Author's Note: Hey there everyone! I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far! I will be posting the nex chapter today as well since its a long one! :) So sorry about the crappy writing and forgive any errors! If you like, feel free to drop a review! Thank you so much to everyone who has read, reviewed, faved or followed this story! It means so much to me!
"I believe humanity was born from conflict. Maybe that's why in all of us lives a dark side. Some of us embrace it. Some have no choice. The rest of us fight it. And in the end, it's as natural as the air we breathe. Some point, we're forced to face the truth...ourselves.
~Penelope Garcia (criminal minds)
Walburga Black stared coldly as her pursed lips distorted the dark beauty the woman had been so miraculously endowed with.
Her husband, Orion, stood silently by her side, waiting patiently for her to speak.
"I don't understand...why on earth would you want to speak to me alone like this?" Scarlett finally asked, arms folded across her chest.
She fidgeted in the hard wooden stool she was ordered to sit on. She was quite confused by the sudden urgency that Sirius's parents possessed when they insisted they speak to her.
Whatever it was, she knew it couldn't be good.
A sly smile grew across Walburgas face as she opened her mouth to speak. As delicate as her features were, she knew the woman was one to be feared.
Far more than Orion. The woman had a talent for spewing poison with just her words alone.
She was not one to be crossed.
"We have a proposition that may greatly intrigue you...that is, if you're willing to listen to us,dear." Mrs. Black finally stated, her hazel eyes gleaming much like Sirius's did when he was full of excitement.
Sirius defiantly resembled his mother, his delicate demeanor, and bone structure. The way he smiled and glistened.
That was all his mother.
But his father...she supposed that's where he got his anger from. That and his beautiful raven hair, of course.
"A proposition you say?" Scarlett murmured. Stunned at the very offer. Nothing from the Blacks came cheap...everything came with a price. The only question of the matter was how much. "What do you want?"
"Scarlett, my darling. I believe the question is rather, what do you want?" Walburga pressed, obviously up to something quite peculiar.
Scarlett shrugged, quite unsure at what her future mother in law was getting at.
"We need you to persuade Sirius to join Voldemort. Regulus isn't enough in his representation of this family. Another Black is needed…" Orion finally spoke, the tone of his voice sending chills up Scarlett's spine when he finally revealed the couple's true intentions.
Scarlett's eyes gulped, eyes wide in surprise. What kind of power did they think she possessed to be able to convince Sirius to such a horrible thing?
"Sirius would never…" She growled. Frustrated that she continued to be nothing more than a mere pawn in someone else's twisted game.
"We already anticipated you would say that...which is why we have a unique offer for you. " Walburga answered smoothly, "We would most graciously revoke this marriage arrangement...only if you succeed in having him become a death eater."
Scarlett froze, the thought alone of being free to do as she wished with her future was enough to bring tears to her ice blue eyes. It was surreal. She couldn't believe that her future in-laws were so desperate to sway Sirius to their asinine and old beliefs. So much that they would be willing to give her freedom to accomplish this.
So this was the reason they had wanted her to come over for Christmas. They wanted something from her, and this was it.
What more could she have expected?
Yet, the question still lingered; would she dare betray Sirius in such an awful way?
Or could she find the will to finally fight for something in her life? To finally not be everyone else's doormat.
"Go to hell!" Scarlett growled. Leaping off the stool and crossing her arms across her chest once more. She felt a sudden surge of confidence begin to radiate throughout her entire body. Igniting a blazing spark of confidence.
Walburga frowned,her hazel eyes darkened in a growing rage. Orion moved forward, his fists clenched tightly.
Walburga stopped him with her arm, moving herself closer to Scarlett. Suddenly her frown grew into a Cheshire cat kind of smile.
Disturbing indeed that smile was.
"It would do you well, young lady, to keep watch of your tongue." The daunting woman threatened.
Scarlett gulped as she felt Walburga's cold and bony fingers wrapping themselves around harshly her cheeks. She felt herself hold her breath, suddenly terrified.
"A young witch in your stature must have surely realized her place by now." Walburga continued. Her grip tightening even harder.
Scarlett felt faint, she couldn't move. Her brief moment of boldness had been long forgotten and discarded. Paralyzed with fear she now felt completely helpless.
