"Aunt Bella?" Draco asked in alarm as he was roughly shaken from his dreams. He looked blearily from his wife sleeping peacefully in his arms to his aunt's tear stained face. "What are you doing here?"
"She took my dollies!" Bellatrix wailed, pulling at her curly hair, Draco blinked slowly, trying to wake himself fully or determine if this was in fact a dream. Maia moaned and shifted in her sleep beside him, he tried to suppress his annoyance but it was difficult. It was rare that he actually got to spend an entire night away with his wife in France, the Dark Lord valued his efficiency and used him often when he needed something taken care of swiftly and quietly.
"What dollies? You're going to wake my wife." Draco whispered harshly but still tried to disentangle himself from the warm body at his side, his aunt erupted in loud broken sobs as she collapsed on the side of the bed.
"Draco?" Maia whispered sleepily as she slowly lifted her head from her pillow without opening her eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, love. Go back to sleep." Draco said quickly, lightly pushing her back down.
"Who's crying?" Maia asked, batting her husband's hands away. When she finally opened her eyes she jumped as she saw the crumpled figure of Bellatrix sobbing on the side of her husband. "Bella?"
"My sweet!" Bellatrix cried, lifting her red tear stained face to look at Maia, Draco quickly took his opening and practically dived out of the bed to dress himself. "They took my dollies! They said I couldn't play with them anymore!"
"Shh, it will be alright, we can get you a new dolly." Maia said sleepily as she rolled over onto her side to lay beside Bellatrix. She soothingly ran her fingers through Bellatrix's knotted hair, waiting for her to continue. Draco looked between the women and decided to escape while he could.
"They built a new nursery and My Lord says I'm not to interfere with my dollies! He said that I play too rough with the product!" Bellatrix wailed as she leaned into Maia's soothing touch. "It was all Bulstrode, the conniving bitch! I just like to play, I would never hurt my dollies!"
"Ofcourse you wouldn't, Bella knows how to play with her toys. What did you mean by it was Bulstrode's fault?" Maia asked quietly, not pausing from her task. Bellatrix was silent for a long moment, her breathing eventually evened out before she turned her head to face her again.
"She hurt my dollies! I would come to dress them up and play and.." Bellatrix sniffled pitifully as she turned her bloodshot eyes up to look at Maia beseechingly. "She practiced on them, with her weak magic she never was allowed out on missions. The troll couldn't leave a mark on a real witch or wizard! They would show me their bruises and I would heal them. When I told her to stop breaking my toys, she and her ogre of a husband told my master that it was me!"
"How about we speak to Cissa when she and Lucius come home from Prague? I'm sure that she would love to help you sort out the Bulstrodes." Maia said sweetly and smiled innocently, Bellatrix sniffled and snickered quietly.
"Will you play with me, my sweet?" Bellatrix asked in a quiet, hopeful voice. "Let me dress you up and play with your hair?"
"Ofcourse." Maia said without hesitation, Bellatrix lunged forward and wrapped her arms around her as much as she could with them laying down. They were still for a long time as the older woman switched roles, running her fingers through Maia's hair and making soft cooing sounds.
"You'll call me Mummy while we play...and I'll call you dolly?" Bellatrix whispered into her mussed curls.
-0-
"Where did the port key take my wife, Weasel?" Draco asked coldly as he paused to look over his work. After hours, they placed Molly in her cell with a few healing potions and now they were working on the youngest son. Since they all agreed on the plan to use the Weasley sons, they couldn't permanently disfigure them but there were plenty of ways to draw out their pain for long periods of time. Ron was currently suspended from the ceiling by large hooks that pierced the muscles on his back. Bellatrix danced beneath him with her wand poking him in the stomach, casting mild scorching charms.
"I told you, we don't know." Ron grit his teeth as Draco made light cuts along his ribcage that spelled out 'traitor',
"You will te-" Draco smiled cruelly when his mark started to burn painfully, with a startled gasp he didn't bother to say a word as he levitated the redheaded matron to meet his Lord.
"Oooh, I hope my Lord will accept his gift!" Bellatrix cackled gleefully as Ron screamed in pain behind him.
-0-
"Draco, you have displeased me." Voldemort said bluntly as Draco came to kneel at his feet. Today, the Dark Lord wore his human glamour, appearing as he once did before the fall of 1981. His expressive blue eyes flashed red as he watched one of his most loyal bow his head in shame. The blonde kept his eyes to the ground awaiting his punishment when Theo entered the room and took his place at his friend's side. Without warning the Dark Lord flicked his wand and both men fell to their sides as they writhed in agony. They were silent, almost biting their cheeks through, knowing that if they made a sound they would be considered weak. Voldemort did not need weak followers, as suddenly as it started it stopped. "Never forget your Lord is truly benevolent...how do you intend to show your contrition?"
"We have brought the Zabin heir, My Lord." Draco said in a low voice once he got to his knees and quickly smoothed down his hair.
"The Zabini heir? I thought his loyalties lay with his blood traitor wife on the fence?" Voldemort asked with an amused smirk.
"He has come to his senses, My Lord." Theo was quick to agree with his blonde friend, nodding emphatically.
