At this point I once again zoned out. Voldemort was right, I had horrible concentration. At the conclusion of the meeting Voldemort dismissed the death eaters. I was so tired and my emotions were running wild. It had felt right, almost normal to share my knowledge of the order's scouting groups. I had chosen to leave them, but a small piece of my mind still screamed at me. It told me things like traitor, scum, evil, and betrayer. With all of these thoughts running through my head and my eyes threatening to close I barely even heard what was obviously an exasperated Dark Lord trying to get my attention. I awoke from my thoughts and turned around.
"Would you please stay a moment Analay", said Voldemort for what was apparently not the first time. I nodded and remained where I was until the remaining death eaters had exited the room. Some shot me curious glances as if wondering what Voldemort could possibly want to speak to me about at this late hour. I, too, wondered what he could want. I had given him all the information I possessed and had shown decent respect. I had not spoken out of turn or challenged him in anyway. What could he possibly want to speak about, then.
When all of the death eaters had left I looked up to see Voldemort staring at me rather intently. It was as if he was trying to read me. Of course, the thought popped into my head, he probably was. I had no energy to put up any shields against his intrusion and I really had nothing to hide as I had not hide anything or lied during the meeting. After a moment he spoke.
"You did well Analay." He spoke softly as if he wanted me to know he really was praising me. "You seem unconvinced."
"It's just... a lot to take in." I decided that was the best way to put my mix of emotions. He had, after all, likely already seen them for himself. He nodded knowingly.
"Well, I think that you have surprised all. Hasn't she Bella?" I hadn't noticed until that moment that I was not the only other person in the room. Voldemort must have asked her to stay while I had been day dreaming or maybe they had discussed this before the meeting.
"Yes my lord, she has definitely left a handful of bewildered death eaters in her wake, I among them. Todays information may have a large impact on how the rebellion fairs in the near future." She then turned and spoke to me specifically. "You may be valuable yet, Potter." Her words were not said with any spite, but rather with what almost seemed like respect. Did Bellatrix Lestrange, one of the most feared witches in history, think what I had done was brave?
"Thank you," I said.
"Thank you. You have given us vital information." His voice suddenly turned cold. "I didn't mention earlier, your wand is conditional. You are still on probation and should you attempt to do anything to interfere with my death eaters or myself you may find it removed from your person faster than you can blink. Is that understood?" There was the dark, heartless Dark Lord I had grown to know. He had a right to worry, though. Up until yesterday I was his arch enemy of seventeen years. Who wouldn't be weary. It wasn't as if being around him didn't make me nervous.
"I understand." His expression softened. "Good, now, as you have been living in a rebel camp for the last year your schooling has been seriously neglected. As such, you will need extra teaching to catch up and return to Hogwarts. I have already made it clear that we will be practicing your dueling.." I started to complain, but was silenced by a terrifying glare from Voldemort. "As I was saying, we will practice your dueling, but you need to be able to advance the other portions of your studies. For that, I have enlisted the help of some of my death eaters." I did not like where this was going. Almost all of the death eaters hated me, in particular the ones he would likely have train me. As if he had read my thoughts, which he probably had, his retort confirmed "With your past history with much of my inner circle I have already discussed with them that past interactions between themselves and you are not to be brought up any longer. You have no need to fear unless you disobey them. I have informed that they can punish you, within reason, for misbehavior." Dispite his intentions this did not comfort me. My discontent at this must have shown on my face because he let out a small chuckle, as did Bellatrix.
"I have asked Bellatrix to help you advance your knowledge of spells. It is my understanding that you know a wide variety of advanced magic, however, you need to know a lot more than your brain currently holds. We can't have you going around casting nothing but expelliarmus all the time now can we." At this we all had to smile. It seemed I had gained a reputation among the death eaters that my go to spell was the disarming charm. I chanced a glance at Bellatrix. While I didn't believe she would go against her orders and harm me out of spite, I didn't doubt that she was going to be a horrible teacher. She gave me a wicked smile and I gulped.
"For transfigurations I have enlisted Narcissa Malfoy." That one wasn't so bad. "For charms Rudolphus Lestrange has volunteered." That caught me off guard. If he wasn't allowed to hurt me unless provoked, why would Rudolphus volunteer. Had I really sparked their curiousity that much? "Obviously Professor Snape is best fit for your potions." I groaned loudly at this which earned me another sharp glare. I shut up quickly. "You will cooperate with Severus or face my great displeasure." I gulped again. I completely believed him. "You also will need to know more about your former comrades. Many of them possess certain skills and weaknesses that are vital to be aware of. For this both Dolohov and Lucius will assist you." I was not to pleased about this arrangement either, but knew better than to complain. I nodded in reply.
"I believe it is rather late. and you look exhausted. Off to bed with you. Breakfast is at 8 and your first lesson will start with Bellatrix at 9. I suggest you get some sleep. Bellatrix expects her pupils to perform well. Good night, Analay." I mumbled my goodnight and stumbled to the door. I was dead on my feet. The thought vaguly accord to me that Bellatrix and Voldemort were still whispering, but I didn't have the energy to wonder what it was about. I was relieved when the pounding in my head was reduced as soon as I left Voldemort's presence.
I somehow found the way to my room and collapsed onto my bed without even changing out of my clothing.
