followers. Next to her she could feel more than see the two Malfoys accompanying her straightening up and brushing off non-existent wrinkles from their clothes.
Saphira was standing in the middle, her eyes fixed onto the door as she was waiting for what was to come. She frantically tried to regain control over her frayed nerves and ease her breathing but it didn't help much. She was about to ask herself what was keeping her father busy when moments later the door leading to the throne room was magically opened and indicated for them to enter. Saphira took a last deep breath, sent a heartfelt prayer to whatever god or deity was listening to her and then she stepped into the dim room to face her new 'family'.
The vast room was almost completely dark. Huge windows offered the view of dark shadows of tall, dark green trees surrounding the Manor. A dark purple carpet placed on the grey stone floor and led the way to the gigantic, impressive throne standing in the middle of the last quarter of the room. There were several, antique portraits hanging from the walls, armours and weapons were placed at the walls of the room but Saphira took no notice. With her head held high as was expected from a pureblood witch and without a single emotion displayed on her face Saphira walked further into the room. Slowly with Draco and Narcissa trailing behind her she made her way towards her father.
Her posture was that of a proud and strong woman and her head was still held high. She wasn't bowing or kneeling as her father had told her more than directly that such behaviour would be unbecoming of her status, but her bright blue eyes were dutifully directed to the floor and her hands were neatly folded in front of her. Harry would have cringed at her display and Saphira might have as well in uneasiness if the Lady Malfoy hadn't been standing directly behind her.
Saphira's fear of punishment was stronger than Harry's last remaining strength of will. Harry might have delighted in making a stand against the Dark Lord but Saphira felt uneasy at the mere thought of acting inappropriate around her father. And so she did what she had been instructed to do. Head held high and posture proud and self-assured to display her superiority to her father's followers and her standing equal to her father's, but her gaze directed to the floor to show that she was loyal to him and solely him.
Something flashed through her father's purple eyes as he watched her approach him. "This, faithful and loyal followers," He addressed the dark clad people standing around him in a half-circle. "Is the main reason I called for you this evening."
The Dark Lord approached his daughter with wide open arms and his black robes perfectly in place. His purple eyes skimmed the several rows of dark clad followers who arrived at Slytherin Manor in their formal robes and without their skull-like mask. With a startle Saphira noticed that her father's voice was strangely possessive and caring and that his hand rested longer than strictly necessary on the small of her back. His purple eyes burned with intense fire and all but skinned alive the handful of his followers who dared to look at her with more than a little interest.
Her father led her to stay next to him as the Lady Malfoy and her son took their places next to Lord Malfoy and Professor Snape in the front row.
When she stood next to the Dark Lord and faced the masses standing in front of her with an aloof and emotionless expression, her father turned towards his followers. "I know that most of you delude themselves into thinking that you know everything about me that there is to know." His cold voice cut through the tense atmosphere like a knife through lukewarm butter. Some flinched as they felt their Master was addressing them and couldn't completely hide their fear-filled shivers.
Her father smirked darkly. "You may delude yourself but rest assured that you only know what I want you to know." His eyes bore into the wide and fearful expressions of his followers. "Knowledge is power and I can't risk that my secrets are let out to the light fools."
He fetched his wand and twirled it effortlessly between his long fingers. Saphira would have sworn his eyes shone with delight at his followers' scared expressions. "I decided to share one of my most personal secrets with you. This knowledge is for your eyes and ears only. It shall not leave this room." His eyes grew cold as ice and his voice became a dangerous his. "If I find out that one of chose to disregard my command and conveyed the information to anyone not currently present, I can guarantee to you that those who are responsible for this trespass that they will die the most cruel and horrendous death."
There were several emotions that crept over her father's followers' faces even though they tried their best to hide them. There were different facets and stages of greedy anticipation and expectation. It wasn't every day that their Master offered to share one of his fiercely protected and hidden secrets with them. On the other hand the prospect such a secret could have on their lives was daunting. No one wished to even imagine what would happen should one of them slip. It was too horrible to even think of.