A feeling she was all too familiar with lately.
Abruptly there was a knock at the door, causing Orion to grunt in irritation.
It was Regulus.
"What is it, boy?" Orion boomed.
"Bellatrix and her sisters just arrived. I thought I would let you know." He stated, his own hazel eyes staring into Scarlett's ice blue ones. His face never showing the shock he felt inside upon seeing his mother nearly squeezing Scarlett's cheeks to death.
Scarlett finally let out a gasp for air as Walburga quickly let go of her.
"Go entertain them, I'll be down shortly," Walburga stated grimly. She stared at the quivering young girl before her. She winced when she finally realized what she had done to her hair, blue? It was unacceptable, to say the least.
"You have a choice to make, Scarlett. Don't make the wrong one. And for God's sake do something with that horrid blue in your hair! Just wait until I let your father know what you did to it! Despicable!"
Orion nodded in agreement.
Scarlett slumped to the floor lamely as Walburga and Orion finally made her leave, shocked and overwhelmed.
Defeated.
"Scarlett? Scarlett, what did they do to you?" She heard a voice say.
She couldn't breath, her heart began to beat faster and faster. The whole world began to spin around her. She clenched her tightening chest.
"Scarlett, look at me!" Sirius exclaimed. Cupping Scarlett's slightly bruised dimples gently, analyzing the damage in horror. "I'm so sorry, Scarlett…" he murmured.
Scarlett shook her head vigorously, snapping herself out of her rampant thoughts.
"I-it's nothing Sirius...I just...spoke out of term." She whispered, allowing Sirius to help her up off the cold floor.
She could barely look Sirius in the eye at the moment. It didn't seem right. Keeping this from him, but what else could she do? She would only make Sirius's home life more miserable. She could never do that to Sirius.
"Nothing? Scarlett, she can't do this to you! THEY can't do this to you! I can take anything they throw at me...but this...this has gone too far!" Sirius boomed as they crossed the hall and into his own bedroom.
Scarlett heard growing chatter as more guests began entering the home for Christmas dinner. "Sirius, stop fussing! It's nothing!" She fretted, shooing Sirius away from her when he helped sit her on his bed.
"Just let me heal it!" He protested, grabbing his wand from off his dresser.
"If I let you, can you drop this?" She negotiated.
"Deal, now let me have another look!" Sirius grumbled, tilting her head gently left to right.
"Sirius, please. It's just a few bruises, nothing to lose yourself over!" Scarlett tisked. Avoiding eye contact at all costs.
"Hush up for a second, I'm a pro at these spells! Hold still!"
"Yeah...I know you are…" Scarlett murmured, finally plucking up the courage to look Sirius in the eyes.
"Besides…" Sirius chattered on, ignoring Scarlett's comment. "Mother seems irritated enough at the blue in your hair, don't wanna see her wrath when she sees everyone at the table looking at your bruises…"
"How outright horrid of me!" Scarlett fake gasped. A small chuckle escaping her lips.
"Amazing…" Sirius muttered as he finished up his healing spell.
"What?" Scarlett asked, feeling her now pain-free cheeks. Sirius really was good at his healing spells.
"That you can still as much as giggle after an encounter with my parents." Sirius chuckled, finally finished with his healing spell.
"What can I say? I put on a good show!" Scarlett teased. She paused in the middle of her laughter. Astounded herself by the discovery they could possibly still work up a good laugh right now. She finally saw the point Sirius was making.
"Well, I suggest we go make our appearance. The show isn't quite over yet, my dear!" Sirius proclaimed, opening his door for Scarlett to exit first.
"Is it ever?" Scarlett murmured to herself, dreading having to face the Black family again.
o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Scarlett bit her lip harder and harder to correlate with her growing anxiety as she said in silence at the long, black polished table. She watched as Sirius was in rampant conversation with his uncle Alfred. She shifted her sight to opposite side of the table where she then saw Bellatrix and Regulus engaged in a deep conversation of their own.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she noticed Lucius whispering something into Narcissa's ear. She rolled her eyes in disgust as Narcissa giggled in response.
