All the death eaters celebrated Dumbledore's death. Finally, the time they had been waiting for had come. It was finally time to strike. They had Hogwarts under their control. Clare asked her father's permission to go home and tell her parents a story so that they wouldn't send out search parties. He allowed it.

When she disapparated, she arrived in front of her new house. She walked up to the door and her mother opened it. Her eyes, red from crying, opened wide. She jumped into Clare and gave her a hug.

"Clare! You're okay! We were so worried."

Clare embraced her mother, feeling uncomfortable from the hug. "I'm fine." She was happy they were all okay.

"Where were you? Joe said he didn't see you get off the train. We assumed the worst." Her father walked up and put his arms around her mother. His eyes were accusing, almost as if he knew… This frightened her.

"I got on. I just was helping someone get home safely."

"I'm just happy you're safe."

"Thanks mum. I'm tired. So I'm gonna go up to my room."

When she got upstairs, she was about to lock her door and her father walked in.

"Clarissa may I speak to you?"

Clare's heart sunk. She could tell he knew.

"Yeah dad, sure."

"Your mother nearly had a stroke when you didn't come home."

"I didn't mean to give you a fright."

"I know that, but you have been acting weird lately. Not coming home for winter holidays, barely spending time here during the summer. If I didn't know any better…" His eyes wandered, deep in thought.

"You don't need to worry about me. I just like to spend a lot of time with my friend."

"Who's that?" He wasn't buying her story.

She didn't know who else to say, so she spoke the truth.

"Draco Malfoy."

Her father looked shocked. "Don't you hate that boy? Are you two dating?"

She blushed. Weird, this is a perfectly normal conversation for a teenage girl to have. She wasn't used to being normal. To have a firm cover up, she just told him this "I haven't hated him since my second year. Yes… we are dating."

Her father looked uncomfortable. "Just don't let his family influence you. His father is in Azkaban, you know."

"Of course not."

"I'll go now."

"Sure dad."

The moment he closed the door, she locked it and disapparated away.

"Look who's back" spoke a death eater.

"Hello all." Here, she was confident and well-spoken.

"Time to get this show on the road" said one.

"Sit down, the Dark Lord is approaching" she said.

"Daddy's little girl, I see." Said Yaxley.

"Shut it." She glared at him.

As Voldemort walked in you could hear a pin drop. He immediately began explaining the tasks. Each knew their own specific jobs to take care of. Yet, Clare had not received hers yet.

Voldemort spoke aloud in the meeting. He enjoyed being dramatic.

"You each know your task. However, our youngest death eater has not received her assignment yet. I believe you all should know, she has had trouble in the past accepting her fate. She was raised by blood traitors, who taught her mudbloods and pure wizards were equal." The death eaters snarled at this. "But she has realized her true potential. She has not failed me. She will be finishing her education at my side." Clare smirked. She was happy to be able to get away from Hogwarts. It only brought memories, which were pure pain.

The Dark Lord then spoke about all the strategy that not everyone would know about. He spoke about all the magical creatures joining their cause. He told them about the undercover agents in the ministry working to get it fully under their control.

Her time as the Dark Lord's right hand was interesting. She did all the dirty work, the torturing, the killing. Voldemort would often send her off on her own to do less important tasks. She was the one he could count on.

Clare spent some of her time trying to find Harry Potter. But that was practically a dead end. They hadn't been seen since a small wedding in the middle of nowhere. She went on a couple other wild goose chases.

She had a letter created by the Ministry, now under death eater control, sent to her parents saying that she was in Azkaban for attacking the new Minister of Magic. This helped her keep her cover, if she ever needed it again.

Overall, she spent her time at the Malfoy manor awaiting instructions. Her aunt, Narcissa, enjoyed her company. They spent much of their time together.

The days were mostly spent sitting around, or following the Dark Lord. One day that stood above the rest was when they brought her old acquaintance Luna Lovegood, gagged and tied up, into the manor's dungeon. Clare had always been fond of her. Her oddness and honesty had been refreshing in hard times.

She looked shocked as they brought her in. "Well what do you have here?"

"Just a girl whose father was making trouble" said Gibbon. Luna stared at her from behind the two men's arms.

"I'll take it from here. You two can go now." Clare said.

"Thanks for taking her off our hands, Clare." All the death eaters called her by her first name.

The two death eaters disapparated away. Clare held Luna by the shoulder. Luna began to struggle trying to run away. She gripped her harder and pulled out her wand.