Finally they nodded their understanding. It was what her father had waited for. Saphira knew that his followers would later take an unbreakable vow. For one thing to prove their loyalty to her father and for another thing to guarantee that the secret wouldn't be spilled. A wave of relief crashed over her. Saphira knew that her father wouldn't rest until he had found whoever had been responsible should word of her existence reach ears outside the Manor. It had been a long time since she last felt this protected.
Her father turned towards her and his eyes shone with an unreadable emotion. "This, my loyal followers," He secretively addressed the dark clad people standing around them. "Is my daughter, the Lady Saphira Slytherin."
There was a moment of utter silence. Several faces with wide open eyes and shocked expressions greeted her father's announcement. Aside from the three Malfoys and Professor Snape there was not a single face that didn't at least appear startled by the announcement. It was an eerie sight to witness the normally stoically Death Eaters who had no qualms about torturing and who tended to kill and main with utter calmness react this openly shocked about her existence. Harry would have been delighted in their show of emotions. Saphira, however, felt that it was dangerous.
No one knew how startled and shocked people might react.
Her father waited until his followers had regained their control over their emotions. "She turned seventeen some weeks ago. Where she has been for the last seventeen years as well as who and where her mother is, is of no concern to you." His voice turned into a sharp hiss and his purple eyes flashed dangerously. "This information doesn't concern you and shall never be mentioned."
Her father paused and waited until the majority of his followers had at least demonstrated a semblance of showing their understanding. "As my only heiress Saphira' place shall be as my second in command." His eyes narrowed as he regarded Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange, two of his followers who had acted as if they stood above all others. "You will address her properly as 'my Lady', you will do as she commands, you will help her should she need it and most importantly, you will bestow her with the same respect and loyalty as you do to me." His purple eyes scanned the room mercilessly as her father took note of everyone who dared to hesitate too long. "Should I find out that anyone of you is going against my word, knowingly or unknowingly, this person will wish to never have been born."
Softly muttered agreement and acceptance sounded through the giant room as her father's followers dutifully nodded. There wasn't anything they could do, after all. Asking further questions was just as much a death wish as demanding for further information would be. In Saphira's eyes her father had been rather generous with sharing his secret. His followers could do nothing beside accept her existence and her new position.
Saphira felt strangely out of place standing in front of all those pureblood wizards. It wasn't as if she had never seen them before, but so far it had been Harry who had faced them and with Harry being surrounded by Death Eaters had always spelled trouble, pain and torture for Harry. It felt strange that she was now standing in front of them and didn't have to fear for her life.
Their faces weren't marred with hate and disdain and their features weren't contorted into rage-filled, ugly masks. None of them had fetched his or her wand, she hadn't been threatened, nor had she been taunted, hexed or tortured. They were acting civilly, some observed her with barely concealed curiosity whereas others regarded her with the respect her father had demanded from them.
Standing between Harry's enemies and feeling safer than she had for a long time felt as if she was betraying Harry. Though that wasn't fair to either Harry nor to her.
She blinked and gazed around the room. Malfoy was standing between his parents in the front row and had continuously stared at her during her father's introduction. His unblinking and unceremonious staring didn't help her frayed nerves at all. It unnerved her that she couldn't figure out what Malfoy was thinking of her. Did he respect her as he seemed to have just before his mother had arrived? Did he still see her as Harry as his first reaction to her new identity had been? Did he still see himself as superior even after her father's introduction? Was he disgusted with her or did he feel humoured at her expense? She didn't know and it was driving her crazy. Malfoy had always been an open book to Harry, so easy to read, to rile up and to manipulate.
It wasn't as if she needed his approval or acceptance. She was just feeling lost and uprooted. She longed for a safe haven.
But that was wishful thinking.