I awoke the next morning to the sun coming through my window as bright as midday. I jump out of bed, horrified that I may have over slept. I looked around for my clock and my fear heightened when I saw that it read 8:40. I had slept through breakfast, but that was the least of my worries. I had a lesson with Bellatrix in twenty minutes and I was a total mess. I was bound to get lost on my way and waste at least five minutes of that time. I ran to the bathroom and began brushing my teeth. The girl staring back at me in the mirror was a complete mess. I quickly ran a brush through my rats nest hair( my hair is naturally curly.) Then I threw on the clothes laid out on my bed, a black skirt and red blouse. I peaked in the mirror really quick. I still looked rather disheveled , but better than before. I have been told in the past that I am pretty. I have long, wavy, jet black hair that falls almost to my waist, bright green eyes and a more circular shape to my face. I am rather fit and slender(all the years running from Dudley, Uncle Vernon, and death eaters will do that). I stand about 5'4''. My skin is a bit pale for my taste, but I am told that it suits me.
I wouldn't have called my reflection pretty as I ran out the door at five of nine. I was in a panic mode. I almost reached the stair case when I realized I had left my wand on my night stand. I ran back to my room and found that it was not on my nightstand where I thought I had left it. After looking for a moment I found it had been knocked off and rolled under my bed in my haste this morning. I snatched it up and ran out the door, nearly bumping into astartled Draco who apparently had also slept in this morning because he had a rather groggy and confused look on his face and was not dressed for the day, but was instead in a pair of quidditch pajamas.
I yelled an apology as I ran down the hall. Man, Bellatrix was going to kill me. It was now two minutes before nine and I still wasn't sure how to get to the room I was to meet her in. I managed to reach the meeting room after only one wrong turn. I was three minutes late. I caught my breath and tried to get my nerves to calm down before opening the door.
I stepped inside and shut the door behind me. When I turned around a rather nasty glare met my hesitant smile. Bellatrix did not look pleased by my tardyness. "I...I slept in," I stuttered and then thought about it and added, "accidentally."
"So I see and now you are late."
"I didn't mean too. I was so tired last night I forgot to set an alarm." "Well perhaps you will remember next time before you waste my time." I flinched as Bellatrix's wand tip pointed in my direction. "It was only a few minutes," I blurted out. Oops, Bellatrix did not appreciate my outburst. She glared at me harder and then flicked her wand. I winced before I realized that she had not done anything to me. The wall behind me now had a scorch mark in it. Surely, she hadn't missed on accident. I had a pretty good feeling that most of the time Bellatrix casted the crusiatus curse with extreme accurisy. I turned back towards her with a questioning look on my face.
"Stop your cowering girl. You'll never learn anything that way. I was going to take it easy today, but you obviously have no respect for others time. We will have to teach that too, now won't we. I need to know what types of spells you know. Today we will start with offensive. I will cast a spell at a target. You will tell me based on color and effect what spell it was. If you get it right we move on. If your wrong, well, you will never get it wrong again. Sound good?!" I wanted to tell her it sounded crazy, but I had a feeling she wouldn't like that much. I nodded.
"Good, what was that spell?" I found myself really grateful I knew the answer. "The cruciatus."
"Correct." Another spell shot out of her wand, narrowly missed my head, and hit a target that I hadn't notice appear. I recognized this one as well.
"Jelly legs." A few more spells were cast and I got them all right. Then they started getting more difficult. A jet of blue light flew past my ear that I wasn't sure I could place. "Um, some kind of stunning spell?" Wrong, Bellatrix's wand swipped again and this time it did hit me. Apparently the spell she had cast was some kind of cutting spell because a gash appeared on my cheek were the spell hit. I gasped in surprise and pain. It wasn't terrible, but it hurt. Bellatrix just laughed, told me the name of the curse, and continued on. About fifty spells and a quite a few gashes, cuts, bruises, a broken ankle, and various other aches later the door to the room opened. I was currently on the ground from another one of Bellatrix's jinx's. I looked up to see Bellatrix's husband, Rudolphus Lestrange. He looked from Bellatrix to me. Taking in my disheveled, slightly irritated appearance he chuckled. After walking across the room to kiss Bellatrix he turned to me.
"Impressive Potter. You managed to irritate my wife in the first lesson. What on earth did you do?" He asked rather curiously. "I was three minutes late." I made sur that the exasperation was evident in my voice. Forget the consiquences, I found no reason for this kind of abuse just because I was a few minutes slow. Apparently Rudolphus found my humiliation amusing because he laughed.
"You may want to learn quickly, Potter, that my wife takes tardiness as a personal insult."
"I think I figured that out." He laughed again. I was getting irritated. They both found my humiliation hilarious. Bellatrix better be careful just how much she teaches me lest she find herself on the floor in front of me. I decided to stand up since cowering on the floor wasn't really helping my cause. I got almost upright before crumpling back into a heap. Fantastic! It seemed my ankle had taken all the abuse it would take for the day. The room erupted in laughter that was not my own. It was my turn to glare at them. Bellatrix walked over and kneeled next to me. She quickly healed my ankle and some of the other more major injuries that she had inflicted.
"Maybe you should be teaching me to heal myself with the way my luck runs." I stated dully. She chuckled. "How did you ever survive, Potter?"
"Luck." I shrugged my shoulders. After she was done we both stood.
"As amusing as I'm sure this lesson would be to watch, the dark lord has sent me to retrieve Analay for lunch." Thank goodness. I was rather hungry since I missed breakfast and I didnt know how much more of Bellatrix I could handle today.