Clare pulled off her gag, but left on the bonds. Her voice was layered with sadness. "Luna, please don't struggle. It just makes things much harder. How did you get yourself into this mess?" She stopped struggling and spoke.

"Well, my father wrote some articles in The Quibbler about Harry being innocent. They don't agree. So here I am. Why are you here?" Her words were inquisitive, not accusing.

"It's the family business." That really did describe it, she was forced at first, but now it is her life.

"But your parents are Gryffindor—

"I'm adopted."

"Well that is quite fortuitous. So your father is a death eater?"

"In a sense, he is You-know-who." They both went silent as they arrived at a dark hallway and proceeded down the stairs. At the edge there was a prison door.

"What a depressing place." Luna stated, changing the subject.

"This now your abode. Olivander! You've a visitor."

"Will I see you later?"

Clare walked her into the prison. "Not often. Olivander is there anything you need before I go?" She did not feel the need to be cruel to him. He had done no wrong.

"A way out would be nice", he said with dry humor.

"You know I won't", she retorted.

"Is there nothing you can do for my aching bones?"

"No. I must be going. Goodbye."

Before she exited Luna grabbed her by the arm. Clare quickly went defensive, pulled out her wand, and pointed it at Luna's neck. Luna's wide innocent eyes caused her to lower her wand. She had forgotten not every human contact is hostile.

"I just wanted to say, Clare, you don't belong here anymore than I do."

"This is my home." Clare gave Luna a hard look as she left and locked the door.

Clare continued to spend many hours at the Manor. She waited at her father's side for any instructions. He was going off to do something secretly. So he sent her to go hunt with the snatchers. It was a low job, but she accepted it in silence. Clare ended up being with them on the one day that they did anything of importance.

They had just captured two other people, when someone activated the taboo by speaking Voldemort's name.

Fenrir spoke. "Someone's calling us." They all laughed and traveled to the spot where the taboo had been breached. They came up to a tent.

He spoke again. "Come out of there with your hands up! We know you're in there! You've got half a dozen wands pointing at you and we don't care who we curse!"

They all had their wands pointed straight at the tent when three teenagers stumbled out of the tent. One was horribly disfigured. Most of them didn't know who they were, but Clare did. At least two of them were her old classmates, and former friends.

Some snatchers grabbed the three and took their wands. Greyback whispered to Clare before he spoke. "You know any of the three?" She shivered. His hunger for human blood was terrifying, especially since he'd acquired a taste for young girls.

She took a breath to steady her voice, "They look familiar, I just can't think of their names." She lied. She wasn't sure why.

As Greyback interrogated the victims, Hermione looked at Clare. Her face was the same as anyone who'd ever seen her with death eaters. She looked confused and upset. Clare tried to keep her face steady.

When they found the Daily Prophet, the snatchers realized who they had caught. They equated the picture to Hermione. Then, they found out he was Potter.

"Yeah she does look like a girl I knew in school, Hermione Granger." Clare said under her breath. Greyback heard her and took that as confirmation.

Greyback couldn't summon The Dark Lord, but Clare, she could. Yet, she kept that knowledge to herself. She was careful to not speak unless spoken to. Greyback was jealous she was a part of Voldemort's inner circle, while he was not. She walked on thin ice with that group. He had no knowledge of her father being You-Know-Who. So, he would not hesitate to kill her.

When they arrived at the Manor, she stood in the back of the group. She was careful not to bring any more attention to herself. Narcissa saw her when she opened the door.

As they walked into the house, Clare shrunk to the back corner of the room. She was slightly sick from Fenrir's stinking breath and demeanor towards herself, and Hermione.

As Draco was being pushed by his parents to determine whether or not the ugly boy was Potter, Clare stayed back. She could tell, if Draco determined it, they believed The Dark Lord may forgive all their mistakes.

Nieve people. He doesn't forgive. He makes up his mind about people. That's why I haven't died yet, because he wants me to succeed. She knew, they didn't.

Then, her mother walked in the room. She adored the Dark Lord more than any other on the planet. She would die for him if he only asked. Clare knew her mother's love was a weakness that her father had exploited.

Clare stood in the back as she watched her mother stun the snatchers.

After she told Draco to take the bodies outside, Clare spoke up. "If I may speak…" Clare knew why Bellatrix was having a conniption over the sword. She knew ALL the reasons her father was in the flesh again.

"Yes, child." Whenever her mother spoke to her, it was disturbing. Bellatrix spoke to her with pride. Not love. Never love. But almost like she was bragging. Bragging that her blood was mixed with the man she revered so much.