"How will he show his loyalty to me, I already have one follower with an unhealthy devotion to his wife." The Dark Lord sneered, cutting his eyes to Draco briefly. "I want him to join us for my cause not just to save her blood traitor family."
"I have offered him the opportunity to show his loyalty by offering the mother. We have also come up with an idea for a suitable punishment for the three Weasley men." Draco said smoothly. Voldemort raised a hand, ushering them to get off the floor, Theo and Draco gracefully got to their feet and took their seats at the long wooden table with the Dark Lord.
"Oh, and just what was your idea?" The Dark Lord asked with a mocking smile, while the idea of Zabini slaughtering the mother intrigued him, he planned to publicly execute her sons.
"As you know, I am in control of the mudblood auctions and sales. I have noticed a startling decline in product. Only half the babes survive the nursery and with the departure of some of the neutral families, our community has only a fraction of pure witches and wizards. It would be a shame to waste good breeding stock." Theo said boldly, forcing himself not to fidget under the Dark Lord's stern glare.
"You want to stud them?" Voldemort sat back in his chair, a small twitch to his lips as his eyes shimmered with amusement.
"There are still viable pureblood women who have no suitable options. If we could assimilate them, completely into our community then perhaps it will encourage some of the neutral families to finally commit." Draco said drolly, flicking an invisible speck of lint from his robes.
"Mmm, I see." Their Lord steepled his fingers beneath his chiseled jaw, pursing his lips in thought.
"If that does not please you, there are the mudblood camps. We could breed half bloods. Educate them, allow them citizenship. They could bolster your armies in the future. No doubt once our community has stabilized you will want to expand your rule?" Theo added eagerly, watching for a reaction with trepidation.
"Intriguing options. Is there another reason, you want the blood traitors to live?" Voldemort asked after a long moment of silence. Theo licked his lips nervously while Draco inspected his cuticles.
"We are of course invested in the future you have envisioned and will help in any way we can to assist you." Theo offered slowly, only a half truth.
"You think I need assistance?" Voldemort demanded, his eyes flashing red as he glared at the dark haired man.
"No, My Lord." Theo said quickly, averting his eyes. Without warning, the Dark lord burst into uproarious laughter, slapping his hand down on the table in front of him. Draco smirked as Theo looked startled to see the man show any emotion beside rage, even when he was being his most charming and charismatic he never laughed.
"No, I know. Your friend Zabini is outside with his offering. I will give your proposal some thought." Voldemort chuckled with a wry smile, but his eyes were still cold. "Draco, have you had any luck getting the where a bouts of your wife?"
"No, my Lord. They claim they knew nothing about the port key. I'm sure my wife will find some way of contacting me." Draco said with confidence he didn't truly have. The fear that he would never find her weighed heavily on his mind after only days without her.
"Very well, let's see what this Zabini has to offer." Voldemort sighed, the doors were thrown open and Greyback stormed in, dragging Molly Weasley behind him, Blaise Zabini gracefully following.
"Here you are, Milord!" Greyback said with a throaty chuckle as he unceremoniously dropped Molly in an undignified heap. The woman groaned pitifully, the healing potions closed most of her wounds but her muscles were still weak and painfully tight as they were hurriedly mended.
"Blaise," The Dark Lord purred as he rose gracefully from his chair, a welcoming smile on his face. The Italian shuddered as he looked into the man's cold blue eyes, his friends stood rigidly and joined their Lord, flanking him in either side. "I've waited a long time for you to come to me. I know your friends have been faithful to me for so long. What has finally won you over?"
"I only wished to keep my wife away from any fighting. It is my wish to join you and fight for the future of our world, my wife's...family has shown their true colors. I used my friends to try and protect them but they betrayed us. I can only hope you accept me, My Lord." Blaise lowered his head humbly, looking to the floor while his heart nearly beat out of his chest. He tried to keep his voice even and earnest while he pledged himself to the cause.
"Show me, Blaise. Let your loyalties be known. Are they to me or the redheaded filth at your feet?" Voldemort hissed, a sly smirk on his face as he watched Blaise raise his wand on his mother-in-law.
"It's okay, Blaise." Molly choke out, closing her eyes tight so she didn't have to watch.
"No, it's not!" Blaise snapped as he bent down to glare at her, Molly opened her brown eyes hopefully but flinched when she saw the coldness in his brown eyes.
"What's not, Blaise?" The Dark Lord asked mockingly, crossing his arms over his chest. Blaise glanced up to see that he looked amused at the interaction.
"You poisoned my wife's mind! Crucio!" Blaise bellowed as his face scrunched up in disgust, Molly silently writhed on the floor, biting her lip to hold back her screams.
"Is that all, Blaise? I don't allow the weak into my army!" Voldemort taunted Blaise, the Italian grew rigid as he glared pointedly at the woman twitching at his feet.
"Sanguriboli!" Blaise incanted and made a slashing motion with his wand. Molly's back arched off the floor as her mouth opened in a silent scream. Her blood bubbled just beneath the surface of her skin, making making her exposed freckled flesh rise and contort. After taking a shuddering breath, Molly was able to let out a pain filled scream that echoed through the empty room.