Saphira inwardly heaved a small sigh and turned around to look at her father questioningly. She didn't know what he had planned and what was supposed to happen after her introduction. Was she expected to say something or even to introduce herself? That wouldn't end well. She still didn't know who she was. Introducing herself to her father's followers would only end with a lot of mistrust and suspicion on his followers' side. Perhaps she would be allowed to excuse herself and return to her quarters. It was late and she felt tired. Facing those men and women had been emotionally taxing.
Her father immediately caught her movement out of the corner of his eyes. With a soft look only reserved for her the Dark Lord turned around and opened his mouth when -
"Crucio"
The loud, hateful screech caused them all to spin around in panic. There standing right in the middle of the rows of dark clad Death Eaters was standing one person, its figure hidden behind the dark robes and its face a hate-filled grimace, as its wand was held high and pointed directly at Saphira. A lightning of the purest but most aggressive red was breaking from the tip and shooting towards Saphira. It happened so fast and so unexpectedly that she wasn't able to react in any way. Saphira watched the red lightning with horrified and wide open eyes staring, saw it approaching her fast and waited for the excruciating pain to claim her.
Only it never came.
Just before the lightning was about to hit her straight into her chest a protective barrier suddenly appeared around her. The red lightning emitted an angrily hissing sound as it hit the sudden obstacle, gleamed a last time forebodingly before it then vanished into thin air as if it had never been there before.
"Bellatrix!" Her father roared.
As soon as the red lightning had shot out of the Death Eater's wand her father had spun around. His purple eyes widened in surprise and disbelief as he quickly scanned the situation. Mere moments ago he had ordered his followers to keep his daughter safe and to treat her as if they would treat him. And even after he had threatened them with the cruellest punishment they could imagine, mere moments later one of them was stupid and suicidal enough to go against his very order and try to curse the only living person important to him.
His nostrils flared as he took in a sharp breath. "Nott, Dolohov," He barked at the two men standing near the culprit. "Grab her and bring her to me."
Out of the rows of Death Eaters two dark clad, bulky figures stepped forward and harshly grabbed the other person. She was smaller and more fragile in her stature, but she fought against their holds viciously. The two men detained her unperturbedly by her arms and dragged her forward to the throne. They obviously didn't care that the woman was having problems with remaining upright as she continuously stumbled over her feet and even nearly fell once.
As soon as the three reached the space in front of the Dark Lord's throne, the two men pushed the smaller woman harshly to the floor and effortlessly forced her to kneel in the process. Her face had contorted into a pained and stunned grimace as her chest heaved raggedly and her thin fingers started to tremble. Her blue eyes eyes darted around the room restlessly until they came to a halt at Saphira's father's figure.
"M-my Lord," Bellatrix stumbled over her own words, obviously torn between keeping her head bowed and her eyes focused on the floor and gazing at her Master imploringly. "T-this woman is a f-fraud. You c-can't possibly m-mean, she r-really is y-your-"
For the briefest moment her father's eyes were burning with such an intense fire that Saphira feared for the worst.
"Be quiet, Bellatrix!" Her father hissed. He was too angry to scream at his follower. If he didn't keep his emotions in check, he would be short another Death Eater. "I am very disappointed in you. My command was clear and yet you failed it mere seconds later. Look at her!" Her father spun around and motioned toward Saphira, even though he gaze never wavered from his kneeling follower. "Be honest to yourself and have a look. You can see the resemblance she shares with me." He approached the quivering woman, his wand still clutched dangerously firm between his fingers. "This young woman, dear Bellatrix, is my daughter Saphira and heiress to my throne." He hissed lowly though for everyone to hear. "Respect her and show her the devotion she earns or I will have your head. Literally."
With the last word hissed venomously the Dark Lord turned around and regarded his daughter intently. The angry, hateful red shimmer slowly faded from his eyes as he took a closer look at his only heiress.