"I was with the snatchers when they captured the five. Of course it's Hermione, Ron, and Harry. But they had the sword of Gryffindor with them, in their tent."

Bellatrix listened but turned back to herself. "If it is indeed Potter, he must not be harmed," she muttered, more to herself than to the others. "The Dark Lord wishes to dispose of Potter himself... But if he finds out... I must... I must know..."

Bellatrix sent the rest down to the dungeon. All but Hermione.

Clare knew what came next. She was leaving the room, when Bellatrix said "Come closer dear, you could learn a thing or two from this." So Clare came within three feet of the two.

Bellatrix began the questioning. "I have no time for any lies you are thinking to tell me right now. Tell me the truth and this can be painless as possible. Now tell me, where did you get this sword?"

"We found it" Hermione answered feebly, poor girl's voice was shaking.

She slapped Hermione across the face. She began yelling. "Don't lie to me. Tell me, where did you get the sword?"

Hermione fell under the blow. "We found it in a pond."
"I'm going to ask you again! Where did you get this sword? Where?"

"We found it" Bellatrix's eyes went wild and she raised her wand, "Please!"

"Crucio!" Hermione began to scream. Bellatrix cut off the curse. "Where did you get it?"

"We found it." Hermione was crying.

"Liar! Crucio!" Bellatrix was upset, very upset. Her eyes were wild as she punished her.

Hermione spoke. "We found it. Please. I'm telling the truth."

"You're lying, filthy Mudblood, and I know it! You have been inside my vault at Gringotts! Tell the truth, tell the truth!" Bellatrix kicked her on the ground.

"I've never been inside your vault at Gringotts. Please. We didn't take anything."

"What else did you take? What else have you got? Tell me the truth or, I swear, I shall run you through with this knife!"

"Nothing!" Hermione spoke desperately. She was spread out on the floor. Bruises were starting to form on her face from where Bellatrix had hit her.

"Crucio!"

Keeping a straight face, Clare watched the ordeal. Hermione's screams were ear-piercing, and heart breaking.

Her mother cut off the curse. "What else did you take, what else?" Hermione looked up at Clare and mouthed 'help me'. Clare looked at her and mouthed 'I can't'. "ANSWER ME! CRUCIO!"

Hermione was screaming and writhing but her pitiful eyes stayed on Clare, as if she was her one salvation.

I can't just watch her die… If she is about to kill her, I will step in. Clare readied herself to stop Bella.

"How did you get into my vault?" Bellatrix screamed. "Did that dirty little goblin in the cellar help you?"

"We only met him tonight!" Hermione cried out. "We've never been inside your vault... It isn't the real sword! It's a copy, just a copy!"

"A copy?" screeched Bellatrix. "Oh, a likely story!" She kicked Hermione in the head. And she just lied on the ground, unmoving. Clare, very close to the body, knelt down to check if she was alive. She was. Clare muttered "I'm sorry, ask Harry, he can explain."

Lucius told Draco to go fetch the goblin in the cellar.

Draco brought up Griphook. As the goblin was examining the sword, a noise was heard and Lucius sent Wormtail down to investigate.

Griphook said it was a fake.

Bellatrix was overjoyed. She immediately put her forefinger to her mark.

"And I think," said Bellatrix, "we can dispose of the Mudblood.

Greyback, take her if you want her."

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" A voice came through the house.

Clare immediately pulled out her wand. They were in a fire fight. Lucius went down. Clare backed away from the middle of the room, while shooting curses at the two boys. She was soon behind a chair when Bellatrix threatened Hermione.

She had it under control, until the chandelier crashed down. A small house elf came out from the wreckage. Clare continued throwing stunning curses at Harry, then her wand flew out of her hand, as well as Narcissa's. Dobby took the children with him as he left, disrespecting his former masters.

When they disapparated, Narcissa went to Draco's side. Bellatrix began yelling at her sister about how she couldn't kill a simple house elf.

Clare couldn't stand it. She screamed, "Shut it! The Dark Lord will be here any second. When he arrives, I would like to know how you are going to explain how we lost Potter."

Everyone went silent. Clare was normally calm and obedient. She never ordered anyone around. She didn't step on anyone's toes. She did what she was told. But she was sick of their terrible orders.

So Clare went and grabbed her wand. Straightened her clothes, then the Dark Lord appeared. He was absolutely livid. Yet, his demeanor was still kept.

"Why am I here?" When he saw the faces of every person of the room, he looked around the room and saw the discord. "What happened here?"

Clare saw that no one was speaking, so she spoke up. "My Lord, when you sent me to the snatchers, we ended up catching some interesting people. We captured Harry Potter and his two friends"

Voldemort looked pleased. "Good child, now where are they?"

