A/N: Yes, I'm a horrible person I haven't uploaded in so very long, how dreadful of me, I'm surprised if there are still people following this tbh... BUT! My A levels have now finished, so I should have far more time for getting this damned story finished! Hazar! I also felt bad for not uploading, so I'm going to upload one today and another one in a few days I have mostly completed it. Enjoy the new chapter(s) :)
Mia sat in a dark room attempting to slouch on a straight backed wooden chair. It was early morning outside and yet no light was streaming through the thin curtains covering the sole window. She guessed that had been done intestinally, along with her being put in the darkness and getting told her 'mother' would be there shortly. That was over two hours ago.
Narcissa had gone into Draco's room knowing the hiding spot her son favoured and found Mia easily. She'd waited patiently, not saying a word as the teenager wrapped the book and photograph back up, placing them carefully under the floor board once more. Mia had a sneaking suspicion the elder women had already known about the contests under the floorboard as well as the hiding space, but there hadn't been an opportunity to ask her about it as she had been taken straight to a dark, empty room.
Eventually a flicker of light from the doorway informed her she was no longer alone. The door closed again, removing the slither of light and heeled footsteps came up to the back of Mia's chair. When they made no attempt to speak, Mia decided enough was enough.
"What?" she demanded, standing from the chair to face her 'mother', arms crossing defensively over her chest. Bellatrix merely watched her. "What do you want?" Mia said again, voice raising slightly. The way the old witch was looking t her, as if she was some kind of experiment that should be poked, prodded and observed. Mia pushed past, half surprised when she wasn't stopped and walked towards the door. It had been locked when she'd been put in there, her wand confiscated and placed somewhere unknown, to prevent any escape attempts. But as Bellatrix had come in, clearly the door was now open. Gripping the handle Mia pulled. And pulled again and again. And then tried pushing just in case. Nope. It wasn't budging one but. Irritated she turned back to her mother, waiting. Still she didn't speak, her dark eyes trained to the younger's face. It was unnerving to say the least.
"What?" Mia almost screamed frustration and worry clouding her judgement. "What do you want from me?!" At that, Bellatrix side stepped Mia, easily opening the door and slipping out into the corridor, pulling it shut behind her.
The same thing continued for days, possibly weeks for all Mia knew. No light was let into the room, and foot and water delivered at seemingly random times and Bellatrix appearing at any hour of the day whether Mia was awake or not. It was like some strange form of mental torture. Initially she'd still demanded to know what was going on, why she was being kept in a dark room and why she was being watched. Even that got rather disconcerting after 20 times of silence being an answer so she'd stopped.
Now Mia sat in the chair, that had also become her bed, a look of what she hoped was nonchalance on her face. She didn't glance up when the door opened, asked no questions, nor really acknowledged Bellatrix. That was, until she spoke.
"Get up." Mia's head snapped round to stare the women directly in the eyes. It was still dark, but this time the door had been left open, cracks of light spilling through like salvation. How had she not noticed that before now?
"Why?" She stayed in the chair, taking one last quick glance at the hallway. This should be well thought out, not just make a dash for it. But after weeks of nothingness, her mind wasn't exactly in tip top condition.
"Get up" her voice implied Mia had no choice in the matter and was backed up when Bellatrix reached out to grab her daughters arm, sharp talon like nails once again biting into the delicate flesh and causing tiny droplets of blood to pool around them.
"Let go!" Mia shouted, struggling. The women had a vice like grip, but somehow Mia was able to pull free, kicking out at Bellatrix's knee, scrapping half the skin from her arm as she pulled free and ran towards the door. This time nothing stopped her, so Mia was able to flea down the corridor, navigating at random and hoping to end up somewhere recognisable. The net left was a dead end. Really, she should have thought this through, thought about where to run, preferably to a fireplace, and lead a daring escape. Of course Mia hadn't thought it through, hence now being backed up against a wall with the infamous Bellatrix Lestrange slowly advancing.
"Leave me alone!" Mia screamed, eyes flashing darkly due to the oncoming threat.
"Don't be a fool." The older women finally spoke, the cruel smirk once again on her haggard face. The logical part of her mind was saying relax, hold your ground, she can't touch you. But that held little comfort. The idea of her darker side coming through, being exposed and in full control with no anchor to pull her back to shore. No, that scared her more than going stir crazy alone in a room. And with that realisation she deflated, head dropping to look at the ground.
"Smart girl" Bellatrix said, oblivious to what had just gone on inside her daughters head. She took hold of Mia's arm again, pulling her down the hallway, taking several twists and getting pushed into another room with the door once more being locked and Mia left alone.
The same routine as before was kept up for several long days, although it helped that the new room was a library Mia spent most of her time reading, propped up in a plushy green chair which was also doubling as a bed much like the other hand, only it was much softer. It was ok, but there was a crick starting to form in her neck. Then things changed.
Food was delivered midday, but Bellatrix did not leave the room. Instead she sat in the spare stiff backed chair, flicking through the book nearest to her.