He couldn't fathom why but for some reason the little incident had left her more shaken than he would have expected. Her normally lightly tanned skin had lost several shades of its earlier colour, her lips were almost unnoticeably trembling and her bight, sky blue eyes had lost most of their brightness. She looked as if she had gone into shock and was about to faint any second. Lord Voldemort hated seeing weakness in anyone but detecting it in his daughter almost caused his cold heart to ache. He never wanted to see her in any state of distress.
An inaudible sigh left his lips as he pondered about how he could manage to allow his daughter to leave the throne room without damaging his or her reputation in the process. He didn't want his followers to see her as weak, but he didn't want her to suffer a nervous breakdown in the middle of a Death Eater meeting. Ire flashed through his eyes and his wand twitched with the need to curse something. Why couldn't Bellatrix just do as she was told?
He turned around and regarded his followers with an ominous expression. "I will explain myself for the last time." He hissed almost slipping into Parseltongue. "Saphira is my daughter. I kept her hidden and her existence a secret to keep her safe. As we have finally taken the last step to fulfil our long awaited plans, I saw it fit for her to return and take the place she rightfully owns." He paused and let the words sink in. "I have already explained my reasons and I will repeat myself for the last time. Perhaps you might finally understand. Harm her and you shall die." He openly threatened.
His blazing purple eyes refocused on the woman still kneeling in front of him. Her blue eyes widened unconsciously in fear as she desperately tried to supress the need to swallow. Lord Voldemort fought hard against the urge to curse her on sight and be done with it. She was one of his most trusted but sometimes he couldn't help but wonder whether keeping her alive and by his side was worth the trouble.
"I appointed Narcissa Malfoy and Severus Snape as her personal instructors." Lord Voldemort informed his followers. It wasn't any of their business but perhaps a little piece of information might keep them occupied and stupid, needless inquiries at bay. "They are not to be disturbed with unimportant business as their main task is to provide my daughter with every kind of knowledge and skillset she might need."
His tilted his head to the side and regarded the remaining two Malfoys. He hadn't informed them of his decision so far and he normally wouldn't propagate sensitive information in such a fashion. But his nerves were frayed and his patience waning. "Lucius and Draco Malfoy will be her guards. They will defend her at all cost." He looked at his followers and a horrible, dark smile appeared on his lips causing some of his followers to tremble in fear. "Don't go sneaking around the Manor. They might very well kill you. And I won't reprimand them for attacking you."
Lord Voldemort paused and looked around the room. He could see his Death Eaters staring at him with wide, still surprised eyes, their heads lightly bowed to show their submission and their stance perfectly still and tense as if they were expecting him to throw a dark and dangerous curse at them any moment. Good, he thought, at least they are finally learning.
As his eyes travelled back to where his daughter was standing, at least half way composed now, he came across the four people he had just mentioned. Narcissa and Lucius both in their black formal robes, were standing in the front row, heads held high and their posture proud. If Lucius was surprised by his Master's decision to act as Saphira's guard, he didn't show it. Lord Voldemort didn't know what bothered him more; that Lucius might have perfect control of his body or that he might be conceited enough to assume that he would have an important role in Saphira's life.
He could only badly suppress to sneer angrily and curse them out of spite as his gaze lingered for a moment on their faces. As much as both Malfoys tried to appear unaffected and aloof but they failed miserably. Their eyes were shining brightly with a self-important and self-assured look in them. There might even be some greed mixed in between. In the Malfoy family everything was all about influence and importance. It was what this family was living for and thrived for. The title of personal instructor and personal guard of the Dark Lord's daughter must seem like a dream come true.
While his parents tried to look as important as they felt Lord Voldemort could detect a semblance of fear in young Malfoy's grey eyes. Good, he thought, the boy should be scared of what he might have to suffer should harm befall Saphira.
Turning around Lord Voldemort regarded the third person he had been mentioning. Severus' face as always showed nothing. None of his present followers was able to tell whether he was pleased, honoured, angry or stressed by being one of those few people whom Lord Voldemort entrusted the safety and education of his daughter to.
