And once again, Ariana was swept of her feet into a whirlwind of magic, landing in the foyer of a mansion.
It was huge, and it was beautiful, and leaving it at that would be like saying the world has a few people. This room alone was was at least twice a big as the dining hall at Hogwarts Minerva had pulled her through. From top to bottom it was extravagantly decorated. The ceiling was cloaked in thousands of magical, mythical creature prancing through the forestry underbrush, mermaids basking on jagged sandy rocks, hippogryphs soaring through the wide open sky, silver unicorns grazing in fields of tulips and primroses, faeries bursting out of blooming roses, and any other fantastical beasts and innocents to do with magic.
Spiraling down from the three story high ceiling were black marble platinum engraved pillars. They lined the hall, stoping in front of magnificent stone doors, which Bella walked up to and knocked on lazily calling out, "Open up, Cissy! We've got her."
The doors swung open mid-knock to reveal an aristocratic stunning blonde. "Finally," Bella drawled, turning to the man holding Ariana and beckoning him in.
Ariana was draged into another vast room, thought it wasn't nearly the same as the other one. It was darker and more closed in somehow. The walls were a dark black and from the tall windows hung light white drapes which had been pulled back. There was also a multi-coloured stain glass ceiling window which allowed several rays of white and red light to sift through to the dark Persian rug. Bella immediately walked in as if she owned the place. But then, she probably does, Ariana mused.
There was a thin blonde teenager standing uncertainly by the stone fireplace. As Bella got closer to him, he almost unnoticeably stepped back, running his slender fingers through his silky hair. Unfortunately for him, Bella noticed the step back.
"Scared, Draco?" She taunted playing with a stray black curl which fell lightly onto her jaw. "You look...gaunt."
At this the boy Draco flushed a little, and stepped forward. "So to say, Aunt Bella, you don't look too well yourself. Didn't treat you too well in Azkaban, did they?"
"Don't get cheeky," she flared up angrily. "But you could easily get a taste of it yourself."
"How? I'm not as stupid as you! I'm not going to go torturing people in plain daylight!" Draco snapped back.
"Oh, don't worry, you're not going to be doing in in broad daylight...in fact, you can do it right here!"
She flicked her wand lazily in the direction of the window; the drapes closed and a shadow fell over the room.
"Do it Draco," she hissed over his shoulder, coming up behind him. "Prove you're not a coward, that you have the guts to be one of us. After all," she continued,, raising her voice, "it's just a simple spell...Crucio!"
She pointed her wand directly at Ariana, who screamed, kicking out and arching her back. The pain was excruciating. It burned through every nerve and cell in her body, she was dying, being burnt alive, being stabbed all over and ripped apart. She felt tears running down her face, the flow never stopping. She was being torn apart limb by limb...her eyes rolled back and she stopped resisting, letting it consume her completely.
And them the pain was gone. And left in its place was a orphaned helpless girl, her honey-curls flying loose, her feverish tear-stained red face buried in her hands, her thin frame trembling, scarlet blood imbruing her left arm and the tips of the hair.
"See," smirked Bella gazing down at the girl. "It isn't that hard Draco. Now do it!"