"Well, I guess you will just have to hope for the best." He said with a smile. "Shall we begin?"
Voldemort bowed and I forced myself to do the same, however small of a bow it was. Once again I received a chuckle. I then turned around, all my senses screaming no, and walked the steps away. As soon as I turned a jinx came flying at me. I dodged it and began to send my own back when another jinx came my way. This time I didn't dodge it all and part of it nicked my arm. It stung slightly, but I ignored it. There seemed to be a small look of triumph on Voldemort's face. It angered me. I through a stunning jinx, which was easily deflected. A few more spells came my way that I either dodged or deflected. One hit me in the leg and I could feel blood trickling from it. I sent a few more spells at Voldemort, all of which he deflected lazily. I was getting frustrated at my performance and he seemed to be, too. Five more spells came my way. This time none of them hit me. They were all extremely dark and I didn't want to know what would happen if they hit me. I sent a couple more back, missing both times.
"Focus Potter. This is pathetic. I've seen first years fight better." I stole a glance at Bellatrix, Malfoy, and Snape. They seemed to be torn between amusement and confusion at my lack of capability. Unfortunately my moment of curiosity cost me. Another spell hit me in the arm at full force. I was knocked to my feet in pain. I was pretty sure it had done some damage to the bone. I looked up to see Voldemort glaring at me.
"I said focus Aunalay. What's your problem today. Everyone of us in here knows you can do better than this."
"I don't know! I just can't do this!" Voldemort's face went back to an emotionless mask.
"if you want your arm to stop hurting you WILL do it." He was right. My arm was killing me. I was pretty sure it wasn't just a broken bone. Whatever he did, he needed to heal it. I knew the only way that would happen was if I pleased him. I slowly stood back up. Immediately he shot a curse my way. I blocked it and sent a fairly nasty one back. He blocked it, but looked pleased.
"Better Aunalay, but not good enough." More curses came my way. I deflected most of them, with only a few hitting me. I fired a handful at him and he actually looked like he had to try and block a few of them. It was something, right? While I did a pretty good job of blocking most of them, the ones that hit me still hurt a lot. After a while I was pretty worn down. I was still shooting, dodging, and blocking spells about fifteen minutes later. Just when I was beginning to wonder how much longer we were going to go on for a flash of red came flying toward me. My mind registered what the curse was and I panicked not being able to think up a counter curse. The cruciatus curse hit me dead on and pain ripped through my exhausted body. Voldemort only held it for a moment, thank goodness. When the curse was released, I laid on the ground trying to catch my breath. I slowly sat up as I heard someone approaching.
"That, was for earlier. Next time you snoop around it will be a heck of a lot worse. However, that was much better, Aunalay. I believe you still can do better and you will next time..." I groaned. There would be a next time. At my reaction all four people in the room laughed.
"I need you to be able to protect yourself Potter. If you call that protecting your won't last five minutes in a real fight. We have all seen far better from you and I expect that. For today though, we will be done. You don't look capable of much at the moment. You didn't seem to move when I sent the cruciatus curse at you. Most people at least have the sense to attempt to dodge it. You may be lazy, but you aren't dumb, so I think you need a break." I muttered 'no, duh' under my breath. I wasn't the energizer buddy and he hadn't been very gentle in his curse choices. My whole body was on fire.
"What was that Aunalay?" Voldemort asked. I realized he had heard me and knew perfectly well what I had just said. I looked up and saw him staring at me expectantly. I gave a defeated look as a felt a light stinging jinx hit me.
"I would watch what you say." I nodded. "Now get up. We have a meeting in an hour and you look pathetic." I stood up and he grabbed a hold of my arm. I flinched back before I remembered that he was likely healing it.
"Hold still. This may hurt." Well, he was right about one thing, it definitely hurt. A sharp pain went up my arm and congregated at the sight of the main wound. It felt as though my arm was on fire, then, as soon as it had come, the pain was gone. All that was left was a dull ache.
"What was that?" I asked. I had been hit by a lot of curses, but never that one.
"That particular curse is a favorite of mine. It slowly attacks the bone, nerves, and muscle of the victim and will eventually render the limb useless. It can only be healed by the caster, so it is rather affective." This made me shiver. I received chuckles from those present in the room. The laughing was going to get old very fast.
"Don't worry. It is dark magic and likely none of the order would dream of using it. The only ones you have to worry about would be those in this room as it is a very difficult spell. As long as you don't do anything stupid, you will be fine." He continued to cast a few healing spells over the rest of my injuries. When he was done I was no longer in immense pain. I had a few aches throughout my body, but nothing intense.
"That's done. Time to get ready for the meeting. Lucius, Bella, Severus you may go change. You should probably change, too, Aunalay. You are a mess." I flushed, slightly embarrassed. I was a mess. I nodded and headed out into the hall. Once there I realized I had no idea were I was going. I didn't really feel like going back in and admitting that I was totally lost. Instead I wandered through the halls in an attempt to find my room. After about twenty minutes I found it. I hurriedly got dressed, knowing that I was going to end up late.