"Oh, that's very nice." Voldemort hissed in approval as he watched the woman's skin turn red and blister as if she was boiling from the inside.
"The Italians are known for coming up with some interesting punishments." Theo nodded appreciatively as Molly started to cough up blood and steam.
"How is she still alive?" Draco asked curiously, arching a brow at the woman shaking violently.
"It only lasts five minutes, the counter curse can bring her back from the edge of death. After only a minute, she'll be permanently blinded." Blaise mumbled uncomfortably as steaming tears of blood dribbled down Molly's cheeks.
"Do it!" The Dark Lord ordered hastily, a cruel smile blooming on his face.
"Sanghiaccius!" Blaise quickly snapped off the counter curse, the effect was immediate. Molly's eyes closed as her body relaxed, her breaths coming out evenly and the redness slowly drained from her skin.
"I think she will be used to practice...your gift is appreciated, Blaise." Voldemort reached out for the Italian's hand. Blaise did not hesitate in shaking the man's cold fist firmly, his heart sinking as he realized what he condemned his wife's mother to.
-0-
"Never ask me what I had to do, Ginevra." Blaise said in a cold tone that he never used with his fiery wife as he lead his friends into the sitting room. Draco and Theo said nothing as a house elf scurried forward to serve them drinks, Ginny looked between the three men with puffy red eyes.
"How can you ask me not question what you did?!" Ginny Zabini demanded as she stomped her foot clad in garish fuzzy maroon socks, her hands fisted on her hips. Blaise raised his head to look at his wife emotionlessly feeling the first inklings of annoyance as her face slowly became as red as her hair.
"I didn't ask. I told you, Ginevra and I expect you to honor my wishes." Blaise said curtly as he sank down in an overstuffed chair, his shoulders stiff with tension.
"I'm your wife! Not some house elf you can order around, Blaise! Tell me what happened!" Ginny shrieked as she stomped over to her husband. "I deserve to know, I'm sure they will tell their wives!" She pointed jerkily at Draco and Theo sitting calmly on the sofa.
"Ginevra!" Blaise snapped as he saw the dark look that crossed his friends faces as his wife rudely waved her finger in their faces.
"No! You tell me, Blaise! It's my family!" Ginny wailed, tears leaking from her eyes.
"George, Fred, and Ron will live." Blaise said tightly after an uncomfortable moment of silence, Ginny's shoulders shook with sobs and she clapped her hands over her mouth to muffle the sounds.
"No! Mum?" Ginny asked in a broken, hoarse whisper. The three men averted their eyes, uncomfortable with the hysterical woman. Blaise wanted to pull her into his lap and console her but he couldn't force his body to move. In a few hours time he would be marked, just like his friends. The last conversation he ever had with his father, he promised never to pledge his life like his allies and friends did but he would break that promise for the woman in front of him.
"Gin, I did everything I could." Blaise said softly, his grip on his sifter tightening so hard his knuckles turned white.
"Everything you could?!" Ginny shrieked, her voice hoarse as she glared at her husband's closest friends. "It's your fault! My parents are dead because of your stupid wife!"
"Gin!" Blaise shouted but Draco stood so fast it made the redhead dizzy, before she could blink the blonde man loomed over her.
"Control your wife, Blaise. I will not have her undermining your sacrifice or laying blame on my wife." Draco said coldly as he glared hatefully down at the irate redhead.
"Sacrifice?" Ginny whispered shakily, her eyes darting to her husband who was sitting stiffly in his chair, not bothering to reprimand his friend.
"You didn't know?" Draco scoffed, his lips curling into a disgusted sneer as he looked the woman up and down. "Your family kidnapped MY wife who is pregnant with MY heir. Did you really think we would let them live?"
"No..they wouldn't." Ginny whispered, taking a fearful step away from him but Draco stepped forward along with her.
"Oh yes, after Theo and I gave our word to keep your disgusting family safe, they took my wife and now Potter has her all alone. You dare lay any blame on her?" Draco demanded angrily, his grey eyes like ice.
"N-no." Ginny stuttered looking to her husband for some kind of support but finding only cold resentment in his normally bright warm brown eyes.
"Blaise has kept you safe, your family has kept you out of the loop or maybe...you knew." Draco smiled cruelly as he took another step towards her, invading her personal space.
"Draco! That's enough!" Blaise snapped, getting up from his chair to stand beside his blonde friend, laying a hand on his shoulder.
"She better not know anything, Blaise." Draco said softly, his eyes promising pain and never leaving Ginny's wide fearful gaze.
"I second that. If she knew anything of a plot to kidnap Maia and Daphne, there will be no protecting her for treason." Theo said firmly from his place on the couch, the picture of nonchalance, except his eyes which were cold staring directly at the redhead.
"She would never allow such an atrocity to happen." Blaise said with conviction and looked to his wife and saw just a flicker of hesitation before she nodded. His heart fell into his stomach as Draco tensed beneath his grip.
-0-0-0-
Bonus chapter! I'm currently writing the ending!
Get ready for more creepy Harry! :)
Your reviews are always appreciated, I love feedback.