His ever present scowl was neatly in place, his black hair was falling into his emotionless but stern dark eyes, his posture was straight and his shoulders drawn back and tense. There wasn't a trace of a smile or smirk on his sharp features and neither was there a satisfied glint in his eyes. He looked as if he wasn't fazed at all. And even though Lord Voldemort knew that Severus did indeed feel honoured to be selected – as he had expressed his pride and gratitude to his Master – Lord Voldemort was pleased to see that at least one of his followers knew what dignity meant.
He would have to see to Severus being in charge of Saphira's conduct and official meeting lessons. Narcissa seemed to experience some problems with teaching his daughter and didn't seem to be the best role model either. Severus on the other hand was showing a lot more potential and restraint than Narcissa.
He approached the trembling from kneeling in front of his throne with long steps and stopped directly in front of the quivering form of Bellatrix Lestrange. Her eyes were submissively focused on the floor and her hands and arms were trembling as she tried to keep perfectly still to prevent that she might enrage her Master any further.
He stood in front of her, so near that she could touch him if she wanted to or more like dared to. Standing so near to her and doing nothing was the purest torture for Bellatrix. He knew that she wanted him to move, wanted him to yell at her or to curse her. He knew that even death was preferable to his silent treatment of hers. It took all of her will-power to remain motionless and yet it didn't take too long for her to slowly start fidgeting.
Lord Voldemort had been waiting for this moment, for the moment she finally lost her cool and started to worry. A satisfied but essential evil smirk played across his lips. It sent shivers of fear and horror through the stances of his waiting followers and caused Bellatrix to look up to him in dread and fear.
"Bellatrix," He stepped towards the kneeling woman and slowly began to circle around her. "I will repeat myself for the last time. My daughter is to be kept safe and left in peace, otherwise there will be unpleasant consequences." He stopped and twirled his wand ominously between his long fingers. "I wish I didn't have to but I have to make an example or otherwise people might accuse me of being all bark and no bite. I can't have that, Bellatrix."
He paused and raised his eyes to the ceiling. His head was titled, one of his hands was resting at his chin and his purple eyes were unfocused as he demonstrated the perfect posture of mock consideration. It was evident that he enjoyed himself but no one who reasonably valued his or her life would ever dare to tell it him.
"I can't be bothered to decide on your punishment right this moment." Lord Voldemort revealed all of a sudden. He knew that the prospect of punishment hanging over her had was more daunting and distressing than any other punishment could be. "I will need time to decide your punishment. What you did is a grave offence, one that I criminalized mere moments before." He paused and regarded his trembling follower with cold, emotionless eyes. "It pains me, but it has to be done."
And paining it was, Saphira realized with a start. Even though her father's purple eyes were as cold and emotionless as the light had claimed his heart to be, her father's stance was tenser than normally and his shoulders were stiffly drawn back to a point where it had to be hurting. It was a scaring sight and even though Saphira knew that no one beside her had noticed this, the sight caused her heart to become cold.
She would have to speak with him about it later. He truly seemed to be more hurt by Bellatrix' actions than normally.
Lord Voldemort sucked in his breath sharply and straightened up further. With his control over his emotions back again and his feelings firmly locked away, his cold and stern eyes swept over his shivering and trembling followers, a sight that caused his heart to speed up with joy. A sly smirk played across his lips as Lord Voldemort made a dismissive movement with his hand.
"You may go." He dismissed his followers. If they had been braver or even more brainless, someone would have sighed in relief. "This meeting is closed. Keep my words in mind, it might guarantee your survival. Dismissed."
Without another word Lord Voldemort turned around and stalked towards the door on the other side of the room. As he passed his daughter she, too, turned around and followed him. They didn't turn around as they left the throne hall followed by Saphira's personal instructors and guards. When they left through the door, the remaining Death Eaters vanished with a crack.