Andromeda seemed to notice Scarlett's irritation in an instant, she leaned forward just when she knew Malfoy and her horrid sister were looking their way.
"Scarlett, don't mind the stick up my sister's arse. It's probably so far up there she can't see straight!"
Scarlett nearly burst into a fit of laughter. "Goodness, I almost forgot there were few sane people in this family! How have you been?" She giggled back. She nearly forgot all about Andromeda, she was the most down to earth witch in the Black family. Never spiteful or full of hate. Not to mention she shared the same shame and disgust when it came to being a pureblood.
Andromeda's dark eyes gleamed when she smiled back at Scarlett. "Of course, Scarlett. Us normal people in the family must stick together!" She exclaimed with a wink.
"Absolutely!" Scarlett agreed, returning the smile.
Guilt suddenly emerged from deep within Scarlett. She felt ashamed for even considering she was part of this family. No matter how dark and twisted it was, it was still a betrayal if she went through what she was asked to do.
Outright selfish it was; to even consider pursuing her own freedom at the cost of Sirius's. She frowned, Andromeda had since turned her attention to her plate and now she was left with nothing but her and her own plate of food.
She gulped, she knew she needed to eat.
For herself.
For Sirius.
But yet, she couldn't allow herself to pick up the prestige fork that laid untouched and perfectly angled at the side of her plate.
The aroma of the perfectly baked turkey teased the tip of her nostrils. She could almost taste the gravy and mashed potatoes. Scarlett licked her lips when she felt her mouth begin to water.
Before she realized it she saw her hand trembling while reaching for the fork. It seemed she had given all control of her body to her needs. No longer her wants.
She screamed internally in protest, feeling herself lose the raging battle to leave her food untouched.
Her eyes widened in surprise when the mashed potatoes met her mouth. She hadn't tasted something so divine in ages.
Hunger took such firm control over her as she began indulging in what was once forbidden. Bite after bite she engulfed herself in the juicy turkey.
The corn, cranberries, and bread.
Before she knew it everything was gone from her plate before she could even take a second to breathe.
Scarlett stared down at her empty plate in horror. Astounded by how much and how quickly she ate. She quickly glanced around the dinner table, trying to see if anyone had noticed her.
She sighed with relief, no one seemed to be paying attention to her. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, the weight of what she had just done didn't quite settle right with her. Nausea suddenly hit her like a ton of bricks. She felt downright sick to her stomach. It just didn't feel natural to her.
Within seconds her plate had disappeared, along with everyone else's at the table. She saw Walburga and Orion had stood up from their seats, drifting everyone's attention to them.
"Shall we all go for tea in the living room and exchange gifts?" Walburga announced. Her voice as commanding as ever.
Nearly everyone followed the couple into the living room, leaving Scarlett all alone at the table. She quickly pushed herself out of the chair, feeling more uneasy than ever.
Managing to dash past some unsuspecting future family members, Scarlett swiftly moved up the staircase. Nearly putting a whole in the wall as she shoved open the closest bathroom door.
Kneeling in front of the toilet she knew she had to get it out of her. No matter the cost. Scarlett knew she was wrong, she understood the insanity of her actions. But she couldn't possibly live with the boulder like feeling she felt with it just sitting there in her digestive system.
Placing a finger down her throat, she forcefully gagged herself to have the food come back up. Coughing, it finally came up. Her throat burned as she felt all heaviness leave her body.
Tears started to roll down her face as continued forcing every bit of what she just had eaten out of her. She gasped as she finally gave one last heave with all she had left.
She slumped down onto the side of the tub, weakly flushing the toilet. Ridding all evidence of what she just had done. She sniffed as she wiped the rest of the falling tears down her face with the end of her sleeve. She felt so ashamed and alone.
Scarlett couldn't believe what she had just resorted to. She just had a moment of weakness, right?
She hated the bitter taste it left in her mouth after throwing up. It was something she absolutely would never, ever want to resort to again to fix her mistakes.
She needed to be more in control. She needed to get a grip.
How could she have stooped so low? How could she have allowed Walburga and Orion to bully her around? Wasn't the abuse from her father enough?
"The only thing I seem to be good for anymore…" she murmured to herself. Closing her eyes to take in this rare moment of silence and serenity.