Her voice was no more than a whisper as she uttered. "They escaped. With the two other prisoners in the cellar."

His grin turned into a scorn. "You had them in your grasp, and they ESCAPED!"

She dared not look him in the eyes as she said, "Yes."

Voldemort welled up with rage and slapped her across the face. She fell to the ground. Then, one of the snatchers, that had been outside, walked in at the wrong time. All Clare heard was him saying, "Avadakedavra!" A soft thud sounded.

The pain in her face was excruciating, so bad that tears were flowing out of her eyes. She stayed on the floor until he came back to her.

"Stand up", he said calmly.

She stood. She could see that no one in the room had moved an inch. The Dark Lord was holding her responsible for the events that took place. She kept her eyes fixed on the ground so he wouldn't see the tears she couldn't control.

He put his hand under her chin and lifted it up. His eyes were unfeeling, like always. But, he spoke quietly. "Look at me. How did this happen?"

"It all went wrong when Wormtail went down and then Harry and Ron came up the stairs. They attacked us, but stopped when Bellatrix threatened their friend. Then the chandelier fell. And a house elf helped them disapparate."

He turned from her and towards Narcissa. She cowered under his glare. "A dirty mudblood, elf, goblin, a blood traitor and Potter outsmarted you?"

Narcissa hesitated then said, "Yes."

Voldemort no longer held his calm. He yelled "Crucio!" His wand was pointed at her. In turn, he tortured everyone in the room, even killed a few. It hurt terribly, Clare was sure her sanity was gone. But, truthfully she felt they were lucky he hadn't killed them all out of pure rage.

When he finished he spoke again, "Bellatrix, Clean up this mess. Clare, go dispose of the rest of the snatchers outside, and meet me in the basement when you are finished." He left the room.

Clare went outside and killed most of the snatchers but left Scabior alive. She walked through the house into the basement.

"You wished to speak with me?"

"Yes, the time has come for you to show your devotion in the most difficult way possible."

"Yes my Lord. Yet, I have completely cut myself off from my old life. How can I display my loyalty in any other way?"

"You have been by all means my most useful servant, but we have to kill all the connections to your old life."

"May I ask why?" Her voice was solemn. She was shaking.

"You have a weakness. The misplaced love for your adopted family is keeping you from succeeding."

"So, they must die?" She managed.

"Yes, we will leave tonight."

"Joe is still at school. The only ones home are the adults."

"They will do, for now. Lead the way." He then touched her on the shoulder.

When they apparated in front of house, it was dark. Both her parents would be home at that hour.

They walked up to the door. Voldemort was hiding to the side to the door.

She knocked.

No one answered.

She knocked again.

Her mother opened the door slightly, to see who it was. Then she swung it open, and she hugged Clare.

"Darling!"

Voldemort stepped out from the shadows. Clare then pointed her wand at her mother. She spoke. "Don't move."

Her mother looked up and saw Voldemort. She took her arms off Clare.

"I see you brought a house guest."

"Where is Dad?"

She reached for her wand, but Clare was prepared.

"Expelliarmus!" Her wand flew across the room. "I told you not to move."

Her mom's face flashed of realization. "Oh Clare. Not you."

"Yes mum. Since the summer of fourth year."

Voldemort was being surprisingly quiet. It was almost like he enjoyed watching both parties suffer at the same time.

She began to scream, "Francis! Fran—

Voldemort cried, "Avadakedavra!" Her mother fell down, lifeless.

Inside, Clare was dying. In the reality, they were moving through the house to find her father. They found him upstairs in his study.

She busted in, and knocked away his wand.

"I love you papa." She said for only the two of them to hear.

Then, Voldemort walked in. "Good, now finish this and complete your journey."

"I had a hunch. I don't know how I didn't see it… Clare, don't do this."

"You could have told me the truth and none of this would have happened."

"Wait, where's your mother?"

"He killed her."

"Don't do this. We are your family."

"No. They are my family now…" She raised her wand ready to strike, as she hesitated, out of nowhere, several members of the Order of the Phoenix appeared and they were surrounded.

She spoke urgently to Voldemort, "My Lord, go. I'll hold them off."

An Auror named Kingsley Shacklebolt spoke, "Put your wands on the ground."

Voldemort grabbed his wand, Clare began throwing attacks, and he disapparated. Yet Clare was still there throwing all she had at the five people around her. She came to a point where she just had to block spells. Then one of the hit her with a stun, and she fell to the floor.